Latest news with #MaricopaCounty
Daily Mail
12 hours ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Officials sound alarm over the spread of deadly insect-borne disease after first person dies
Health experts are sounding the alarm over the rise of a deadly insect-borne disease following America's first death from the virus this year. An unnamed individual in Maricopa County, Arizona, was diagnosed with West Nile Virus, which is becoming more prevalent in the US due to a warming climate. They were among the one percent of patients who develop a severe form of the virus, which causes dangerous swelling of the brain. This occurs when the virus crosses the blood-brain barrier and infects the brain and/or spinal cord, leading to conditions like encephalitis, meningitis, or paralysis. Officials revealed the victim was an older adult with underlying health conditions. They were the 17th human case of the West Nile virus in the Maricopa County area and among the 51 human cases nationwide. While West Nile virus typically causes mild symptoms, individuals with certain medical conditions - such as cancer, diabetes, hypertension, kidney disease, and people who have received organ transplants - are at greater risk of serious health complications. Currently West Nile virus activity appears to be at a relatively stable level, but the presence of the virus in places it typically doesn't appear is raising concerns among experts. This is because higher temperatures shorten the time it takes for the virus to incubate within the mosquito and become infectious. Additionally, warmer temperatures can enhance mosquito survival and reproduction rates, further amplifying the spread of the virus. Maricopa County's chief medical officer Dr Nick Staab said: 'This tragic loss is a reminder that West Nile virus can be serious, especially for older adults and those with existing health conditions. 'Monsoon season brings much-needed rain, but it also creates ideal conditions for mosquitoes to breed.' The most cases have been recorded in Arizona (17 cases), followed by Louisiana (seven), Oklahoma and Texas (five) and Tennessee (three). Other states with human cases of West Nile virus are California, Alabama, Georgia, Kansas, Mississippi, North Dakota, Nebraska, Ohio, South Carolina, and Virginia. So far this year, there have been 51 human cases of West Nile virus in the US, including 24 severe or 'neuroinvasive' cases. Last year, there were 748 human cases of the virus recorded, including 515 neuroinvasive cases. The worry among experts is that West Nile virus is spreading to new areas, and mosquitoes carrying the virus are being found in previously unaffected regions. This is partly due to climate change, which is expanding the range of mosquito-borne diseases. It is currently the leading cause of mosquito-borne disease in the US. Recently, West Nile virus has been detected in mosquitoes in New York City, but no human cases have been reported. Once a person is bitten by an infected mosquito, It generally takes between three and 14 days for the disease to develop. Around 80 percent of infected people are asymptomatic (no symptoms), but 20 percent will develop fever, headache, and body aches. In rare cases - about 1 in 150 - the virus can cause severe complications as it spreads to the brain - like encephalitis or meningitis - which may lead to paralysis, long-term disability, or death. People over the age of 60 are at greater risk for severe illness if they are infected, as are those with with certain medical conditions, such as cancer, diabetes, hypertension, and kidney disease. There is no specific treatment for the virus or vaccine, but 80 percent of cases are mild, where sufferers may experience flu-like symptoms or rashes. In more severe cases, patients have reported paralysis and memory loss. Prospero Rangel, 78, beat cancer but was left relearning how to walk after contracting West Nile virus last year. He was outside his home in Brazos County, Texas, when he was bitten and immediately began feeling 'so itchy '. Over the following days he began suffering body aches, joint pain, weakness and a fever before being admitted to hospital a week later. Rangel's daughter, Sara Salzer, said following his diagnosis: 'We've been told that there are going to be some symptoms that are going to stay with him for a while. 'We were even told that he may have to do outpatient therapy for the next year.' The CDC states that the best way to prevent West Nile is to protect yourself from mosquito bites. Bite prevention tips include using insect repellent, wearing long-sleeved shirts and pants, and using mosquito repellent devices outside and around the home. Following the first human death, residents in Maricopa County are being encouraged to remove standing water while ensuring that lawn irrigation and onsite sewage systems are properly maintained. Larvicide can also be used to treat any areas where mosquitoes could lay eggs. WHAT IS WEST NILE VIRUS West Nile virus is a disease spread by mosquitoes, which carry it from birds. It was first isolated in a woman in the West Nile district of Uganda in 1937 and spread to New York State in 1999. It generally takes between three and 14 days for the disease to develop. The West Nile virus is the most common mosquito-spread disease in the continental US, with a median of over 2,200 cases being reported every year, according to the Department of Health and Human Services. About 1,000 people are hospitalized each year with the most severe form of the disease, which if it spreads to the brain and nervous system, can cause brain swelling, brain damage and death with a 3-15 percent mortality rate. There is no specific treatment for the virus or vaccine, but 80 percent of cases are mild, where sufferers may experience flu-like symptoms or rashes.
Fox News
7 days ago
- Fox News
TikTok influencer's husband faces possible felony charge after son's tragic pool accident
Brady Kiser, the husband of social media influencer Emilie Kiser, may face a felony child abuse charge in connection to the Arizona drowning death of their three-year-old son, Trigg. On Tuesday, the Chandler Police Department (CPD) announced that their investigation into the May 18 death was complete, and they have formally recommended that the Maricopa County Attorney's Office consider charging Brady, 28, with a Class 4 felony. This charge carries potential penalties of 1 to 3.75 years in prison, though probation is possible for first-time offenders. At the time of the drowning, Brady was at home with Trigg and their newborn son, Theodore, while Emilie was out with friends, Brady told Chandler police, according to Fox affiliate, KSAZ-TV. "Chandler PD arrived on scene first and found an unconscious 3-year-old boy that was pulled from the backyard pool. Officers began CPR and firefighters took over patient care upon arrival," fire department officials said at the time. Brady, according to AZ-Central, told police that he had turned around for "three to five minutes" before finding the boy floating in the family's backyard pool. Trigg died six days after he was pulled from the pool. The case has garnered significant attention due, in part, to Emilie's 4 million follower count on TikTok. The influencer, who has not posted on social media since the tragic incident, issued a formal legal request asking the court to block the release of investigative and post-mortem records in Trigg's death. In the verified complaint obtained by Fox News Digital, filed on May 27, Emilie argued that disclosing investigative and post-mortem records would cause her and her family significant emotional harm. Emilie said that this is a deeply personal loss with no substantial relevance to the public. READ THE VERIFIED COMPLAINT – APP USERS, CLICK HERE Emilie said that over 100 public records requests have been filed since Trigg's death, many of which she believes are motivated by public curiosity or commercial interest rather than oversight. She said that neither she nor her attorneys have reviewed the graphic contents of the material, which may include security footage, autopsy reports, 911 audio, and bodycam videos, nor do they wish to. The complaint argues that releasing such raw and intimate documentation would weaponize Arizona's Public Records Law against grieving families, rather than serve its intended purpose of promoting government transparency. Fox News Digital has reached out to the Chandler Police Department and the Maricopa County Attorneys Office for comment.
Daily Mail
7 days ago
- Daily Mail
Arizona woman sentenced to five years in jail for firing gun at family during driving row
An Arizona woman will spend the next five years behind bars for shooting at a family during a fit of road rage. Alyssa Soto, 25, from Mesa, unleashed the violent road rage attack in August 2024 when she pulled her car alongside a Tesla at a red light and aggressively hurled curses at the family inside. As the traffic light turned green and the other car began to drive off, Soto pulled out a 9mm handgun and fired a single round directly at their vehicle. On Saturday, Soto was sentenced after she pled guilty to one count of drive-by shooting, a felony charge. Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell said: 'Firing a gun at a family because you are angry is not a mistake - it's a dangerous, criminal choice.' On August 7, 2024, at around 8pm, the victims were driving through the Phoenix suburb with their 19-month-old child when they merged lanes, reported KOLD News. At that moment, Soto, in a black GMC SUV with her child in the car, pulled up alongside the family at a red light. Video footage from the family's Tesla captured an argument erupting as Soto brought her car to a halt beside them, rolled down her front and back windows and began yelling obscenities. According to the attorney's office, while at the traffic light, the victim responded to the unprovoked attack by making a hand gesture toward enraged Soto. Seconds after the light turned green and both cars began moving forward, Soto was filmed as she pulled out a small gun, aimed it out of her window at the family's Tesla and fired - a flash was visible with the shot. Fortunately, the bullet did not strike any family members inside the car and it also sustained no damage, according to the attorney's office. However, the victims contacted the police to provide video evidence of the violent encounter - ultimately confirming details of the attack. Investigators found a shell casing and bullet near the intersection of North Higley Road and East McKellips Drive, which resulted in a search warrant being obtained. Nine days later, during the search of Soto's home, authorities discovered the handgun in her boyfriend's truck, reported KOLD News. Soto then reportedly admitted to the shooting, according to the outlet, and was taken into custody at the property. Following her arrest, Soto told police that the other driver cut her off while driving, causing damage to her car. According to court documents, Soto 'was not trying to hurt anyone, but was so angry and frustrated that she decided to shoot her handgun at the other vehicle'. Police later revealed that, although the victims' car showed no damage, Soto's car did - though it's unclear whether that damage was pre-existing or related to her claim that the other driver 'clipped' her vehicle, KOLD reported. Last week, the attorney's office announced Soto's sentencing at the Arizona Department of Corrections. In a news release: attorney Mitchell said: 'There is no place for this kind of treacherous behavior in our community. 'If you choose violence in Maricopa County, you will face serious consequences.'
Daily Mail
15-07-2025
- Daily Mail
Road rage Karen filmed opening fire on car with child inside gets very satisfying punishment
An Arizona woman will spend the next five years behind bars for firing a gun at a family during a fit of road rage. Alyssa Soto, 25, of Mesa, unleashed a violent road rage attack near North Higley Road and McKellips Drive in August 2024 - pulling her GMC alongside the family's Tesla at a red light and aggressively hurling curses. But just as the light turned green and the family began to drive away, Soto pulled out a 9mm handgun and fired a single round directly at their vehicle. On Saturday, Soto was sentenced to half a decade in prison after pleading guilty to one count of drive-by shooting, a felony charge. 'Firing a gun at a family because you are angry is not a mistake - it's a dangerous, criminal choice,' Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell said. On August 7, 2024, around 8pm, the victims - whose names have not been released -were driving through the Phoenix suburb with their 19-month-old child when they simply merged lanes, as reported by KOLD News. At that moment, Soto, driving a black GMC SUV with her child in the car, pulled up alongside the family at a red light. Video footage from the family's Tesla captured an argument erupting as Soto brought her car to a halt beside them, rolled down her front and back windows and began yelling obscenities. According to the attorney's office, while still stopped at the traffic light, the victim responded to the unprovoked attack by making a hand gesture toward the enraged mother. Just seconds after the light turned green and both cars began moving forward, Soto was captured on video pulling out a small gun, aiming it out her window at the family's Tesla and firing - a flash of fire visible with the shot. Fortunately, the bullet did not strike any family members inside the car. The Tesla also sustained no damage, according to the attorney's office. However, the victims contacted the police and provided video evidence of the violent encounter - ultimately confirming details of the attack. Investigators soon found a shell casing and bullet near the intersection, resulting in a search warrant being obtained. Nine days later, during the search of her home, authorities discovered the handgun in her boyfriend's truck, as reported by KOLD News. Soto then reportedly admitted to the shooting, according to the outlet, and was swiftly taken into custody at her home. Following her arrest, the 25-year-old woman told police that the victims cut her off while driving, causing damage to her car. According to court documents, Soto 'was not trying to hurt anyone, but was so angry and frustrated that she decided to shoot her handgun at the other vehicle.' Police later revealed that, although the victims' car showed no damage, Soto's car did - though it's unclear whether that damage was pre-existing or related to her claim that the victims 'clipped' her vehicle, KOLD reported. Court documents also showed that this wasn't Soto's first arrest - she had records for previous convictions relating to several traffic violations, though none appear to have involved violence. The attorney's office announced last week that Soto was sentenced to five years behind bars at the Arizona Department of Corrections. 'There is no place for this kind of treacherous behavior in our community,' County Attorney Mitchell said in the news release.
Daily Mail
14-07-2025
- Daily Mail
Family's chilling suspicion realized after dancer found dead in burning car with bleach poured down her throat
The family of an Arizona dancer who was found dead in a burning car with bleach poured down her throat has had their chilling suspicion confirmed as investigators reveal shock details about her alleged-killers. Mercedes Vega, 22, was discovered tortured in the back of a flaming Chevrolet Malibu off a highway roughly 50 miles west of Phoenix in April 2023. Her battered body was found the day she was set to testify against Cudjoe Young, a man accused of robbing her at gunpoint in 2020. She had previously identified him as the culprit. Vega's mother and step-father, Erika and stepfather Tom Pillsbury, have long believed she was killed to stop her spill incriminating evidence about the alleged assailant in court. Now, their unsettling theory may have been proven true. The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office believes the two men accused to killing Vega, Jared Gray and Sencere Hayes, are connected to Young. While few details regarding the nature of their relationship have been made clear, they are all linked by location. They all have ties to Chattanooga, Tennessee. Young grew up there, while Gray and Hayes traveled there from Phoenix. Two people interview by detectives claimed Young paid Gray and Hayes to pick up the Chevrolet Malibu Vega was found in after buying it online in March 2023. Gray and Hayes had also flown in from Tennessee together, NBC reported. The person whose credit card was used to buy their tickets allegedly told police he never purchased them. But they claimed the Young had access to their card and may have bought the tickets himself. The revelation that these three men may have been in cahoots has brought some closure for Vega's parents. 'We've felt like we've been drowning in a sea of despair and grief for two and a half years,' Erika told NBC. 'And now we've been thrown a life preserver. The people that are responsible for murdering my little daughter are hopefully going to face justice.' Last month, the sheriff's office recommended that Young should be charged with conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit kidnapping in Vega's death, according to court documents reviewed by NBC. Hayes was the first suspect charged regarding Vega's murder. He was arrested in November 2024 and charged with first-degree murder, kidnapping, armed robbery and theft. He has pleaded not guilty. Gray, who is serving time in Georgia for an unrelated incident, faces the same charges in connection to Vega's death, according to a June 20 court filing reviewed by NBC. Young is currently only facing charges related to allegedly following Vega home from the strip club she worked at, Le Girls. Several other dancers had the club had also been violently robbed around the same time. Young had allegedly followed Vega home one night - sprinting toward her in her building's parking garage and demanding her belongings. 'He shoved her to the ground, told her he'd kill her and held the gun to her face,' Erika told NBC. Young allegedly stole everything she had on her and fled the scene. After Vega identified Young as the man who robbed her, he was arrested and charged. But he posted his $50,000 bond and has been a free man. Vega had moved to a Tempe apartment complex she believed would be safer after she was attacked. Since the incident, Vega was easily startled, her mother said. 'You couldn't walk up behind her without her jumping,' she added. However, the garage of this building was the last place she was seen alive before she was kidnapped and murdered in 2023. Vega vanished after telling friends she was headed to work. 'Uber is $60,' Vega wrote to her friend and co-worker Jelena Gamboa that night, as they were supposed to get together. 'I might just go to work then. I feel like it's a sign I shouldn't go.' Security cameras caught the moment her car, followed by the Chevrolet Malibu she was found in, both exited the garage. Her disappearance sparked a frantic manhunt, but she was found dead a day after she disappeared. The Sheriff's Office said Young was out of custody at the time of Vega's death, but that his ankle monitor did not place him at the scene of the crime. He has pleaded not guilty and his trial regarding the robbery case has been postponed 16 times, according to 12 News. It is officially scheduled to kick off at the end of the month. It is unclear why it has been delayed for so long. 'I just don't understand how the system continues to allow someone to basically play the system to their full advantage. And that's exactly what he's doing,' Vega's step-dad Tom told 12 News in March.
