Puppy death at D.C. luxury building sparks push for ban of deadly plant
On April 16, Goose — a two-year-old Lagotto Romagnolo dog — was playing as usual in the courtyard of the Lurgan, a 214-unit luxury apartment complex close to the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in downtown's Mount Vernon Square neighborhood.
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Yahoo
5 days ago
- Yahoo
Victim of catfish predator says she will always be angry her innocence was stolen
A victim of prolific catfish offender Max Hollingsbee has said she will always be angry that he stole her innocence. A complaint made by Immy (not her real name) led police to discover a litany of sex offences against other teenage girls committed by the Co Armagh man. Immy has said she now wants to use her experiences to help other victims. Hollingsbee, 21, of Orient Circle, Lurgan, was sentenced in May to five years and two months after admitting scores of child sexual abuse crimes against girls. He had pleaded guilty to some 42 charges with 14 victims identified. Immy, from the Surrey area, was 15 when she met Hollingsbee, who was using a fake profile, through the Wizz app three years ago. She said: 'He presented himself as being 16 and male. There were photographs which I know now weren't him. 'At the time I didn't see anything wrong with it. I thought you could only talk to people within a certain age range and you had to prove your age. 'We just had normal conversations. I was quite vulnerable at the time. It is an age where you want boys to like you, you want them to show interest in you. He was and he made me feel special, he made me feel seen. 'Now I now it was all part of his plan.' She added: 'Once he had built up the trust I added him on my Snapchat. He started with more compliments, flattery, things like that. 'At 15 years old that is all a girl wants to hear. He knew that and he definitely played on that vulnerability.' The situation escalated quickly with Hollingsbee demanding that Immy send him explicit photographs. She said: 'He would give me very specific instructions. I didn't like it but I didn't know how to say no. I wasn't confident enough to say no. 'I didn't want him to stop talking to me and I didn't want him to stop giving me that attention. 'I did send photos. I obviously regret that but I've never been made to feel embarrassed and I've never been made to feel that it was my fault.' Hollingsbee then attempted to blackmail the teenager, stating he would share the photographs with other people she knew if she did not send more. He did share the images with one of Immy's female friends. At this point she told her mother what was happening. She said: 'That was very scary for me. I was in such a state of panic it was like I blacked out, I was there and I was talking to my mum but I've no idea what I said to her. 'I showed her what was going on and just remember crying in a ball on the floor of her room.' Once police were alerted, Hollingsbee was arrested in Northern Ireland and his devices seized, leading to the discovery of the other victims. Thousands of photos and videos of underage girls performing sexual acts were found on his devices, obtained by blackmail or by hacking their social media accounts. Immy also helped police to track him down. He had given her his phone number and she used to BeReal app to discover his true profile and name. Immy said: 'Finding out there were so many other girls who hadn't said anything was the most gut-wrenching feeling in the entire world because I couldn't imagine not being able to tell someone. 'That was the hardest part, they were sitting at home so scared, so terrified and I knew how they felt because I had been there. 'Knowing they were so scared on their own was the worst feeling. Quite a few of them were younger than me.' She added: 'I am angry, I will always be angry at him for doing that to me and taking my innocence away from me. 'That is what he did. He played on my vulnerability, played on my weaknesses. I was so used and no 15-year-old should ever have to deal with a man like that ever. 'Kids do make mistakes. It is important I am able to talk about it because they need someone their age to say it could happen to you. It can happen. If you don't feel you have got the support at home, the police will take action. They did everything they way I hoped they would.' Immy said she hopes Hollingsbee is able to confront the impact of his actions when he is released from prison. She said: 'I would be happy knowing that he sees the wrong he did. 'I have made a lot of effort to not let it change my outlook about people. 'Not everyone is like that, he is a very specific type of person. But it did take a big toll, I am not as trusting as I used to be. 'But I have stopped a lot of people, I hope, from having to deal with him.' Immy is hoping to study psychology at university and to use her experiences to help other victims. She said: 'I want to be able to go into schools and work with kids, using my experience to make something good. 'I think it is so important that I make something good out of a bad situation. 'I am hoping I will be able to make a difference.'
Yahoo
06-08-2025
- Yahoo
Man on e-bike kills goose after ploughing into birds in ‘horrific' act
At least one goose has been killed and others left seriously injured after they were mown down by a man on an e-bike. One animal sustained 'catastrophic injuries' including a collapsed neck and another was left bleeding and feared dead following the hit and run. Witnesses were 'horrified' after the driver reportedly rode 'at speed' near a canal path in Leigh, Greater Manchester, on 18 July. The RSPCA has now launched an appeal for more information following the incident, which it described as 'extremely distressing'. The charity has asked anyone who witnessed the hit and run by Anchor Field to come forward. RSPCA Inspector Rachel Whalley said: 'This was an extremely distressing act. These poor birds would have had no way to escape the high speed of the scooter, and the injuries described are truly horrific. Whether it was lack of care or intentional, the driver of the scooter did not stop to check on the geese. 'We're incredibly concerned and keen to speak to anyone who may be able to shed some light on what happened here.' The charity said one bird was found with a collapsed neck, heavy bleeding, and possible eye trauma, a second was bleeding but managed to get back in the water and is feared dead, and the condition of a third goose is unknown. The man is described as being in his 20s or 30s, and riding a dark-coloured or navy-blue electric scooter. The charity said he was wearing a cap and had medium build with curly hair. Ms Whalley added: 'We've already received multiple calls and messages from concerned members of the public and are grateful for their help. We know there are many homes in the area with security cameras and doorbell footage - this may be key in helping us identify the scooter rider.' Anyone with any information is asked to contact the RSPCA appeals line number on 0300 123 8018 and refer to incident number 01580380. Solve the daily Crossword
Boston Globe
04-08-2025
- Boston Globe
Goose the wandering lizard makes a perp walk
Advertisement The lizard, whose sex is undetermined, was spotted over several days at a spot along Southwest Main Street in Douglas State Forest, and his location was so consistent that authorities said they spray painted the spot on the road. But each time Goose was approached he disappeared, until Saturday when they figured out he was scurrying under a root and hiding. An environmental police officer said Monday that he looked in the hole and 'there was a tongue sticking out at me.' After resisting hard-boiled eggs, officers laid out a few pieces of chicken and were able to lasso Goose using two catch poles. They described the animal as being in good health, and mostly good spirits, but 'very strong' and stopped being well-behaved when they got the catch poles on it. Understandably. Advertisement The owner of the lizard, who was not named at the press conference, will not face criminal charges, according to environmental police. The owner was cited for possession of the animal and issued a warning for a lack of an importation permit, authorities said, noting the animal had clearly been well cared for. Police said the animal, which was estimated to be 5-8 years old, is one of many prized in the exotic animal trade, and that on the black market Goose could sell for $6,000 to $20,000. What's next for Goose? A bit of nirvana, as he will be moved to his new home at the Goose will be quarantined for six weeks, but officials from the sanctuary said they hope that eventually, if Goose is in the mood, he will be brought back to Webster for a viewing so that locals can see the lizard that has become a social media sensation these last two weeks. When Mack Ralbovsky from Rainforest Reptiles brought Goose out at the press conference, which was broadcast on Facebook live, the handler held the perp securely in his hands and the lizard was a bit squirmy – like a restless baby. But Goose soon settled down and looked around the room for a while, occasionally flicking out his tongue at the assembled cameras. A few minutes later, the black lizard was led away, and there was that strange pause from town and state officials at the podium where everyone kind of looked at each other like they couldn't believe this bizarre media moment and was over. Advertisement 'He's our unofficial mascot in Webster,' Police Chief Michael Shaw said. 'We're kind of sad to see him go.' Billy Baker can be reached at
