Death Of Former Child Actress Sophie Nyweide Under Investigation For Possible Foul Play
The death of former child actress Sophie Nyweide, known for her role in the 2014 film Noah, is under investigation by police in the US state of Vermont, with authorities not ruling out the possibility of foul play, the New York Post reported.
The 24-year-old was found unresponsive on a riverbank in Bennington on April 14 around 4 am, near a local high school, according to US media reports. She was declared dead at the scene.
Bennington Police Department officials confirmed to TMZ that the investigation remains open and "will consider a range of possible causes, including foul play." The final autopsy and toxicology reports are still awaited from the Vermont Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.
Nyweide was reportedly with a man at the time of her death, who is said to be cooperating with police. Authorities have clarified that he is neither a suspect nor a person of interest at this time.
Her family confirmed the young actress's passing on Tuesday, sharing an emotional tribute in her online obituary. The note described her as a "kind and trusting girl," who struggled silently with trauma and mental health challenges.
"Sophie wrote and drew voraciously... her art and writings were roadmaps of her pain," the obituary said. "She self-medicated to cope with the shame and trauma she carried... and rejected treatment that might have helped her."
Sophie Nyweide began her acting career as a child, appearing in Bella (2006) and Margot at the Wedding (2007), as well as an episode of Law & Order. Her mother, Shelly Gibson, was also an actress known for roles in All My Children and St. Elsewhere.
"She seemed happiest on a movie set, becoming someone else. It was a safe space for her," the family's statement read.
"May we all learn from her brief life on earth and do better," the tribute concluded.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Sean Diddy Combs' ex testifies she 'felt obligated' to have sex with male escorts, reveals shocking 'freak-off' details
A former girlfriend of Sean "Diddy" Combs testified at his federal sex trafficking and racketeering trial on Thursday. The woman, using the pseudonym 'Jane,' said she felt a "feeling of obligation" to have sex with escorts while the mogul watched because he was paying the $10,000/month rent on her home, reports New York Post. The woman told the court he brutally beat her and forced her to have unprotected sex with strangers. She told the jury Thursday that 90% of their three-year relationship was spent in the drugged-up 'freak-offs' Diddy orchestrated, filmed and pleasured himself to, which are at the center of this case. The testimony comes as prosecutors are accusing Combs of using his business empire to lure women into his orbit with promises of romantic relationships or financial support, before physically abusing them or coercing them into sex. ALSO READ: Thomas Fugate: A novice who replaced an army veteran to lead US terror prevention centre Sean Diddy Combs' victim testifies Combs, 55, is accused of using his fame, fortune and many businesses to run a decade-long scheme in which he controlled and manipulated his longtime girlfriend, R&B singer Cassie Ventura, 38, using violence and threats, forcing her and others — including several male escorts — into sex marathons that went on for days. Live Events The rapper has pleaded not guilty to RICO charges of sex trafficking, racketeering, and transportation to engage in prostitution. He faces life in prison if convicted. Jane testified that she would take Xanax to help her sleep after using ecstasy and other substances during intense "hotel nights"—also referred to as " freak-offs "—with Sean "Diddy" Combs. Her remarks about drug use surfaced when she was questioned about the various security personnel and assistants involved in obtaining drugs for Combs during their relationship. She mentioned that one individual, named Guido, regularly supplied drugs to him. ALSO READ: Meet Thomas Fugate: 22-year-old ex-gardener and grocery store assistant to lead $18 million terror prevention team Guido would deliver, Jane testified that he brought over ecstasy, molly, Xanax and cocaine, she testified — before she confirmed that she took Xanax. "I just wanted to fall asleep, and it's really hard to fall asleep after you've been taking so many drugs," Jane explained about taking Xanax. She testified that she would take drugs to help her power through the "hotel nights" that could last up to three days. Jane said she would take Xanax after she "put Sean [Combs] asleep." Jane, a single mother, said she met Sean "Diddy" Combs during a 2020 girls' trip to Miami, accompanying a friend who was dating him. What began as a romantic relationship in 2021 eventually turned serious, lasting until 2024. She said they affectionately referred to each other as 'Bert' and 'Ernie.' ALSO READ: Amid Trump-Musk spat, Tesla CEO's immigration status under scanner. Can President deport him? But the tone of the relationship shifted dramatically in May 2021, Jane testified, growing emotional as she recalled the change. Combs began discussing sexual fantasies involving other men and role-playing, which she initially agreed to, assuming it was a distant and isolated request. Instead, she said, she found herself hours later in a Miami hotel room as Combs' staff prepared for a group sex encounter. 'That night opened a Pandora's box,' she said. 'It set the tone for everything that followed… a door I couldn't close.' Though she initially felt a rush afterward, Jane said she later regretted the experience. From then on, she claimed, the majority of their sexual encounters involved other men, with Combs watching. Asked whether she wanted to be with those other men, she quietly replied, 'No… just Sean.' Her account of these 'hotel nights' echoed previous testimony from Cassie, another woman linked to Combs. Both described enduring long encounters — sometimes stretching over 24 hours — and trying to get through them as quickly as possible. Economic Times WhatsApp channel )
Time of India
7 hours ago
- Time of India
Love Island removes Yulissa Escobar after viral casteist slur video shocks fans
It has not taken long for Season 7 of Love Island USA to spiral into controversy. In just the second episode, fans were hit with the shocking onscreen message: 'Yulissa has left the villa.' No context, no warning—just a vanishing act that sparked instant speculation online. Love Island drama hits early—and it is messy Turns out, the abrupt exit of Miami-based contestant Yulissa Escobar came right after a resurfaced video exposed her using the N-word in past podcast appearances. The clip, published by TMZ just one day before the episode aired, sent social media into meltdown. By the time the second episode hit Peacock, Yulissa was officially gone. Fans were not quiet about their feelings. Even before the episode aired, the comment section under Yulissa's official cast photo had already turned into a digital battleground. Viewers were calling for her to be eliminated, with messages like, 'We're sending you home the FIRST vote' flooding the post. Her Instagram eventually limited the comments—but the damage had been done. Network confirms her exit, but keeps it vague A Peacock spokesperson confirmed that 'Yulissa left the villa,' but offered no explanation. While Entertainment Weekly reached out to Escobar's reps, there has been no public statement from her team as of now. The show moved on quickly, but the fans? Not so much. Who was Yulissa Escobar before the controversy? Before the scandal, Yulissa was introduced as the fun, confident 27-year-old mobile bar owner looking for her 'knight in shining armour.' Fresh off a nine-year relationship, she claimed she was stronger and happier than ever. 'I am like a bundle of joy that came out of nowhere,' she said in her promo video. But that joyful energy quickly evaporated with the controversy now surrounding her name. The internet reacts From Twitter threads to TikTok and Instagram, the internet has been ablaze. Some are praising Peacock for acting swiftly, while others are questioning why proper vetting did not catch the clips earlier. Either way, Love Island has officially entered its drama era—and it is only week one.
NDTV
9 hours ago
- NDTV
US Jiu-Jitsu Student Awarded Rs 466 Crore After Instructor's Move Leaves Him Paralysed
In a landmark case, 30-year-old Jack Greener was awarded over $56 million (Rs 466 crore) after a 2018 jiu-jitsu sparring session left him paralyzed, according to New York Post. As a beginner white belt at Del Mar Jiu-Jitsu Club in San Diego, Greener was paired with instructor Francisco "Sinistro" Iturralde. During the session, Iturralde executed a manoeuvre that placed his full body weight on Greener's neck, crushing his cervical vertebrae and rendering him quadriplegic. The incident occurred just weeks before Greener's college graduation. He underwent multiple surgeries and suffered strokes during his hospitalisation. Initially awarded 46 million in 2023, the total compensation rose with post-judgement interest. The California Supreme Court upheld the verdict, emphasizing that instructors can be held liable when they increase risks beyond those inherent in the sport. Greener has since become a motivational speaker and mountain climber, advocating for athlete safety and accountability in sports training. "The black belt instructor did a technique that placed his entire body weight on Greener's neck, causing him to instantly fall limp and lose all function of his limbs," BJJ legend Rener Gracie, who was called as an expert witness in the case, told The NY Post. Greener was hospitalized for several months, suffering multiple strokes as a result of his injuries - which came just weeks before he was due to graduate from college, his attorneys said. He sued the Del Mar Jiu Jitsu club in San Diego for the injuries he blamed on Iturralde, who earned the nickname "Sinistro", or "Sinister", for his "dynamic, aggressive grappling style", according to his bio on a site selling online instructionals.
