Tragedy Strikes Twice: Cancer, Fire, and Heartbreak Devastate Harrisburg Family
Forever 16-years-old, Bryleigh Rayne Hoover, of Harrisburg, PA, fought bone cancer with unimaginable courage—only to be taken too soon on February 8, 2025. Her story, marked by loss and resilience, resonates far beyond her hometown. Just days after Christmas, on December 28, 2023, a fire tore through their West Hanover Township home, leaving her single mother, Amanda Via—a dedicated nurse—and her 6-year-old brother Jaxon, who has autism, with nothing but heartbreak and hope.
Bryleigh was more than a fighter; she was an artist, a dreamer, and her brother’s fiercest protector. Her paintings br…
Reading Man Who Sexually Abused Autistic Child, Fled Sentencing, Captured In Dominican Republic
A Reading man who sexually abused an autistic child and skipped his sentencing hearing was captured in the Dominican Republic and returned to Berks County, authorities announced Friday, Feb. 7.
Rafael Vendrell, 75, pleaded nolo contendere to two counts of Aggravated Indecent Assault in November 2023 after being accused of sexually abusing an autistic juvenile, according to Berks County District Attorney John T. Adams.
Vendrell was released on bail while awaiting his sentencing on Feb. 14, 2024, but failed to appear in court, prompting a judge to issue a bench warrant, authorities said.
On …
9-Year-Old Boy Killed In Shooting Identified: 'Our Family Is Shattered'
Yasin Morrison was just 9-years-old when he was killed after being struck by a stray bullet in Newark on Friday, Jan. 31, authorities said.
Yasin was on his way to visit his grandparents with his father and little sisters when he was hit, "robbing us of his bright future in an instant," his family wrote on a GoFundMe fundraising page. "Our family is shattered beyond words, and we now face the heartbreaking reality of saying goodbye to our sweet boy."
Jesse Dunbar, a 36-year-old Newark resident, faces charges of first-degree murder, attempted murder, aggravated assault, and multiple wea…
Community Helps Find Missing Teen With Autism In Pelham, Police Commend Efforts (Update)
Authorities are commending the extensive efforts of community members for their role in safely locating 18-year-old Archer Hands, who was reported missing on Thursday, Jan. 16.
Archer, a teen with autism, was last seen at around 1 p.m. on Wolfs Lane in Pelham and was found safe later that evening. In a statement released on Friday, Jan. 17, the Pelham Police Department highlighted the extensive efforts that led to the positive outcome, describing a coordinated search involving neighboring police departments, including Pelham Manor, New Rochelle, MTA, NYPD, and Westchester County Police. …
Ex-Staffer At Wethersfield Group Home Attacked Autistic Patient, Broke Their Nose: Police
Police in Connecticut are investigating a former group home employee who is accused of attacking an autistic patient so violently that the non-verbal woman needed to be hospitalized, authorities said.
Kendra A. Demudd, 28, of Hartford, was arrested and charged with assault on a person with an intellectual disability, reckless endangerment, and cruelty to persons, Wethersfield Police said. She was being held on a $50,000 bond.
Demudd, a former employee at HARC, a group home on Eastern Drive in Wethersfield, is accused of repeatedly assaulting the 28-year-old resident in the early…
Bernie Marcus, Billionaire Co-Founder Of The Home Depot From Newark, Dead At 95
Bernie Marcus, who helped found The Home Depot and grew up in Newark, died on Monday, Nov. 4 at the age of 95, the hardware chain announced.
Born to Russian Jewish immigrants, Marcus dreamed of being a doctor while growing up in Newark, according to an obituary posted by The Home Depot. His family couldn't afford medical school, so he attended Rutgers University and received a degree in pharmacy, his obituary reads.
Marcus worked for several companies before he became chairman of the board and president of Handy Dan Improvement Centers, according to his obituary. After getting fired from Ha…
