logo
Child actress Sophie Nyweide dead at 24, police investigating 'untimely death'

Child actress Sophie Nyweide dead at 24, police investigating 'untimely death'

Yahoo23-04-2025

Sophie Nyweide, a child actress known for her roles in "Law & Order," "Noah," and "Mammoth," has died. She was 24.
According to the Bennington Police Department in Vermont, law enforcement was dispatched to a wooded area along the banks of the Roaring Branch River on April 14 after receiving a report of an unresponsive female. First responders arrived at the scene and attempted life-saving measures. However, Nyweide was pronounced dead around 5 a.m.
Bennington Police told Fox News Digital that an investigation has been opened due to the "untimely death."
An individual was present with Nyweide at the time of her death, police said, and they are cooperating with investigators. Investigators suspect a possible unintentional overdose, but "as with any untimely death, Bennington Police Bureau of Criminal Investigations (BCI) will conduct a thorough and compressive investigation leading up to, as well as the cause of, Nyweide's death."
Authorities noted that the "investigation remains open."
Hollywood Stars Who Died In 2025: Photos
Read On The Fox News App
According to her death certificate, Nyweide was pregnant at the time of her death, People magazine reported. It is unclear how far along she was.
Nyweide mom, Shelly Gibson — a former actress who starred in various television shows, including "All My Children" and "St. Elsewhere" — paid tribute to her late daughter on social media.
"RIP, my Sophie," she wrote on Instagram. "She graced us for far too short a time. My daughter was a light for all who met her. For those us of who were truly close with Sophie, we are gutted and will need a long time to get over her passing. I know I never will. God I love my daughter. I want her back. Fly high sweetheart - you always could."
According to Nyweide's obituary, the former actress "was a beloved daughter, granddaughter, sister, friend and new aunt," the family wrote. "Creative, athletic and wise beyond her years, Sophie accomplished so much in the time she danced upon earth (literally - she danced as she moved!)."
Click Here To Sign Up For The Entertainment Newsletter
The family wrote that Nyweide "seemed happiest on a movie set, becoming someone else."
"It was a safe place for her and she relished from the casts and crews who nourished her talent and her well being," the family wrote. "She was an eager adventurer and picked up the customs and even languages of any place she visited."
"She wrote and drew voraciously and much of this art depicts the depth she had and it also represents the pain she suffered. Many of her writings and artwork are roadmaps of her struggles and traumas," the obit continued. "Even with those roadmaps, diagnoses, and her own revelations, those closest to her, plus therapists, law enforcement officers and others who tried to help her are heartbroken their efforts couldn't save her from her fate."
"She dreamed (more like demanded!) to be an actor, without ever knowing her mother was an actor, so she did that too with an ease we all marveled about," the family added, per the obit.Original article source: Child actress Sophie Nyweide dead at 24, police investigating 'untimely death'

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Meet Lubelo Scott, a lawyer who grew up in prison and is now breaking barriers in court halls
Meet Lubelo Scott, a lawyer who grew up in prison and is now breaking barriers in court halls

News24

timean hour ago

  • News24

Meet Lubelo Scott, a lawyer who grew up in prison and is now breaking barriers in court halls

He is determined to walk in his mother's shoes and even do greater things. Lubelo's mother, Nomonde Scott made South African history in 1983 when she became the Western Cape's first black prosecutor. However, her trailblazing legal career took an unexpected turn when she was convicted of drug trafficking and sentenced to prison. After her release, Nomonde earned an LLB degree while on parole and later pursued an LLM degree in environmental law at University of the Western Cape (UWC), and she dedicated her life to fighting crime and improving community-police relations. She worked with the Safer South Africa Foundation, where she was the Western Cape co-ordinator, working in schools to educate pupils on crime and even published an autobiography titled 'Look Before You Leap,' to share her life story and discourage others from making similar mistakes. Nomonde was blessed with three children - two sons and one daughter namely, Beviwe Scott who was the eldest but passed away, Ntumeko Scott, her daughter who is a pilot, and Lubelo Scott, her son who is the last born and a lawyer. Read more | Family of Mpumalanga woman axed by baby daddy over Sassa card speaks out Nomonde Scott passed away on August 24, 2024, at the age of 64, leaving behind a legacy of dedication to justice and community service. Her son, Lubelo Scott has shaped his own perspective and informed his own path and made decisions that have ultimately led him to follow in his mother's footsteps in the pursuit of Law at University of the Western Cape. Read more | From Khayelitsha to international runways, Mzukisi Mbane on turning passion into award-winning success Lubelo Scott's childhood had challenges as he grew up in prison and from there went to live in Gugulethu - Cape Town where he had his upbringing until they eventually moved to Gordon's Bay as his mom's life advanced. In an interview with DRUM, Lubelo shared how life has been since the passing of his mother. 'I'd say I'm coping fairly well despite losing my pillar of strength and anchor. I would describe my head space as very confused and still trying to piece life together, because I had recently lost a very important figure in my life who happens to be my mom, the author of 'Look Before You Leap'. It was unforeseen, and it hit my boat in a way that I had never imagined, because in most cases, when someone is as reliable and full of life as my mother was, you don't expect them to soon just pass away.' Lubelo added that his mother was full of life and always dedicated herself to inspiring kids. 'She was a person that was always bubbly and always dedicated in whatever she did and turned whatever she touched into gold, she was very good with kids too. So, my headspace is full of severe confusion and just not knowing where I am headed. Due to her passing, I find myself having so much burden now as I have been put in a place where I have so many responsibilities and duties that I have to fulfil which I never thought of at this early stage in my life as she was always there providing guidance. But, as I thread along, I try my utmost best, because my best is all I can give for now.' Read more | Meet Xola Toto, the Gospel voice inspiring a new generation Lubelo reflects on his childhood experiences, noting that his upbringing in prison often led to misconceptions and a stigma from his peers and people in general. As he navigated primary and high school, he encountered people who viewed him differently once they learned about his background to an extent that some would associate his emotional expressions or behaviours with his prison upbringing, implying that he was prone to delinquency or rebelliousness, but he chose not to let these perceptions define him or dictate his path. 'Growing up as a kid, and obviously being in primary and high school, I think that's when I mostly felt, the judgments from peers, where some of them wanted nothing associating themselves with me mainly because of the fact that I was raised in prison. But that, for me, was never an issue because all it did for me was give me resilience and determination to prove everyone wrong. Due to that I always excelled in whatever I did as I used my rage from everything thrown at me to fuel my dedication in studies and rugby that I was playing. Everything at the end benefited me greatly, rather than negatively impacting my life, as I got a scholarship to go study at one of the prestigious schools in Cape Town, the Bishops Diocesan College because of my rugby skills which ultimately landed me a chance to play for the Western Province rugby team because, I didn't take and run away with what naysayers said about me, instead, I took and used their words as motivation to benefit me for the better and it did. Sometimes some people when I expressed human emotions would affiliate that with my prison upbringing to motivate their negative thinking as if I was a rebellious kid, but I never let that get to me,' he said. Read more | Tributes and condolences pour in for Presley Chweneyagae following his passing Lubelo says he chose to study Law to follow on his role model's footsteps which is his mother, her being the very first black female prosecutor in the whole of Western Cape at a time where apartheid and many other forces were dominant was the inspiration he drew from his mother. 'My mother's legacy, her being the first African female prosecutor in the Western Cape, that played a major role in me making that decision. Moreover, my mother was always in legal spaces, and a lot of lawyers would come to our house, the likes of Tembeka Ngcukaitobi who also is my role model, and we would just sit and chat at home and that's where I grew very fond of Law and decided to pursue a career in the field.' ' At times my mom and I would watch documentaries and just try and solve those cases together at home. But more than anything I pursued Law because I myself have great appreciation of Law as I wanted to make a difference and bring justice to those who have faced injustice,' he mentioned. Lubelo further mentioned that him and his older sister, Ntumeko Scott are under the process of establishing a foundation under their mom's name which will be named 'Nomonde Scott foundation,' but he also has dreams and future aspirations of his own which are to start his own Law firm and bring change to the world. Lubelo concluded by sending a message of hope to anyone who feels like they've tried their utmost best in life, but all hope seems lost. 'Life is about positive choices to make and not choices to take. Remain determined, I know that it's a cliché, and a lot of people have said this before me and a lot will say it after me, but for me, that is what has kept me going, being determined, stick to the plan and don't derail in it. Also, carry with you the morals and values that have been instilled in you, respect is important in life. God is for us all and He sees us all, so if you have a dream, chase it, and lastly don't live up to anyone's expectations of you, be your own writer and narrator of your own story.'

Bishop's village attacked, 20 slain after recent testimony to Congress on Christian persecution
Bishop's village attacked, 20 slain after recent testimony to Congress on Christian persecution

Yahoo

time3 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Bishop's village attacked, 20 slain after recent testimony to Congress on Christian persecution

FIRST ON FOX: A Nigerian bishop has been threatened and his home village murderously attacked after he appealed to lawmakers at a March congressional hearing for the killing of Christians to stop. Bishop Wilfred Anagbe told Fox News Digital in an exclusive interview this week that after he went to Washington to testify, four fatal attacks in 10 days by "terrorist Jihadists" had happened in his diocese, the area he is responsible for. Nigeria is one of the most dangerous places in the world to be a Christian, according to NGO Open Doors International's 2025 World Watch List (WWL). Of the 4,476 Christians killed worldwide in WWL's latest reporting period, 3,100 of those who died – 69% – were in Nigeria. Fears Remain This Easter That Christians In Nigeria Are Being 'Wiped Out' By Muslim Extremists Open Doors U.K., added in a statement, "Jihadist violence continues to escalate in Nigeria, and Christians are at particular risk from targeted attacks by Islamic militant groups, including Fulani militants, Boko Haram and ISWAP (Islamic State West Africa Province)." One leader of one of the biggest churches in Africa's most populous nation, using the pseudonym "Pastor Winyadebi" because he's worried about his safety, told Fox News Digital. "It has been attacks upon attacks, religious violence. And we say this because the communities that are attacked are Christian communities." Read On The Fox News App "What they (Islamist militants) want is to be sure that Islam [takes] over every part of these places. … And so they're doing everything to make sure that Christianity is brought down and Islam is [the] established No. 1. They want to make sure that Sharia law (strict Islamic law) has taken over Nigeria," he said. Anagbe's Makurdi Diocese in north-central Nigeria is almost exclusively Christian. But the constant and escalating attacks by Islamist Fulani militants led him to testify at a congressional hearing in March. In April, several foreign embassies in Abuja, Nigeria, warned the bishop of credible high-level official threats: that he would be detained upon arrival in Nigeria from the U.S. and that "something might happen to him." This led to Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., Anagbe's congressional host and chair of the House Africa Subcommittee, to write in a statement: "I am appalled by reports that Bishop Wilfred Anagbe and Father Remigius Ihyula (who testified alongside Bishop Anagbe) are facing threats—allegedly from Nigerian government sources and affiliated organizations—because of the Bishop's testimony before Congress detailing violence in Nigeria's Benue State. They reflect a troubling pattern of retaliation linked to testimony before Congress on religious freedom abuses in Nigeria." Christians Increasingly Persecuted Worldwide As 'Modern And Historical Factors Converge' The U.S. Mission in Nigeria on April 10 posted on X calling for the bishop's "right to speak freely without fear of retribution or retaliation," declaring that intimidation and threats had been made "because of their March 12 testimony." Then the attacks, larger and more frequent than before, started, with four attacks between May 23 and June 1. Anagbe told Fox News Digital that "what has been happening in my village and diocese is nothing short of terror attacks on innocent villagers in order to seize their lands and occupy." "On the 23rd [of] May, one of my priests, Father Solomon Atongo, was shot in the leg by these terrorists and almost lost his life. On the 25th of May, my village, Aondona, was attacked for hours, leaving over 20 people dead, scores injured and thousands now displaced and living in makeshift camps," he said. "On the 1st of June, terror was unleashed on Naka town, with many killed and displaced," Anagbe continued. "This attack was so intense that even those earlier displaced and taking refuge in a nearby school were not spared. All over Nigeria, these terrorists are going about on a jihad and conquering territories and renaming them accordingly." "I have been speaking about this genocide for some years now, but whereas in the past some others saw my advocacy with the political lens, today almost everyone in Nigeria has seen the truth for what it is, especially after my testimony in the U.S. Congress." The bishop ended the interview with a plea: "The world has a lot to do. First of all, the world must learn from past mistakes, the Holocaust and most recently the Rwandan genocide. In both cases, the world hid its face in the sand like an ostrich. If the world does not rise up now to put a stop to the atrocities orchestrated in the name of being politically correct, it may wake up one day to casualties that make the Rwandan genocide a child's play. Keeping quiet would be to promote the genocide or ethnic cleansing in Nigeria." While the Nigerian government did not respond to a Fox News Digital request for comment, the Catholic Herald reported that the Nigerian Foreign Ministry had contacted the U.S. regarding the bishop's testimony, noting that "any reports of threats or intimidation against religious leaders would be investigated and appropriate actions would be taken."Original article source: Bishop's village attacked, 20 slain after recent testimony to Congress on Christian persecution

How Bryan Kohberger's notoriously mum defense attorney is using the media to her advantage
How Bryan Kohberger's notoriously mum defense attorney is using the media to her advantage

Yahoo

time4 hours ago

  • Yahoo

How Bryan Kohberger's notoriously mum defense attorney is using the media to her advantage

Bryan Kohberger's lead defense attorney Anne Taylor may be avoiding news cameras, but she has shown she is able to use widespread attention to the case to her advantage in her courtroom maneuvering. Even before Magistrate Judge Megan Marshall issued the first gag order in the case, Taylor declined to comment when contacted by Fox News Digital. Since then, she has declined to respond to additional requests for comment. "It is unusual for defense counsel to avoid trying to grab the spotlight and possibly influence public opinion via press conferences, but there's more than one way to skin a cat," said Royal Oakes, a Los Angeles-based litigator and media analyst. Bryan Kohberger Case Leak Could Lead To Excluded Evidence, Idaho Attorney Warns In Kohberger's case, convincing evidence has already been made public — including the allegation that police found his DNA on a Ka-Bar knife sheath under 21-year-old Madison Mogen, one of the four victims, and surveillance video of a suspected vehicle coming and going at the crime scene. "You've got the car circling the victim's house," Oakes told Fox News Digital. "You've got the DNA. You've got the cell phone records. The strategy instead is to go kind of a technical route and question the science of the DNA and also to argue autism by the criminal defendant. That's a key factor, and that's not the kind of thing you necessarily go public with." Read On The Fox News App Taylor used unflattering depictions of her client to have news cameras thrown out of the courtroom and to secure a change of venue, which moved Kohberger's upcoming trial out of Latah County, where the students were killed, to Boise. Idaho Judge Denies Bryan Kohberger Defense Motion To Suppress Key Evidence Defense filings have highlighted widespread news coverage, as well as social media discussions involving thousands of web sleuths and true crime followers. More recently, Taylor is arguing that two major media projects — a "Dateline" episode and a forthcoming book from bestselling crime author James Patterson and crime reporter Vicky Ward — should justify another postponement of her client's trial in the deaths of four University of Idaho students. In particular, she claims the May 9 "Dateline" episode contains damning material that could put Kohberger's right to a fair trial at risk. Judge Says Gag Order 'Likely' Violated In Bryan Kohberger's Idaho Murder Case "The program includes details and materials, including video footage, cellphone records, and photographs of documents, that are not publicly available through official channels," she wrote in a motion to continue filed on May 20. "The show repeatedly emphasizes the non-public nature of this information, stating it was obtained from unnamed sources who are close to the investigation, and that the materials were obtained exclusively by 'Dateline.'" Sign Up To Get The True Crime Newsletter Some of it will be inadmissible at trial, she added. Furthermore, she asserted that "the leaked materials appear carefully curated to promote a narrative of guilt." "The defense strategy of delay and moving the trial is working beautifully," Oakes said. "She was able to change the venue. She gets some postponements, and now she wants further postponement." If she gets it, there are two key factors that would benefit the defense, he added. Follow The Fox True Crime Team On X "No. 1, give her time to come up with something to overcome this amazingly strong physical evidence against him, and also maybe diminish the public anger," he said. "As the months and the years go by, people will forget how horrific the crime was, and maybe give her a better chance to get a good result at trial." "They are trying to keep it out of the court of public opinion," said David Gelman, a Philadelphia-area defense attorney and former prosecutor who is following the case. "How do you do that? Stay away from media." GET REAL-TIME UPDATES DIRECTLY ON THE True Crime Hub However, that is tough in a case where many updates receive international attention. Kohberger is accused of killing Mogen, two roommates and another friend in a 4 a.m. home-invasion stabbing spree. There is no publicly known motive, but a concerning detail is that he was studying for a Ph.D. in criminology at the time of the murders. The other victims were Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Ethan Chapin, 20. Jack Lu, a retired Massachusetts judge and an adjunct faculty member at the University of Massachusetts Lowell School of Criminology and Justice studies, said Taylor could consider trying to "humanize" her client — but anything else could be dangerous for the defense. "That case sends a chill down the spine of every professor in a school of criminology in the United States," he told Fox News article source: How Bryan Kohberger's notoriously mum defense attorney is using the media to her advantage

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store