Latest news with #HartCounty
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Yahoo
Critics call for change after first use of Kentucky's Ian Alert ends in tragedy
CUB RUN, Ky. (FOX 56) — A heartbreaking loss in Hart County is prompting urgent questions about Kentucky's new Ian Alert system, designed to help locate missing children with autism. The alert was used for the first time this week after 5-year-old Silas Shearer wandered away from his home Tuesday morning. Tragically, he was later found dead in a nearby pond. The coroner determined he drowned, but the full circumstances of his disappearance remain under investigation. The Ian Alert was created to fill a critical gap for cases involving children on the autism spectrum who may not meet the criteria for a traditional Amber Alert. It's named after 9-year-old Ian Sousis, who drowned in the Ohio River in 2022 after wandering away from home. However, after this first real-world test of the system, some advocates argue that it didn't go far enough. Read more of the latest Kentucky news Jo Grayson, with the Autism Society of the Bluegrass, said the alert lacked key information—such as the child's age, gender, or ethnicity—which made it harder for the public to identify who they were supposed to be looking for. She also criticized the alert's instruction not to intervene, saying that in a case involving a child with a disability, immediate help can be critical. Other advocates noted confusion over the alert itself. Wendy Wheeler-Mullins, also with the Autism Society, said even though she was familiar with the Ian Alert, she momentarily confused it with an Amber Alert. Because the Ian Alert is unique to Kentucky while Amber Alerts are nationwide, she believes the similarity in names could lead to misunderstandings about how to respond. For Rhonda O'Brien, this is more than just policy—it's personal. She helped create the alert system after losing her grandson Ian. She recalls the helplessness of realizing he was missing and not knowing where to begin looking. She hoped that the system would save lives, but she now believes it needs improvements to do that more effectively. O'Brien said Kentucky lacks services for children with special needs and that better support is badly needed. She had hoped her grandson would be here to witness the changes they're working toward, but, in a way, she feels he still is. LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS: 13 arrested after protest on Covington bridge turns hostile Escaped inmate found hiding in attic of Montgomery County home 66-year-old reported missing in London Ian wanted to be a superhero, and through this alert system, she believes he's becoming one. Amid the grief, O'Brien also urged compassion. Raising a child with special needs is not easy, and in moments like this, she said, families need grace, not judgment. The Autism Society of the Bluegrass said it plans to work with lawmakers on strengthening the alert by making it faster, more descriptive, and easier to understand. They're also calling for more public education to help Kentuckians recognize and respond to these alerts quickly when every second counts. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
01-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
WANTED: Woman on the run, accused of murder in northeast Georgia
A manhunt is underway in northeast Georgia after a woman was found dead in Royston. The Hart County Sheriff's Office is searching for a woman accused of murder related to their investigation.. According to deputies, officers were sent to a home on Barton Road in Royston on Saturday and found a woman who'd been shot. The woman who was killed was later identified as Breiana Danielle Johnson, 34 of Royston. Now, officers are searching for Greata Nichole Thomas, also called Greata Nichole Mobley, 26, accused of murder. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] TRENDING STORIES: Metro company says someone has been stealing customers' checks out of the mail GBI investigating deadly shooting involving officer in southwest Atlanta Expect hazy skies in metro area due to Canadian wildfires and warm, dry Sunday The sheriff's office said Thomas may be driving a 2008 grey Honda Accord with an Alabama license plate reading 13ABB80. Anyone with information about the vehicle or Thomas' whereabouts is asked to contact the Hart County Sheriff's Office at 706-376-3114 or call 911 immediately. Officers said not to approach Thomas if she is seen. Details about what led to Johnson's death were not immediately available. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Yahoo
01-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Homicide investigation underway in Hart County
HART COUNTY, GA (WSPA) – The Hart County Sheriff's Office reported that a homicide investigation is underway in Hart County. The homicide was reported off Omer Bond Road. The investigation is currently active and ongoing. Details remain limited at this time. 7NEWS will continue to follow this story as more information is revealed. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Yahoo
High-speed motorcycle chase ends in crash and hospitalization in Hart County
The Brief A motorcyclist led deputies on a high-speed chase exceeding 120 mph, crashing into a fence and being hospitalized with injuries. The chase spanned multiple towns, starting on Bowersville Highway and ending on Freedom Church Road in the Vanna community. The rider, David William Maddox, faces multiple charges including felony fleeing, reckless driving, and speeding; the incident is under investigation. HART COUNTY, Ga. - A motorcyclist who led deputies on a high-speed chase exceeding 120 mph crashed into a fence early Saturday morning and was hospitalized with injuries, according to the Hart County Sheriff's Office. What we know The pursuit began around midnight on May 17, when a sheriff's deputy attempted to stop a motorcycle traveling over 100 mph on Bowersville Highway. Authorities said the driver refused to stop, prompting a pursuit through multiple towns. The chase continued onto Highway 17 South, weaving through Canon and Royston, before the motorcycle turned onto Freedom Church Road in the Vanna community. Near Pullian Lane, the driver lost control and collided with a fence. Emergency crews responded, and the rider — identified as 37-year-old David William Maddox of Hartwell — was transported to Piedmont Athens Regional Hospital. What's next Maddox faces multiple charges including felony fleeing and attempting to elude, reckless driving, speeding, driving on a limited permit, failure to maintain lane, too fast for conditions, and passing in a no passing zone. What we don't know The incident remains under investigation by the Hart County Sheriff's Office. The Source The Hart County Sheriff's Office provided the details for this article.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Yahoo
Motorcycle chase ends in wreck
HART COUNTY, Ga (WSPA) – A high speed ended with a motorcyclist in the hospital, according to officials. According to the Hart County Sheriff's Office, shortly after midnight on Saturday a deputy attempted to stop a motorcycle driven by David William Maddox, 37, going more than 100 miles per hour on Bowersville Highway. The sheriff's office said the driver did not stop for the deputy and a chase ensued. The sheriff's office said Maddox reached speeds over 120 miles an hour while on Bowersville Highway, then turned onto Highway 17 and continued to run from deputies. The chase ended when Maddox, driving near Pullian Lane, lost control of the motorcycle and crashed into a fence. Maddox was treated at the scene by Hart County EMS and taken to Piedmont Athens Regional Hospital in Athens. He is currently facing charges of fleeing and attempting to elude, reckless driving, speeding, driving on a limited permit, failure to maintain lane, driving too fast for conditions and passing in a no passing zone. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
