EXCLUSIVE The Wire's Chris Bauer warmly remembers late costar Charley Scalies following actor's death at 84
Actor Chris Bauer remembered his late costar on The Wire Charley Scalies as a 'generous, prepared and hard working' colleague to Dailymail.com Monday.
Bauer, 58, spoke exclusively with Dailymail.com in an email interview following Scalies' passing Thursday at age 84 in Pennsylvania following a battle with Alzheimer's.
Bauer played the role of embattled Baltimore dock leader Frank Sobotka on the show's second season in 2003, with Scalies playing his loyal lieutenant, Thomas 'Horseface' Pakusa.
Bauer, who has also been seen on shows such as True Blood, The Deuce and Heels, said that while he 'rarely has much to say, he really loved working with Charley.
'Like the best scene partners, he was generous, prepared, and hard working. He was an early example for me that you don't have to be an a**hole to be a good actor. In fact, the opposite is true: laughter, humility, and a warm heart is the way to go.'
Bauer said that Scalies' 'love for his family stuck with [him] over the years' and that he was 'grateful' for the 'influence' he had on him.
The sophomore frame of the enduring series from creator David Simon closely examined the economic issues Baltimore dockworkers faced amid changing times.
It illustrated how the slow times at the docks led a few workers - including Pakusa - to earn extra cash smuggling in contraband.
Amid the items unwittingly smuggled in by the Baltimore crew drugs and women tragically trafficked into the U.S. to be sex workers.
On The Wire, the Horseface character was second-in-command to Bauer's character, union leader Frank Sobotka.
The season showed how Frank had gotten into a desperate situation trying to keep his union and workers afloat amid declining times for the longshoremen.
Frank, assisted by Horseface and his nephew Nick Sobotka (played by Pablo Schreiber) eventually resort to criminal smuggling to fund political efforts in a last-ditch effort to reinvigorate business at the docks.
Scalies also appeared in an episode of another iconic HBO series - The Sopranos - as he played Coach Molinaro, the high school football coach of Tony Soprano, played by late legend James Gandolfini.
The character appeared in an intense exchange in a dream scene in an episode titled The Test Dream.
Scalies portrayed Thomas 'Horseface' Pakusa for 12 episodes of The Wire
The discussion between the coach - who saw potential in a young Soprano - and the fully-grown Tony Soprano illustrated the psychological insecurities the fearsome New Jersey mob boss harbored, and sought to address through therapy.
The episode (which first aired May 16, 2004) was the show's 11th episode of its fifth season, directed by Allen Coulter and written by Matthew Weiner and Sopranos creator David Chase.
A Legacy obituary - which noted Scalies died 'peacefully' - emphasized the role family played in his life.
It noted he was 'best known first and foremost as a husband, father, grandfather, uncle, and friend,' adding that his 'favorite audience was always seated around the dinner table.'
The obit described Scalies, a native of South Philadelphia, as 'an American actor and former business executive whose life reflected a rich blend of professional achievement, creative passion, and a true joy for life.'
Soboktka's wayward son Ziggy (played by James Ransone, also gets involved peripherally, leading to tragic consequences down the line.
Scalies told Chesapeake Bay Magazine in 2019 about his work on the HBO series, saying that the only time he had ever been on the docks was when he filmed the show.
He had a memorable exchange with a grown Tony Soprano (played by the late James Gandolfini) that revealed the insecurities the mob boss harbored
Scalies said that 'the only time I even met a stevedore was shortly after I was cast as Horseface.'
The role was a perfect fit, as shortly after landing the part, Scalies happened to chat with several real-life stevedores and union reps for the International Longeshoremen's Association, who all approved of his casting.
'I told them I had just been cast as a union 'checker' on a TV show,' he recalled. 'Their response was immediate and unanimous: "He looks like a checker."'
Scalies explained: 'As with all the other characters I've been blessed to portray, Horseface lives inside of me - I invite him out to play as needed.'
On Twitter, a number of fans of the show paid homage to the late actor in the role he played on The Wire, making inside references to scenes that involved his character.
A post from the Wire fan account Ziggy_Sobotka read: 'Heartbroken to report that Charlie Scalies, Horseface on The Wire and Coach Molinaro from The Sopranos has passed away.'
It concluded: 'Charles J. Scalies, Jr. 7/19/1940 – 5/1/2025.'
One fan commented, 'Great characters RIP to the legend.'
A post from The Wire fan account Ziggy_Sobotka read: 'Heartbroken to report that Charlie Scalies, Horseface on The Wire and Coach Molinaro from The Sopranos has passed away'
Another said, 'R. I. P. He's still on the clock.'
Referring to a scene illustrating Horseface's loyalty to the union, one fan wrote, 'Good luck to St Peter getting anything out of him at the pearly gates without an IBS lawyer present.'
One Twitter user aptly remarked, 'At what age does death not break your heart?'
According to the Legacy obit, Scalies is survived by 'the true love and joy of his life, his wife of 62 years, Angeline M. Scalies (née Cardamone); his five children: Charles (Chuck) Scalies III, Angeline Kogut (Steve Kogut), Anthony (Tony) Scalies, Christa Ann Scalise, and Anne Marie Scalies (Shawn Weaver); and grandchildren Charles IV, Christopher, Domenic and Amelia Scalies.'
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NBC News
2 hours ago
- NBC News
Dateline: Missing in America podcast covers the April 2024 disappearance of Danielle Lopez in the Pine Barrens of New Jersey
Play the episode ' Lost Lane ' of the Dateline: Missing in America podcast below and click here to follow. 'The picture of New Jersey that most people hold in their minds is so different from this one that, considered beside it, the Pine Barrens, as they are called, become as incongruous as they are beautiful.' That's the writer John McPhee... talking about the Pine Barrens of southern New Jersey. The Garden State has one of the highest population densities in the U.S., but across a million dense acres, whole swaths of the Pine Barrens are as empty as the days before there was a New Jersey, or an old Jersey. If you want to get lost, this is the place. And if you want someone else to vanish... this is the place. Josh Mankiewicz: 'Easy to disappear in, easy to get lost in.' Jimmy Ramsey: 'A lot of weird stories down there.' Almost 25 years ago, a certain TV show made the Pine Barrens famous... 'The Sopranos. ' 'Let's take 'em down to Pine Barrens. That's South Jersey. It's perfect. It's f------ deserted down there. We take him in the woods, dig a hole, end of story.' On the evening of April 13, 2024, 37-year-old Danielle Lopez evaporated into these thick woods. No call, no text, no goodbye. And almost no trace. Lisa Valentino: 'The not knowing is the hardest part.' What happened to Danielle? Where did she go? Those are questions her loved ones ask themselves daily. And they are praying you may have some answers. Sue Quackenbush: 'That's my hope: that somebody will recall or remember or go through or know something that will prompt, or that somebody's heart is convicted to just do the right thing.' Danielle's mom, Sue Quackenbush, has been shattered by the disappearance of her daughter. I'm Josh Mankiewicz and this is Missing in America, a podcast from Dateline. Josh Mankiewicz: 'This isn't her lost. This isn't her having some mental break. This is something that happened to her at the hands of somebody else.' Sue Quackenbush: 'Absolutely.' This episode is 'Lost Lane.' Please listen closely because you or someone you know may have information that could help solve this case and give Danielle's family the answers they need. Danielle Lopez – or D-Lo as she likes to be called – is loving, loyal, and, according to her mom Sue, loud. Sue Quackenbush: 'I'm quieter, and I would say, 'Danielle, you have to keep it quiet.' She'd say, 'But Mom, you didn't name me Dan-quiet, you named me Dan-yell.'' That quick wit might be a byproduct of growing up sandwiched between two brothers. Sue Quackenbush: 'Her brothers and she got along so well. They truly were best friends.' A tight family unit, Danielle was close with both of her parents despite their divorce. Sue says her daughter was a good student, a cheerleader, popular in school. And maybe most surprising for anyone who has raised teenagers... Sue Quackenbush: 'Her boyfriends were never ones that I disapproved of. Um, she made good choices.' Josh Mankiewicz: 'Lucky you.' Sue said Danielle was very close with her grandfather, and in 2011, moved in with him after her grandmother died. Sue Quackenbush: 'They were world travelers, Yankees fans, um, cruises, everything so much so that she had a hat made saying that she was the granddaughter so that people didn't misinterpret their relationship.' The local newspaper even published an article about Danielle and her grandpa bridging the generational gap as roommates in 2013. More recently, Danielle's life had taken a different turn. Josh Mankiewicz: 'At the time she disappeared, she had suffered a lot of grief. It was quite a bit in a short time, wasn't it?' Sue Quackenbush: 'Quite a bit. We -- we both did the, um, trauma, anxiety, post-traumatic stress, depression.' Trauma is not overstating it. When Danielle was 29, her older brother Eric died by suicide on Christmas Day, 2015. Sue Quackenbush: 'It was out of the blue and unexpected, so much so that the presents were wrapped, and his clothes were -- were laid out for Christmas. It's a hard recovery from something like that.' Just more than 10 months later came another family tragedy. Danielle's younger brother Michael, a Marine who had served in Afghanistan, died in a car accident in Florida. He was 26. And then a few years later, Danielle lost her grandfather to COVID and her father to a heart attack, one month apart. Josh Mankiewicz: 'Any one of those things is enough to send somebody into a tailspin. You got help. Did she get help?' Sue Quackenbush: 'I tried ma -- many times and I tried showing her by example of -- and -- and giving her the resources that I had. Um, but she made some unwise choices and relied on alcohol for coping.' Sue says she could tell Danielle was struggling, so she helped her daughter into a facility for alcohol addiction. Sue Quackenbush: 'I stayed with her through thick and thin of, um, e -- every bit of what was going on for her and trying to pull myself together, as well as -- as her.' Josh Mankiewicz: 'That had to be really, really hard.' Sue Quackenbush: 'Um, yes.' Josh Mankiewicz: 'Sounds like you would've dropped everything to help her.' Sue Quackenbush: 'One hundred percent.' Faced with all that tragedy, Sue says Danielle grew closer with someone else: an on-again, off-again boyfriend named James Scott Dunn. He goes by Scott. Danielle, Scott, and their dog Roscoe spent a lot of time camping together in the Pine Barrens. Sue Quackenbush: 'She met him singing -- while singing karaoke.' Danielle loved to sing. That was her on a night out. Today, Sue worries she may never hear that voice again. Josh Mankiewicz: 'When did you realize something was wrong?' Sue Quackenbush: 'I saw that my texts and calls — there's a way to see if they've been delivered – they were not even being delivered. I mean, I knew she was missing.' Sue thought back to the last time she spoke with her daughter. Danielle was camping with her boyfriend in the Pine Barrens. Sue says she sounded positive, hopeful even, about the future. Sue Quackenbush: 'She had a campfire. There was a camper near her that she said kept yelling, 'God is good.' And I said, 'That's my prayers reaching you.' And I just thought that was a good conversation.' Less than two weeks after that conversation, Sue was on the phone again. This time with police, reporting Danielle missing. And giving them their first clue in the investigation. Sue Quackenbush: 'Since Danielle was in high school, we've had a Wawa rewards card. And so when I realized she was missing, I looked at, by chance, at that Wawa card app and, um, it had been used.' Wawa is a chain of convenience stores and gas stations indigenous to that part of the world. Sue noticed a coffee purchase was made on April 13th at 9:11 a.m. The morning after she had last spoken with Danielle. That Wawa was just miles from her campsite. Sue Quackenbush: 'So that's where we knew how to start.' Investigators went to Wawa and found the gas station had a working security camera. Josh Mankiewicz: 'Is she on video from that visit to Wawa?' Sue Quackenbush: 'Absolutely. Yes.' It was one of the first big breaks in Danielle's disappearance and investigators were just days away from an even bigger one. Danielle Lopez's mom, Sue, was hopeful after security video showing her daughter buying coffee gave New Jersey State Troopers a lead. Now they could build a timeline of Danielle's movements, but they still had not found her car. The blue two-door Hyundai Accent she drove was not at the campsite where Danielle had been staying. So investigators scoured the Pine Barrens. Those searches yielded nothing... Until they arrived at a dirt path just a little more than a mile from the main road. It is a place with a fitting name: Lost Lane. And there was Danielle's car, lost no longer. New Jersey State Police: 'So, the car was located on May 1st. It was located on Lost Lane, which is a heavily-wooded area in, uh, Woodland Township. And it was found, uh, in a large puddle, basically on a dirt road.' That's Detective Sergeant Ryan Labriola, with the New Jersey State Police Major Crimes Unit. He spoke with us in September 2024, just a few months after Danielle's disappearance. Det. Sgt. Ryan Labriola: 'Multiple items of her – of her personal property were located inside the car. Just clothing, things like that. No cell phone was found. We believe her cell phone is still with her at this time.' In that interview, investigators also told Dateline they saw no sign of foul play. Det. Sgt. Ryan Labriola: 'There were no signs of any kind of suspicious activity with the car.' Still, Sue feared her daughter would never be found. Sue Quackenbush: 'I have no way of knowing if, somehow, she was taken against her will or trafficked or harmed or that she lays in that forest.' Josh Mankiewicz: 'But what I mean is, this isn't her disappearing. This isn't her lost. This isn't her having some mental break. This is something that happened to her at the hands of somebody else.' Sue Quackenbush: 'Absolutely.' Sue harbors powerful suspicions, and says she believes one person absolutely knows what happened to her daughter: Danielle's boyfriend, Scott. Sue is not shy about saying she never approved of him. Josh Mankiewicz: 'Tell me about the relationship with her boyfriend.' Sue Quackenbush: 'It wasn't good from day one. He is significantly older than she is. He has — he has children her age, but yet he pursued her at a pretty vulnerable time in her life. And, um, she made — she made that choice. I can't – I can't say, you know, he forced her into any relationship, but when I would get her back here from time to time or get her out of the situation with him, he would always find his way back to her.' Dateline pulled Scott's court records and found he's been charged and convicted of various traffic, theft, and drug-related crimes. Sue Quackenbush: 'He had trouble with the law. She saw the good in him. I don't – I don't know, maybe – maybe there is good in everyone, but, um –.' Josh Mankiewicz: 'You didn't see it.' Sue Quackenbush: 'Oh, I –. No, no, no, no, no. He knew exactly how I felt about him.' Josh Mankiewicz: 'That had to be heartbreaking, watching your daughter make a bad choice again and again.' Sue Quackenbush: 'My heart is completely broken. But I still stuck with her and tried and reinforced that I was there. But as it's very heartbreaking, it was her heart I was worried about.' Now with Danielle missing, she was more worried for her daughter's safety and she didn't trust Scott. Scott did go to the New Jersey State Police to report Danielle missing. And days later, he was arrested — but not for Danielle's disappearance. He is currently serving prison time on drug and theft convictions. Josh Mankiewicz: 'You think he had something to do with this, and you think he knows more than he's telling.' Sue Quackenbush: 'I've written to him in – in jail asking can I come see him, 'cause I know I could look in his eyes and know in two seconds. It's no proof, but I would know as a mom. I absolutely believe he knows or directly has something to do with it.' We also wrote to Scott. In an email to Dateline, Scott said he has been devastated by Danielle's disappearance and wants answers himself. He said he was not at the campsite the night Danielle went missing, and when he returned the next morning, she was gone. He insists police should be looking at someone else: a man who was camping near Scott and Danielle. In fact, Sue says Danielle had complained to her about that same man. Danielle told Sue that man would bother her when Scott was not around. And Sue says Roscoe, Danielle's pit bull, was himself a barrier between Danielle and anyone who might have wanted to harm her. Sue Quackenbush: 'Roscoe was truly Danielle's life. She spent a majority of her time with that dog because she could – she could trust him. Roscoe was older. He had to be put down a month before. I do think that Roscoe protected Danielle.' Sue had to wonder: Could that nearby camper have noticed Roscoe was gone, and seen that as an opportunity? It is a question Sue still cannot answer, even as she learned a lot more about Danielle's movements before she went missing. Months after Danielle was last seen, investigators got another big break. A man contacted police saying he had seen Danielle on the evening of April 13th, hours after she left the Wawa gas station. Here's Sergeant Labriola. Det. Sgt. Ryan Labriola: 'She was seen alive around 6 p.m. on April 13th. That was the last time she was on video by these two civilians that were just driving down the road.' And the State Police did not have to take the man's word for it, because he's a blogger and freelance photographer, and he recorded the interaction on video. Danielle Lopez: 'I was looking at the trees and I got distracted, and by the time I realized I was in a big puddle.' That's Danielle on the day police believe she went missing. Danielle Lopez: 'I was like, 'S---.' And it was fine until I put it in drive...' Man filming: 'Oh, no.' Danielle Lopez: 'Um, is there –? What do I do?' The portions of the video that were posted online show Danielle walking down Lost Lane — that same dirt road where her car would later be found. She asks the man recording for help because, she says, her car is partially submerged in mud about a mile down the road. Sue Quackenbush: 'She tells them, 'What do I do?' Which is – is asking for help, especially from a young girl who isn't that trusting of people any longer. She – she says, 'What do I do?'' Josh Mankiewicz: 'And they start talking about how they don't have any way to tow her out of there, but they don't say, 'Get in.'' Sue Quackenbush: 'No. No. She asked if they could push her. They said no. She said, 'Then I'm just going to keep going, I guess,' as you probably hear.' Danielle Lopez: 'I just walked and it took me like 20 minutes. I was just gonna keep going that way.' Man filming: 'I mean, like, the road is right there, but—.' Danielle: 'All right, I was just gonna wait there.' Sue Quackenbush: 'And they pointed her in the direction of the road.' That was April 13th at 6 p.m. According to New Jersey State Police, that is the last time anyone saw or spoke with Danielle Lopez. She was walking toward the main road. There's no way to know if she made it there or not. After that brief moment of hope, Sue still had no real answers. Police continued to actively search for Danielle to no avail. And then one evening, while watching TV, Sue was inspired to take the investigation into her own hands. Sue Quackenbush: 'I saw one of your — your Dateline episodes, where there was a private investigator and I contacted that private investigator to see what they could guide me with. And she said she couldn't help me but was I aware of CUE? So I contacted Monica Caison immediately.' Monica Caison: 'We began in 1994, in September. Basically, um, because I saw the families in need.' That is Monica Caison, founder of the nonprofit CUE, an acronym for Community United Effort. Monica Caison: 'So, that's when CUE was born — to basically be that liaison between families — with law enforcement, the community, bringing forth awareness and just basically doing whatever it took to bring that missing person home.' Josh Mankiewicz: 'Families who are looking for someone missing are in a different situation than families who are watching a homicide investigation progress, aren't they?' Monica Caison: 'Absolutely. Um, you're dealing with an unknown fate.' Sue says she is more than grateful for the care and support CUE has shown her, starting with the CUE coordinator assigned to Danielle's case, Lisa Valentino. Sue Quackenbush: 'Lisa has grown to be someone I can count on for support and guidance in the right direction. Sometimes it's when it's as simple as, 'I just can't breathe,' or 'What should I do?'' Lisa Valentino: 'I work with the families of CUE. I'm the New Jersey State outreach coordinator.' Now, I already know Lisa Valentino. Lisa knows what these families are going through, because she has been in their shoes. In fact, she is still in them today. Her sister, Allison Jackson Foy, vanished from North Carolina in 2006. I reported on that case for Dateline. Josh: 'Is it possible that if Allison had decided to walk away from her life that she wouldn't have told you?' Lisa: 'No way.' Lisa's sister Allison's remains were found nearly two years after she went missing. So far, no one has been arrested for her murder. Now Lisa volunteers at CUE in her home state of New Jersey. Josh Mankiewicz: 'In the case of someone who's missing, you don't know, and it can go on forever and you might never know.' Lisa Valentino: 'Right. And that's what I say to Sue all the time: The not knowing is the hardest part. It's –. I mean, I – I would like justice for my sister. I won't stop. But I'm at a different point: I know where my sister is.' Lisa took up Danielle's case in November 2024. Josh Mankiewicz: 'Everybody in New Jersey knows the Pine Barrens.' Lisa Valentino: 'Everybody in New Jersey knows the Pine Barrens.' Josh Mankiewicz: 'So what kind of place is that to people who haven't been there?' Lisa Valentino: 'Well, it's huge, first of all, and there's hundreds of people in and out of there on a daily basis. I know a lot of four-wheelers go out there, a lot of hikers go out there. And I also think if you don't know where you're going or have maps, or this and that, it could be very easy to get lost in, as well.' Josh Mankiewicz: 'Well, yeah, that's what I was gonna say. I mean, it's an easy — it's an easy place to get lost in, and it's also an easy place to go, if you don't want anybody to see what you're doing, whatever that is.' Lisa Valentino: 'That is correct.' The CUE Center offered a $5,000 reward for information that helps authorities find Danielle. Lisa and Monica have also helped to keep Danielle's name in the media. NBC Philadelphia: 'Shining above 295 in Burlington County is a picture of Danielle Lopez. That big smile that her mom says she is known for.' Josh Mankiewicz: 'You think this is a case where – where a billboard or a reward could make a difference?' Monica Caison: 'I believe that it always makes a difference. If the information is out there, it will bring someone forward, you know, to come forth and help law enforcement get to the next place to search.' As police and CUE continue their work, good Samaritans still sometimes show up and search for Danielle in the Pine Barrens. And out of nowhere, on March 16, 2025 — 11 months after Danielle vanished — one of those helping hands found something near the spot where Danielle was last seen. Sue Quackenbush: 'This article of clothing has not been there at all through any of those searches and was all of a sudden placed hanging from a tree.' During the spring of 2025, Sue Quackenbush learned a searcher had found women's underwear, bleached by the sun. It could have belonged to her daughter, Danielle. Josh Mankiewicz: 'And I guess there's – there's a chance that that might belong to her?' Sue Quackenbush: 'The area was searched very extensively by the police on foot and horseback and canines and marine units. But out in the forest where she was last seen, I placed her flyer on a memorial – some flowers and a flag. That area has been gone over by people that just hike those woods regularly and keep in touch with me. This article of clothing has not been there at all through any of those searches and was all of a sudden placed hanging from a tree.' Josh Mankiewicz: 'What do you make of that?' Sue Quackenbush: 'Could be absolutely nothing. I don't know what to make of it, but I — I have nothing to lose by trying to investigate every part of this that I can.' Sue says police have told her they do not have the resources to test every item of clothing found in the woods for DNA. When she heard that, she turned to an old friend whose nephew is a private investigator. Sue Quackenbush: 'He is going to have a lab that has agreed to — they're going to take my DNA swab to have it compared privately since the police wouldn't.' Private investigator Jimmy Ramsey has decided to do more than just that DNA test. He and his firm are taking on Danielle's case pro bono. Luckily for Sue, he knows New Jersey quite well. Ramsey spent decades of his law enforcement career there. Josh Mankiewicz: 'You had cases there before?' Jimmy Ramsey: 'Uh, as a cop, I worked in the south quite a bit — sure, down, you know, Atlantic City side of the Pine Barrens is more but, yeah, in the Pine Barrens, sure.' Josh Mankiewicz: 'So Danielle is not the first missing woman in the Pine Barrens.' Jimmy Ramsey: 'Absolutely not. No.' In April, Ramsey sent Sue's DNA swab and the underwear found in the woods to an independent lab for testing. He meets with Sue frequently to give her updates on the investigation. Josh Mankiewicz: 'Well, you know, Sue is convinced that her boyfriend, sort of, is either involved or knows more than he's saying. That make sense to you?' Jimmy Ramsey: 'You know, the first thing I did was look at his Facebook page and, man, it was – it was an alarming photograph of him with a – a blowtorch. And a quick Google search showed he had recently been caught up in a, uh, undercover operation selling methamphetamine. That world — the methamphetamine world in that area — is not great. And she was obviously not so much involved, I wouldn't say, but the people that she was with were involved with it.' Jimmy Ramsey also heard about the man camping near Danielle — the same one Danielle had complained to her mom about. So he tracked down that man and interviewed him. Ramsey said the man told him he was camping near Danielle and Scott for two weeks and he left the day Danielle disappeared — April 13th. Ramsey says he believes both that man and Scott know more than they're sharing with investigators. He specifically wonders why Scott waited nearly two weeks to report Danielle missing to police. Jimmy Ramsey: 'They're together every day and staying at that campsite together, so he would've been in day-to-day contact with her. To not report her for, you know, let's call it one day, maybe two days — but weeks out? I – I think that's a big red flag for me.' Danielle's boyfriend Scott told Dateline he did not report her missing in those early days because it was not out of the ordinary for Danielle to pick up and leave at times. He said he would do anything to help find Danielle and bring her home. Scott remains behind bars on those unrelated charges and is eligible for parole in January 2027. And Sue continues to search for her daughter. Josh Mankiewicz: 'There've been a lot of searches.' Sue Quackenbush: 'A lot of searches. Yes.' Josh Mankiewicz: 'And more than once, remains have been found, but not her.' Sue Quackenbush: 'Oh, no. I've gone through four different times. I can't even begin to tell you the anxiety around all of that.' Josh Mankiewicz: 'Because each time you think, 'This is it.'' Sue Quackenbush: 'But I just don't know what to think. Do I want it to be? Do I not want it to be? It's, um, there's no clear vision that way. But the law enforcement is very good about getting back to me as quickly as they can to let me know.' Sue Quackenbush has been through more than most of the people I meet — and that is saying a lot. Two of her children are gone. Her third is still missing. It is hard to think about taking advantage of someone in her position. That said, like many families of the missing, Sue has encountered her share of shady characters — people who claim to have information to share in exchange for money. Sue Quackenbush: 'I was scammed horribly in the beginning. They were quite detailed, very specific about how and what to do. And it wasn't until they started asking me for money that I went to the investigation, and they were aware of very similar, almost precise wording done to another missing person's family.' Josh Mankiewicz: 'Did you end up giving them any money?' Sue Quackenbush: 'No.' Josh Mankiewicz: 'No. You just had your hopes raised.' Sue Quackenbush: 'There's been a lot of ups and downs for me in the searches, waiting for them to occur, the scammers, the fake GoFundMes that have been set up that have nothing to do with me. It's still not going to be enough to — to take me down. I'm going to continue to try and find answers.' On April 13, 2025 — the one-year anniversary of Danielle's disappearance — Sue held a vigil for loved ones to gather and pray for Danielle's safe return. A local pastor gave the introduction. Pastor: 'I know for many of you, this is a very hard, hurtful, confusing time. And I thank you so much for coming together today to not only support Sue, to support one another, but to keep Danielle in our prayers.' Sue Quackenbush: 'Danielle sang 'Let There Be Peace on Earth' in the talent show at school. So I picked that song as we — we light candles and pray for answers.' In May of 2025, the DNA test results came back from the underwear found by that searcher in the woods. And they were inconclusive. According to the lab report, there was not enough DNA present on the underwear to confirm if it did, in fact, belong to Danielle. The New Jersey State Police say their investigation is open and active. They told Dateline they have interviewed dozens of people but, as of late last year, nothing viable came from those conversations. They have not named any suspects. Danielle Lopez is still a missing person. The CUE Center and private investigator Jimmy Ramsey also remain invested in solving Danielle's case. As Sue searches and hopes for leads, she tries to remember the good times she and Danielle had together and her daughter's big, bright smile. Sue Quackenbush: 'She's beautiful. She resembles me only in her dimples.' Josh Mankiewicz: 'There's a yellow ribbon around the tree outside your house.' Sue Quackenbush: 'That old song, Josh, you would know it — 'Tie a Yellow Ribbon If You Still Want Me.' Danielle would know – she knows that song. She's a singer. She loves songs. She would know. Yes. That will remain 'til there's answers.' Josh Mankiewicz: 'Looking at you today, I wonder how you keep going.' Sue Quackenbush: 'I need answers. I will not — I will stay well to fight for Danielle. I have a strong faith, and I believe this will be made right, but I've got to continue. I've got – I've got to. I'm her only voice.' Here is how you can help… Danielle is 5'4' and at the time of her disappearance weighed 135 lbs. She has brown hair and green eyes. Today Danielle Lopez would be 38 years old. Anyone with information regarding her disappearance is asked to contact the New Jersey State Police Missing Persons Unit at (609) 882-2000 or contact the CUE Center for Missing Persons 24-hour line at (910) 232-1687. CUE's $5,000 reward for information leading investigators to Danielle remains in effect until July 31, 2025. You can see photos and videos of her on our website. To learn more about other people we've covered in our Missing in America series, go to There you'll be able to submit cases you think we should cover in the future. Thanks for listening. See you Fridays on Dateline on NBC.
Wales Online
4 hours ago
- Wales Online
This coastal city break has ancient walls, beaches and flights from Cardiff
This coastal city break has ancient walls, beaches and flights from Cardiff This incredible UNESCO World Heritage city has beaches and cobbled streets, and you can fly there from Cardiff The city is also well known as the main filming location in Croatia for King's Landing in HBO's smash series Game of Thrones. (Image: Portia Jones ) Croatia has exploded as a holiday hotspot in recent years, and no trip to this sun-soaked destination is complete without a visit to the historic city of Dubrovnik, affectionately dubbed the City of 1,000 Monuments, and possibly where Richard the Lionheart was cast ashore after a shipwreck in 1192. Dubrovnik draws vast crowds with its distinctive Old Town, where massive stone walls, completed in the 16th century, still encircle the historic city. Visitors can admire its well-preserved architecture, from the baroque St. Blaise Church to the Renaissance Sponza Palace and the Gothic Rector's Palace, which now houses a history museum. The city is also well known as the main filming location in Croatia for King's Landing in HBO's smash series Game of Thrones. This UNESCO World Heritage site is just a three-hour flight from the UK, and you can fly there from Cardiff Airport with TUI. Here's how to make the most of a city break to the "Pearl of the Adriatic" From superstar gigs to cosy pubs, find out What's On in Wales by signing up to our newsletter here Walk the city walls Walking Dubrovnik's city walls is the best way to get a birds-eye view of the old town and learn more about its fascinating history. (Image: Wales Online ) Walking Dubrovnik's city walls is the best way to get a birds-eye view of the old town and learn more about its fascinating history. Article continues below The full circuit of the 24m-high and 6m-thick walls is a 2-kilometre walk. Dubrovnik's city walls walk offers a range of views, including battlements, patchwork red roofs and fortresses. From up here, you'll get a seriously epic view of the coastline. The Adriatic sparkles below, and it's so unspoilt that the scene today isn't all that different from what Franciscan monks, Roman emperors, the Venetian navy, even Napoleon would've seen when they scanned the horizon for approaching enemies. Dubrovnik has a fascinating history; it was a powerful merchant republic that engaged in extensive trade and was a pioneer in the fight against slavery, officially banning it in 1416. A jealous Venice also invaded the city in the 12th century. It became part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1815 and then became part of Yugoslavia. Dubrovnik sustained substantial shelling during the 1991-1995 war, and you can still see war damage in Dubrovnik to this day. To gain a deeper insight into the city's history as you traverse the imposing walls, book a Dubrovnik walking tour with a qualified and knowledgeable guide. By booking a Dubrovnik walking tour in advance, you can experience Dubrovnik's old town with a professional local tourist guide licensed by the Croatian Ministry of Tourism. Go on a Game of Thrones tour Fort Lovrijenac in Dubrovnik- the setting for The Red Keep in King's Landing (Image: Thinkstock/Getty ) Several locations in Croatia were used for Thrones filming, but historic Dubrovnik was the main filming location for King's Landing (the Lannister's stronghold in Game of Thrones) and has become synonymous with the franchise. Facing out over the azure blue Adriatic Sea, with imposing stone walls and a mix of Baroque and Renaissance architecture, it certainly evokes a fantasy epic vibe. Locations across the city have been used for GOT filming, including The Pile Gate (the entrance to the Old Town), which was featured in Season Two Episode Six, where an angry crowd attacks horrid King Joffrey. The Jesuit Staircase was used as the 'steps of the Great Sept of Baelor' in King's Landing. This is where one of the most famous scenes in season five took place, the 'Walk of Shame'. In this shocking scene, Cersei Lannister is forced to walk naked through the streets of King's Landing. ToursByLocals offers a comprehensive five-hour Game of Thrones Tour Experience for super fans who want to see many of the filming locations. Visit Fort Lovrjenac - the Red Keep, take a ferry to Lokrum island – the City of Qarth and visit the Game of Thrones Museum on this whirlwind tour. Head to the beach For a city, Dubrovnik has a surprising variety of beaches (Image: Getty Images ) For a city, Dubrovnik has a surprising variety of beaches, ranging from pebble, gravel, stone, and concrete, where you can swim, kayak, and sunbathe near clear waters. Some of the popular options include Banje Beach, renowned for its proximity to the Old Town and impressive views, and Sveti Jakov Beach, which offers a peaceful escape with crystal-clear waters and stunning sunset views. Make sure to watch the sun go down at one of Dubrovnik's many beach bars. The best bar for outdoor drinking in Dubrovnik is the uber-cool Buza bar, located on top of a secluded beach outside the city walls, with tables set among the rocks. This joint is known affectionately as the 'hole-in-the-wall', as to get to this unique bar, you have to go through a hole in the wall, ('buža' literally means 'hole'). Once you're on the other side, you can grab a drink at their cliffside bar and enjoy beautiful views of the Adriatic as you sink a cold beer or two. Have lunch in Dubrovnik's Restaurant Panorama Dubrovnik's Panorama Restaurant offers unparalleled views of the city's historic walls (Image: Portia Jones ) Dubrovnik's Panorama Restaurant offers unparalleled views of the city's historic walls. You can dine 415 meters up Mount Srdj at this contemporary restaurant. There are several ways to reach Dubrovnik's Panorama Restaurant. You can arrive on foot, by car or by cable car (the best option). The food is beautifully presented, allowing you to capture amazing #platedpics for your socials. The best time to visit Dubrovnik's Panorama Restaurant is in the winter, as you will have a better chance of securing a window seat. Fresh seafood and steak feature heavily on the menu. Local and seasonal produce is used where possible. It's pretty pricey, but that's to be expected with a view as magnificent as this. Go wine tasting Wine lovers should endeavour to visit Croatia's famous wine-growing region (Image: Elena Noviello via Getty Images ) Wine lovers should endeavour to visit Croatia's famous wine-growing region, Pelješac Peninsula. The Pelješac Peninsula area is approximately 90 minutes away from Dubrovnik and is home to some truly wonderful vineyards. Article continues below It's a beautiful drive from Dubrovnik with some stunning scenery. The Pelješac Peninsula is famous for its Croatian wines. Croatia is not really known for its wine internationally. The names of Croatian wines are complicated [try pronouncing 'Pošip' after several glasses of vino]. Production is often very small, and Croatian vineyards don't typically export their wines. So you'll get to sip lovely vinos that you wouldn't normally find at home. If you love a glass or two of wine, then it's definitely worth booking a Wine tasting tour of Pelješac. Visit family-owned wineries, chat with the winemakers, and sample a selection of stunning Croatian wines.
Reuters
6 hours ago
- Reuters
Warner Bros' credit rating downgraded to junk by Fitch on split-up
June 11 (Reuters) - Credit ratings agency Fitch Ratings on Wednesday downgraded Warner Bros Discovery (WBD.O), opens new tab to junk status following the company's announced split-up earlier this week, as investors weigh the deal's likely impact on holders of its debt. "The downgrade reflects Fitch's expectation post-transaction, WBD will be smaller and less diversified in a secularly declining industry and have elevated leverage," Fitch analysts wrote. "Depending on the final capital structure, a multi-notch downgrade is possible," they added. On Monday, the entertainment conglomerate announced plans to split into two publicly traded companies: one anchored by its Warner Bros Pictures, DC Studios, and growing HBO Max streaming service, while the other will serve as home to its legacy cable channels, including CNN and TNT. The split-up, expected to close in mid-2026, aims to help the current company better handle its immense $37 billion debt resulting from the 2022 merger of Warner Bros and Discovery.
