Menendez brothers: Judge agrees to resentencing over 1989 murders
A Los Angeles judge has agreed to resentence two brothers who are serving life in prison for the 1989 murders of their parents in a Beverly Hills mansion.Judge Michael Jesic's ruling in the case of Erik and Lyle Menendez paves the way for the brothers' release on parole.The pair have acknowledged killing Kitty and Jose Menendez, but said they acted out of self-defence after years of abuse and have since been rehabilitated.Prosecutors have argued the brothers meticulously planned the shotgun killings to access their parents' fortune, are yet to take responsibility and should not be released.
The brothers are expected to first give a statement - via video - to the court at Tuesday's hearing.The notorious case, which has prompted books, documentaries and dramas, still divides America.
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The Sun
43 minutes ago
- The Sun
Travis Decker's chilling web searches days before ‘killing daughters' reveals possible escape plan as manhunt continues
Emma Crabtree, Weekend US Editor Published: Invalid Date, TRAVIS Decker, the dad accused of kidnapping and murdering his three daughters made chilling web searches days beforehand. As the manhunt for the war veteran continues, an investigation into his internet history reveals his possible escape plan. 9 9 9 Cops believe Decker killed Olivia, 5, Evelyn, 8, and Paityn Decker, 9, during a court-ordered custody visit before dumping their bodies at a rural campsite in Washington State. Whitney Decker, the mother of the children and Decker's ex-wife reported the girls missing on May 30 after he failed to drop them home. They were last seen with their father around 5 pm local time after he picked them up that day. The bodies of all three siblings were found at Rock Island Campground, about an hour outside of Wenatchee, Washington near Decker's vehicle that had bloody handprints on the tailgate. It comes as... The girls' bodies were found on Monday as cops said they likely died of asphyxiation Travis Decker's truck was found 75 to 100 yards away with two bloody adult-sized handprints on the tailgate The girls' mom, Whitney Decker, said her ex-husband was unusually quiet when he picked them up Eerie video of Decker showed his recent appearance Cops fear Decker could survive in the woods for MONTHS due to extensive military training Whitney shared the final message Decker gave her before the alleged killings Officials shot down claims Decker was seen in Idaho A GoFundMe for Whitney has raised over $1 million Whitney shared a father's day video saying something 'broke' in Decker and he was a loving dad and husband Cops believe the three children were suffocated to death as they continue to hunt for Decker who is on the run. As Governor Bob Ferguson activated the National Guard to support the over 100-strong manhunt for Decker, a look into his internet search history revealed a possible escape plan. A US Marshals Service affidavit obtained by Fox News affliate KCPQ claims he searched "how to relocate to Canada". Other searches found on his Google account included a Canadian job website and "how does a person move to Canada". 9 9 9 These were carried out on May 26, just days before Decker failed to return the children to their mother. Court documents seen by KCPQ also reveal that the 32-year-old's phone records show "he drove to and left the same campground a day prior to the kidnapping." Officials who are already concerned about how Decker's military training will make him hard to find have highlighted their concerns that he has crossed the border. There is currently no official port of entry at that part of the border so hikers can freely cross into Canada without detection. "The location of the victim's remains is relatively close to the Canadian border and approximately 11 miles from the Pacific Crest Trail, a well-established trail that leads directly Canada," the affidavit read. Authorities have launched a land and air search of the popular tourist spot but nothing has emerged yet. The Chelan County Sheriff's Office involved in the hunt has revealed that Decker's military past means he is "well versed in wilderness survival". He is "capable of spending days or even weeks in the wilderness on his own and with very little equipment". Court documents highlight that Decker is trained in navigation, mountainous and woodland terrain, long-distance manoeuvers and wilderness survival. 9 "We are searching anywhere and everywhere for him," Chelan County Sheriff Mike Morrison said. Those living in remote cabins and rural areas have been warned to keep their doors locked to all buildings including sheds. They have also been told to keep their outdoor lights on and window blinds open. To help with the search, the Sheriff's Office has released some new pictures of Decker. The updated release continues to warn the public that he is "considered dangerous and may be armed, call 911 immediately". The pictures taken from a surveillance camera show him walking in a t-shirt, shorts, and sandals with facial hair and a pony tail. Others show close-ups of the distinctive tattoos he has on his arms and ankles. His grieving ex-wife has said that "something broke in him" after he struggled to get help for his mental health issues, insisting he was a good father and never violent to her or the children. Decker's arrest warrant charges him with three counts of first-degree murder and kidnapping. Timeline of the missing Decker girls Paityn Decker, 9, Evelyn Decker, 8, and Olivia Decker, 5, were found dead at a campground after they were last seen on a custody visit to their dad. Below is a timeline of events: Monday, May 26 Travis Decker searches online for "how does a person move to Canada", a Canadian job website and "how does a person move to Canada". Thursday, May 29 Decker's cell activity shows that he drove to and from the Rock Island Campground Friday, May 30 5 pm - The three girls are picked up from their mom's house by their dad 9:45 pm - Whitney Decker calls the Wenatchee Police Department to report her daughters missing Travis' truck is seen driving westbound on Highway 2. Washington State Patrol is contacted for an Amber Alert but said the situation didn't match their criteria. Saturday, May 31 WPD issues an Endangered Missing Persons Alert. Monday, June 2 3:45 pm - Decker's truck is found empty with bloody hand prints at Rock Island Campground. 5 pm - Cops search the area and find the bodies of the three girls. Tuesday, June 3 9:30 am - WPD notifies the public that they are still searching for Decker. 2 pm - WPD tells the public that the three girls were found dead and that Decker is still on the loose.
Daily Mail
44 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
LA is turned into a warzone as anti-ICE protests spread to San Francisco: Trump demands 'bring in the troops'
Los Angeles has been brought to its knees after rioters tore through the City of Angels, with tensions now mounting in San Francisco over President Donald Trump 's migration policies. Harrowing footage showed rioters laying deadly traps for officers in LA and setting cars alight with Molotov cocktails, fireworks and explosives as tensions soared to new heights on Sunday night after days of rioting. In one extraordinary attack, officers were trapped under an overpass on the 101 Freeway as they were hammered with fiery missiles and rocks from above while valiantly trying to extinguish flames engulfing several now-destroyed highway patrol cars. As authorities in LA struggled to contain demonstrators, the carnage spread to San Francisco where vandals trashed buildings and violently clashed with police in riot gear. The carnage has prompted authorities to declare the entirety of Downtown LA an 'unlawful assembly' and order anyone in the area to 'leave immediately.' 'Agitators have splintered into and through out the Downtown Area. Residents, businesses and visitors to the Downtown Area should be alert and report any criminal activity,' police said. Authorities have considered implementing a curfew to quell the violence and will re-evaluate whether such drastic measures are necessary as the night progresses. Immigration officials, National Guard troops and the LAPD used rubber bullets and flash bangs in an effort to control the never-ending onslaught of an estimated 6,000 protesters, with 500 Marines on standby to join the defensive lines. At the 101 Freeway, which has been the epicenter of conflict on Sunday, officers were forced to hunker under an overpass as they faced a barrage of fiery missiles from above At least 60 rioters were arrested on Sunday during skirmishes across Downtown LA which stretched into a third day, bringing the total tally of arrests for the chaotic weekend to 89. LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell said demonstrators are arriving to protests armed with hammers and cinder blocks, throwing chunks of concrete or enormous rocks at officers simply doing their jobs. 'We are overwhelmed,' he said. 'We had individuals out there shooting commercial grade fireworks at our officers. That can kill ya.' Many, he said, were wearing masks - a direct violation of Trump's 'no masks' mandate. The revelation sparked a furious response from Trump on Truth Social, writing: 'arrest the people in face masks, now!' In another post, Trump added: 'Looking really bad in L.A. BRING IN THE TROOPS!' 'Jim McDonnell, the highly respected LAPD Chief, just stated that the protesters are getting very much more aggressive, and that he would 'have to reassess the situation,' as it pertains to bringing in the troops. He should, RIGHT NOW!!! Don't let these thugs get away with this.' Three officers were injured in the harrowing scenes amid concerns that the clashes could turn deadly as rioters used fireworks and heavy rocks to attack authorities. Police horses were targeted as they made their way through the streets with deadly explosives, while cannisters of tear gas which police had used to disperse the crowds were instead picked up and thrown back at officers. At the 101 Freeway, which has been the epicenter of conflict on Sunday, officers were forced to hunker under an overpass as they faced a barrage of missiles from above. Extraordinary footage captured by independent journalist Cam Higby showed a small contingent of Los Angeles highway patrol officers under siege by protesters who had seized control of the overpass above them. The protesters threw tinder lit on fire in an effort to blow up the police cars below, and attacked officers with rocks and tear gas from above when they made any effort to extinguish the flames. Earlier in the evening authorities faced an uphill battle to contain violence on the same stretch of road. More than 2,000 protesters commandeered northbound and southbound traffic, grinding motorists to a complete halt as they marched with flags and signs high above their heads. Motorists stuck on the unmoving freeway were instructed to turn around in an effort to clear the traffic, as even more rioters gathered on overpasses and ramps. The freeway was briefly reopened but authorities had to shut it down once again as demonstrators began tossing missiles off the overpass. Witnesses claimed demonstrators were setting tinder alight and firing rocks from the overpass, aiming at police patrol vehicles as they passed by. The vile scenes of carnage came on the back of an edict by Trump to send in as many as 2,000 National Guard troops, with a further 500 Marines placed on standby - sparking fury among California officials. A man who appeared to aim his van at a crowd of protesters was among dozens detained on Sunday night, with police warning charges are likely to follow. As LA fell to the rioters on Sunday night, Governor Gavin Newsom was locked in a war of words with federal officials, taunting Trump's border czar with a threat to 'arrest him.' He has vowed to sue the federal administration over the 'illegal, immoral and unconstitutional' deployment of the National Guard, which he maintains stoked the violence and increased agitation on Sunday. But a lawsuit will do little to quell the concerns of authorities on the ground who were desperately trying to restore order before nightfall amid concerns that violence historically ramps up as the sun sets. Some of the most horrifying images to emerge from the carnage on Sunday came from Downtown LA, where at least five Waymo self-driving cars were set alight and vandalized, prompting an indefinite shutdown of Los Angeles St north of Arcadia, and south of Alameda amid safety concerns about the lithium batteries. Horrifying vision captured the moment these rioters set fire to the robotaxis and celebrated the carnage by dancing on the roof of cars and waving Mexican flags. 'Burn, burn, burn,' the protesters cheered. 'Burning lithium-ion batteries release toxic gases, including hydrogen fluoride, posing risks to responders and those nearby,' authorities said. Extraordinary footage showed a small contingent of Los Angeles highway patrol officers under siege by protesters who had seized control of the overpass above them. One protester repeatedly smashed the driver side window of a Waymo which had been surrounded by demonstrators as flames engulfed another car nearby. Waymo was forced to halt all services in and around the under-siege protest areas in an effort to protect the remainder of the fleet. Each self driving robotaxi is estimated to be worth about $150,000. At least two officers were injured after motorcyclists ploughed through rioters and ran straight over the top of authorities. Both of the riders have been detained by police as the officers are treated by medical personnel on the scene. Elsewhere, officers were reportedly struck by fireworks as they worked to break up a violent crowd, while protesters were filmed brandishing 3D creations of Trump's severed head on a pole. At the Los Angeles City Hall, authorities on horseback were locked in a tense standoff with even more demonstrators, sparking fears from local law enforcement officers that they were in for a 'rough night.' Throughout the day, police deployed 'less lethal munitions' in response to violent attacks by protesters. Protesters gathered outside the Metropolitan Detention Center were warned that the LAPD incident commander had approved the use of such weapons. An Australian journalist was fired upon with a rubber bullet while delivering a live cross to the network in an area which had been given an 'unlawful assembly' designation. The LAPD began issuing rolling dispersal orders and declaring some of the protests acts of 'unlawful assembly' as violence ramped up on Sunday afternoon. At the site of another dispersal order near Temple Street and Main Street, demonstrators are 'using chairs, garbage bins and other items to blockade the street.' By early afternoon the city had been placed on 'tactical alert', meaning all of the department's officers were put on notice that they could be called up for service at any given moment. Officers who were already on duty were not allowed to end their shift until they had been relieved by their commanders, and residents of Los Angeles were warned that low priority calls may go unanswered while the alert is ongoing. That order came after Trump issued an extraordinary directive vowing to 'liberate Los Angeles' from illegal aliens which have 'invaded and occupied a once great American city.' A combined effort led by Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, and Attorney General Pam Bondi will restore order, Trump said. He directed his key personnel to 'to take all such action necessary to liberate Los Angeles from the Migrant Invasion, and put an end to these migrant riots. 'Order will be restored, the Illegals will be expelled, and Los Angeles will be set free,' Trump wrote on Truth Social on Sunday afternoon. Trump lamented the current state of the city, expressing concern that 'a once great American City, Los Angeles, has been invaded and occupied by Illegal Aliens and Criminals. 'Now violent, insurrectionist mobs are swarming and attacking our Federal Agents to try and stop our deportation operations.' But he vowed 'these lawless riots only strengthen our resolve' as images emerge of troops on the ground in the downtown area of the city ready to defend the city from more violent demonstrations. The president congratulated the National Guard on doing a 'great job' in the city in the early hours of Sunday morning, although they hadn't arrived yet. But Governor Newsom shared a very different perspective just hours later, revealing he has urged Trump to ' rescind the order [and] return control to California.' 'We didn't have a problem until Trump got involved,' Newsom said in his extraordinary rebuke. 'This is a serious breach of state sovereignty — inflaming tensions while pulling resources from where they're actually needed. 'These are the acts of a dictator, not a President.' Trump issued several late night Truth Social statements in the wake of the carnage Mayor Karen Bass echoed those statements, telling CNN: 'This sows chaos that is not warranted nor needed in the city of Los Angeles. 'It's as though troops were rolled out in a provocative manner and I do not see how that is helpful to Los Angeles right now, it's not the type of resources that we need in the city. 'We do not need to have our city under siege.' Former Vice President Kamala Harris joined in on the Democrat pile-on on Sunday, denouncing the ICE raids which sparked the civil unrest. 'Deploying the National Guard is a dangerous escalation meant to provoke chaos,' Harris wrote in a statement on X. 'In addition to the recent ICE raids in Southern California and across our nation, it is part of the Trump Administration's cruel, calculated agenda to spread panic and division.' Trump hit back with a Truth Social post on Sunday demanding both Newsom and Mayor Karen Bass apologize for the LA riots, insisting those involved are not 'peaceful protesters' as the duo had claimed, but instead 'troublemakers and insurrectionists.' Defending Trump, border czar Tom Homan described Newsom as an embarrassment to the state and warned 'it's a felony to impede law enforcement from doing their job.' Newsom quickly hit back at Homan, daring the border czar to put him in handcuffs as the conflict descended into a childish tit-for-tat despite the crisis on his doorstep. 'Come and arrest me. Let's just get it over with, tough guy. I don't give a damn,' he told MSNBC Sunday evening. 'He's a tough guy. Why doesn't he do that? He knows where to find me.' The crisis even saw Trump's friend-turned-foe Elon Musk rush to his defense, sharing several comments on X expressing horror over the scenes of violence. 'This is not ok,' he wrote alongside one image of a rioter on top of a vandalized car. Separately, he reshared Trump's Truth Social post criticizing Newsom and Bass. These riots were set against the backdrop of Trump's latest immigration raid, targeting the safe haven of Los Angeles on Friday. DHS said in a statement that the recent ICE operations resulted in the arrest of 118 immigrants. Homan said those arrested included child sex offenders, gang members and national security threats. 'They arrested a lot of bad people yesterday and today,' Homan asserted. 'We're making Los Angeles safer.' Homan also remarked that ICE agents were often wearing masks as they conducted raids because they were worried about their families being doxed. By Saturday night federal agents reported having arrested more than a dozen 'agitators who impeded agents in their ability to conduct law enforcement operations.
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
National Park Service rescinds support of prosecuting runner over 'illegal' shortcut during world record attempt
The National Park Service has withdrawn its support of the prosecution of a ultramarathon runner who took an 'illegal' shortcut while attempting to break a world record. Michelino Sunseri, 32, a bartender and professional mountain runner, completed a blistering round-trip of Wyoming 's Grand Teton on September 2, 2024, finishing the grueling 13.2-mile route in just two hours, 50 minutes, and 50 seconds. But, shortly after crossing the finish line, his triumph unraveled - not due to injury, but because of a small off-trail shortcut captured by his Strava GPS tracker. The single switchback cut, a violation of National Park Service rules, landed Sunseri in legal hot water and cost him official recognition for what would have been a new fastest known time. According to park officials, the infraction occurred during his record-breaking descent, when Sunseri deviated from the designated trail by cutting across a switchback - a maneuver intended to save seconds but prohibited to prevent erosion in the fragile alpine environment. The detour was logged on his GPS watch and uploaded to Strava - a social fitness platform used by runners, cyclists, and hikers - effectively documenting his own violation. Grand Teton National Park rangers later cited the Idaho native for 'traveling off designated trails,' a federal petty offense. Prosecutors offered him a misdemeanor guilty plea for the citation, which carries up to six months in jail and a $5,000 fine. But now the NPS has u-turned, court filings unearthed by a Freedom of Information Act show, according to Jackson Hole News & Guide. Frank Lands, the National Park Service's deputy director of operations, told an Interior Department attorney, Grand Teton Superintendent Chip Jenkins and others that the NPS was 'withdrawing its criminal prosecution referral', the filings show. 'We believe that the previously offered punishment, a five-year park ban and fine, is an overcriminalization based on the gravity of the offense,' Lands wrote on May 19 - the day before Sunseri's bench trial. 'Therefore, we withdraw our support [for Sunseri's prosecution].' However, prosecutors were not convinced to change course, and Nicole Romine, chief of the District of Wyoming's criminal division, told the NPS they would be 'continuing with the prosecution'. has approached the National Park Service for comment. Sunseri pleaded not guilty and plans to contest the charge, WyoFile reported. Earlier this spring, attorneys representing the park offered Sunseri a five-year ban from Grand Teton as part of a settlement. But he declined. 'Definitely not,' he told SFGATE in February. 'That's crazy.' He also proposed volunteer trail work and soil rehabilitation as alternatives, but the park reportedly rejected those offers. 'I'm feeling a little confused that this is even happening,' Sunseri said. Yet, the fallout following his run was swift. rejected his submission, citing the off-trail violation and affirming its commitment to park rules. 'Any future attempts to cut switchbacks will result in complete rejection,' the site now states. The North Face, which sponsors the self-proclaimed 'mountain ninja,' deleted a post congratulating him on achieving an 'impossible dream,' though he remains sponsored. The experienced trail runner argues he followed the path used by six of the last seven record holders: an old climber's trail described as 'a hard-packed, well-traveled and historically significant trail below the mouth of Garnet Canyon.' Sunseri has also contended that the NPS' enforcement rests on two small, poorly visible signs - one 'hidden in sagebrush' and the other 'behind a pine tree' - according to a petition started by friend Connor Burkesmith. 'Despite consistent public use of the trail over the last three decades, no one else was prosecuted,' the petition reads. The petition, calling for charges to be dropped, has since garnered over 2,000 signatures. 'It is frankly ridiculous that the NPS is hanging a criminal charge over his head,' one supporter wrote. But not all are sympathetic, some environmental advocates and trail runners insist that rules are there for a reason. 'It was a very public violation of NPS regulations, shared in such a public way by this influencer and sponsored athlete in association with his effort to achieve the fastest known time goal,' Grand Teton spokesperson Emily Davis said. What could have been a career-defining achievement has instead become a cautionary tale for the ultrarunner. 'I don't think I'd wish this on my worst enemy,' he told SFGATE. 'I'm being prosecuted by the federal government for trail running. I don't stand by that anymore, no.'
