Alleged murder suspect Austin Drummond is in police custody following a six-day manhunt, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) <a href="https://x.com/TBInvestigation/status/1952736468973089085">announced</a> on Tuesday.
Drummond, 28, was caught in Jackson, Tennessee, the TBI said on social media. The agency released a photo of Drummond shortly after his capture and said it would provide more details &#8220;soon.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
UPDATE: Here&#8217;s a picture of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/TNMostWanted?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TNMostWanted</a> fugitive Austin Drummond, moments after having been taken into custody.
Thank you, again, to the local, state, and federal partners who worked diligently to bring Drummond into custody. <a href="https://t.co/Dg5BiiigHq">pic.twitter.com/Dg5BiiigHq</a>
— Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (@TBInvestigation) <a href="https://twitter.com/TBInvestigation/status/1952737732163174894?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 5, 2025</a></blockquote>
At a press conference Tuesday afternoon, District Attorney Danny Goodman said the real work begins now that Drummond has been arrested.
&#8220;Investigations do not end when a person is arrested,&#8221; Goodman said. &#8220;We want [the families of the victims] to know that we are going to do everything we can to seek justice in this matter.&#8221;
Goodman called the cooperation between federal agencies &#8220;impressive.&#8221;
&#8220;I don&#8217;t think I have every seen so many agencies work together and work in sync,&#8221; Goodman said. &#8220;It has been, what I would think, should be a blueprint for the entire county on how to run an operation.&#8221;
Drummond was wanted on four counts of first-degree murder, aggravated kidnapping, and various firearm charges, <a href="https://tbinewsroom.com/2025/07/31/suspect-wanted-in-deaths-of-4-people-in-lake-county/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to a TBI press release. The suspect was spotted near a local church on Sunday, as surveillance footage showed him trying to enter locked doors while carrying a rifle, Fox News <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/us/tennessee-quadruple-murder-suspect-spotted-wielding-rifle-police-release-new-surveillance-videos">reported</a>.
TBI Director David Rausch said authorities have found multiple weapons but did not say what the weapons were. Drummond was not armed when he was arrested, according to Jackson Police Chief Thom Corley.
Police located Drummond&#8217;s car in Jackson last Friday and focused the search on the area.
The TBI also arrested two men and one woman in connection with the quadruple murder. All three have been charged with accessory after the fact to first-degree murder. One man was also charged with tampering with evidence, <a href="https://tbinewsroom.com/2025/08/04/third-person-charged-in-connection-to-tiptonville-quadruple-murder/">according</a> to a TBI press release.
The four victims found dead last week were relatives of a baby girl who was discovered abandoned in a &#8220;random&#8221; yard in Dyer County last Tuesday, The Daily Wire previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/a-baby-was-abandoned-in-a-random-yard-her-family-was-found-dead-and-a-suspect-is-on-the-loose?author=Catherine+Maxwell&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=0&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=A+Baby+Was+Abandoned+In+A+Random+Yard.+Her+Family+Was+Found+Dead%2C+And+A+Suspect+Is+On+The+Loose.">reported</a>. Authorities began searching for the baby&#8217;s family to question them about the child. A few hours after the baby was found, police found the bodies of her family in a wooded area of Lake County, the county to the north of Dyer.
The deceased were identified as the baby’s mother, Adrianna Williams, 20; father, James Wilson, 21; grandmother, Cortney Rose, 38; and uncle, Braydon Williams, 15.
Rausch said Drummond&#8217;s girlfriend is the sister of two victims and the daughter of one of the victims but gave no names. He said he could not comment on a suspected motive for the murders.
Drummond was convicted of armed robbery in 2014 in Madison County, NBC News <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/relative-4-found-dead-tennessee-says-family-trusted-murder-suspect-run-rcna222379" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>. His prison sentence ended in September 2024. Two months later, he was charged with attempted murder and drug crimes. Drummond was out on bond at the time of the killings. Rausch said those prior charges would be taken into consideration as the justice process moves forward.
Drummond has been transported to an unspecified facility.
The baby is healthy and doing well, Dyer County Sheriff Jeff Box said.
U.S. Marshal for the Western District of Tennessee Tyreece Miller said reported sightings of Drummond helped lead to the arrest.
&#8220;Tonight, families in West Tennessee can sleep more soundly. Austin Drummond is once again behind bars,&#8221; Miller said. &#8220;He thought he could outrun us, but he was wrong.&#8221;
This article has been updated to include additional information.

TBI Suspect Austin Drummond (1)

Authorities Capture Quadruple Murder Suspect After Abandoned Baby Led To Discovery Of Dead Family

Murder

Police

Tennessee

A new propaganda video released by the terrorist group Hamas shows an emaciated Israeli hostage seized on October 7, 2023, being forced to dig his own grave.
The roughly five-minute clip shows Israeli hostage Evyatar David in a tunnel barely high enough for him to stand, “crossing off dates on a calendar and digging a grave,” the New York Post <a href="https://nypost.com/2025/08/02/world-news/hamas-releases-chilling-video-of-living-skeleton-hostage-evyatar-david/">reported</a>.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
How psychopathic is Hamas?
It forced starving hostage Evyatar David to DIG HIS OWN GRAVE for the cameras. <a href="https://t.co/iMa404St4s">pic.twitter.com/iMa404St4s</a>
&mdash; Eylon Levy (@EylonALevy) <a href="https://twitter.com/EylonALevy/status/1951668818167681329?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 2, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
“I haven’t eaten for a few days in a row,” David says weakly in the video. When someone behind the camera filming him hands him a can of beans, David says, “This can is for two days. This whole can is for two days so that I don’t die.&#8221;
“This is the grave I think I’m going to be buried in. Time is running out,&#8221; he adds.
“We are forced to witness our beloved son and brother, Evyatar David, deliberately and cynically starved in Hamas’s tunnels in Gaza — a living skeleton, buried alive,&#8221; David’s family said in a statement sent to the Hostages Families Forum Headquarters. “The deliberate starvation of our son as part of a propaganda campaign is one of the most horrifying acts the world has seen.”
“Hamas terrorists deliberately starve our hostages, documenting them in a cynical, humiliating, and malicious manner,” reacted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“Iran-backed Hamas terrorists have held innocent people hostage, starving them for 666 days,” Florida GOP Sen. Rick Scott said. “Just look at these photos — it’s gut-wrenching. Every day that goes by is a risk to their lives. We cannot stop until every hostage is home and Hamas is destroyed.”
“This is vile. Where are all those demanding Israel end this war now?” New York GOP Rep. Mike Lawler declared. “Where are all those decrying the humanitarian crisis now? The only entity for the devastation that has been inflicted upon innocent Israelis and Palestinians is Hamas. Period. Full stop.”
Forcing Jews to dig their own graves was common during the Nazi Holocaust of the Jews in World War II. As the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum <a href="applewebdata://5797B5F4-C07F-4B1A-A032-D1A52C1F7D89/v">notes</a>:
<blockquote>
Often referred to as an Aktion, a massacre typically began when Jews and other victims were rounded up or ordered to report to a central destination. The victims were then marched or transported to the killing site. If a mass grave had not already been dug, the victims were forced to dig one. They were stripped of clothes and valuables and driven in groups to the pit. The Einsatzgruppen  and their assistants either shot the victims at the edge so that they fell in, or forced them into the grave to be shot. Friends and families often had to watch their loved ones die before them.
</blockquote>
<div id="attachment_956077" style="width: 285px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-956077" class="wp-image-956077 size-medium" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/GettyImages-1371419879-275x300.jpg" alt="" width="275" height="300" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/GettyImages-1371419879-275x300.jpg 275w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/GettyImages-1371419879-527x576.jpg 527w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/GettyImages-1371419879-768x839.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/08/GettyImages-1371419879.jpg 937w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 275px) 100vw, 275px" />Universal History Archive/Universal Images Group via Getty Images</div>

PALESTINIAN-ISRAEL-CONFLICT-HOSTAGES

Hamas Forces Emaciated Israeli Hostage To Dig His Own Grave

Hamas

Israel

Starvation

Terrorism

World

A Florida college student who is on trial for killing her newborn baby girl said in text messages that her &#8220;favorite&#8221; type of birth control is to &#8220;kill [the] kid.&#8221;
Brianne Moore was 19 when she gave birth to a baby in her college dorm bathroom in April 2024. Hours later, she disposed of the deceased baby in the trash.
Moore claims she did not know she was pregnant, or was in denial about it, and did not kill the baby, whom she claims died on her own. However, a medical examiner ruled the cause of death as homicide.
In text messages dated seven months before the birth, Moore talked to a male, named Quasim, from her home state of Mississippi. The pair discussed a &#8220;plan c&#8221; option of birth control as killing the child, which Moore called her &#8220;favorite,&#8221; <a href="https://www.courttv.com/news/prosecutors-teen-texted-about-desire-to-kill-infant-found-in-trash/">according</a> to CourtTV.
<blockquote>Moore: “hey man sometimes you need a plan c”
Quasim: “plan a was condoms 
plan b was the pill 
plan c was to kill thr [sic] kid”
Moore: “plan c is my favorite”</blockquote>
Jonah Dickstein, Moore&#8217;s attorney, <a href="https://people.com/student-accused-killing-newborn-in-florida-dorm-favorite-birth-control-11772012">claims</a> the texts are taken out of context, and were generally about abortion laws. Dickstein also says the male is not the father of the now-deceased baby girl.
<a href="https://www.liveaction.org/news/kill-kid-texts-college-student-charged-newborn/">According</a> to the Tampa Bay Times, Moore says she woke up on April 27, 2024, when her water broke, but had previously been unaware she was pregnant. Attending the University of Tampa at the time, she went to her dorm room bathroom and secretly gave birth to the baby girl.
Moore claims she laid the baby down and took a shower. She then told police the baby wasn&#8217;t moving and she didn&#8217;t hear a heartbeat and &#8220;got scared.&#8221; Moore then allegedly wrapped the baby in a towel, took a nap, and said the baby still wasn&#8217;t breathing. About an hour later, she apparently disposed of the baby in a dumpster outside her dorm room at MaKay Hall.
A medical examiner who performed the autopsy on the baby girl said there were small hemorrhages on her lungs, and found the child died from “asphyxia due to compression of the torso with rib fractures.”
Moore is facing 30 years behind bars. She&#8217;s been charged with aggravated manslaughter of a child, child neglect, failure to report a death, and unlawful storage, preservation, or transportation of human remains.
Moore&#8217;s trial has been postponed until March.

Brianne Moore

Teen On Trial For Killing Her Baby Once Said Murder Was Her ‘Favorite’ Birth Control

Abortion

Crime

Florida

U.S.

Police identified the suspect they allege killed four relatives of a baby abandoned in a &#8220;random&#8221; yard in western Tennessee earlier this week.
The case began on Tuesday when authorities found a baby girl in a car seat abandoned in &#8220;a random individual&#8217;s front yard.&#8221; &#8220;A dark-colored minivan or a white mid-size SUV&#8221; reportedly dropped the child off in a yard in Dyer County, according to a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=1154669463364683">statement</a> made by the local sheriff&#8217;s office. A witness saw the infant in a car seat and called 911. Investigators identified the child and began searching for her family to question them about the incident.
A few hours later, authorities found the bodies of the infant&#8217;s family in a wooded area of Lake County, the county to the north of Dyer. The deceased were identified as the baby&#8217;s mother, Adrianna Williams, 20; father, James Wilson, 21; grandmother, Cortney Rose, 38; and uncle, Braydon Williams, 15.
The suspect, Austin Robert Drummond, 28, is wanted on four counts of first-degree murder, aggravated kidnapping, and various firearm charges, <a href="https://tbinewsroom.com/2025/07/31/suspect-wanted-in-deaths-of-4-people-in-lake-county/">according</a> to a press release from the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.
The police are still looking for Drummond, and he is considered armed and dangerous. There is a $17,500 reward for information leading to his arrest.
About a dozen agencies are working on the case, including the FBI. Authorities have not released a suspected motive.
District Attorney Danny Goodman <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/us/tennessee-manhunt-quadruple-murder-suspect-tied-targeted-attack-after-baby-found-abandoned-da">told</a> Fox News that authorities believe it was a targeted attack.
&#8220;We don&#8217;t think there’s a need for the community to be concerned, as far as it being some type of random act or anything like that,&#8221; Goodman said.
&#8220;The TBI has been actively working this case,&#8221; Goodman added. &#8220;It’s a twenty-four hour, round-the-clock operation right now. They have received several leads and they are following up with those.&#8221;
Goodman said Drummond knew the victims. Rose&#8217;s half sister is Drummond&#8217;s current girlfriend, according to the district attorney.
The exact relationship between Drummond and the half sister is unclear. A woman who identified herself as Rose&#8217;s sister-in-law said in a Facebook post that the girlfriend used to date Drummond. An obituary for another relative, however, said the pair was married.
The sister-in-law, Brier-Ashley Childress, said Drummond had been close to the family.
&#8220;We NEVER expected him to cause ANY harm to ANYONE, much less anyone in our family,&#8221; Childress said. &#8220;Cortney, Adrianna, Braydon, and Matthew THOUGHT they knew him. We all trusted him.&#8221;
Drummond was convicted of armed robbery in 2014 in Madison County, NBC News <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/relative-4-found-dead-tennessee-says-family-trusted-murder-suspect-run-rcna222379">reported</a>. His prison sentence ended in September. Two months later, he was charged with attempted murder and drug crimes. Drummond was out on bond at the time of the killings.
Drummond is now on the TBI&#8217;s Most Wanted List. Authorities found his abandoned car on MCO Road in Jackson, Tennessee, on Aug. 1. In a press conference later that day, TBI Director David Rausch said the agency believes Drummond is still in the area.
&#8220;He has direct ties to Jackson and the vehicle being found here certainly heightens that focus,&#8221; Rausch said.
The TBI said people nearby have been told to lock doors and stay alert.
Lake County Sheriff Bryan Avery said the infant found in the yard &#8220;is safe and being cared for.&#8221;
The TBI arrested two Jackson men over the weekend for allegedly assisting Drummond. Tanaka Brown was <a href="https://tbinewsroom.com/2025/08/02/jackson-man-charged-with-accessory-after-the-fact-to-1st-degree-murder/">charged</a> with accessory after the fact to first degree murder and tampering with evidence. Giovonte Thomas was also <a href="https://tbinewsroom.com/2025/08/02/jackson-man-charged-with-accessory-after-the-fact-to-1st-degree-murder-2/">charged</a> with accessory after the fact.
Brown is out on bond, according to a TBI press release. Thomas was being held on charges unrelated to the murder and will be transferred to the Lake County Jail.
Drummond is still at large. Anyone with information about Drummond is encouraged to contact the authorities by calling 911 or 1-800-TBI-FIND.
This story has been updated to include additional information.

TBI Suspect Austin Drummond

A Baby Was Abandoned In A Random Yard. Her Family Was Found Dead, And A Suspect Is On The Loose.

Death

The man convicted of murdering four University of Idaho students was sentenced to four consecutive fixed life sentences without opportunity for parole.
Bryan Kohberger was also sentenced to 10 years in prison for the count of burglary, as well as a $50,000 fine and $5,000 civil penalty per count.
Kohberger pleaded guilty to four counts of first-degree murder and one count of burglary. As part of the guilty plea, he waived his right to appeal but escaped the death penalty.
&#8220;No parent should have to bury their child,&#8221; Judge Steven Hippler said before the sentencing. &#8220;This is the greatest tragedy that can be inflicted on a person.&#8221;
Hippler said he was unable to find anything redeeming in Kohberger.
&#8220;His actions have made him the worst of the worst,&#8221; Hippler said. &#8220;In my view, the time has now come to end Mr. Kohberger&#8217;s 15 minutes of fame.&#8221;
Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador commended the sentence.
“Our hearts are with the victims and their families. While no sentence can bring full justice to this kind of evil, today’s sentence ensures that Bryan Kohberger will never see the outside of a prison and will never again harm innocent families,” Labrador said in a statement. “Under Idaho law, the fixed prison sentences mean Kohberger will never be eligible for parole. I’m especially grateful to Prosecutor Bill Thompson and my Criminal Division Chief, Jeff Nye, whose leadership, judgment, and tireless efforts brought this case to a just conclusion. Their teams served the State of Idaho with distinction, and our families and the public are safer because of their hard work.”
Before the sentencing, family members of the victims made statements before the court.
Kristi Goncalves, mother of Kaylee Goncalves, said Kohberger &#8220;will finally get what [he] wanted&#8221; in prison.
“A dead killer doesn&#8217;t kill again, so while I&#8217;m disappointed the firing squad won&#8217;t get to take their shots at you, I&#8217;m confident that the men in prison will have their way with you in more ways than one,&#8221; Kristi Goncalves said. &#8220;You will finally get what you wanted, physical touch, just probably not how you were expecting it.”
&#8220;Hell will be waiting,&#8221; Kristi Goncalves concluded.
Steve Goncalves, father of Kaylee Goncalves, told Kohberger, &#8220;From this moment, we will forget you.&#8221;
&#8220;Today we are here to finish what you started. Today you’ve lost control,&#8221; Steve Goncalves added. &#8220;Your actions have united everyone in their disgust for you.&#8221;
Randy Davis, the stepfather of Xana Kernodle, told the victims&#8217; families, &#8220;I love you all and I feel your pain.&#8221;
He then told Kohberger to &#8220;go to hell,&#8221; and everyone applauded.
Kim Kernodle, the aunt of Xana Kernodle, told Kohberger she forgave him.
&#8220;This is probably gonna bother everybody, but Bryan, I’m here today to tell you I’ve forgiven you, because I could no longer live with that hate in my heart,&#8221; Kim Kernodle said. &#8220;And for me to become a better person, I have forgiven you.&#8221;
One of the surviving roommates, Dylan Mortensen, made her <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/dylan-mortensen-roommate-idaho-murder-victims-bryan-kohbergers-sentencing/">first</a> public statement since the murders.
&#8220;Living is how I honor them,&#8221; Mortensen said. &#8220;Speaking today is to help me find some sort of justice for them and I will never let him take that from me. He may have taken so much from me, but he will never get to take my voice.&#8221;
&#8220;I get to feel sadness, I get to feel rage, I get to feel joy even when it&#8217;s hard, I get to feel love even when it hurts, I get to live, and while I will still live with this pain, at least I get to live my life. He will stay here, empty, forgotten and powerless,&#8221; she concluded.
After the impact statements, Prosecutor Bill Thompson showed photos of the four victims while family members cried in the background.
&#8220;We can&#8217;t undo and we can never undo the horror that occurred,&#8221; Thompson said. &#8220;From today forward, our memories should be focused on these innocent victims whose lives were taken on their families, on their friends, on the community.&#8221;
Kohberger declined to make a statement.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt <a href="https://x.com/RapidResponse47/status/1948079113358495996">addressed</a> the sentencing during a press conference Wednesday.
&#8220;Our nation grieves with you, and we will never forget the precious souls who were lost in this horrific act of evil,&#8221; Leavitt said. &#8220;May God bless and watch over everyone affected by this unimaginable tragedy, especially the parents who lost their children.&#8221;

Bryan Kohberger Is Sentenced For Murder Of 4 University Of Idaho Students

Sentence Is In For Bryan Kohberger In University Of Idaho Murder Case

Court

Idaho

Violent Crime

An arrest has been made in connection with the murder of longtime &#8220;American Idol&#8221; music supervisor Robin Kaye, 70, and her husband, who were both found shot and killed in their California home earlier this week. 
Police said that Raymond Boodarian, 22, was arrested on Tuesday on suspicion of murder in what is believed to be a burglary gone wrong.
An investigation revealed that the murders may have occurred on July 10, per the LAPD, due to the fact that their office received two calls that day about a possible burglary. Police <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2025/07/15/entertainment/american-idol-robin-kaye-double-homicide">said</a> they flew a helicopter over the mansion at the time but did not attempt to enter due to the property being “highly fortified” and not seeing outward signs of forced entry. The couple lived in the Encino neighborhood of Los Angeles.
Officers arrived to conduct a welfare check after a concerned friend called on Monday. 
That’s when officers discovered a broken window and signs of a “violent struggle,” the police chief <a href="https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/american-idol-music-supervisor-dead-1236022120/">said</a>, noting that both of the victims were &#8220;ruthlessly shot multiple times.&#8221; 
Kaye’s body was found in the pantry while her husband, Thomas Deluca, was found deceased in a bathroom, per <a href="https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/man-woman-fatally-shot-inside-encino-home/3745211/">NBC Los Angeles</a>. 
The suspect is believed to have scaled a seven to eight-foot-high fence with metal spikes on top of it to gain entry into the residence. Police believe he was in the house for about 30 minutes before the couple encountered him. 
At this time, there is no suspected motive, and the crimes are being treated as a random attack. A murder weapon has not been recovered.
The person who took care of the couple’s pool said there was another attempted break-in a little over a month ago. &#8220;Tom told me that somebody tried to break in, and the dog, he woke up and barked,&#8221; Mauro Quintero <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/american-idol-music-boss-robin-kaye-husband-found-murdered-la-home">told</a> Fox News Digital during an interview. &#8220;So they got up, and I guess they turned the lights on, and the people [ran] away.&#8221;
He continued, &#8220;At that point [Deluca] put something on the wall, so the people don&#8217;t jump in anymore. I guess he was trying to see if that [would] save him from another break-in. But I never expect[ed] that they got murdered like this.&#8221;
The outlet also reported that the couple had consulted with a home security company but did not proceed with installing the system.
Kaye worked as a music supervisor on &#8220;American Idol&#8221; from 2009 to 2023, which prompted reps from the show to issue a statement on her murder.
&#8220;We are devastated to hear of Robin and her dear husband, Tom&#8217;s, passing,&#8221; an American Idol spokesperson said. &#8220;Robin has been a cornerstone of the Idol family since 2009 and was truly loved and respected by all who came in contact with her. Robin will remain in our hearts forever and we share our deepest sympathy with her family and friends during this difficult time.&#8221;

Robin Kaye

Suspect Arrested After ‘American Idol’ Exec And Husband Murdered In L.A. Mansion

Arrest Made After ‘American Idol’ Exec, Her Husband Killed In Apparent Botched Burglary

American Idol

burglary

California

A man reportedly looking for his wife at a Lexington, Kentucky, church gunned down a grandmother of eight and her daughter after shooting a state trooper near the city’s airport on Sunday. The gunman also shot the two women’s husbands, one of whom is the pastor at the church, before police responding to the emergency shot and killed him.
The suspected shooter, Guy House, 47, shot a state trooper outside Blue Grass Airport before fleeing, then carjacked a vehicle and headed to Richmond Road Baptist Church, the Lexington Herald Leader <a href="https://www.kentucky.com/news/local/crime/article310590260.html">reported.</a> The small church is comprised mainly of families related to one another, Fayette County Coroner Gary Ginn <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2025/07/13/us/kentucky-shooting-lexington-church-ky">said</a>.
Beverly Gumm, 72, and her daughter, Star Rutherford, were cooking lunch in the basement of the church on Sunday afternoon when House barged in and asked for his wife, the mother of their three children, who is Gumm’s daughter and Rutherford’s sister. When they informed him she wasn’t there, he said, “Well, someone is gonna have to die, then,” and started shooting, Rutherford told the Herald-Leader, which added, “Gumm, 72, ducked and avoided the first shot, but the second hit her in the chest, killing her. The man then went outside and shot and killed another of Rutherford’s sisters — Christina Combs, 32 — and injured two others: Gumm’s husband and the longtime pastor of the church, Jerry Gumm, and Combs’ husband, Randy Combs.”
Another daughter of Gumm’s, Rachael Barnes, said Combs had five children, including a 6-month-old baby, and had plans to graduate from nursing school in December. Of her slain mother and sister, she said, “They were both fantastic moms.” She said Jerry Gumm and Randy Combs were in critical but stable condition. The injured trooper is reportedly also in stable condition.
Star Rutherford said she held her mother as she died. Gumm’s surviving daughters said she was a “faithful member of the church who loved God,” and her “love language” was feeding “homeless people, drug addicts, strangers.”
“In 2022, the Lexington Police Department and Madison County Sheriff’s office featured House as the Crimestoppers ‘Wanted Person of the Week,’” Fox 56 r<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKEVJXLCGec">eported</a>. “He was wanted for wanton endangerment of a police officer.” Other charges against House included theft of a vehicle, fleeing and evading, possession of a handgun by a convicted felon, and receiving stolen property.

Shooting In Kentucky Leaves State Trooper Injured And Multiple Victims At Baptist Church

Gunman Opens Fire At Kentucky Church After Shooting State Trooper, 2 Dead

Church

Kentucky

A new report details how the perpetrators of the Hamas-led massacre of Israelis on October 7, 2023, had a “systematic and premeditated” plan for the brutal sexual assault of Israeli women.
The <a href="https://thedinahproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/The-Dinah-Project-full-report-A4-pages_web.pdf">report</a> from the aptly-named Dinah Project — in the Bible, the Biblical patriarch Jacob’s daughter was raped by a prince of a nearby region — delineates the savage treatment in the rape and murder of the Israeli women by the Palestinians who were either members of Hamas or the Gazan population.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Rape. Genital Mutilation.
Hamas used sexual violence as a weapon of war &#8211; on October 7 and well after.
This was not random. It was systematic. An intentional tactic of terror. A war crime.
The July 8 Dinah Report demands accountability. 
We will not stop fighting for… <a href="https://t.co/YXpesuK9aH">pic.twitter.com/YXpesuK9aH</a>
&mdash; Israel Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA) <a href="https://twitter.com/IsraelMFA/status/1942508962852790450?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 8, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
“This report represents a call to action: to acknowledge the sexual violence that occurred on October 7 as crimes against humanity, to hold the perpetrators responsible, and to ensure that the tactical use of sexual violence by Hamas as a weapon of war receives the international condemnation and response it demands,” the report states.
According to the report, the sexual assaults themselves were systematic and premeditated, thus attesting to the weaponization of sexual violence and its utilization as a tool of war. A report from the Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) of the UN had already noted, “across multiple locations of the Gaza periphery, a pattern of victims, mostly women, found fully or partially naked from the waist down, with their hands tied behind their back and/or tied to structures such as trees and poles, and shot. &#8230; There are further accounts of individuals who witnessed at least two incidents of rape of corpses of women.”
“One should bear in mind that the vast majority of those who were sexually assaulted were among the 1,166 who were murdered in the attack and therefore silenced forever,” the report reminds its readers. “Many of those who did survive are likely to be too traumatized to be able to recount their experience.”
“The threat of forcibly marrying the female hostages is a recurring theme,” the report explains. “The intention to marry off the female hostages, which was reported by six of the returned hostages, reveals a plan to engage in an act of raping and possibly impregnating them.”
“Five witnesses reported four or five separate cases of gang rapes; two witnesses reported one possible case of gang rape,” the report notes. “Thus, in total, there are at least four accounts of gang rapes, and possibly six such accounts, all occurring during the October 7 attack. &#8230; In most cases, the rape victims were murdered during or immediately following the assault. &#8230; The accounts of mutilations are corroborated by the descriptions of first and second responders.”
The report noted the following actions taken by the perpetrators: Bodies with objects inserted into their private parts; bodies with signs of shooting or other mutilations in the area of the genitalia, and bodies of naked women cuffed to trees.
“All of the first responders who were at the Nova festival site described the same scenes: Dozens of female bodies naked or partially naked from the waist down, many of them bleeding from the genitalia as a result of gunshots,” the report states.

ISRAEL-PALESTINIAN-CONFLICT-HOSTAGES

New Report Exposes Brutal Hamas Atrocities Against Israeli Women

October 7

Rape

Jose Ibarra, the illegal immigrant convicted of murdering 22-year-old nursing student Laken Riley, secured a major court victory last Thursday when a judge ordered a mental evaluation that could lead to a new trial.
Ibarra, 27, was found <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-jose-ibarra-found-guilty-of-killing-georgia-nursing-student-laken-riley">guilty</a> in November on 10 charges, including murder, kidnapping, and aggravated assault with intent to rape Riley, who he murdered after she went jogging at the University of Georgia in Athens.
According to court documents, Ibarra&#8217;s defense attorneys <a href="https://nypost.com/2025/07/07/us-news/laken-rileys-killer-jose-ibarra-gets-major-win-for-possible-trial-redo/">claimed</a> he &#8220;lacks the mental capacity to understand the nature and object and proceedings&#8221; and is &#8220;suffering from congenital deficiency which could render the client incapable of preparing a defense and standing trial,&#8221; per the New York Post.
Judge Patrick Haggard ordered a &#8220;prompt evaluation&#8221; to determine if Ibarra was fit to stand trial last year and whether he can assist with his current appeal.
“The mental competence of [Ibarra] has been called into question, and this court has found it appropriate for an evaluation to be conducted at the public expense,” the order reads.
Prosecutor Sheila Ross noted in court filings that there was no evidence during the trial suggesting Ibarra wasn&#8217;t mentally competent, though she didn&#8217;t oppose the evaluation and instead left the decision up to the Judge.
Ibarra, a member of the violent Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, waived his right to a jury trial, and Judge Haggard sentenced the illegal immigrant to life in prison without parole.
Ibarra had illegally entered the United States during the Biden administration&#8217;s border crisis, having been detained in El Paso, Texas, in September 2022, but was released after approximately one day.
Riley&#8217;s brutal murder shocked the University of Georgia campus and garnered national attention amid heated debates about immigration enforcement.
In January, President Donald Trump <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/trump-signs-laken-riley-act-into-law?author=Daniel+Chaitin&amp;category=News&amp;elementPosition=undefined&amp;row=0&amp;rowType=Vertical+List&amp;title=Trump+Signs+Laken+Riley+Act+Into+Law">signed</a> into law the “Laken Riley Act,” which requires federal officials to arrest non-U.S. nationals accused of violent and theft-related crimes in the United States.
Ibarra had been previously arrested for other offenses, but he was released in New York before federal authorities could issue a detainer.
The mental evaluation is set to take place either at the Georgia Department of Corrections or at a designated hospital facility. No timeline has been established for when the evaluation results might be available or how quickly the court will rule on potential next steps.
If the mental evaluation finds Ibarra was not competent during his original trial, his defense team could petition for a retrial, potentially setting aside his life sentence and reopening wounds for Riley&#8217;s family and community.

US-VOTE-POLITICS-TRUMP

Judge Grants Laken Riley’s Killer A Path To Possible Retrial

Georgia

Illegal Immigation

Laken Riley

News

Tren De Aragua

President Trump’s Big, Beautiful Bill heads back to the House after a marathon Senate session – and a tie-breaking vote from JD Vance. Trump and Governor Ron DeSantis put aside past differences at Alligator Alcatraz — touting the power of their federal-state alliance. And, Bryan Kohberger avoids the death penalty – pleading guilty to murdering four Idaho students.
It’s Wednesday, July 2, and this is the news you need to know to start your day.
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<h2>The Senate Passes Trump&#8217;s Big, Beautiful Bill</h2>
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Topline: After a marathon vote in Congress, the Senate narrowly passed Donald Trump’s Big, Beautiful Bill, pushing his sweeping policy agenda toward the finish line.
Senators and their staff spent the last 48 hours debating the bill non-stop — in what Washington calls a Vote-a-Rama, where members submit last minute amendments before a final vote. Votes were held on 45 proposed amendments covering everything from Medicare cuts and electric car subsidies to health care for illegal immigrants and Planned Parenthood funding. That process went all night Monday and well into Tuesday afternoon.
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Democrats made clear that they viewed the Vote-a-Rama as a means of forcing Republicans to go on the record with their views, but more importantly, to stall. That tactic angered Republicans and even some Democrats who opposed the bill, including Pennsylvania’s John Fetterman.
“Oh my God, I just want to go home,” Fetterman <a href="https://x.com/niceblackdude/status/1939829913873522764">said</a> during the Vote-a-Rama. “Keeping us here until some ungodly hour isn’t helping anyone.”
Given their slim majority, the GOP could only afford to lose three Republican votes. Senators Rand Paul (R-KY), Thom Tillis (R-NC), and Susan Collins (R-ME) were definite no votes, so it came down to Alaska’s Lisa Murkowski. Ultimately, GOP leadership won her over by offering major concessions, exempting Alaska from a number of funding cuts in the bill. The final tally was 50-50, allowing Vice President JD Vance to step in and cast the deciding vote.
The bill will now head to the House, where it’s expected to pass, though not without some difficulty – some hardline Republicans have expressed concerns about some of the Senate’s changes. Given the delay from Senate Democrats, the bill might not be voted on before President Trump’s desired deadline of July 4th. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) has said he would honor the customary 72 hour period to allow members three days to review the legislation – so it’ll be tight.
<h2>Trump-DeSantis Alliance &amp; Alligator Alcatraz</h2>
<div id="attachment_582447" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-582447" class="size-large wp-image-582447" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/07/RDDT-1024x576.jpg" alt="Donald Trump Ron DeSantis" width="1024" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/07/RDDT-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/07/RDDT-300x169.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/07/RDDT-768x432.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/07/RDDT-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/07/RDDT-2048x1152.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />Getty Images</div>
Topline: President Donald Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis held a press conference down at the state’s new “Alligator Alcatraz” on Tuesday.
Trump and DeSantis have reconciled since Trump beat the Florida governor in the GOP presidential primary last year, and Trump’s win in November pushed the two even closer, especially on immigration, but also on other issues as well.
“Ron, I would like to thank you, personally,” Trump said during a joint press conference. “You&#8217;re my friend. You will always be my friend. We may have some skirmishes even in the future &#8212; I doubt it &#8212; but I will always come back. We have blood that seems to match pretty well. We have a relationship that&#8217;s been a very strong one.”
DeSantis is term-limited as Florida’s governor, and he signaled that his wife Casey may jump into the 2026 race to replace him. An endorsement from Trump would be a huge boon in a Republican primary that has the potential to be extraordinarily competitive.
The press conference took place during a visit to Alligator Alcatraz – an immigration facility being built in the everglades. It could hold thousands of illegal aliens slated for deportation. In addition to the new detention facility, Trump also plans to deputize Florida National Guardsmen as immigration judges, which could massively cut down the time it takes to schedule immigration hearings – from a matter of years to just a few days.
Detention capacity has been a big constraint to Trump’s immigration agenda. That’s why we’ve seen the Trump administration partner with El Salvador, for instance, to hold illegal aliens, or ship them to Guantanamo Bay. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is now arresting hundreds of illegal aliens a day, and Trump is doing whatever he can to make sure none of them are released back into the public after they’ve been caught.
<h2>Accused Murderer Accepts Plea Deal</h2>
<div id="attachment_644939" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-644939" class="size-large wp-image-644939" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/10/GettyImages-1663792088-864x576.jpg" alt="Second District Judge John C. Judge speaks at a hearing for Bryan Kohberger, who stands accused of murder, on cameras in the courtroom in Latah County District Court on September 13, 2023 in Moscow, Idaho." width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/10/GettyImages-1663792088-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/10/GettyImages-1663792088-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/10/GettyImages-1663792088-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2023/10/GettyImages-1663792088.jpg 1024w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />Ted S. Warren-Pool/Getty Images</div>
Topline: The man accused of the 2022 Idaho murders has accepted a plea deal. The death penalty trial was originally set to begin on August 18th.
Byran Kohberger will accept the prosecution’s plea deal and plead guilty to all charges. Those include four counts of murder, as well as burglary. In exchange, the state has agreed to take the death penalty off the table – he will serve four consecutive life sentences with no possibility of parole, and he has waived the right to appeal. There will be a change of plea hearing on Wednesday, which may provide some closure for the families of the four victims: <a href="https://www.google.com/search?cs=0&amp;sca_esv=6bab3b4dfd99b83d&amp;q=Kaylee+Goncalves&amp;sa=X&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiu1p60rZyOAxVdfzABHekEHXIQxccNegQIAhAC&amp;mstk=AUtExfAVHVDRi0V94ynk_-wXgwIe9p6AbGoJuzIiz0pCF7FCYFcqYP56aFCt_vMqUu7B0VzjpVsJ9CGG0U3uDDXjN-z2UWJXiAHpe-5dMrBL7SAcF26kj_tjAaHGQcYI7dU2WDq4CZwgj7-Gz0zgIEWPtFN-mEm4Jlb7ZlpRJ3ZAUROmbhuXvcRt8tahCE8pRTkhpY9R&amp;csui=3">Kaylee Goncalves</a>, <a href="https://www.google.com/search?cs=0&amp;sca_esv=6bab3b4dfd99b83d&amp;q=Madison+Mogen&amp;sa=X&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiu1p60rZyOAxVdfzABHekEHXIQxccNegQIAhAD&amp;mstk=AUtExfAVHVDRi0V94ynk_-wXgwIe9p6AbGoJuzIiz0pCF7FCYFcqYP56aFCt_vMqUu7B0VzjpVsJ9CGG0U3uDDXjN-z2UWJXiAHpe-5dMrBL7SAcF26kj_tjAaHGQcYI7dU2WDq4CZwgj7-Gz0zgIEWPtFN-mEm4Jlb7ZlpRJ3ZAUROmbhuXvcRt8tahCE8pRTkhpY9R&amp;csui=3">Madison Mogen</a>, <a href="https://www.google.com/search?cs=0&amp;sca_esv=6bab3b4dfd99b83d&amp;q=Xana+Kernodle&amp;sa=X&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiu1p60rZyOAxVdfzABHekEHXIQxccNegQIAhAE&amp;mstk=AUtExfAVHVDRi0V94ynk_-wXgwIe9p6AbGoJuzIiz0pCF7FCYFcqYP56aFCt_vMqUu7B0VzjpVsJ9CGG0U3uDDXjN-z2UWJXiAHpe-5dMrBL7SAcF26kj_tjAaHGQcYI7dU2WDq4CZwgj7-Gz0zgIEWPtFN-mEm4Jlb7ZlpRJ3ZAUROmbhuXvcRt8tahCE8pRTkhpY9R&amp;csui=3">Xana Kernodle</a>, and <a href="https://www.google.com/search?cs=0&amp;sca_esv=6bab3b4dfd99b83d&amp;q=Ethan+Chapin&amp;sa=X&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiu1p60rZyOAxVdfzABHekEHXIQxccNegQIAhAF&amp;mstk=AUtExfAVHVDRi0V94ynk_-wXgwIe9p6AbGoJuzIiz0pCF7FCYFcqYP56aFCt_vMqUu7B0VzjpVsJ9CGG0U3uDDXjN-z2UWJXiAHpe-5dMrBL7SAcF26kj_tjAaHGQcYI7dU2WDq4CZwgj7-Gz0zgIEWPtFN-mEm4Jlb7ZlpRJ3ZAUROmbhuXvcRt8tahCE8pRTkhpY9R&amp;csui=3">Ethan Chapin</a>.
Kaylee Goncalves&#8217; sister Aubrie called the decision to take the death penalty off the table “shocking and cruel.” The family posted a statement to social media saying, “We are beyond furious at the state of Idaho. They have failed us.”
The defense has maintained that Kohberger is innocent, although initially the evidence against him seemed overwhelming. His car was caught on surveillance, his cell phone data was consistent with him being near the scene &#8212; not just on the night of the murder, but the next morning, and on about a dozen occasions leading up to the crime, always late at night. Most damning, his DNA was found on the knife sheath left at the scene, and his purchase history showed a black ski mask similar to the one described by the witness. He was also a criminology student with apparent interest in serial killers.
Defense attorney Anne Taylor did raise arguments for reasonable doubt. First, she filed a motion to have the DNA evidence thrown out because it was obtained, according to her, through an illegal genealogy search – that would have been devastating to the prosecution&#8217;s case. She also raised the issue of mystery DNA found in the bloody handprint. Investigators determined that there was DNA from two mystery males found in that print on the bannister, and DNA from a third mystery male was found on a glove outside the residence. There was also DNA from multiple individuals found under the fingernails of one of the victims, although it was inconclusive. The defense was planning to float an alternative suspect theory, and all they had to do was make one juror have doubts. These issues also could have theoretically provided fertile ground for appeals down the road.
However, in the past week, the judge dismissed the defense’s attempt to introduce alternative suspects. And not long before that, it was revealed that a DoorDash driver may have been at the scene delivering food at 4 a.m. when the crime occurred. In leaked police interview footage, that driver can be heard saying, “I saw Bryan there,” and she claimed she parked next to him.

MRN 7.2.25 Thumbnail_V1

Morning Brief: Senate Passes The Big Beautiful Bill, Alligator Alcatraz & Idaho Plea Deal

Congress

Courts

Donald Trump

Politics

Ron DeSantis

U.S. Senate

Over the past 10 years, Northern Nigeria has quickly risen to the top of the list as the most dangerous place to be a Christian. More Christians are killed here than anywhere else in the world.
The data show us that it’s not by slim margins. According to International Christian Concern, in 2022, <a href="https://www.persecution.org/2023/09/11/90-percent-of-the-5500-christians-killed-in-2022-were-nigerian/">90%</a> of all Christians killed in the world were killed in Nigeria. Last year, that number was around <a href="https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/261571/nigeria-tops-report-for-number-of-christians-killed-kidnapped-in-2024#:~:text=The%20World%20Watch%20List%2C%20released,countries%20in%20the%20same%20year.">70%</a>.
The persecution of Christians in Northern Nigeria has quickly evolved into a full-on genocide. But how did this happen? How did the region become a stronghold for this violence against those who follow Christ?
Most of the region is a virtual “wild west” of Africa, leaving Northern Nigeria largely unchecked with a sparse military presence. The geography, coupled with a rise in Islamic extremism, has allowed groups like Boko Haram and ISIS-WA (ISWAP) to flourish unimpeded.
<div id="attachment_74449" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-74449" class="wp-image-74449 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2019/12/ISIS-Truck-1024x576.jpg" alt="A vehicle allegedly belonging to the Islamic State group in West Africa (ISWAP) is seen in Baga on August 2, 2019. - Intense fighting between a regional force and the Islamic State group in West Africa (ISWAP) has resulted in dozens of deaths, including at least 25 soldiers and more than 40 jihadists, in northeastern Nigeria. ISWAP broke away from Boko Haram in 2016 in part due to its rejection of indiscriminate attacks on civilians. Last year the group witnessed a reported takeover by more hardline fighters who sidelined its leader and executed his deputy. The IS-affiliate has since July 2018 ratcheted up a campaign of attacks against military targets." width="1024" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2019/12/ISIS-Truck-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2019/12/ISIS-Truck-300x169.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2019/12/ISIS-Truck-768x432.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />A vehicle allegedly belonging to the Islamic State group in West Africa (ISWAP) is seen in Baga on August 2, 2019. AUDU MARTE/AFP via Getty Images</div>
According to the most <a href="https://www.statista.com/statistics/1197570/deaths-caused-by-boko-haram-in-nigeria/">recent statistics</a>, Boko Haram alone is responsible for the deaths of 38,000 people between 2011 and 2023. Their growth has been so staggering that it has essentially overwhelmed the Nigerian government’s attempts to stop it. In 2023, I witnessed Nigerian soldiers walk off the job when ordered to fight Boko Haram militants. They told me that fighting Boko Haram was a suicide mission. These terrorist groups keep the people of northern Nigeria in a constant state of fear. They yield this fear skillfully to maintain control. While I truly believe Nigerian President Bola Tinubu wants to see change in the region, his government is outnumbered and outgunned.
Another equally devastating contributor to the problem is the ethnic conflict between Fulani Muslims (herders) and Christians (farmers). While this is not “terrorism” in the traditional sense of Islamic Jihad, the results are no less deadly. There are approximately 17 million Fulani Muslims in Nigeria. Most Fulani are nomadic and predominantly raise cattle to maintain their livelihood. In this region, Christians have largely settled and sustain themselves by planting crops. As the Fulani migrate their cattle over vast distances, those cattle often wander into the farm fields of Christians, destroying their crops. While some Fulani Muslims have been radicalized, the herder vs. farmer crisis is overwhelmingly the result of tensions over land.
<div id="attachment_939751" style="width: 874px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-939751" class="size-large wp-image-939751" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/GettyImages-1257123144-864x576.jpg" alt="TOPSHOT - A Fulani pastoralist rests at a water point in Loumbel Lana, Matam region on May 19, 2023. For pastoralist the extreme heats direct effect is that their livestock drink double what they usually do. Usually one sheep will drink around 2,5 litres of water a day, now they need 4 or 5 litres a day. Pastoralists now need to get to water points multiple times a day (up to 20km away) and spend double the money buying water. Since April the region of Matam has regularly been flagged as the hottest place on earth with temperatures reaching 48 degrees celsius in the shade and fifties in direct sun. (Photo by JOHN WESSELS / AFP) (Photo by JOHN WESSELS/AFP via Getty Images)" width="864" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/GettyImages-1257123144-864x576.jpg 864w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/GettyImages-1257123144-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/GettyImages-1257123144-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2025/06/GettyImages-1257123144.jpg 1024w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px" />JOHN WESSELS/AFP via Getty Images</div>
For years, I have brokered peace agreements between hundreds of Fulani Muslim and Christian communities. In nearly every case I have worked, the root cause of the conflict boils down to violence that arose from cattle destroying crops. And that violence is not one-sided. Christians have retaliated for the destruction of their crops; however, more often than not, these conflicts result in an inordinate number of Christian deaths.
The most recent example is the massacre of nearly <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/terrible-massacre-hundreds-of-christians-killed-by-jihadists">200 Christians</a> that happened on <a href="https://www.genocidewatch.com/single-post/fulani-jihadists-massacre-over-200-christians-in-nigeria">June 14, 2025</a>. As a result of Nigeria’s diminishing areas for cattle grazing, the Fulani Muslims attacked Christians as a means to claim land for their cattle to graze. Further evidence is that every dry season, when access to good feeding grounds is at its lowest, there is a surge of violence between the Fulani herders and Christian farmers.
Northern Nigeria, like much of Africa, is gripped by severe socio-economic challenges that fuel instability and hardship. Most people in Northern Nigeria live on the equivalent of a little more than <a href="https://www.forbesafrica.com/current-affairs/2024/08/20/majority-of-workers-in-nigerias-largest-city-earn-below-62-50-monthly-report-reveals/">$1 USD per day</a>. Currently, a <a href="https://maypatronic.com/bag-of-rice-in-nigeria/#:~:text=in%20the%20market.-,Price%20Ranges,such%20as%20region%20and%20quality.">10kg (22-pound) bag of rice costs about $35 USD</a>. People barely earn enough to feed themselves. The <a href="https://www.macrotrends.net/global-metrics/countries/nga/nigeria/inflation-rate-cpi#:~:text=Nigeria%20inflation%20rate%20for%202023,a%201.85%25%20increase%20from%202019.">annual inflation rate is around 24%</a>, which drives the cost of food higher and higher. <a href="https://www.unicef.org/press-releases/25-million-nigerians-high-risk-food-insecurity-2023">UNICEF has placed Nigeria on its crisis list</a>, stating that over 25 million people are at high risk of food insecurity. These conditions have created an environment that keeps people in a perpetual state of survival.
But how do dire socio-economic conditions contribute to Christian persecution?
<div id="attachment_168513" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-168513" class="wp-image-168513 size-large" src="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2020/11/BH-1024x576.jpg" alt="TOPSHOT - Mourners attend the funeral of 43 farm workers in Zabarmari, about 20km from Maiduguri, Nigeria, on November 29, 2020 after they were killed by Boko Haram fighters in rice fields near the village of Koshobe on November 28, 2020. - The assailants tied up the agricultural workers and slit their throats in the village of Koshobe. The victims were labourers from Sokoto state in northwest Nigeria, roughly 1,000 kilometres (600 miles) away, who had travelled to the northeast to find work." width="1024" height="576" srcset="https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2020/11/BH-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2020/11/BH-300x169.jpg 300w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2020/11/BH-768x432.jpg 768w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2020/11/BH-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://dw-wp-production.imgix.net/2020/11/BH-2048x1152.jpg 2048w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" />TOPSHOT &#8211; Mourners attend the funeral of 43 farm workers in Zabarmari, about 20km from Maiduguri, Nigeria, on November 29, 2020 after they were killed by Boko Haram fighters. AUDU MARTE/AFP via Getty Images.</div>
Inflation and food shortages exacerbate the conflict between Fulani Muslim herders and Christian farmers because, to them, every day is a desperate fight for survival. Tensions over grazing land — the source of sustenance for both the herders and farmers — run at a fever pitch. These socio-economic conditions are also the reason why so many young men are drawn to radical Islamic groups like Boko Haram and ISWAP. Not only do these groups provide a support system, but they also pay well for people willing to follow their orders and commit violent acts. I’ve heard reports of Boko Haram paying their fighters $100 USD for the successful execution of a single act of terrorism. That’s a small fortune in this part of the world.
The desperate conditions of Northern Nigeria are the fuel that keeps the fire of persecution burning.
These are complex problems in a complex part of the world. That’s why, at <a href="https://www.acrossnigeria.org/">Across Nigeria</a>, we are driven by a powerful mission: not only to uplift suffering Christians but also to extend Christ’s love to Muslims. Through our network of primary schools across Northern Nigeria, we empower Fulani Muslims with transformative education and literacy, building bridges of hope and understanding. In every area where we operate a Fulani school, the violence has dropped by 60 to 70%. We have found that providing people with options and opportunities is the best way to deter them from resorting to violence.
By helping Muslims overcome these challenges, we are helping to significantly reduce the violence and bring an end to the suffering. We have done a lot, but we have a long way to go. With the proper support, I believe we can reduce the violence and bring an end to suffering for the Muslims and Christians in the most dangerous region in the world.
* * *
<a href="https://www.acrossnigeria.org/ourfounder">Brad Brandon</a> is the founder and CEO of <a href="https://www.acrossnigeria.org/">Across Nigeria</a>. Since 2018, he has been actively serving in predominantly high-risk, highly persecuted areas like Northern Nigeria and other parts of West Africa.
The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

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The Silent Slaughter: Inside Nigeria’s Christian Persecution Crisis

The Silent Slaughter: Inside Nigeria's Christian Persecution Crisis

Africa

Bible

Boko Haram

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Opinion

Karen Read was acquitted Wednesday of murdering her Boston police officer boyfriend in a case that exposed a flawed investigation and allegations that authorities conspired to frame her for his death.
The case began when Read was <a href="https://nypost.com/2025/06/18/us-news/karen-read-jurors-reach-verdict-in-second-murder-trial/">accused</a> of leaving her boyfriend, John O&#8217;Keefe, to die in a 2022 snowstorm after allegedly hitting him with her Lexus outside a suburban Boston house party, per the New York Post.
In her Wednesday retrial, Read, 45, was found guilty only of operating under the influence of liquor — a lesser sub-charge of the manslaughter count — resulting in a sentence of one year of probation.
Jurors acquitted her of second-degree murder and leaving the scene of an accident causing death after deliberating for about three full days, according to the New York Post.
&#8220;No one has fought harder for justice for John O&#8217;Keefe than I have — Than I have, and my team,&#8221; Read told reporters outside the courthouse, thanking her loyal advocates.
As the Daily Wire previously <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/she-was-accused-of-killing-her-cop-boyfriend-but-said-she-was-framed-a-jury-couldnt-decide-who-was-right">reported</a>, this was Read&#8217;s second trial after a hung jury led to a mistrial last year. The retrial began in April and featured key differences, including the absence of lead investigator Michael Proctor, who was fired after sending lewd texts about Read during the first trial, calling Read a “wack job c***.”
Proctor’s misconduct, combined with other <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/karen-read-is-on-trial-for-allegedly-killing-her-cop-boyfriend-but-is-she-being-framed">evidence</a> of police misconduct throughout the investigation, put the spotlight on Read’s trial, garnering her thousands of supporters who came out in droves to support her at the retrial.
&#8220;We&#8217;re all Karen Read,&#8221; one supporter <a href="https://www.nbcboston.com/news/local/were-all-karen-read-hundreds-of-supporters-celebrate-verdict/3745890/">told</a> NBC 10 Boston following the trial, while another exclaimed, &#8220;God blessed Karen Read. She didn&#8217;t even get to mourn John&#8217;s death,&#8221; per the Post.
Read&#8217;s defense team argued that O&#8217;Keefe was actually beaten, bitten by a dog, and then left outside the Canton home in freezing temperatures, claiming authorities constructed a conspiracy to frame her for his death.
The jury&#8217;s decision came after a confusing sequence of events on Wednesday afternoon. The jury initially indicated they had reached a verdict, then quickly informed a court officer they had changed their minds, before finally confirming they had reached a decision shortly after Judge Beverly Cannone provided an update.
During deliberations, jurors asked several questions that suggested they were unlikely to find Read guilty of killing O&#8217;Keefe, including inquiries about the timeframe for the drunk driving charge. The jury ultimately spent approximately three days deliberating before delivering their verdict.
Several people close to O&#8217;Keefe before his death <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/karen-read-trial-verdict-jury-murder-charges-manslaughter-what-know-rcna212763">released</a> a statement decrying the verdict as a &#8220;devastating miscarriage of justice.&#8221;
“They have suffered through so much and deserved better from our justice system. While we may have more to say in the future, today we mourn with John’s family and lament the cruel reality that this prosecution was infected by lies and conspiracy theories spread by Karen Read, her defense team, and some in the media,” the statement read.
According to NBC, several people who signed the statement were accused by Read&#8217;s defense of being possible suspects in the death of O&#8217;Keefe, but were not adequately investigated due to police misconduct.

Karen Read Acquittal

Karen Read Acquitted Of Murdering Cop Boyfriend

Boston

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