Latest news with #Nealon
Indianapolis Star
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Indianapolis Star
Is the haunted doll Annabelle to blame for a plantation fire? The internet says yes
Is a demonic doll touring the U.S. to blame for the mishaps in Louisiana? That's what the internet is saying, which has led to a ghost tour company receiving multiple death threats. Ghost City Tours hosted and sold tickets to the public to see Annabelle, the haunted Raggedy Ann doll that inspired the movie "Annabelle," which is a part of the "Conjuring" universe. "It was nice to have our own weird event," said Tim Nealon, the founder, president and former CEO of Ghost City Tours. However, despite the success of the sold-out event, the internet began to blame the escape of 10 inmates from a New Orleans jail and a fire that destroyed the Nottoway Plantation on Annabelle's visit. Ghost City Tours teamed up with "Annabelle's Caretakers," an extension of the now-closed Warren Occult Museum, while they were touring the U.S. with the allegedly haunted doll. The doll was originally on display at the Warrens' Occult Museum, which permanently closed to the public in 2019 after Lorraine Warren, one of the original owners, died, according to Atlas Obscura. Annabelle's tour stopped in several states and cities, including the Ghost City Tours office in New Orleans from May 13 to May 14, where fans of the paranormal were able to visit Annabelle and learn more about her origin story. The event sold out immediately. "It was literally sold out within seconds," said Nealon. "I mean, I felt like it was some big-name concert." While some people took to social media to joke about the coincidence of Annabelle's visit, others didn't think it was a joke at all. "I did not think people were taking it seriously, (because) I kept seeing jokes about it on Instagram and TikTok," said Nealon. "But, I didn't realize people were out here like, actually thinking that this was legit." Some people online are "absolutely convinced that Ghost City Tour is responsible" for the plantation fire and the inmates' escape, according to Nealon. People are even sending them death threats. "I could never imagine sending anybody a death threat at all, let alone over a (expletive) haunted doll," said Nelon. Annabelle visited San Antonio, Texas, where the doll was displayed at the annual San Antonio Psychic & Spirit Fest from May 17-18. In 1970, a mom gave her daughter, Donna, a 28-year-old nursing student, the now-infamous doll, according to the New England Society for Psychic Research, NESPR. She'd purchased Annabelle from a hobby store. Donna and her roommate, Angie, noticed weird paranormal activity happening around the apartment, which began to escalate. Legend has it that the paranormal activity only became worse. The doll was thought to be inhabited by the spirit of a young girl, but Donna soon believed it was actually possessed by something "demonic and inhuman." The doll was later handed over to Ed and Lorraine Warren, a couple famous for collecting paranormal objects and artifacts.
USA Today
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Is the haunted doll Annabelle to blame for a plantation fire? The internet says yes
Is the haunted doll Annabelle to blame for a plantation fire? The internet says yes "I didn't realize people were out here like, actually thinking that this was legit," said Tim Nealon, the owner of Ghost City Tours. Show Caption Hide Caption Here's how paranormal investigators actually hunt ghosts Paranormal investigators share their tips, techniques, and tools of the trade. Most importantly, if you encounter a ghost or spirit DO NOT ENGAGE IT. Grateful Is a demonic doll touring the U.S. to blame for the mishaps in Louisiana? That's what the internet is saying, which has led to a ghost tour company receiving multiple death threats. Ghost City Tours hosted and sold tickets to the public to see Annabelle, the haunted Raggedy Ann doll that inspired the movie "Annabelle," which is a part of the "Conjuring" universe. "It was nice to have our own weird event," said Tim Nealon, the founder, president and former CEO of Ghost City Tours. However, despite the success of the sold-out event, the internet began to blame the escape of 10 inmates from a New Orleans jail and a fire that destroyed the Nottoway Plantation on Annabelle's visit. Annabelle doll appeared at sold-out New Orleans event Ghost City Tours teamed up with "Annabelle's Caretakers," an extension of the now-closed Warren Occult Museum, while they were touring the U.S. with the allegedly haunted doll. The doll was originally on display at the Warrens' Occult Museum, which permanently closed to the public in 2019 after Lorraine Warren, one of the original owners, died, according to Atlas Obscura. Annabelle's tour stopped in several states and cities, including the Ghost City Tours office in New Orleans from May 13 to May 14, where fans of the paranormal were able to visit Annabelle and learn more about her origin story. The event sold out immediately. "It was literally sold out within seconds," said Nealon. "I mean, I felt like it was some big-name concert." Social media reacts to Annabelle's New Orleans visit While some people took to social media to joke about the coincidence of Annabelle's visit, others didn't think it was a joke at all. "I did not think people were taking it seriously, (because) I kept seeing jokes about it on Instagram and TikTok," said Nealon. "But, I didn't realize people were out here like, actually thinking that this was legit." Some people online are "absolutely convinced that Ghost City Tour is responsible" for the plantation fire and the inmates' escape, according to Nealon. People are even sending them death threats. "I could never imagine sending anybody a death threat at all, let alone over a (expletive) haunted doll," said Nelon. Where did Annabelle go next? Annabelle visited San Antonio, Texas, where the doll was displayed at the annual San Antonio Psychic & Spirit Fest from May 17-18. What is Annabelle the doll? In 1970, a mom gave her daughter, Donna, a 28-year-old nursing student, the now-infamous doll, according to the New England Society for Psychic Research, NESPR. She'd purchased Annabelle from a hobby store. Donna and her roommate, Angie, noticed weird paranormal activity happening around the apartment, which began to escalate. Legend has it that the paranormal activity only became worse. The doll was thought to be inhabited by the spirit of a young girl, but Donna soon believed it was actually possessed by something "demonic and inhuman." The doll was later handed over to Ed and Lorraine Warren, a couple famous for collecting paranormal objects and artifacts. Annabelle was put on display in their museum, which was located in Monroe, Connecticut.
The Independent
15-05-2025
- The Independent
Peter Sullivan was wrongly jailed for 38 years – and it's not a bizarre one-off
has had his conviction for the murder of Diane Sindall quashed. He is not the Beast of Birkenhead. He is an innocent man who got ensnared in a malfunctioning system that then took 38 years to admit its mistake. He was wrongly convicted in 1987 for the brutal attack on the part-time pub worker. The 21-year-old was beaten to death and sexually assaulted as she walked home after a shift in Bebington, Merseyside. Sullivan is now 68 and has lost the best years of his life. Remarkably, in a statement read by his lawyer after his conviction was overturned, he said he was 'not angry, not bitter'. He said he had experienced horrors but would not dwell on them: 'I've got to make the most of what is left of the existence I am granted in this world.' Given he's the victim of the longest miscarriage of justice experienced by a living inmate in the UK, no one would begrudge Sullivan that. But it would be a mistake to see his case as a bizarre one-off. In March, I wrote in detail about how the English criminal justice system continually betrays victims of injustice – from cases like the Birmingham six and the Guildford four to the hundreds of victims of the Post Office scandal. There are also immediate parallels to be made with two other miscarriage of justice cases – Victor Nealon and Andrew Malkinson. The Sullivan, Malkinson, Nealon cases were all exposed as miscarriages of justice thanks to new DNA evidence, but only after a reluctant and incurious appeal system was dragged kicking and screaming into agreeing to new forensic testing. Malkinson was wrongly convicted of rape and spent 17 years in prison. The Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) twice rejected his submissions that he was innocent, and he was only cleared when his own lawyers tracked down DNA evidence that proved his innocence. Nealon who was wrongfully convicted of attempted rape spent an additional ten years in prison because the CCRC refused to carry out DNA tests that would have proved his innocence. He applied to the CCRC twice but was rejected both times. In the Sullivan case, the CCRC feels it deserves credit for ordering the retesting that led to his exoneration, and it does. But it's worth noting that he applied to the CCRC in 2021 and it took until now for him to be freed. No compensation Justice delayed is justice denied and all three men spent unnecessary years of their lives behind bars thanks to a sluggish and often inept appeals system. It took decades, but Sullivan is now a free man. He leaves prison with £89 in his pocket, and that's it. There will be no automatic compensation, no system that eases him back into ordinary life. When Victor Nealon was released after 17 years in prison, he would have been homeless if it were not for the kindness of a journalist who allowed him to sleep on his couch. Nealon has never received compensation. After multiple rejections, he and Sam Hallam, another miscarriage of justice victim who was accused of murder, took their claims for compensation all the way to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). They lost. The judges at the ECHR concluded that it was virtually impossible for victims of miscarriage of justice to receive compensation in the UK, noting that 93 per cent of people who applied for compensation were rejected. The two men have never seen a penny of compensation. But it appears that Malkinson may be one of the lucky 7 per cent who do. It has been reported that the Ministry of Justice is to pay him 'a significant sum' and no one in their right mind would object to Malkinson receiving compensation. He is an innocent man who spent 17 wasted years in prison. Hallam, Nealon and so many more are also innocent but have been refused compensation. Why? It is difficult to come to any other conclusion than Malkinson is being compensated because of the media coverage his case attracted. Malkinson is a very impressive person – erudite, thoughtful and reasonable – someone capable of guest editing the Today programme. His case, along with his criticisms, threw the CCRC into crisis and led to the resignation of its chair. But not everyone can be Andrew Malkinson, and they shouldn't have to be. Sullivan is a very different person. 'He's a very quiet, private man,' his lawyer told the BBC. He has so far shunned the media and it's clear that he will not have the same high profile as Malkinson. His story will fade as the news agenda moves on and there will be a danger that the lessons from this case will be ignored or forgotten. For example, Sullivan's case is a reminder that there are still people in prison who were jailed based on false confessions, and these cases should be reviewed urgently. And the project announced by the CCRC to identify cases where new forensic testing could provide fresh evidence needs to happen urgently. As Chris Henley KC, the lawyer who led a review into the CCRC's handling of the Malkinson case, said, more miscarriages of justice cases are 'inevitable' and so it is better to identify them as quickly as possible. No need for more innocent people to languish unnecessarily in prison. Ultimately, the main lesson for the criminal justice system to learn is humility. If a plane crashes, accident investigators will painstakingly piece the wreckage back together to identify what went wrong. If there is an infectious outbreak, medical experts will urgently seek out the source. They do this so that they can find out what went wrong and avoid future tragedies. But somehow the criminal justice system appears to feel it is above this approach, despite the fact that Peter Sullivan was failed by the police, by the legal system, courts and the Court of Appeal. As Henley said: 'I think that there is a fundamental problem in relation to our appeal system generally, that it just won't face up to the fact that mistakes can be made. It stubbornly wants to stick to the original flawed conviction.' But first and foremost, Peter Sullivan must receive the compensation he deserves. He was wronged and the state should swiftly and fairly do what it can to make that right.
BBC News
01-04-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Leisure centre in Rye to re-open under new management
A popular community leisure facility is set to re-open under a new operator, which says it has "exciting plans" for the Sports Centre, formerly managed by Freedom Leisure, is due to open on Tuesday under new operators Rye Recreation & Wellbeing (RRW). Chairperson Barry Nealon said the group had renamed the facility Rye Leisure Centre. He said the group had given the centre a new name because "we want to include more sporting activities for the community" such as padel tennis and Pilates. RRW will manage the centre on behalf of Rye Town Council under a 20-year lease, which it signed on Monday, granted by East Sussex County Council. Mr Nealon said: "This is one of the town's biggest assets. We are still at the planning stages for other exciting offers at the leisure centre."He said the charity had received a £140,000 grant from Sports England which went towards installing solar panels on the building's roof."This will help save a lot of energy costs," Mr Nealon added."We have received a £500,000 Levelling Up Grant from the government, which goes towards repairing facilities including the technical infrastructure that keeps the swimming pool running, changing rooms and roof repairs as there was a leak." Three years ago, the former operator of the leisure centre temporarily closed its swimming pool over rising energy costs.
Yahoo
30-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Wildlife center responds to influx of bald eagle patients
Recovering eagle A bald eagle that is recovering from lead exposure rests in an enclosure at the Wildlife Center of the North Coast on Friday, March 28. The Wildlife Center of the North Coast is responding to a recent surge in bald eagle admissions. The Olney-based nonprofit typically takes in anywhere from four to six injured eagles over the course of a spring nesting season — but this past month, it received three in the span of roughly a week. 'Sometimes we'll get like two at once,' said rehabilitation coordinator Ginger Nealon, 'but three is a new record for me to have them in care all at once.' While bald eagles are hunters, they're also scavengers, which means they can end up ingesting fragments of lead ammunition from gut piles and game animals. Even in small amounts, that exposure can lead to neurological damage and death. Of the three birds taken into the wildlife center's care, two tested positive for elevated lead levels. One bird was found emaciated near Circle Creek RV Park in Seaside and didn't survive. A second bird, found near Clatskanie, showed signs of injuries from a vehicle collision, including a possible spinal fracture, and had to be euthanized. A third bird, however, is still at the wildlife center — and Nealon is cautiously optimistic about its prognosis. They still remember seeing the eagle for the first time after responding to a call in Astoria a few weeks ago. Upon arrival, Nealon quickly found a group of bystanders huddled on the sidewalk along Grand Avenue, who pointed them across the street to a nearby driveway. Often, an injured eagle might be standing with a drooped wing, but this bird offered a more peculiar sight. 'It was sort of hard to see how it was kind of positioned at first, but then I realized it was just lying on its back with its feet up,' Nealon said. Eagle food Ginger Nealon prepares a meal for a recovering eagle currently in the care of the Wildlife Center of the North Coast. After bringing the eagle back to the Wildlife Center of the North Coast, Nealon's team tested its blood for lead and got back a reading of around 35 micrograms per deciliter. Anything above 10 is considered clinical. To care for the bird, they first gave it an initial round of fluid therapy. Then, after taking X-rays, they put it through a round of chelation therapy – a drug regimen meant to flush the lead out of the bird's system. Now, the bird's lead levels are around 4 micrograms per deciliter, and it's been moved to an outdoor enclosure. 'We'll hold on to it for two weeks and then retest its blood level, and then make a decision about release versus repeating chelation therapy after that,' Nealon said. On a recent morning last week, Nealon walked from the back door of the wildlife center's office toward the eagle's enclosure, a sheet pan of fish in hand. The bird has been eating — a good indication of recovery, Nealon said — and it's remained relatively perky. All signs seem to suggest that the nonprofit's rehabilitation efforts are working. Those efforts don't come without a cost, however. Entering enclosure Ginger Nealon enters an enclosure currently housing a bald eagle on Friday, March 28. While lead testing and chelation therapy are essential, they also average around $2,000 per eagle – and with no state or federal funding, the nonprofit is dependent on grants and donations to keep its operations going. Nealon said people interested in supporting the Wildlife Center of the North Coast can make a monetary donation, or visit the nonprofit's online wishlist for in-kind donation options. People can also research alternatives to lead to help protect bald eagles in the area from future exposure. 'If you're a hunter, switching from lead ammunition to copper can be really helpful. That way you're not introducing more lead into the environment,' Nealon said. 'Just disposing of your carcasses properly makes a big difference.'
