Latest news with #MarineVeteran
CBS News
3 days ago
- General
- CBS News
Brandon Rumbaugh, decorated Marine veteran charged with raping girl, denied bond
Brandon Rumbaugh, a decorated Marine veteran, double amputee and motivational speaker from the Pittsburgh area who is charged with raping a 13-year-old girl, was denied bond at a preliminary hearing on Wednesday. Rumbaugh was charged with several felonies, including rape, sexual assault and aggravated indecent assault, after a 13-year-old girl told police Rumbaugh had sex with her multiple times at his Pleasant Hills home. Attorney says jail isn't "equipped" to deal with Rumbaugh's injury Rumbaugh wasn't present in court because his attorney David Shrager said the jail couldn't get him there. Rumbaugh lost his legs in Afghanistan when he stepped on an IED, and Shrager says Rumbaugh is being held in the Allegheny County Jail without his prosthetic legs. "That's one of the difficulties that we're facing here. We're dealing with someone who's a double amputee, who has special medical needs and medication needs, and quite frankly, I don't know that the jail is really capable of handling that in the appropriate way," Shrager said. "You saw they weren't even able to bring him here safely today. So he was not here today in court to be here, because the jail felt they couldn't bring him here safely because they're not equipped to deal with someone with such a traumatic war injury." Court paperwork details allegations During an interview, the victim told police that when she spent two nights at Rumbaugh's home, he sexually assaulted her a total of four times, according to the criminal complaint. One time, she told police Rumbaugh bought her alcoholic iced tea, which she drank before they had sex, "but she didn't feel like herself." Police said Rumbaugh told the victim "to keep this a secret until she was eighteen years old," according to court paperwork. Community shocked by charges After Rumbaugh was injured in Afghanistan, he returned to the Pittsburgh area and became a motivational speaker. He was also recognized by the U.S. Marines with a Commendation Medal for valor. The charges came as a shock to some community members who said they had thought of him as a "hero." Shrager said Rumbaugh will be in court for the next preliminary hearing and the judge has made special requests to make sure his disability can be accommodated.
Washington Post
4 days ago
- General
- Washington Post
Uncle Sam's new message to young Black Americans: I don't want you
Phillip E. Thompson, a former judge advocate in the Marine Corps, is a lawyer in Virginia. I am a proud Marine veteran with deep ties to military service. My wife served in the Air Force, my father fought with the Marines in World War II, and my grandfather served in the Army in World War I. I've spent much of my life surrounded by fellow veterans, bonded by sacrifice, stories and a belief in the ideals the military represents. My car boasts a Marine Corps decal, and my sense of identity has been forever shaped by the uniform I once wore.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Widow honors fallen heroes with flowers at Georgia National Cemetery
The Brief Emilie Farmer placed flowers at graves to honor veterans with no decorations. Her late husband's resting place inspired her to take action across the cemetery. Local florists and Kroger are donating flowers to support her ongoing mission. CANTON, Ga. - This Memorial Day, Emilie Farmer brought dozens of flowers to Georgia National Cemetery to ensure every fallen soldier is remembered. She started donating flowers for soldiers whose resting places were bare. "It broke my heart when I saw those markers. Nobody had flowers, no flag, no nothing", said Emilie Farmer, widow to Marine veteran Marion Otis Farmer. "My husband was a Marine, and he was a wonderful man. He's my hero." But she said she's doing this for every servicemember who has been laid to rest there. "Not only him, but all veterans because of their sacrifice, given their lives for their country," Farmer said. "They deserve the very best. I am not able to do as much as I'd like to do, but I'm doing what I can." The backstory Emilie Farmer lost her husband of 54 years two years ago. She now honors him—and other veterans buried at Georgia National Cemetery—by placing flowers at headstones that appear neglected or bare. Local florists and Kroger have donated their surplus flowers to help support the effort. The idea started when Emilie noticed how empty her husband's columbarium looked after his passing. She began bringing flowers not just for him, but for surrounding graves that had no decorations. Over time, she expanded her efforts to include hundreds of graves and now even adds palms during Easter. Why you should care Many veterans at the cemetery have no family nearby to visit or decorate their resting place. Although flags are placed at each grave in honor of Memorial Day, Emilie's effort ensures these heroes are remembered, not just on Memorial Day, but throughout the year. What you can do Emilie says her work doesn't end when Memorial Day does. She's asking for more help and flower donations to continue her mission of honoring fallen service members year-round. She said people wishing to help can contact Georgia National Cemetery's administration office at 770-479-9300. SEE ALSO: Metro Atlanta honors those who died for their country on Memorial Day Roswell Rotary Club marks 26th year of honoring POWs, MIAs and the fallen Gwinnett County honors fallen soldiers at 22nd annual Memorial Day ceremony Shepherd's Men march 12 miles to honor veterans, raise funds for SHARE program Memorial Day ceremonies, events in metro Atlanta, North Georgia | May 2025 The Source This article is based off of original reporting by FOX 5's Rob DiRienzo.
CNN
7 days ago
- Business
- CNN
Veteran explains why his pet business could suffer under tariffs: ‘It's not about patriotism, it's about math'
Marine veteran and pet gear business owner Barton O'Brien tells CNN's Jake Tapper why Trump's tariffs threaten his profits.
CBS News
21-05-2025
- CBS News
Brandon Rumbaugh, Pittsburgh-area veteran and motivational speaker, charged with raping 13-year-old
Brandon Rumbaugh, a Marine veteran, double amputee and motivational speaker from the Pittsburgh area, is facing charges after police said he had sex with a 13-year-old girl multiple times. According to court paperwork, the investigation into Rumbaugh began on May 5 after Allegheny County police received a ChildLine report about a 13-year-old girl who said she had been sexually assaulted several times by a 34-year-old man. During an interview, the victim told police that she had known Rumbaugh, whom she described as a family friend, since she was 10 years old, and when she was about 11 or 12, she started to talk to him on the phone. (Photo: KDKA) Police said the victim told detectives she spent the night in Rumbaugh's home in Pleasant Hills three times. The first time, she said nothing happened, but the two other times, she said Rumbaugh raped her twice each night, the criminal complaint says. One time, she told police Rumbaugh bought her alcoholic iced tea, which she drank before they had sex, "but she didn't feel like herself." Police said Rumbaugh told the victim "to keep this a secret until she was eighteen years old," according to court paperwork. In 2009, Rumbaugh lost both legs in Afghanistan and now works as a motivational speaker. He was also recognized by the U.S. Marines with a Commendation Medal for valor. Rumbaugh is facing a slew of charges, including rape, sexual assault, indecent assault and aggravated indecent assault.
