A harrowing true crime case in Washington state has underscored the ongoing threat of domestic terrorism and school-aged radicalization. 3n3gn

According to the FBI Portland Field Office, working in close coordination with local law enforcement, authorities interrupted a planned mass shooting and improvised explosive device (IED) attack targeting the Three Rivers Mall in Kelso, Washington.

A ‘meticulously developed’ attack 452b40

Law enforcement thwarted the chilling plot on May 22, 2025, when authorities arrested a juvenile suspect from Columbia County, Oregon, who had been conspiring to unleash a chlorine bomb explosion followed by a mass shooting.

A minor, whose name is withheld, “meticulously” developed the attack, the FBI said. This included creating a map of the mall, plotting an escape route, and coordinating the use of an improvised explosive device, in this case, a chlorine bomb.

The suspect, the FBI says, intended to create chaos and panic among mall patrons. The juvenile planned to follow the explosion by shooting individuals exiting the mall’s movie theater before ultimately taking their own life inside the building.

The FBI identified the suspect within 24 hours 1o325t

The FBI received a tip about the planned attack on May 19, 2025, and swiftly launched an investigation. Within 24 hours, authorities identified the accused attacker through online chats where they shared violent extremist ideologies and details of their plot.

Law enforcement agencies initiated court-authorized surveillance and obtained a federal search warrant. Deputies from the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office arrested the minor on May 22, preventing what could have been a devastating mass casualty event.

“This plot was as serious as it gets,” stated Doug Olson, FBI Portland Special Agent in Charge. “We, along with our partners, moved swiftly to interrupt this violent plan and to protect our community.”

The Columbia County District Attorney’s office has taken up prosecution, charging the suspect under state law. The FBI has emphasized the importance of community vigilance, encouraging the public to report suspicious activities and urging parents to maintain open conversations with their children about online behavior.

What are chlorine bombs? 1b4d23

Chlorine bombs, a type of improvised explosive device, combine chlorine gas with explosive materials to cause harm through both blast and toxic gas release. Law enforcement and security reports have highlighted such devices. They are particularly dangerous in enclosed spaces such as malls, schools, and public transit hubs.

The combination of physical explosion and toxic exposure can cause mass panic and overwhelming injury, making them a favored tool for terror plots.

The thwarted attack fits into a broader pattern of increasing concern over domestic extremist plots in the United States. The FBI and Department of Homeland Security have repeatedly warned about young individuals becoming radicalized online, particularly through extremist ideologies promoting nihilism and violence.

The trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs is well underway and so far it seems the former rapper has only managed to antagonize the judge presiding over the case. His behavior towards the jury did not go unnoticed by Judge Arun Subramanian who threatened to kick Diddy out of his own trial.

For those not in the know, Combs is currently standing trial for a number of charges including sex trafficking, racketeering, and transportation to engage in prostitution. Combs denies the charges.

Sean Combs’ trial so far 4o571s

The trial began earlier in May and numerous witnesses have already taken the stand including rapper Kid Cudi as well as Combs’ ex-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, who described the horrific ordeal which she claims she endured at the hands of Combs.

On Thursday, June 5th, it was reported that Judge Subramanian reprimanded the rapper and even threatened to expel Combs from the court for apparently trying to interact with the jury. Addressing Combs’ attorney, Marc Agnifolio, Subramanian stated that he had observed the defendant was “looking at jurors and nodding vigorously.”

The judge continued with his warning to Combs and his attorney, “This can’t continue, or I will give a limiting instruction you won’t like, or other measures, including barring your client from the courtroom. Do you understand?” Agnifolio assured Subramanian that such an incident would not happen again.

TikToker, Stephanie Soo, claims she attended the court hearing and stated that Combs would also frequently make gestures towards the public section of the courtroom. These gestures included making heart shapes with his hands and apparently even mouthed “I know you” to someone in the crowd.

Interacting with the jury is a big no-no 3nc1q

Any with the jury is typically frowned upon in court cases. It can be seen as an attempt to influence the decision that they will ultimately have to make. According to lawshelf.com “during a trial, no one except a judge can discuss the case at bar with any juror.” Of course, Combs while Combs wasn’t directly communicating with the jury, his apparent nodding could have been a subtle way of getting the jurors on his side.

Then again, president Donald Trump hasn’t ruled out pardoning Combs either, so a jury might be completely irrelevant if that happens anyway. Diddy’s gestures towards the jury came during the testimony of Bryana Bongolan who was responding to questions regarding her claims that the rapper dangled her off a 17-storey balcony in 2016.

The trial doesn’t look like it’s set to come to an end anytime soon with an alleged ex-girlfriend and victim of Combs’ coming forward to give testimony against him. The woman, who remained anonymous, claimed that the rapper would often pressure her to have sex with entertainers in hotel rooms.

On Wednesday, May 28, 2024, a terrifying incident happened in Chicago, leaving three young children in the hospital with serious injuries. A tow truck driver, while working on South Harvard Avenue, made a shocking discovery: a one-year-old baby lying in the street, their diaper covered in blood.

After looking further, the driver found two more injured children, ages three and five, all with wounds on their wrists. Their mother, 23-year-old Aurionah-Rakii-Karie Parker-White, was also there, showing extreme distress. The driver acted quickly and took all four to a nearby hospital.

Parker-White’s explanation, according to People, was that it was extremely stressful to be a single parent. So, she basically decided to kill her kids. This way, she wouldn’t need to take care of them. This isn’t the first mother to try to kill their children, but it’s always horrifying.

Chicago Mom gives reasoning for trying to murder her kids 3i1w5f

The children were in critical condition and were later moved to the University of Chicago’s Comer Children’s Hospital for advanced care, where they are now in serious but stable condition. Information from the hospital revealed a deeply troubling story. The five-year-old child reportedly told medical staff that their mother had tried to kill them, saying she wanted to send them to heaven.

After this, officers from the Chicago Police Department quickly responded and arrested Parker-White. She was charged with three counts of attempted first-degree murder and three counts of aggravated battery against a child. Further investigation, including a recorded confession, showed that Parker-White itted to stabbing her children. She explained in her confession that she was under extreme stress from raising her three children alone and that she wanted to end her own life as well as her children’s lives.

The legal consequences for Parker-White are severe. The charges of attempted first-degree murder could lead to long prison sentences or even life in prison. The prosecution will need to present strong evidence, including the children’s statements, the mother’s confession, and medical records, to secure a conviction. The defense, on the other hand, may explore different strategies, possibly arguing that she was not in her right mind or seeking a plea deal to reduce the charges.

A South African mother, Racquel “Kelly” Smith, has been sentenced to life in prison for the terrible crime of trafficking her six-year-old daughter, Joshlin Smith. The sentence also affected two accomplices, Jacquen Appollis and Steveno van Rhyn, who received the same life sentences for their part in the crime. The conviction of the three followed a shocking case that horrified the country and brought attention to the disturbing problem of child trafficking in South Africa.

Warning: Details of child trafficking below.

The case started in February 2024 when Joshlin went missing from her home in Saldanha Bay. Investigations soon uncovered a cruel plan organized by her own mother. Smith, along with Appollis and van Rhyn, supposedly planned to sell Joshlin to a traditional healer, known as a “sangoma,” who reportedly wanted the child’s eyes and skin for use in rituals.

This horrifying motive was ed by testimony from a neighbor, Lourentia Lombaard, who recalled Smith’s confession and later attempted to pay her to stay quiet. Lombaard said that Smith itted to selling Joshlin and described the deal as “something silly.” More evidence came from Joshlin’s teacher, Edna Maart, who testified that Smith had claimed Joshlin was on a ship going to West Africa. A pastor also came forward, saying that Smith had previously talked about selling her children for around $1,100 each.

Mother of trafficked daughter receives life sentence 445p5l

The trial lasted several weeks but finally ended with guilty verdicts. Smith, Appollis, and van Rhyn all denied any involvement in Joshlin’s disappearance during the trial, but the strong evidence against them was too much to overcome. Judge Nathan Erasmus, while announcing the sentence, expressed his deep disgust at the defendants’ lack of remorse.

We’ve seen some bad situations between children and their parents. The Turpin parents never sold their children, but they were torturing them. Another example would be the Michigan grandmother who killed her two children. Unfortunately, it seems that with Joshlin still missing, this story also has a sad ending.

Judge Erasmus said, “There is nothing that I can find that is redeeming and deserving of a lesser sentence than the harshest I can impose.” The courtroom burst into cheers when the life sentences were announced. Joshlin’s grandmother, who was in court wearing a shirt with Joshlin’s picture, was surely among those relieved by the verdict.

The judge directly addressed the defendants’ drug use, stating that it did not justify their awful crime. The case revealed the tragic details of Joshlin’s disappearance, including the ongoing search for the missing child. Authorities had earlier arrested and questioned a woman suspected of being the intended traditional healer, but she was released due to a lack of evidence.

In a bizarre mix of nature, drugs, confusion, and true crime, three hikers on a trip through New York’s Adirondack Mountains turned an ordinary day into a surreal emergency.

Two of the men, under the influence of psychedelic mushrooms, called 911 to report their friend had died. Emergency crews rushed to the scene—only to find out later that the so-called “dead” man was alive, well, and already back at the trailhead. Yes, really.

Panic on the peak 38346w

According to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), the incident took place on May 20, 2025, on Cascade Mountain, one of the state’s most popular High Peaks. Two men in their mid-20s called for help, reporting that their hiking companion was deceased and that they were lost themselves.

Forest Ranger Rob Praczkajlo was dispatched to locate the distressed pair. A summit steward—a volunteer who helps maintain trails and guide hikers—eventually found them, “under the influence of mushrooms and experiencing altered mental status,” the DEC report stated.

According to the DEC, they believed their friend was dead. In reality, the third hiker had turned back and was safely back at the vehicle.

Not dead, just digestively distressed 1id20

In a stunning reversal of the grim report, the “deceased” hiker soon ed authorities himself. Far from being lost or lifeless, he had simply headed back early due to a stomach issue and made it out of the forest on his own. When he found that emergency services were being mobilized for his “death,” he reached out to clear things up.

The DEC confirmed that “the third hiker called Essex County 911, letting them know he was back at the vehicle and heading home.” Despite the resources involved, no criminal charges were filed. Officials noted the hikers were generally well-prepared in of gear but had seriously compromised their safety with hallucinogens.

“It was a bad trip, not a good trip,” Ranger Praczkajlo said, according to the Times Union. “They itted they had ingested mushrooms and they kept thinking they were going to die and that they were lost even though we found them on the trail,” he added. “No one was having a good time.” So, next time you go hiking, leave the fungi at home. Nature’s wild enough on its own.

The disappearance of 15-year-old Alisa Petrov from South Jordan, Utah, has garnered national attention and prompted a multi-state investigation. Petrov was last seen on April 21, 2025, when she left her school.

Later that day, she was captured on surveillance footage at a UTA train station in Provo, where she reportedly asked for assistance in getting to Las Vegas. Investigators uncovered that Petrov had been communicating with multiple adult men through various online platforms.

According to Salt Lake City’s Fox 13 Now, a hidden iPad found in her room revealed conversations with a named “samitch” on Discord, later identified as 41-year-old Samuel Mitchell of Herriman, Utah.

The messages, exchanged approximately eight days before her disappearance, were explicit, including discussions about meeting up. But in one message dated April 19, Petrov wrote, “I’m running away, please don’t me.”

Police arrested Mitchell, but he has not yet been charged amid the ongoing investigation. Utah police have said, “There is probable cause that there is evidence of Enticement of a Minor and Exploitation of a Minor on this phone.”

Two more men have been charged 4z5e1p

Further investigation led to the identification of two additional men: 35-year-old Matthew Nicholas Menard from Miami, Florida, and 37-year-old William Taylor Glines from Texas City, Texas. Both men have been charged with aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor, enticement of a minor, and criminal solicitation.

Glines faces additional charges, including attempted aggravated exploitation of a minor and sexual exploitation of a minor. Authorities allege that both men communicated with Petrov before her disappearance, with plans to meet in person.

“When we first heard about Texas, we were hopeful that they will find her there,” Alisa’s father told Utah’s KUTV.” He added, “but then the news came out that they just arrested individual and they didn’t find Alisa, so we are back to square one.”

Petrov was last seen in a Harvard t-shirt 1j5q3w

Petrov is described as 5 feet 3 inches tall, weighing 122 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing baggy jeans, a gray “Harvard University” T-shirt, a black hoodie, and carrying a dark school backpack. Her family has expressed deep concern for her safety and is offering a $20,000 reward for information leading to her safe return.

Referring to her niece’s disappearance, Alisa’s aunt said, “What troubles me is Alisa was talking to some strangers who lured her out of the house. Unfortunately for this generation, there is far more access for the children to be in with predators.”

Authorities believe Petrov may be attempting to meet individuals she connected with online and could be headed to Las Vegas. She is considered an endangered runaway. Anyone with information about her whereabouts is urged to the South Jordan Police Department at 801-840-4000 or the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678).

In a daring and shocking prison escape that has stunned Arkansas and the nation, Grant Hardin, the convicted former police chief infamously known as the “Devil in the Ozarks,” has broken out of prison by impersonating a corrections officer.

This high-profile escape has spotlighted serious security flaws within the prison system and raised urgent questions about inmate containment procedures.

The escape: Grant Hardin’s impersonation of a corrections officer 3g3c52

Officials have disclosed that Hardin executed an elaborate escape plan by disguising himself as a corrections officer. Wearing an official prison uniform, Hardin managed to by multiple security checkpoints within the Arkansas facility undetected. According to CBS News, it’s unclear how Hardin obtained the uniform, or if he somehow made it for himself.

This bold impersonation exposed significant weaknesses in prison protocols and security checks. Authorities are currently investigating whether any prison staff were involved or if Hardin had help.

Who is Grant Hardin, the ‘Devil in the Ozarks’? 4s1c4y

Hardin earned his notorious nickname due to a lengthy record of criminal activity during his tenure as a police chief in a small Arkansas town. Convicted on charges including corruption, murder, sexual assault, abuse of power, and organized crime involvement, Hardin’s ruthless tactics and influence earned widespread media attention and public outrage.

Following his conviction, Hardin was sentenced to a substantial prison term. His reputation as a cunning and dangerous figure made him a high-risk inmate, necessitating strict security measures—measures he has now successfully evaded.

The Hardin prison-break investigation 3u343a

The prison break occurred in an Arkansas facility located in the Ozarks region, where Grant Hardin was held. Investigators have launched a comprehensive inquiry into how such a high-risk inmate could circumvent security.

Preliminary reports highlight inadequate identity verification procedures for staff movement inside the prison, allowing Hardin to exploit these gaps. The prison director has promised an overhaul of security protocols to prevent future breaches.

Law enforcement agencies across Arkansas and neighboring states are now actively searching for Hardin, deploying roadblocks, surveillance aircraft, and checkpoints to aid in his capture. The public reaction has been one of alarm and frustration, especially given Hardin’s past as an abusive police chief. Residents fear for their safety, concerned that Hardin’s knowledge of law enforcement tactics might help him evade capture.

Security experts note that impersonation is a sophisticated and risky method of escape that typically requires detailed insider knowledge or access to official uniforms and credentials.

Authorities continue their manhunt for Hardin, who is considered armed and dangerous. Anyone with information about his whereabouts is urged to law enforcement immediately.

In 2018, the city of Bakersfield, California, was shaken by the mysterious disappearances and deaths of three young individuals: Micah Holsonbake, James Kulstad, and Baylee Despot, collectively known as the “Bakersfield 3.” To this day, however, questions remain as to whether Despot was purely a victim or something more.

As chronicled in the Investigation Discovery docies, The Bakersfield 3: A Tale of Murder and Motherhood, Holsonbake vanished on March 23, 2018. Months later, his dismembered remains were discovered in the Kern River, leading to a gruesome revelation of his fate. 

Kulstad, meanwhile, was found shot to death in his car on April 8. Just weeks later, on April 25, Baylee Despot disappeared without a trace. The trio’s connections—through friendships and shared acquaintances—suggested more than mere coincidence.

Prosecutors charged Despot in absentia 1e62y

Investigations pointed to Matthew Queen, Baylee’s ex-boyfriend, as a central figure. In 2022, Queen was convicted of second-degree murder in Micah’s death and sentenced to over 80 years in prison. Prosecutors alleged that Queen and Despot tortured and killed Micah over a missing firearm, subsequently dismembering his body and disposing of the parts throughout Kern County. Queen testified that during a confrontation, Despot fatally struck Micah with a dumbbell. However, Despot’s absence from the trial left many questions unanswered.

While Despot was charged in absentia for Micah’s murder, her whereabouts remain unknown. Some speculate she may have been a victim herself, possibly silenced to prevent her from testifying.

On Websleuths, some s have discussed the possibility that Despot is in hiding. For instance, one mentioned hearing from acquaintances that she is not missing but on the run, raising questions about whether she is evading law enforcement or others.

Another speculated that Despot could be ing herself through illegal activities, such as those she was allegedly involved in before her disappearance. 

Additionally, discussions have touched on Despot’s social media presence. Some s noted that her Facebook activity changed around the time of her disappearance, with suggestions that her ex-boyfriend may have had control over her s. 

It’s important to note that these are speculative discussions among forum s and not confirmed information. Law enforcement continues to investigate Despot’s disappearance, and she remains officially missing. Her mother, Jane Parrent, continues to receive mail addressed to Baylee, a constant reminder of her daughter’s unresolved.

The Bakersfield 3 Charity 441z3h

The mothers of the Bakersfield 3—Parrent, Cheryl Holsonbake, and Diane Byrne—have transformed their grief into advocacy. They established the Bakersfield 3 Charity to families of missing persons and victims of violent crimes, raising funds for investigative resources and offering emotional . Their relentless pursuit of truth has kept their children’s stories alive and brought national attention to their cases.

The Investigation Discovery docies series about the Bakersfield 3 delves into the intricacies of the case, the mothers’ unwavering determination, and the broader issues of crime and justice in their community. Viewers can watch the series on Investigation Discovery or stream it on Max and Hulu with a Max subscription.

As the docies brings renewed attention to the case, the central question persists: Was Despot a victim, a perpetrator, or both? Until she is found, the truth remains elusive, and the quest for answers continues.

In the early hours of Nov. 13, 2022, four University of Idaho students—Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin—were brutally stabbed to death in their off-campus home in Moscow, Idaho. 

The suspect, Bryan Kohberger, a criminology Ph.D. student at Washington State University, was arrested on Dec. 30, 2022, and charged with four counts of first-degree murder and one count of felony burglary.

A recent episode of NBC’s Dateline, which aired on May 10, 2025, introduced a compelling theory from prosecutors: Kernodle may have bravely confronted the killer. They suggest that upon hearing noises upstairs, Kernodle went to investigate, leading to a confrontation that caused the assailant to chase her back downstairs. During this pursuit, the killer allegedly dropped a knife sheath—a critical piece of evidence.

Despite fleeing the killer, Kernodle was brutally attacked and murdered. Her boyfriend, Chapin, was asleep in her bed, possibly ed out drunk, when he was killed with a blow to the artery, according to the Dateline episode. Dateline also says the suspects, who prosecutors allege is Kohberger, “carved” Chapin’s lower legs in the attack in a so far unexplained act of cruelty.

Another chilling detail revealed in the show is that prosecutors say the murderer sat in a chair in Kernodle’s room based on blood evidence discovered on the seat.

The knife sheath is a crucial piece of evidence 6a5q2s

Kernodle sadly died, but if she hadn’t checked on her friends, the killer may have never dropped the knife sheath, greatly affecting the possible outcome of the case. The knife sheath, found at the crime scene, contained DNA that was instrumental in identifying Kohberger as the suspect. Investigators used genetic genealogy techniques to match the DNA on the sheath to Kohberger, providing a direct link between him and the murders. Kernodle’s courageous actions may have inadvertently provided the crucial evidence needed to bring her alleged killer to justice.

Kohberger’s trial is scheduled to begin on August 11, 2025, in Boise, Idaho, following a venue change due to concerns about local bias. If convicted, he could face the death penalty. He pleaded not guilty. The Dateline episode, titled “The Terrible Night on King Road,” offers in-depth coverage of the case, including interviews and analysis. It is available for streaming on Peacock and NBC’s digital platforms.

In a case that stunned a South Carolina town and ignited national attention, a 12-year-old boy has pleaded guilty to second-degree arson after intentionally setting fire to a Walmart in Lancaster on Sunday, May 4, 2025.

Authorities say the child — whose name is being withheld due to his age — ignited the blaze around 4:30 p.m. inside the store’s craft and sewing section, sending flames and black smoke through the aisles and triggering a chaotic evacuation. Shoppers fled in panic as emergency crews rushed to the scene.

“People were screaming and running. It was like a nightmare,” one shopper told local news outlet WSOCTV.

“My first reaction was total shock,” local Reverend Keith Hinson, the pastor with Woodward Baptist Chester County, said. “I did not see this young man doing that at all. I really didn’t.” Hinson added, “My second feeling is, ‘What can we do?’ It’s done, but what can we do now?”

Terror in the aisles and a troubling pattern 1j3120

This wasn’t the boy’s first fire that day. Investigators revealed he tried to start another fire earlier at a nearby Goodwill store, signaling a dangerous pattern of behavior. While no one was injured in either incident, the emotional toll and financial damage remain substantial.

Firefighters extinguished the Walmart blaze quickly, but not before it caused tens of thousands in damages. As of now, the store remains closed indefinitely, pending safety assessments.

Guilty plea and a call for help 68e1u

On May 6, the boy pleaded guilty in family court. His attorney stated the plea was entered in hopes of expediting mental health treatment, not to it guilt without cause. The court has ordered a full mental health evaluation to be completed within 45 days.

“Clearly, this child is crying out for help,” said one local pastor, speaking to Here Rock Hill. “But that cry came with fire and fear.”

If sentenced to the maximum penalty, the boy could be held in a juvenile facility until his 22nd birthday.

“This used to be a safe place to shop“ 313y

This arson comes on the heels of another violent incident at the same Walmart just weeks earlier — an April 1 shootout that left shoppers traumatized and police scrambling for answers. Residents now fear that the store is becoming a magnet for dangerous behavior. “This used to be a safe place to shop. Now we’re afraid to bring our families,” one local mother told WBTV.

Referring to the fire and recent shooting, Lancaster Police Chief Don Roper said, “We understand that some folks are concerned about incidents happening at Walmart. We have increased our presence at Walmart and we’re working with management at Walmart. You know we’re working very closely with them too, to make sure that we have a police presence there.”

Roper added, “It’s gonna be a little while before they’re able to reopen. They’ve got some work to do there, so we want to them and work with them.”

No child should ever have to endure life trapped in fear, filth, and isolation, especially not at the hands of the very people meant to protect them.

Parents are supposed to be their children’s safe haven, a shelter from the chaos of the world. But what happens when that shelter becomes a prison? This unsettling question has come to the forefront after the shocking discovery of three children, aged 8 and 10, who were rescued from what authorities are calling a “house of horrors” in Oviedo, Spain. For over three years, they lived in conditions so appalling that police described them as “completely cut off from reality.” (via People)

On April 14, 2025, a concerned neighbor alerted local authorities about something strange: three children living in a nearby house hadn’t been seen attending school—or, for that matter, stepping outside at all. At first glance, it might have seemed like an overreaction. After all, some families homeschool, and others value privacy. But as police began piecing together the puzzle, the situation took a much darker turn.

The home, rented by a 53-year-old German man and his 48-year-old American wife, had been something of an enigma to the neighbors. The father was the only one anyone ever saw, and even his appearances were sporadic — usually just to collect groceries or pick up mail. The family had reportedly moved into the neighborhood in October 2021, but by December of that year, they had all but disappeared from view. No school trips, no outings to the park, no casual strolls in the sunshine. Just silence.

When police finally decided to visit the house on April 28, the father, surprisingly cooperative, allowed officers inside. But before they could enter, the parents hurriedly placed not one, not two, but three masks on each child, claiming they were gravely ill.

The reality inside the home was far worse than anyone could have imagined. Trash was strewn across the house, a chaotic mix of discarded items, masks, and an alarming amount of medication. The smell was overwhelming. Unsanitary doesn’t even begin to describe it — authorities later revealed that the children had been living among piles of feces.

The children’s sleeping arrangements were equally disturbing. They slept in cribs, despite their ages — 8-year-old twins and a 10-year-old. Their bedrooms were littered with defaced dolls and monstrous drawings, adding an eerie layer to the already grim environment. It was as though the home had been frozen in time. The parents, particularly the mother, insisted that the children were too ill to leave the house. But when the children were finally examined, they showed no signs of illness. What they did show, however, was a complete disconnect from reality.

Authorities noted that the children were not malnourished, which means food was provided. But that’s about the only baseline need their parents managed to meet. Hygiene, education, emotional well-being — every other aspect of their lives had been neglected. They hadn’t attended school in years. They hadn’t played outside. They hadn’t seen other people. Oviedo Police Chief Javier Lozano speculated that the parents’ actions may have been fueled by what he called “COVID syndrome,” a kind of lingering trauma from the pandemic. But even if fear of the virus played a role, it doesn’t explain the conditions these children were forced to endure.

For now, the children are in the custody of Spain’s Ministry of Welfare, undergoing medical evaluations and beginning what will undoubtedly be a long journey toward recovery. Their parents, meanwhile, are being held without bail on charges of domestic violence, psychological abuse, and child abandonment.

Warning: The article details the court hearing of a sexual assault case.

Whenever a woman is sexually assaulted, the so-called society jumps on the chance to question her integrity, what she was wearing when she was raped, did she provoke the attack, and a gazillion other insulting queries before talking into that she did not give her consent, which is enough. But since this injustice isn’t enough, now a rapist can apparently walk free if he is “young and talented.”

A court in the Flemish Brabant city of Leuven, Belgium has ed its judgement on a convicted 24-year-old medical student who was found guilty of rape. The verdict? His offence is “unacceptable,” but the judge didn’t have the heart to sentence him to jail time because then, this “talented” ab wouldn’t get the chance to become a gynaecologist if he had a criminal record.

Somehow, it didn’t matter to the judge, who is reportedly a woman, that the fellow student he violated also had her future ahead of her, a life she will now lead with the trauma of what she suffered and how she was refused justice because her perpetrator was “young.”

The rape took place on Nov. 8, 2023 during a Halloween party which the victim attended with her friends. At the bar, she suddenly became too incapacitated to stand on her own – if she was drugged, it is not clear – and that’s when her fellow medical student came forward, pretending to help.

He claimed that she reached out to him first, asking about the address of a night shop. He offered to walk her there, but instead, took her to his room and had raped her, though he alleges that he got the impression that she had given him her consent in that drunken state. As the prosecution argued, he took advantage of her condition by faking to be a good samaritan.

“He claimed that he had protected the female student by taking her with him, but then engaged in sex acts with her.”

While the prosecution asked for a three-year suspended sentence, the defence implored that he should be punished at all as it would forever tarnish his reputation, making it next to impossible to build a career. And the judge agreed.

“It is undeniable that he ed the line of what is permissible. The man showed a lack of respect for the victim’s physical, psychological, and sexual boundaries. However, he is still young and has no criminal record. He is also a talented and committed person both in his professional and private live. By finding him guilty but not punishing him, he will be made to feel guilty and the chance of him reoffending will be prevented, without socially impairing the man”.

So, he physically, mentally, and emotionally harmed another person, violated their dignity, byed their right to refuse his advances, and yet, not only has his name been hidden from the Belgium media, his only punishments is that if he rapes someone again, then he will be sentenced for his current crime plus the new one.