A Houston man who had been reported missing in 2015 but who was never really missing at all has spoken out about his ordeal.
Rudolph “Rudy” Farias was 17 years old when his mother reported him missing in 2015. He actually returned the next day, but for eight years his mother maintained that he was missing and introduced him as her nephew when they were out in public.
Farias, now 25, has spoken out for the first time since he was found sleeping outside of a church, leading to countless news articles about the “missing” man being found after eight years. Farias <a href="https://www.fox26houston.com/news/rudy-farias-houston-interview-reports-missing-he-was-8-years" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> Fox 26 Houston that he felt as though he “lived in a prison” during those eight years.
&#8220;I just wanted to be free. I just wanted to live my life,” Farias told the outlet. &#8220;It feels like, I&#8217;m just at peace now. Just feels happy, you know?&#8221;
In public, Farias also told people that he was his mother’s nephew instead of her son.
&#8220;She would manipulate me into saying I would get arrested for speeding ticket,&#8221; he told Fox 26. &#8220;It just felt like brainwashing, honestly.&#8221;
He said that he could leave at any time, but felt manipulated to stay, describing himself as having “Stockholm Syndrome.” He told the outlet that he was forced to hide whenever family or friends came over to his mother’s house and that he thought she was the only person he could trust.
&#8220;I was stuck at home,&#8221; Farias said. &#8220;Somebody would come up, my mom would just tell me to stay in the room, keep the door locked, don&#8217;t let them in [and] don&#8217;t make any sounds.&#8221;
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He said that being hidden meant he had to listen to his family and friends outside.
&#8220;I would just have to listen to my family, be happy and cheerful on the other side of the (expletive) door,&#8221; said Farias. &#8220;I wanted to scream for them, but at the same time I couldn&#8217;t. The only person I could trust was my mom.&#8221;
Farias also alluded to questions about whether his mother sexually abused him during those eight years.
&#8220;She didn&#8217;t force herself on me or anything like that. It would never be anything like that. Just stuff that really made me uncomfortable,&#8221; he told Fox 26.
Last Thursday, Houston police Lt. Christopher Zamora <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/man-reported-as-missing-for-8-years-was-never-missing-at-all-houston-police-say" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> reporters that Farias’ mother, Janie Santana, had lied about him being missing.
Zamora said that during the eight years Farias was allegedly missing, police had encountered him, but both he and his mother gave false information about his identity, the New York Post <a href="https://nypost.com/2023/07/06/missing-rudy-farias-mother-hid-him-for-8-years/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>.
“During these contacts, fictitious names and date of births were given, misleading the officers,” Zamora told reporters. “In fact, both Janie, Rudy’s mother, and Rudy himself gave fictitious names while interacting with various patrol officers.”
Police have declined to file charges against Santana.

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Man Falsely Reported Missing For 8 Years Finally Speaks Out

Rudy Farias, Falsely Reported Missing For 8 Years, Finally Speaks Out

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Police in Houston, Texas, have said that the man reported as missing for eight years was never actually missing, and that his mother had passed him off as her nephew all that time.
Rudolph “Rudy” Farias was 17 years old when his mother reported him missing in 2015. Last week, he was found sleeping in front of a church and returned to his family, with media outlets picking up the story of how he was found alive after eight years.
But neighbors quickly questioned the reports, saying that Farias was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/man-found-alive-after-he-went-missing-eight-years-ago-may-never-have-been-missing-neighbors-say" target="_blank" rel="noopener">never missing at all</a> and had been living with his mother the entire time.
“He used to come in my garage, chill with my cousin, son, and daughter,” neighbor Kisha Ross <a href="https://abc13.com/rudolph-rudy-farias-found-man-missing-for-eight-years-alive-where-was-rudy/13461241/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> ABC 13. “That boy has never been missing.”
Police began investigating the allegations that Farias was never missing, and on Thursday, Houston police Lt. Christopher Zamora told reporters that Farias’ mother, Janie Santana, had lied about him being missing. Santana referred to her son as her nephew when they were out in public and repeatedly lied to police about him being missing.
Zamora said that during the eight years Farias was allegedly missing, police had encountered him, but both he and his mother gave false information about his identity, the New York Post <a href="https://nypost.com/2023/07/06/missing-rudy-farias-mother-hid-him-for-8-years/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>.
“During these contacts, fictitious names and date of births were given, misleading the officers,” Zamora told reporters. “In fact, both Janie, Rudy’s mother, and Rudy himself gave fictitious names while interacting with various patrol officers.”
So far, no charges have been filed against Santana, but police are still looking into the situation. The Harris County District Attorney’s Office said during a Thursday press conference that there was a lack of probable cause to arrest Santana. When asked by a reporter what kind of charges Santana could face for not accurately reporting her son’s whereabouts, Zamora said she would face a “class C misdemeanor, which is similar to a traffic citation.”
Santana reported Farias as missing on March 7, 2015, but he actually returned a day later. For the next eight years, Santana “continued to deceive police by remaining adamant that Rudy was still missing,” Zamora said.
“She alleged her nephew was the person friends and family were seeing coming and going,” he added.
Farias has been reunited with his aunt, Pauline Sanchez, who <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/houston-man-whose-mother-said-was-missing-no-longer-wants-contact-aunt-rcna92997?cid=sm_npd_nn_fb_ma&amp;utm_campaign=trueanthem&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_source=facebook&amp;_branch_match_id=1133745504221936325&amp;_branch_referrer=H4sIAAAAAAAAA8soKSkottLXz0tKzkstL9ZLLCjQy8nMy9YvCijOTwkOzEx1SgIAZgRmdyQAAAA%3D" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> media outlets she hadn’t seen her nephew in eight years.
“I felt great presence. It was beautiful. We hugged until I finally let go. He’s a bit skinny,” she said. “He’s doing well but plans to stay away from his mother.”
Farias will be staying with a friend and reportedly wants no contact with his mother.
“His mentality, he needs to get well. He’s going to be cautious. I still feel that he’s traumatized and gone through a lot. I still feel action should be taken,” Sanchez said. “He doesn’t want to see his mom and doesn’t want to go back to his mom.”

Man Reported As Missing For 8 Years Was Never Missing At All, Houston Police Say

Houston police are investigating whether a man found alive after being reported missing eight years ago was actually missing at all.
Rudolph “Rudy” Farias was 17 years old when his mother reported him missing in 2015. Last week, he was found sleeping in front of a church and returned to his family, with media outlets picking up the miraculous story of how he was found alive after eight years.
But neighbors quickly questioned the reports, saying that Farias was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/man-found-alive-after-he-went-missing-eight-years-ago-may-never-have-been-missing-neighbors-say" target="_blank" rel="noopener">never missing at all</a> and had been living with his mother the entire time.
“He used to come in my garage, chill with my cousin, son, and daughter,” neighbor Kisha Ross <a href="https://abc13.com/rudolph-rudy-farias-found-man-missing-for-eight-years-alive-where-was-rudy/13461241/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> ABC 13. “That boy has never been missing.”
On Wednesday, Houston Police Chief Troy Finner <a href="https://abc13.com/rudolph-rudy-farias-found-man-missing-for-eight-years-alive-where-was-rudy/13461241/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> ABC 13 that police were looking into the claims.
“We understand why the public is asking questions; we get it,” Finner told the outlet. “Just like anything, HPD will get to the bottom of it. The truth is going to come out, and I don’t want to get ahead of that.”
When Farias was found sleeping outside a church last week, his mother told reporters that he had been beaten up and was left “non-verbal.”
Farias’ mother, Janie Santana, was filmed by neighbors this week talking about her 25-year-old son, KPRC 2 <a href="https://www.khou.com/article/news/local/rudy-farias-quanell-x-allegations/285-96d5973a-b558-41e9-bb46-c1c6aa1a3baf?fbclid=IwAR1hT1zB8sapaqlP3gim04JVyti-xoUXYexkmAdPSYNU5-mlOiRnGPUBNes" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>. In the clip, she said she was expecting to be arrested for allegedly hiding her son all those years. KPRC 2 further reports that Houston community activist Quannell X &#8220;said Farias told him and the investigator that his mom has been drugging and sexually abusing him.&#8221;
“When he first went missing, he didn’t report it to the police. And they’re trying to say he might have done some crimes — which he didn’t,” Santana said in the clip. “And now, they want to arrest me because they said I was hiding him.”
Houston police have said they spoke to Farias and his mother on Wednesday but did not elaborate on what they might have learned.
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Farias was found sleeping outside a church on June 29. A good Samaritan contacted authorities, who were able to connect Farias with his family because he had something on him that identified a family member, KHOU reported.
Santana, Farias’ mother, released a statement Monday regarding her son:
&#8220;We want to thank the media and public for all their support.,&#8221; read the statement. &#8220;My son Rudy Farias IV was found on Thursday, June 29th, after being missing for 8 years. Currently, we do not have any additional information on Rudy’s case. What we do know is at the time of his recovery, a good Samaritan located him unresponsive and immediately called police and 911. My son Rudy is receiving the care he needs to overcome his trauma, but at this time, he is nonverbal and not able to communicate with us. We are asking for privacy during this difficult time but will share more details as Rudy continues to heal.&#8221;
Another twist in the case came when it was discovered that in 2018 — three years after Farias allegedly went missing — family members called the police to say that Farias was living behind a relative’s home. When police searched the area, they didn’t find Farias.
Farias was found just 25 minutes from where he allegedly disappeared.

Police vehicles with overhead strobe lights at a crime scene

Cops Investigating If ‘Missing’ Texas Man Found Alive After 8 Years Was Actually Missing, Mom Expects To Be Arrested

Cops Investigating If 'Missing' Texas Man Found Alive After 8 Years Was Actually Missing, Mom Expects To Be Arrested

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In 2015, then-17-year-old Rudolph “Rudy” Farias was reported missing by his mother after he took his dogs for a walk and never returned. On June 29, 2023, Farias was found sleeping in front of a church and returned to his family.
But neighbors of the Houston man say they never knew Farias was missing, and insisted that he had been living with his mother the entire time and hanging out around the neighborhood.
&#8220;He used to come in my garage, chill with my cousin, son, and daughter,&#8221; neighbor Kisha Ross <a href="https://abc13.com/rudolph-rudy-farias-found-man-missing-for-eight-years-alive-where-was-rudy/13461241/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> ABC 13. &#8220;That boy has never been missing.&#8221;
Ross’ cousin, Broderick Conley, told the outlet that he and Farias would regularly hang out, “laughing” and having “good times.”
Ross also told the outlet that sometimes Farias “would go to the park by himself.”
They also said they knew Farias as Dolph and not Rudy. They noted that they had not seen him in the past few weeks.
Another neighbor, who wanted to remain anonymous, told ABC that Farias had been living at his mother’s home for years.
&#8220;I was just shocked someone over here was missing, and we see him,&#8221; the neighbor said. &#8220;It&#8217;s shocking to everyone.&#8221;
ABC 13 reporter Brooke Taylor spoke to Farias’ mother, Janie Santana, on Tuesday. Santana refused to go on camera but told the reporter that her neighbors had mistaken her son for her nephew, and provided a picture. The neighbors, however, said the photo did not match the man who had been spending time with him and are wondering why Santana has claimed Farias was missing.
&#8220;I do not know. That&#8217;s what I have been trying to figure out all day,&#8221; Ross told the outlet. &#8220;I am confused right now. I am like, &#8216;What&#8217;s going on?'&#8221;
Investigators have not spoken to Farias yet, but are expected to do so on Wednesday.
Texas Equusearch founder Tim Miller, who helped look for Farias, <a href="https://www.khou.com/article/news/local/rudy-farias-found-timeline/285-23b45d75-a676-42cd-a63d-34a4cc3110cf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> KHOU 11 there were &#8220;a lot more questions than answers&#8221; in Farias’ disappearance, referring to initial claims that no one knew where he was for the past eight years.
Farias was found sleeping outside a church on June 29. A good Samaritan contacted authorities, who were able to connect Farias with his family because he had something on him that identified a family member, KHOU reported.
Santana, Farias’ mother, released a statement Monday regarding her son:
<blockquote>We want to thank the media and public for all their support. My son Rudy Farias IV was found on Thursday, June 29th, after being missing for 8 years. Currently, we do not have any additional information on Rudy’s case. What we do know is at the time of his recovery, a good Samaritan located him unresponsive and immediately called police and 911. My son Rudy is receiving the care he needs to overcome his trauma, but at this time, he is nonverbal and not able to communicate with us. We are asking for privacy during this difficult time but will share more details as Rudy continues to heal.</blockquote>
Another twist in the case came when it was discovered that in 2018 — three years after Farias allegedly went missing — family members called police to say that Farias was living behind a relative’s home. When police searched the area, they didn’t find Farias.
Farias was found just 25 minutes from where he allegedly disappeared.
Correction: An earlier version of this article named Farias&#8217; mother as Janie Santa. Her name is Janie Santana.

Man Found Alive After He Went ‘Missing’ Eight Years Ago May Never Have Been Missing, Neighbors Say

Man Found Alive After He Went 'Missing' Eight Years Ago May Never Have Been Missing, Neighbors Say

A commercial <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/air-travel" target="_blank" rel="noopener">flight</a> from Houston to Atlanta was the recipient of significant buzz on Wednesday.
A swarm of bees apparently tried to hitch a ride on the Delta Airlines flight out of Houston&#8217;s George Bush Intercontinental on Wednesday. The <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/airplane" target="_blank" rel="noopener">plane</a> was delayed for about four hours while staff tried to figure out what to do about the hundreds of bees congregating on the tip of an airplane wing. A passenger on the flight live-tweeted the whole ordeal as it happened.
&#8220;My flight leaving Houston is delayed because bees have congregated on the tip of one of the wings,&#8221; author and scholar Anjali Enjeti tweeted at around 12:20 p.m. local time Wednesday. &#8220;They won’t let us board until they remove the bees. But how on earth will this happen? Won’t they leave the wing when we take off?&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
My flight leaving Houston is delayed because bees have congregated on the tip of one of the wings. They won’t let us board until they remove the bees. But how on earth will this happen? Won’t they leave the wing when we take off? <a href="https://t.co/DhodBz0m5n">pic.twitter.com/DhodBz0m5n</a>
— Anjali Enjeti (she/her) (@AnjaliEnjeti) <a href="https://twitter.com/AnjaliEnjeti/status/1653813099932135449?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 3, 2023</a></blockquote>
According to Enjeti, the bees swarmed onto the plane as soon as it pulled up to the gate. Officials at the airport were originally going to call pest control; they then said they were going to call a beekeeper to attempt to hive the bees. Airport personnel were perplexed and took pictures of the swarm.
The <a href="https://twitter.com/AnjaliEnjeti/status/1653826284537913357?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">captain</a> later updated the passengers on the flight. The bee keeper could not come because he was not allowed to touch the airplanes; neither could pest controllers, who are not allowed to spray the planes; neither could the fire department, for undetermined reasons; the airport workers did not have a hose to spray the plane, either. Someone did approach the plane later with a hose, but backed off, to the dismay of passengers.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Close up of the bees on the wing <a href="https://t.co/XodD4Z2kgi" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pic.twitter.com/XodD4Z2kgi</a>
— Anjali Enjeti (she/her) (@AnjaliEnjeti) <a href="https://twitter.com/AnjaliEnjeti/status/1653829182692925460?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 3, 2023</a></blockquote>
In a last ditch effort, the pilot said he would <a href="https://twitter.com/AnjaliEnjeti/status/1653826602923335696?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">taxi</a> the plane in an effort to shake the swarm off. As soon as the plane&#8217;s engines turned on, the bees left.
<a class="c-link" href="https://onelink.to/dwapp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="https://onelink.to/dwapp" data-sk="tooltip_parent" aria-describedby="sk-tooltip-7429">CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILY WIRE APP</a>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Omg y’all. Entire the flight crew deplaned. Delta decided to give our gate to another flight. As soon as our plane’s engine turned on, THE BEES LEFT!!! All Delta had to do was TURN ON THE PLANE <a href="https://t.co/gILlJ8EMZg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pic.twitter.com/gILlJ8EMZg</a>
— Anjali Enjeti (she/her) (@AnjaliEnjeti) <a href="https://twitter.com/AnjaliEnjeti/status/1653847715791400960?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 3, 2023</a></blockquote>
Passengers were initially dismayed to learn that the gate was being given to another flight, and <a href="https://twitter.com/AnjaliEnjeti/status/1653855565372616711?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">questions</a> swirled as to whether they would be given another flight or if it would be canceled. Fortunately, the plane was <a href="https://twitter.com/AnjaliEnjeti/status/1653866162352971777?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noopener">transferred</a> to another gate; the passengers finally boarded the flight around 4:30.
A professional apiarist who has experience removing swarms from airplanes told local news outlet <a href="https://www.khou.com/article/news/local/delta-airplane-bees-houston/285-eebd12f2-7d52-4f1a-983d-95cd5138ff1b" target="_blank" rel="noopener">KHOU</a> that the swarm is very common this time of year, and that the bees were simply resting. &#8220;They usually start in the south and they move towards the north,&#8221; Mike Sexton, a.k.a. &#8220;The Bee Man,&#8221; said. “Whenever bee swarms start, they’re going to gorge themselves with a bunch of honey and the old queen is going to take off with a bunch of workers so they&#8217;re not going to eat again until they actually get to a new home, so in the meantime they rest and conserve their energy, so they land on anything.&#8221;
The Houston flight delay came just one day after another un-bee-lievable incident in Florida. More than <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/more-than-a-million-bees-swarm-florida-highway-after-overnight-crash" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a million bees</a> swarmed a Florida highway Tuesday when a tractor trailer collided with another truck hauling more than five million of the insects on their way to produce honey. The beekeeper is still counting his losses, both financially and numerically, as many of them flew away from the scene of the crash. Fortunately, despite a million potential hazards in the air, no injuries were reported.

Bees

Buzz Off!: Flight Delayed For Four Hours When Swarm Of Bees Latches Onto Wing

Air Travel

Airplane

Animals

Delta Airlines

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Texas officials announced Wednesday a state takeover of the eighth-largest school district in the U.S. after allegations of misconduct by school trustees and chronically low academic scores at its schools.
<a href="https://apnews.com/article/houston-schools-texas-takeover-eae680bec5fbd3b419c2583fb850d42e">According</a> to The Associated Press, Texas Commissioner of Education Mike Morath announced officials would officially gain control of the Houston Independent School District (HISD).
Morath cited a state law that mandates Texas officials to take control and argued the move is the best way to get the district back on track, <a href="https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/education/article/houston-tea-takeover-hisd-17821731.php">according</a> to The Houston Chronicle.
&#8220;Even with recent improvements and despite good intentions from many, Houston ISD as a system continues to allow chronically low achievement in multiple schools,&#8221; Morath said. &#8220;State intervention is necessary in several years in an attempt to shore up support for students in those schools.&#8221;
Morath sent a letter to the Houston ISD board of trustees alerting them to the takeover Wednesday morning, KPRC 2 News <a href="https://www.click2houston.com/news/local/2023/03/15/tea-to-take-over-houston-isd-after-weeks-of-speculation/">reported</a>.
“The goal here is to let what is great about Houston continue to be great, but where there are places where students have for far too long gone without the sort of structure of support that they need,” Morath told KPRC 2 News. “The system of Houston ISD seems to allow campuses to go many, many years without seeing performance.”
Government officials began mobilizing to seize control of the district in 2019, after 50 out of about 300 schools within the district received D or F grades. Wheatley High School reportedly received seven consecutive unacceptable ratings and dozens of other schools in the district received D or F evaluations.
According to recent <a href="https://www.usnews.com/education/k12/texas/districts/houston-isd-104364">data</a>, district-wide, only 51% of high school students were proficient in reading, and 52% were on level for math.
The failing grades triggered a state law that required schools to close or install a board of managers to replace the existing district board members, The Houston Chronicle reported.
District officials filed a lawsuit against the state, but the Texas Supreme Court blocked the case due to new education laws passed by the state legislature, which gave authority to the state to take control.
Superintendent Millard House sounded optimistic in his statement, touting the fact that 40 of those 50 schools that were struggling moved off the D and F list during his tenure. 
&#8220;I stepped into my role understanding the obstacles we faced as a district, including a looming takeover,&#8221; House said, according to The Houston Chronicle. &#8220;Today’s announcement does not discount the gains we have made district-wide. I am confident our educators and staff will continue to do the necessary work to ensure positive student outcomes at every level.&#8221;
House, who was elected by the school board in 2021, will likely still receive his annual salary of approximately $350,000 until his contract expires in 2024.
Commissioner Morath applauded House’s work in the district, but due to the nature of the law, he still has to appoint a new leadership team for a clean slate.
“Ultimately, a board of managers allows Houston to completely reframe the governing team to focus on servant leadership to truly believe that the board exists to serve the staff and students, not the other way around,” Morath said. “So it&#8217;s important that we set the district leadership team up with a fresh start.”
Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner has reportedly been critical of the state takeover, accusing the state of mishandling the situation and arguing the leadership shakeup would only cause a distraction for the staff and students for the rest of the year.
“I don&#8217;t think that parents appreciate all of this stress and anxiety being put on their students when they’re getting ready to take exams,&#8221; Turner said. &#8220;I give them an F on how they managed this situation.”
Texas Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee and the Legislative Black Caucus condemned the state intervention and called it “a dark day” for the district.
Democrats, in general, have disapproved of the move, claiming it’s political. Houston is a largely Democrat-controlled city that has been at odds with state-level Republicans over a variety of issues related to education since the pandemic.
The unprecedented move from the Texas Education Agency toward HISD adds to the list of 15 other districts where state officials have appointed new leadership. Seven of those districts had a new board of managers put in place, and in most of those cases the takeover wasn’t actually related to academic issues &#8211; the majority were for financial issues.
But none have been anywhere near the size of Houston Independent. 
This kind of overhaul from state governments has happened nationwide. Philadelphia, New Orleans, and Detroit have gone through state takeovers in recent years. Critics argue there is little success in improving the academic outcomes when such takeovers occur from state governments.
Texas Education Agency officials will reportedly appoint a board of managers and a superintendent to oversee the district until the end of the school year in June.

US-HEALTH-VIRUS-EDUCATION-SCHOOL

Texas Announces Takeover Of Failing Big City School District

Education

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The <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/denver" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Denver Broncos</a> and <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/houston" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Houston Texans</a> both reportedly hired new head football coaches on Tuesday after experiencing losing seasons.
ESPN&#8217;s Adam Schefter reported that the Texans hired former San Francisco 49ers’ defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans on a six-year deal. The Texans went 3-13-1 during this season.
&#8220;For so many reasons, DeMeco is everything we are looking for in a leader and coach for our organization,&#8221; Houston Texans owner Cal McNair said in a statement. &#8220;He has a proven track record for developing high-quality players and constantly innovated his defensive scheme over the last six seasons in San Francisco.&#8221;
&#8220;We started this process with the goal of finding someone our fans and city can be proud of and we&#8217;ve done just that,&#8221; the statement continued. &#8220;While we received a lot of incredible feedback and support for DeMeco from different people, it was our discussions with him and his vision for our football team that made him the right coach to lead us as we continue to evolve as an organization.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Former 49ers’ defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans and the Houston Texans reached agreement today on a six-year deal, per sources. Texans have their new head coach. <a href="https://t.co/1CvFSLvZY5">pic.twitter.com/1CvFSLvZY5</a>
&mdash; Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) <a href="https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/1620533383439994880?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 31, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Schefter also reported that the Broncos agreed to a deal to sign Sean Payton from the New Orleans Saints. The NFL confirmed Schefter&#8217;s report.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Saints receive a 2023 first-round pick and 2024 second-round pick. 
Broncos receive Sean Payton and a future third-round pick.
&mdash; NFL (@NFL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NFL/status/1620544277876187137?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 31, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Even though Payton did not coach this year, Denver had to negotiate with New Orleans to sign him because Payton signed an extension with New Orleans in 2019 to remain with the team through the 2024 season, the report said. The Broncos finished the season 5-12.
New Orleans will get Denver&#8217;s first-round draft pick this year and the team&#8217;s second-round pick next year in exchange for Payton and New Orlean&#8217;s third-round pick next year.
&#8220;Timing of today’s two hires was completely coincidental,&#8221; Schefter said. &#8220;Broncos were zeroed in on Sean Payton, and didn’t make any contact this week with DeMeco Ryans or his agent. Denver was focused on Payton, and Houston on Ryans.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Timing of today’s two hires was completely coincidental. Broncos were zeroed in on Sean Payton, and didn’t make any contact this week with DeMeco Ryans or his agent. Denver was focused on Payton, and Houston on Ryans.
&mdash; Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) <a href="https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/1620541240562561024?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 31, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&nbsp;

Houston Texans Denver Broncos

Denver Broncos And Houston Texans Both Hire New Head Coaches

Denver

Restaurant and bar owners in <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/houston-taqueria-where-patron-shot-and-killed-would-be-robber-gets-robbed-again" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Houston</a> are sleeping in their establishments, armed, in order to protect them from robbers.
The restaurant owners have resorted to sleeping in their businesses in order to prevent a recent rash of break-ins that have taken place in recent weeks. The owners said that their businesses have been broken into repeatedly, sometimes by the same suspect. They placed the blame on Houston&#8217;s bail policies, which have resulted in more criminals out on the streets.
“We’ve been broken into six times now,&#8221; Tod Jones, the owner of Glitter, a karaoke bar in Midtown Houston, told local news outlet <a href="https://www.khou.com/article/news/local/houston-restaurant-bars-burglaries/285-6667ff6d-562d-4173-9594-be37661e754b" target="_blank" rel="noopener">KHOU</a>. “They’re coming in, grabbing as many bottles as they can, throwing it in a bag and then they’re out. Both my windows are broken, and I’m like, &#8216;Man, I don’t even want to fix them because they’re going to be broken again in the next few days.’”
Jones said that the thieves have caused more than $20,000 in damages and stolen alcohol. “At this point, you don’t even want to claim it on your insurance, because you don’t want to lose your insurance,&#8221; he said. &#8220;You just have to fix it yourself.” KHOU reported that Jones now sleeps at the bar from closing until morning to protect the property.
Raul Jacobo, the owner of Cobos Barbecue in the East Downtown neighborhood, is also sleeping in the back office of his restaurant with a gun waiting for burglars. The restaurant was broken into twice in less than two weeks, despite being a block away from a Houston Police Department office. In one instance, Jacobo and a security guard caught a would-be thief and held him until police arrived. &#8220;Police got there, he had his bag with all his tools in it, ski mask,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Then, next thing I find out, he’s out the next day.”
“We are literally one street away from an [HPD] substation and we have a criminal that is breaking in twice in four days and doesn’t care about any consequence,&#8221; he added.
“I have been burglarized 15 times in the last year,” Lindsey Rae, the owner of Two-Headed Dog in Houston, said during a recent city council meeting, via the <a href="https://nypost.com/2023/01/19/armed-bar-owners-in-texas-sleeping-in-shops-to-stop-criminals/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">New York Post</a>. “We’re seeing, if they are getting caught, they’re getting re-released because of the cash bond issues we’re having,” she added. &#8220;They can come back and rob us again.”
A 2021 investigation from ABC affiliate <a href="https://abc13.com/feature/harris-county-bond-system-repeat-offenders-houston-crime/11250980/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">KTRK</a> found that Houston&#8217;s bail policies have allowed more criminals back onto the streets. The outlet found that in 2011, just 3.5% of cases filed in Harris County court resulted in the defendant being released on felony bond; in 2021, the defendant was released in 18.8% of cases, nearly six times as often. The most frequent charges for defendants who posted felony bond were: felon in possession of a weapon; possession of a controlled substance; or aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
The investigation also found that criminals were committing more crimes while out on bail. In 2011, just 3.5% of cases involved a defendant who was already out on at least one existing felony bond; in 2021, that number leaped to 19%. Of those cases, 968 accused felons allegedly committed four or more new crimes since being released on bond. One case investigated by the outlet found that the offender was out on 13 separate bonds.

Guns

Houston Restaurant Owners Are Sleeping In Their Businesses, Armed, To Keep Out Burglars Because Of City’s Lax Bail Policies

Houston Restaurant Owners Are Sleeping In Their Businesses, Armed, To Keep Out Burglars Because Of City's Lax Bail Policies

Robbery

Small Businesses

The <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/houston" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Houston</a> taqueria where a would-be robber was shot and killed last week suffered a break-in on Tuesday.
At about 2:45 a.m. local time on Tuesday morning, a man broke into El Ranchito #4 in southwest Houston, stealing money and damaging several video poker machines in the establishment. Surveillance video from the scene shows the robber using a crowbar to pry open the door of the restaurant, breaking into several gambling machines before making off with several hundred dollars from the cash register.
&#8220;When I got here, I looked at the video and I saw the man break into the games and the register,&#8221; Pedro Lopez, the owner of El Ranchito, told <a href="https://abc13.com/houston-taqueria-robbery-shooting-break-in-at-el-ranchito-customer-shoots-robber/12685408/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">local news</a> reporters.
Surveillance video of the break-in shows a masked man using a pry bar to wrench open the door of the restaurant. The man then busts open three video poker machines from which he reportedly stole money. He then walks up to the cash register, breaking it open and taking the money from inside. Lopez told local news outlets that the thief made off with a couple hundred dollars.
His gambling machines are ruined, and a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHritBC8Ajw" target="_blank" rel="noopener">news hit</a> from local station ABC 13 showed the front door lock of the restaurant mangled as well.
&#8220;I don&#8217;t know if it&#8217;s against me. I just don&#8217;t know,&#8221; Lopez lamented. &#8220;I think we need to come out ahead of it and move forward. Keep working until someone else comes to rob us.&#8221; The shop was open the day after the robbery took place, ABC 13 reported.
The second break-in came just five days after a would-be robber was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/armed-customer-shoots-robber-dead-and-returns-stolen-money-in-houston-taqueria-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener">shot and killed</a> by a patron while attempting to hold up the store. Witnesses told officers that a masked African American man wearing all black clothing, a black ski mask, and black gloves walked into the restaurant, pointing what appeared to be a firearm at customers while demanding their money, according to Houston police.
While this person was walking around the restaurant taking money from patrons, one customer sitting in a booth with another person quickly stood up as soon as the suspect passed by and pulled out a gun, as seen in the surveillance video.
Police said the armed patron shot the suspect multiple times before collecting the stolen money, which he then returned to the others. This individual and other patrons then left the scene, leaving the police to ask the public for help in identifying the shooter as he was wanted for questioning.
The Houston Police Department shared surveillance images of who they believe was the armed customer, described as a white or Hispanic man, as well as his 1970s or 1980s model pickup truck with no bed. No charges have been filed, police said in a Friday press release.
On Monday, the Harris County District Attorney’s Office said in a statement that it was referring the case to a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/grand-jury-to-decide-on-charges-for-customer-who-fatally-shot-robber-at-houston-taqueria" target="_blank" rel="noopener">grand jury</a>, which would decide whether or not to press charges against the patron.
Lopez expressed support for the patron on Tuesday. &#8220;I&#8217;m happy that they didn&#8217;t put charges against him right now,&#8221; he said. &#8220;He continues forward and God takes care of him and protects him. Thanks to him, they didn&#8217;t take the money. The bad thing is the death.&#8221;

Robber with crowbar

Houston Taqueria Where Patron Shot And Killed Would-Be Robber Gets Robbed Again

Shooting

The man who shot and killed a robbery suspect at a taqueria in <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/houston" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Houston</a> last week before returning the stolen money to other patrons will be referred to a grand jury, according to authorities.
Houston police said the 46-year-old armed customer, who has not been publicly identified, was questioned by homicide detectives in the presence of his attorney on Monday.
&#8220;After consulting with members of the Harris County District Attorney&#8217;s Office, it was determined the shooting will be referred to a grand jury,&#8221; the Houston Police Department <a href="https://www.houstontx.gov/police/nr/2023/jan/nr010923-7.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said in a statement Monday</a>. &#8220;Since the male is not arrested or charged, his identity is not being released at this time.&#8221;
The incident happened inside The Ranchito #4 at around 11:30 p.m. Thursday. Witnesses told officers that a masked African American man wearing all black clothing, a black ski mask, and black gloves walked into the restaurant, waving what appeared to be a firearm at customers while demanding their money, according to Houston police.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
CAUGHT ON VIDEO: A customer at a taqueria shot and killed a robber at the restaurant on S. Gessner in southwest Houston, police said. 
Read: <a href="https://t.co/3M4zQSUx2G">https://t.co/3M4zQSUx2G</a> <a href="https://t.co/XQH8r8yHus">pic.twitter.com/XQH8r8yHus</a>
&mdash; KHOU 11 News Houston (@KHOU) <a href="https://twitter.com/KHOU/status/1611369847417446401?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 6, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
While the alleged robber, now identified by police as 30-year-old Eric Eugene Washington, was walking around the restaurant taking money from patrons, one customer sitting in a booth with another person quickly stood up as soon as Washington passed by and pulled out a gun, as seen in surveillance video.
The armed patron shot Washington, who collapsed on the ground. The 46-year-old customer continued to fire as he walked up to Washington, took his gun, and then fired one more round toward Washington. <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/US/customer-fatally-shot-robber-houston-taqueria-wanted-questioning/story?id=96294463" target="_blank" rel="noopener">At least nine shots</a> could be heard in the footage.
As reported by FOX 26 Houston, the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o20wyw04r64" target="_blank" rel="noopener">security video shows</a> the 46-year-old patron apparently realizing the alleged robber&#8217;s firearm was fake, as he throws it against the wall. Police said the man collected the stolen money, which he then returned to the others. He and other patrons then left the scene.
Responding officers found the robbery suspect shot multiple times, and paramedics pronounced him dead, according to authorities. No one else was reported to be injured in the incident.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
UPDATE: Surveillance photos of the male (and his vehicle) wanted for questioning in this fatal shooting of a robbery suspect last night (Jan. 5).
Know the man&#39;s ID? Call HPD Homicide 713-308-3600. He is not charged at this time.
More info at <a href="https://t.co/ldFdhIXy1g">https://t.co/ldFdhIXy1g</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/hounews?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#hounews</a> <a href="https://t.co/CIqpLEQmmM">https://t.co/CIqpLEQmmM</a> <a href="https://t.co/FrL42qkjxu">pic.twitter.com/FrL42qkjxu</a>
&mdash; Houston Police (@houstonpolice) <a href="https://twitter.com/houstonpolice/status/1611382092209815552?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 6, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Houston police Lt. R. Wilkins said Washington was brandishing &#8220;a plastic pistol possibly an aero soft or possibly a little BB pistol,&#8221; <a href="https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/houston-police-taqueria-shooting-video-17699731.php" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according to KHOU 11</a>. Still, Pedro Lopez, the owner of the restaurant, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHkbTbhLmoI" target="_blank" rel="noopener">praised the armed patron as a &#8220;hero,&#8221;</a> according to an English translation provided by the news outlet.
The 46-year-old&#8217;s attorney released a statement to ABC 13 Eyewitness News saying they are confident the grand jury will conclude the shooting was justified under Texas law.
&#8220;In fear of his life and his friend&#8217;s life my client acted to protect everyone in the restaurant,&#8221; <a href="https://abc13.com/houston-taqueria-shooting-customer-shoots-robber-eric-eugene-washington-killed-suspect-death/12681554/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the statement said</a>. &#8220;In Texas, a shooting is justified in self-defense, defense of others and in defense of property. The customer has met with the Harris County District Attorney&#8217;s Office and Investigators with HPD homicide. He fully intends to continue cooperating with the ongoing investigation.&#8221;

(Photo by Celal Gunes/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Grand Jury To Decide On Charges For Customer Who Fatally Shot Robber At Houston Taqueria

grand jury

Gun Violence

Texas authorities are searching for a man who fatally shot a suspected robber inside a Houston taco restaurant last week.
The shooting death occurred inside Ranchito Taqueria at approximately 11:30 p.m. CT on Thursday.
&#8220;Witnesses told officers the suspect entered the restaurant and pointed a pistol at patrons as he demanded their money. As the suspect collected money from patrons, one of the patrons, described as a white or Hispanic male, produced a gun of his own and shot the suspect multiple times,&#8221; police said in a <a href="https://cityofhouston.news/surveillance-photos-of-male-wanted-for-questioning-in-fatal-shooting-at-6873-south-gessner-road/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a>.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
UPDATE: Surveillance photos of the male (and his vehicle) wanted for questioning in this fatal shooting of a robbery suspect last night (Jan. 5).
Know the man&#39;s ID? Call HPD Homicide 713-308-3600. He is not charged at this time.
More info at <a href="https://t.co/ldFdhIXy1g">https://t.co/ldFdhIXy1g</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/hounews?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#hounews</a> <a href="https://t.co/CIqpLEQmmM">https://t.co/CIqpLEQmmM</a> <a href="https://t.co/FrL42qkjxu">pic.twitter.com/FrL42qkjxu</a>
&mdash; Houston Police (@houstonpolice) <a href="https://twitter.com/houstonpolice/status/1611382092209815552?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 6, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&#8220;The shooter collected the stolen money from the suspect and returned the money to other patrons. He and other patrons (victims) then fled the scene,&#8221; police said.
ABC News reported that the suspect was later found to have used a toy gun during the incident, though customers believed it was a real firearm. ABC-13 Houston <a href="https://abc13.com/houston-robberies-customer-shoots-suspect-el-ranchito-taqueria-gessner-and-bellaire-southwest-crime/12663715/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> that the robber&#8217;s firearm was either a plastic air-soft gun or a BB gun, according to Houston Police Detective Lt. R. Willkens.
The identity of the deceased robbery suspect was not revealed in the statement. He is believed to be in his 20s and wore all black, including a black mask and gloves. His verification by the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences is pending, according to the police report.
The surveillance images of the customer who shot the alleged robber showed an older male in a t-shirt and jeans carrying a jacket and handgun. Another image of his vehicle showed a late model red pickup truck, likely 1970s or 1980s with no bed, as the vehicle he drove when leaving the restaurant.
[WARNING: Graphic video below.]
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
🚨<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a>: Self-defense shooting of armed robber at a restaurant 
📌<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Houston?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Houston</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Texas?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Texas</a>
Watch as a brave customer at a taqueria shot restaurant shot and killed an armed criminal who was robbing from other customers. Houston police are now looking for that person for questioning <a href="https://t.co/g7EYjms5PZ">pic.twitter.com/g7EYjms5PZ</a>
&mdash; R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) <a href="https://twitter.com/rawsalerts/status/1611824003932475392?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 7, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
No charges have been filed in the incident. Police are asking those with information to come forward with details.
ABC News <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/US/customer-fatally-shot-robber-houston-taqueria-wanted-questioning/story?id=96294463" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> that about 10 people were eating inside the taqueria at the time of the attempted robbery. Surveillance video showed the customer with the firearm shooting the robber multiple times after money was taken from other customers. Nine shots were reportedly heard in the video.
Police are also seeking information from customers who were inside the restaurant at the time, as customers fled before police arrived to investigate the shooting incident. Pedro Lopez, the owner of the establishment, said he and his workers were in shock following the shooting, according to ABC-13.
Nathan Beedle with the Harris County District Attorney&#8217;s Office <a href="https://www.khou.com/article/news/crime/taqueria-robbery-shooting-houston/285-5dceec19-9c07-444c-b211-4c584738e0fa" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> KHOU-TV Houston that Texas law allows for deadly force when justified by robbery or threat of robbery.
<div class="article__section article__section_type_text utility__text">
&#8220;I can point you exactly where it is in the law, 9.31 and 9.32 of the penal code,&#8221; Beedle said. &#8220;Whether someone uses deadly force in the situation, that is presumed to be correct under Texas law.&#8221;
</div>

Red and blue police lights near a car crash in a city at night.

Customer Who Fatally Shot Houston Taqueria Robbery Suspect Sought For Questioning

A man shot and killed a robbery suspect at a taqueria in Houston on Thursday before returning the stolen money to other patrons, according to authorities.
The incident happened at around 11:30 p.m. and was caught on surveillance video, which has been viewed online millions of times.
Witnesses told officers that a masked African American man wearing all black clothing, a black ski mask, and black gloves walked into the restaurant, pointing what appeared to be a firearm at customers while demanding their money, according to Houston police.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
CAUGHT ON VIDEO: A customer at a taqueria shot and killed a robber at the restaurant on S. Gessner in southwest Houston, police said. 
Read: <a href="https://t.co/3M4zQSUx2G">https://t.co/3M4zQSUx2G</a> <a href="https://t.co/XQH8r8yHus">pic.twitter.com/XQH8r8yHus</a>
&mdash; KHOU 11 News Houston (@KHOU) <a href="https://twitter.com/KHOU/status/1611369847417446401?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 6, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
While this person was walking around the restaurant taking money from patrons, one customer sitting in a booth with another person quickly stood up as soon as the suspect passed by and pulled out a gun, as seen in the surveillance video.
Police said the armed patron shot the suspect multiple times before collecting the stolen money, which he then returned to the others. This individual and other patrons then left the scene, leaving the police to ask the public for help in identifying the shooter as he is wanted for questioning.
The Houston Police Department shared surveillance images of who they believe was the armed customer, described as a white or Hispanic man, as well as his 1970s or 1980s model pickup truck with no bed. No charges have been filed, police said in the <a href="https://www.houstontx.gov/police/nr/2023/jan/nr010623-1.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Friday press release</a>.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
UPDATE: Surveillance photos of the male (and his vehicle) wanted for questioning in this fatal shooting of a robbery suspect last night (Jan. 5).
Know the man&#39;s ID? Call HPD Homicide 713-308-3600. He is not charged at this time.
More info at <a href="https://t.co/ldFdhIXy1g">https://t.co/ldFdhIXy1g</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/hounews?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#hounews</a> <a href="https://t.co/CIqpLEQmmM">https://t.co/CIqpLEQmmM</a> <a href="https://t.co/FrL42qkjxu">pic.twitter.com/FrL42qkjxu</a>
&mdash; Houston Police (@houstonpolice) <a href="https://twitter.com/houstonpolice/status/1611382092209815552?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 6, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Police said that responding officers found the robbery suspect shot multiple times, and paramedics pronounced him dead. The suspect is believed to be a man in his 20s, and his identity was pending verification by the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences, per the police statement.
Houston police Lt. R. Wilkins said the now-dead suspect was brandishing &#8220;a plastic pistol possibly an aero soft or possibly a little BB pistol,&#8221; <a href="https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/houston-police-taqueria-shooting-video-17699731.php" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according to KHOU 11</a>. No one else in the restaurant was injured, the news report noted.
Investigators encouraged the shooter and victims to contact the Houston Police Department Homicide Division at 713-308-3600 to provide statements.

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