Afternoon Briefing: Historic horse barn faces uncertain future
Good afternoon, Chicago.
Cook County prosecutors rested their case against Crosetti Brand today after calling more than two dozen witnesses who described for jurors harrowing accounts of an attack that killed an 11-year-old boy and seriously injured his pregnant mother.
Brand, 39, is standing trial on charges of murder, attempted murder, home invasion and aggravated domestic battery after prosecutors alleged that he barged into the Edgewater apartment of Laterria Smith and stabbed her multiple times, before turning his knife on her son, Jayden Perkins, when he tried to intervene.
Here's what else is happening today. And remember, for the latest breaking news in Chicago, visit chicagotribune.com/latest-headlines and sign up to get our alerts on all your devices.
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The man, 25-year-old Jalonie Jenkins, was taken into custody 'without incident' late last night in Downers Grove, police said. A relative previously identified him as the stepbrother of the victims, Janiya Jenkins, 21, and Eyani Jones, 10. Read more here.
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A historic horse barn in Oak Brook that is owned by the Oak Brook Park District faces an uncertain future. Read more here.
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Manager Craig Counsell proclaimed Kyle Tucker 'day-to-day.' The right fielder, who has played in all 59 games for the Cubs, is hopeful he will answer the bell for No. 60 on Tuesday, when the Cubs visit Washington. Read more here.
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Some of comedy's biggest names will be visiting over the next few months, including several you know from 'Saturday Night Live.' Read more here.
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Thousands of people have evacuated their homes across parts of the Canadian provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba, where officials have declared a state of emergency and crews are working to contain dozens of out-of-control wildfires. Read more here.
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Fugitive dad accused of killing his 3 daughters googled ‘how to relocate to Canada' before vanishing, affidavit reveals
A 32-year-old Army veteran accused of murdering his three young daughters in rural Washington State had searched the internet a few days earlier for information on how to quietly slip across the border into Canada, according to a U.S. Marshals Service affidavit obtained first by The Independent. Authorities began searching last Friday for sisters Paityn Decker, 9; Evelyn Decker, 8; and Olivia Decker, 5, after they didn't return from a scheduled visitation with dad Travis Caleb Decker. On Monday afternoon, Decker's 2017 GMC Sierra pickup was found near the Rock Island Campground in Chelan County, Washington. The bodies of all three girls were found about 75 to 100 yards away, their wrists zip-tied and a bag over each of their heads, apparently suffocated, police said. Decker, however, was nowhere to be found. Over the next two days, investigators 'obtained and served multiple search warrants for records contained in Decker's Google accounts,' the Marshals' affidavit states. 'I reviewed the Google-provided records containing some of the Google searches that occurred on 05/26/2025 using Decker's Google account,' Deputy U.S. Marshal Keegan Stanley wrote. 'These Google searches included the following: 'how does a person move to canada,' 'how to relocate to canada' … and 'jobs canada.' After the above-listed Google searches, he visited the site 'Find a job - The affidavit notes that the children's remains were found 'relatively close to the Canadian border and approximately 11 miles from the Pacific Crest Trail, a well-established trail that leads directly to Canada.' Decker, who is now wanted on three counts each of first-degree murder and first-degree kidnapping, has 'training in navigation, woodland/mountainous terrain, long distance movements, survival and numerous other disciplines needed to be able to flee,' the affidavit goes on. He is also facing an additional federal charge of unlawful flight to avoid prosecution. 'Prior to the above alleged crimes, Decker frequently recreated in outdoor, woodland and mountainous areas throughout the Eastern District of Washington and surrounding states,' it says. 'Amongst other outdoorsman activities, Decker frequently engaged in hiking, camping, survival skill practice, hunting and even lived off the grid in the backwoods for approximately 2.5 months on one occasion.' The affidavit points out that the charges against Decker 'are all very serious violent felonies which all carry significant prison sentences if convicted,' and that 'those facing significant prison sentences have a propensity' to flee. In the aftermath of the triple homicide, a 'very public national campaign to locate Decker,' was launched, and 'it is publicly known there is a warrant for his arrest,' the affidavit states. Attorney Arianna Cozart, who represents Decker's ex, Whitney, said Thursday that there had been 'no red flags' leading up to the death of the three girls. At the same time Decker reportedly struggled with post-traumatic stress disorder and was unable to access sufficient resources to deal with it. 'He had some mental health issues and some instability in his life that really led to the restrictions as far as overnight visitation or him taking them out of the area, but other than that, he loved those girls very much and him and Whitney were able to communicate on a regular basis, not just as co-parents, but as friends,' Cozart told ABC News. Cozart did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Friday. A GoFundMe campaign set up four days ago by a longtime friend of Whitney Decker has so far raised more than $1 million. In it, organizer Amy Edwards, the music director of a local Shakespeare program who taught the Decker children, said their 'joy touched so many.' 'Their loss is unimaginable, but the compassion we've received from this community and beyond has brought light into this darkness,' the GoFundMe page tells prospective donors. 'Thank you for continuing to hold Whitney close in your hearts. Your support is not only helping her through this tragedy, it's also carrying forward the love and spirit her daughters brought into the world.' Decker's current location is unknown, the Marshals' affidavit says. Authorities have asked anyone who lives in a remote area of Chelan, Kittitas, King, Snohomish, and Okanogan counties to lock all of their doors, secure any sheds or outbuildings, and leave their window blinds open and outside lights on. 'Due to safety concerns do not attempt to contact or approach Decker,' the Chelan County Sheriff's Office said in a news release. Decker is white, 5-feet, 8-inches tall and190 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a light-colored shirt and dark shorts. Anyone with information about his whereabouts is asked to call 911 or submit an online tip to the Chelan County Sheriff's Office.
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Jonathan Joss: Police Are Investigating Actor's Sexual Orientation as Motive in His Killing
Police investigating the shooting death of actor Jonathan Joss have not ruled out his sexual orientation playing a role in his killing, despite an earlier statement suggesting otherwise. During a dispute Sunday night near his San Antonio, Texas home, Joss was shot and killed; a neighbor, identified by investigators as Sigfredo Ceja Alvarez, was taken into custody and charged with murder. More from Rolling Stone 'King of the Hill' Creators Pay Tribute to Jonathan Joss Jonathan Joss, 'King of the Hill' Voice Actor, Fatally Shot at 59 Johnny Hardwick, Voice of Conspiracy Nut Dale Gribble on 'King of the Hill,' Dead at 64 Following Joss' death, the King of the Hill voice actor's husband, Tristan Kern de Gonzales, said on social media that they were approached by the neighbor who began yelling homophobic slurs and fired his gun. 'Jonathan and I had no weapons. We were not threatening anyone,' said de Gonzales. 'We were standing side by side. When the man fired, Jonathan pushed me out of the way. He saved my life.' The day after Joss' killing, the San Antonio police wrote on social media that 'despite online claims of this being a hate crime, currently the investigation has found no evidence to indicate that the Mr. Joss's murder was related to his sexual orientation.' However, during a press conference Thursday, San Antonio Police Chief William McManus said that statement was 'premature.' 'I will own that and simply say again that we simply shouldn't have done that. It was way too early in the process for any statement of that nature to be issued,' McManus said, adding that authorities are investigating the actor's sexual orientation as a possible motive. 'The loss of Jonathan Joss was tragic, most heavily felt by the LGBTQ+ community,' McManus said (via the Associated Press). 'We gather the facts, and we give those facts to the district attorney's office. And then that hate crime designation is determined at sentencing.' Joss' King of the Hill and Parks and Recreation co-stars and creators paid tribute to the actor following news of his death. King of the Hill's co-creators, Mike Judge and Greg Daniels, and revival showrunner Saladin Patterson shared a post on Instagram alongside images of Joss and his character, John Redcorn. 'Jonathan brought King of the Hill's 'John Redcorn' to life for over a dozen seasons, including in the upcoming revival,' they wrote. 'His voice will be missed at King of the Hill, and we extend our deepest condolences to Jonathan's friends and family.' Best of Rolling Stone The 50 Best 'Saturday Night Live' Characters of All Time Denzel Washington's Movies Ranked, From Worst to Best 70 Greatest Comedies of the 21st Century
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6 hours ago
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Israel says it has recovered the bodies of 2 Israeli-American hostages from the Gaza Strip
TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Israel has recovered the bodies of two Israeli-American hostages taken in Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023 attack that ignited the war in the Gaza Strip. Israeli strikes overnight and into Thursday meanwhile killed at least 22 people, including three local journalists who were in the courtyard of a hospital, according to health officials in the territory. The military said it targeted a militant in that strike. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the remains of Judih Weinstein and Gad Haggai were recovered and returned to Israel in a special operation by the army and the Shin Bet internal security agency. 'Together with all the citizens of Israel, my wife and I extend our heartfelt condolences to the dear families. Our hearts ache for the most terrible loss. May their memory be blessed,' he said in a statement. Kibbutz Nir Oz announced the deaths of Weinstein, 70, and Haggai, 72, both of whom had Israeli and U.S. citizenship, in December 2023. Weinstein was also a Canadian citizen. The military said they were killed in the Oct. 7 attack and taken into Gaza by the Mujahideen Brigades, the small armed group that it said had also abducted and killed Shiri Bibas and her two small children. The army said it recovered the remains of Weinstein and Haggai overnight into Thursday from Gaza's southern city of Khan Younis. A teacher who helped children and a chef who played jazz The couple were taking an early morning walk near their home in Kibbutz Nir Oz on the morning of Oct. 7 when Hamas militants stormed across the border and rampaged through several army bases and farming communities. In the early hours of the morning, Weinstein was able to call emergency services and let them know that both she and her husband had been shot and send a message to her family. Weinstein was born in New York and taught English to children with special needs at Kibbutz Nir Oz, a small community near the Gaza border. The kibbutz said she also taught meditation techniques to children and teenagers who suffered from anxiety as a result of rocket fire from Gaza. Haggai was a retired chef and jazz musician. 'My beautiful parents have been freed. We have certainty,' their daughter, Iris Haggai Liniado, wrote in a Facebook post. She thanked the Israeli military, the FBI and the Israeli and U.S. governments and called for the release of all the remaining hostages. The couple were survived by two sons, two daughters and seven grandchildren, the kibbutz said. Struggles continue to get aid to Palestinians U.N. efforts to distribute aid suffered a blow Thursday when the Palestinian organization that provides trucks and drivers said it was suspending operations after gunmen attacked a convoy, killing a driver. The Special Transport Association said the convoy of some 60 trucks was heading into Deir al-Balah in central Gaza Wednesday evening when gunmen attacked, killing one driver and wounding three others. The association said it was the latest in attacks on convoys 'clearly aimed at obstructing' aid delivery, though it did not say who it believed was behind the attack. Israel has accused Hamas of stealing aid and trying to block it from reaching Palestinians. Aid workers have said attacks on U.N. trucks appear to be by criminal gangs, some operating within sight of Israeli troops. The area where the association described the attack taking place lies on the edges of an Israeli military zone. After blocking all food and aid from entering Gaza for more than two months, Israel began allowing a trickle of supplies to enter for the U.N. several weeks ago. But the U.N says it has been unable to distribute much of the aid because of Israeli military restrictions on movements and because roads that the military designates for its trucks to use are unsafe and vulnerable to looters. The blockade pushed Gaza's population of more than 2 million to the brink of famine. Meanwhile, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a mainly American private contractor, resumed food distribution at two centers near the southern city of Gaza on Thursday. It had halted all distribution the day before, saying it was discussing greater safety measures with the Israeli military. Near daily shootings have erupted in the vicinity of the hubs, with Palestinians reporting Israeli troops opening fire. More than 80 people have been killed and hundreds wounded, according to Gaza hospital officials. The Israeli military has said it fired warning shots or at individuals approaching its troops in some instances. GHF said Thursday it has distributed the equivalent of nearly 8.5 million meals since its centers began operating on May 26 — enough for one meal a day for just over a third of Gaza's population. Strikes around Gaza kill 22 Two Israeli airstrikes in Gaza City on Thursday afternoon killed 9 people, including a child and a woman, according to health officials. Most were killed when the strike hit a busy street where people were gathered to buy bags of flour, said one witness, Abu Farah. 'We want to bring food to our children. We're not asking for anything more. We stopped demanding anything else other than food,' he said. At least 10 Palestinians were killed in Israeli strikes in Khan Younis overnight, according to Nasser Hospital, which received the bodies. It was not immediately clear if the strikes were related to the recovery mission. In Gaza City, three local reporters were killed and six people were wounded in a strike on the courtyard of the al-Ahli Hospital, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. It did not immediately identify the journalists or say which outlets they worked for. The Israeli military said it struck an Islamic Jihad militant operating in the courtyard. The army says it only targets militants and blames civilian deaths on Hamas because it is embedded in populated areas. Over 180 journalists and media workers have been killed since the start of the Israel-Hamas war, the vast majority of them in Gaza, according to the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists. Israel has said many of those killed in its strikes were militants posing as reporters. Hamas-led militants killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, in the Oct. 7 attack and abducted 251 hostages. They are still holding 56 hostages, around a third of them believed to be alive, after most of the rest were released in ceasefire agreements or other deals. Israeli forces have rescued eight living hostages from Gaza and recovered dozens of bodies. Israel's military campaign has killed more than 54,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not say how many of the dead were civilians or combatants. The offensive has destroyed large parts of Gaza and displaced around 90% of its population of roughly 2 million Palestinians. ___ Melzer reported from Nahariya, Israel and Shurafa from Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip. Associated Press writer Kareem Chehayeb in Beirut contributed. ___ Follow the AP's war coverage at
