‘We Lost One Of The Best’: Teacher, Young Mom From Maryland Dies Suddenly On Vacation At 40 ‘We Lost One Of The Best’: Teacher, Young Mom From Maryland Dies Suddenly On Vacation At 40
‘We Lost One Of The Best’: Teacher, Young Mom From Maryland Dies Suddenly On Vacation At 40 Amanda "Mandy" Jean Butler spent more than a decade molding young minds. Now it's her community that is stepping up for her kids following her unexpected death. The 40-year-old educator passed away during a vacation on Wednesday, Aug. 12, after suffering a sudden stroke, according to loved ones. She leaves behind two little boys and a doting husband she married two years ago. Despite doctors’ efforts, Butler died at the hospital surrounded by close loved ones, organizers of a GoFundMe that went viral in the community. Her death left a hole stretching from her classroom at Stoddert Element…
Frank Beard Dies: Rock Hall Of Fame Drummer Powered Iconic Hits For ZZ Top Frank Beard Dies: Rock Hall Of Fame Drummer Powered Iconic Hits For ZZ Top
Frank Beard Dies: Rock Hall Of Fame Drummer Powered Iconic Hits For ZZ Top A steady beat that powered one of rock’s longest-running lineups has gone silent. Frank Beard, ZZ Top’s drummer for 56 years, died Monday, Aug. 17, at his ranch in Richmond, Texas, the band announced on its website. He was 77. Beard was receiving hospice care and had family members at his side. An exact cause of death was not disclosed. “Today, Elwood and I lost a great friend and collaborator, and the world lost one of the most naturally innovative drummers and a great and true son of Texas,” ZZ Top founder Billy F Gibbons said. “His signature backbeat was key to keeping ZZ on top. The ba…
Father Killed In Maryland Police Shooting Worked 2 Jobs To Provide For Family In Mexico Father Killed In Maryland Police Shooting Worked 2 Jobs To Provide For Family In Mexico
Father Killed In Maryland Police Shooting Worked 2 Jobs To Provide For Family In Mexico Francisco Aparicio Muños spent a decade working in Maryland to provide for his family back home.  Now, they’re trying to bring his body home. Aparicio Muños was the driver fatally shot by Bel Air Police Officer Christopher Birch during a traffic stop on Franklin Street at around 9 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 15, according to the Maryland Attorney General’s Independent Investigations Division. Days after the shooting, his family is putting a face and a story to the man whose name initially went unreleased. Aparicio Muños spent the past 10 years in the US working hard, sometimes holding two…
From The White House To 130,000 Rewards: Maryland Fire Marshal Says Goodbye To K9 Zorro From The White House To 130,000 Rewards: Maryland Fire Marshal Says Goodbye To K9 Zorro
From The White House To 130,000 Rewards: Maryland Fire Marshal Says Goodbye To K9 Zorro Zorro had one heck of a nose. For more than eight years, the black Labrador helped sniff out the secrets hiding in Maryland fire scenes, following traces of gasoline, kerosene, and lighter fluid that investigators could not find on their own. By the time he retired, Zorro had worked across Maryland and beyond, helped with an investigation at the White House, charmed thousands of children, and left behind a photograph so memorable it wound up hanging inside the ATF National Canine Training Center. K9 Zorro Trading Card Office Of The Maryland State Fire Marshal But to Deputy Chief St…
Ravens-Loving Dad-To-Be Dies At 28 As Family Prepares To Say Goodbye In Maryland Ravens-Loving Dad-To-Be Dies At 28 As Family Prepares To Say Goodbye In Maryland
Ravens-Loving Dad-To-Be Dies At 28 As Family Prepares To Say Goodbye In Maryland Michael Handlmaier was supposed to be getting ready to become a dad. Instead, loved ones in Maryland are preparing to say goodbye to the 28-year-old newlywed, who died on Saturday, Aug. 15, following what his mother described as a sudden cardiac arrest. Handlmaier and his wife, Amanda, had been married for just five months and were preparing to welcome their first child, a baby girl, in November, according to his obituary and a GoFundMe campaign created for the family. "It is with a broken heart that we share the news that our beloved son, Michael, passed away at the age of 28 following a …
College Was Next For Maryland Teen Before Unexpected Death Left Mom's 'Heart Shattered' College Was Next For Maryland Teen Before Unexpected Death Left Mom's 'Heart Shattered'
College Was Next For Maryland Teen Before Unexpected Death Left Mom's 'Heart Shattered' Micah Duberry's family was supposed to be getting ready for his first semester of college, not planning his funeral. The 18-year-old Salisbury native died unexpectedly on Thursday, Aug. 13, just as he was preparing for the next chapter of his life. "My heart is shattered, and I’ll never be the same," his mother posted following his death. "On Thursday, August 13th my Micah James passed. He’s my angel now." Duberry had only recently celebrated another milestone: graduation from Western School of Technology and Environmental Science in Catonsville. Micah Duberry GoFundMe Ph…
Virginia Teen Went To Sleep Days After Turning 19, Never Woke Up Virginia Teen Went To Sleep Days After Turning 19, Never Woke Up
Virginia Teen Went To Sleep Days After Turning 19, Never Woke Up Four days. That was all the time Soren Anderson got to spend as a 19-year-old. The Virginia teen died on Friday, Aug. 14, just four days after celebrating his 19th birthday on Aug. 10, according to a GoFundMe campaign launched by the mother of his best friend in Chantilly. Anderson went to sleep and never woke up, organizer Samira Rutherford said. Now, those who loved him are grappling with a loss that came without warning while rallying around his family to help them say goodbye. “Soren was a kind, funny, bright, and loving young man,” Rutherford wrote. “He had a way of bringing lig…
She Was His 16-Month-Old 'Mini Me,' Now Her Firefighter Father Is Gone At 24 She Was His 16-Month-Old 'Mini Me,' Now Her Firefighter Father Is Gone At 24
She Was His 16-Month-Old 'Mini Me,' Now Her Firefighter Father Is Gone At 24 Mason Fercovic-Ortegel spent his short life taking care of others. Now, the young Virginia firefighter's family is facing an uncertain future without him. The 24-year-old Spotsylvania County firefighter died in an off-duty drowning incident at Lake Anna on Thursday, Aug. 13, leaving behind his wife and their 16-month-old daughter. Behind the uniform, Ortegel was a husband and a young dad working to build a life for his family. And according to those now rallying around them, that family was the reason he worked so hard. "Mason Ortegel was known well for his service with the Spotsylvania C…
Teen Chased Armed Robber For Stolen Backpack Before Deadly DC Shooting, Feds Say Teen Chased Armed Robber For Stolen Backpack Before Deadly DC Shooting, Feds Say
Teen Chased Armed Robber For Stolen Backpack Before Deadly DC Shooting, Feds Say A stolen backpack turned into a death sentence for a 17-year-old Maryland-area teen. Jermaine Durbin was near the entrance to the Rhode Island Avenue Metro station in Northeast DC at approximately 7:20 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 3, 2025, when Javier Montgomery robbed him at gunpoint, according to federal prosecutors. Durbin wanted his backpack back. The 17-year-old followed Montgomery, who ultimately shot and killed him, prosecutors said. Now, more than 10 months after Durbin was found dying on Rhode Island Avenue, Montgomery has admitted to the killing and a string of armed sexual assaults tar…
Mom Tried Shielding Daughter, 5, As Bullets Tore Through Maryland Home: Family Mom Tried Shielding Daughter, 5, As Bullets Tore Through Maryland Home: Family
Mom Tried Shielding Daughter, 5, As Bullets Tore Through Maryland Home: Family Na’Ryah Adams should have been picking out school clothes and getting ready for kindergarten. Instead, a Maryland family is planning a funeral for the 5-year-old after gunfire tore through their home before dawn on Tuesday, Aug. 11, killing a little girl remembered for her contagious smile, karaoke sessions, and excitement about making new friends. Adams was sleeping beside her mother, Mia, and Mia’s fiancé when their home in the 3900 block of Ocean Gateway in Linkwood was targeted in what a GoFundMe campaign organized for the family described as a drive-by shooting. Mia tried to protect h…
'Rest Easy, Mason': Virginia Firefighter, 24, Dies In Off-Duty Lake Drowning 'Rest Easy, Mason': Virginia Firefighter, 24, Dies In Off-Duty Lake Drowning
'Rest Easy, Mason': Virginia Firefighter, 24, Dies In Off-Duty Lake Drowning A young Virginia firefighter who spent his life helping others died unexpectedly. Spotsylvania County Fire, Rescue, and Emergency Management confirmed on Friday, Aug. 14, that Firefighter Mason Fercovic-Ortegel died in what the department described as an off-duty drowning incident at Lake Anna. "It is with a very heavy heart that we share the passing of Firefighter Mason Fercovic-Ortegel, who tragically died in an off-duty drowning incident at Lake Anna," the department said. "Mason was only 24 years old." Those who knew Fercovic-Ortegel remembered more than the uniform. Justin Edward Pyk…
‘Sueshine’ Gone Too Soon: Virginia Dance Teacher Leaves Legacy Of Joy ‘Sueshine’ Gone Too Soon: Virginia Dance Teacher Leaves Legacy Of Joy
‘Sueshine’ Gone Too Soon: Virginia Dance Teacher Leaves Legacy Of Joy Virginia lost a little of its "Sueshine" this month. Susannah Gayle Keefe, the beloved Arlington mother, wife, dance teacher, and founder of Go Bananas Dancing, died on Tuesday, Aug. 4, at 52 after being reported missing. Now, the community she spent years getting on its feet is rallying around the family she loved most. A GoFundMe campaign launched in Keefe's memory has raised more than $37,000 from more than 270 donors, with contributions earmarked for future educational opportunities for her two sons. "We are heartbroken by the loss of our beloved Susannah and deeply grateful for the e…
Longtime First Responder Larry Snellings, 68, Dies After Battle With Cancer Longtime First Responder Larry Snellings, 68, Dies After Battle With Cancer
Longtime First Responder Larry Snellings, 68, Dies After Battle With Cancer Larry Snellings spent much of his life answering the call for others. In the end, the longtime Virginia public servant was home with the woman he loved. Snellings, a former Stafford County fire chief, deputy sheriff, Fire Marshal's Office K-9 officer and career Firefighter/EMT, died at his Spotsylvania home early on Sunday, Aug. 9, following a long battle with cancer. He was 68. His wife, Carol Duke-Snellings, was holding him. "I lost my best friend yesterday. On my birthday," she wrote the following day in an online tribute. "Larry died in my arms at 4:15 yesterday morning with me tell…
'Smile That Would Brighten Anyone's Day': Maryland Soldier Cameron Duron Dies At 22 'Smile That Would Brighten Anyone's Day': Maryland Soldier Cameron Duron Dies At 22
'Smile That Would Brighten Anyone's Day': Maryland Soldier Cameron Duron Dies At 22 Cameron "CJ" Duron had a knack for making people smile.  Now, a Maryland family and the community that watched him grow up are mourning a life cut far too short. Duron, a 22-year-old soldier born in Baltimore with deep ties to Bowie and Southern Maryland, died on Sunday, Aug. 2, according to his obituary. A cause of death was not disclosed. Those who knew Duron remember much more than the uniform. Born Cameron James Duron on March 11, 2004, he was remembered by his family for his kindness, humor, generosity, determination, and ability to connect with just about anyone. He loved spe…
Virginia Teacher, Cheer Coach Faces 'Future She Never Imagined' After Husband's Death Virginia Teacher, Cheer Coach Faces 'Future She Never Imagined' After Husband's Death
Virginia Teacher, Cheer Coach Faces 'Future She Never Imagined' After Husband's Death For years, Emily Murphy has been the one showing up for everyone else. Now, after the Prince William County middle school teacher and longtime cheer coach suddenly lost her husband, Jordan, on Monday, Aug. 3, the Virginia community she spent years supporting is showing up for her. More than $13,000 has been raised through a GoFundMe campaign for Emily as friends, athletes, families and neighbors rally around the longtime FAME All Stars coach following the death of the man described as her best friend and the love of her life. The Murphy family. GoFundMe "Emily has spent her lif…
‘Treezy’ Had Big Dreams Before Tragedy Struck On I-695 In Maryland, Family Says ‘Treezy’ Had Big Dreams Before Tragedy Struck On I-695 In Maryland, Family Says
‘Treezy’ Had Big Dreams Before Tragedy Struck On I-695 In Maryland, Family Says Byren “Treezy” Paige knew where he was going. He just never got the chance to get there in Maryland. The 17-year-old Edgewood teen killed while changing a tire on I-695 in Baltimore County early Sunday, Aug. 2, is being remembered as a budding barber, rapper, athlete, loyal friend and larger-than-life personality who had already mapped out part of his future. Treezy was going to open his own barbershop. And according to his family, there was no talking him out of it. “Byren was a special kid—not your average teenager,” his family wrote in a GoFundMe campaign launched after his death. “He …
Virginia Deputy, Dad Of 3 Killed While Helping At Crash Remembered For Selfless Final Act Virginia Deputy, Dad Of 3 Killed While Helping At Crash Remembered For Selfless Final Act
Virginia Deputy, Dad Of 3 Killed While Helping At Crash Remembered For Selfless Final Act Burlie W. Duvall III could have kept driving. Instead, the Virginia deputy turned around to help strangers after a serious crash on Thursday, Aug. 6, a decision that would cost the husband and father of three his life. Duvall, an Appomattox County Sheriff's Office deputy who was still attending the Central Virginia Criminal Justice Academy, was killed while assisting at the crash scene, according to his department and tributes from those who knew him. The circumstances surrounding Duvall's death remain under investigation, and officials have not released additional details about exactly…
He Left For Work, Never Came Home: Virginia Father Of Five Killed In Maryland Crash Identified He Left For Work, Never Came Home: Virginia Father Of Five Killed In Maryland Crash Identified
He Left For Work, Never Came Home: Virginia Father Of Five Killed In Maryland Crash Identified He kissed his family goodbye, headed to work, and never made it home. Maryland investigators have identified the man killed in Tuesday morning's Germantown crash as 58-year-old William Vance "Vance" Payne II, a Virginia husband and father of five whose death has left a family, school community, and friends reeling. The deadly collision happened around 5:25 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 4, at the intersection of Great Seneca Highway and Clopper Road in Germantown, where Montgomery County police and firefighters responded to what quickly became a mass casualty incident. Payne was driving a 2007 Toyota …
'You Always Had A Smile': Loved Ones Remember Jesse Fultz Sr. After Maryland Motorcycle Crash 'You Always Had A Smile': Loved Ones Remember Jesse Fultz Sr. After Maryland Motorcycle Crash
'You Always Had A Smile': Loved Ones Remember Jesse Fultz Sr. After Maryland Motorcycle Crash The streets will glow with candlelight this week, but they won't be able to fill the space Jesse Fultz Sr. leaves behind. Maryland is mourning the sudden loss of the devoted husband, father, brother and friend after the Jefferson family man was killed in a motorcycle crash, leaving behind his wife, Becky, and their two young sons, Junior and Tucker. As loved ones struggle to process the tragedy, one message has echoed across social media again and again: Jesse made people feel like family. "To have you stripped away from us within the blink of an eye hurts different because we all thought …
UFC Fighter Dies Suddenly At 34, Teammate Says He 'Lost A Brother' UFC Fighter Dies Suddenly At 34, Teammate Says He 'Lost A Brother'
UFC Fighter Dies Suddenly At 34, Teammate Says He 'Lost A Brother' A Brazilian mixed martial artist who fought in the Ultimate Fighting Championship died after suffering an apparent heart attack. Allan Nascimento was found unresponsive on the morning of Monday, Aug. 3, the UFC announced. The flyweight and São Paulo native was 34 years old. Nicknamed "Puro Osso," which means "All Bones" in Portuguese, Nascimento made six appearances in the UFC, posting a 4-2 record inside the Octagon. "A fixture on the doorstep of the Top 15, Nascimento was a constant presence alongside his teammates whenever they made the walk, sharing an especial…
Amazon Engineer Dies On Lake Tahoe Church Trip, Friends In Maryland Say Amazon Engineer Dies On Lake Tahoe Church Trip, Friends In Maryland Say
Amazon Engineer Dies On Lake Tahoe Church Trip, Friends In Maryland Say A 32-year-old Amazon software engineer died on what friends say was a church trip to Lake Tahoe. Yadessa Emiru Aga died Monday, July 27, after drowning at Nevada's Sand Harbor State Park, SFGATE reports, citing Washoe County officials. Aga had reportedly swum out to boulders offshore when he went underwater and became unresponsive, the outlet reports. Witnesses pulled him from the water and began CPR before deputies and emergency responders arrived. Despite lifesaving efforts, he was pronounced dead at the scene. A GoFundMe set by friends in Silver Spring said Aga had been attending a…
'Senseless Violence' Leaves Two Children Without Their Father In DC 'Senseless Violence' Leaves Two Children Without Their Father In DC
'Senseless Violence' Leaves Two Children Without Their Father In DC He should have been making more memories with his kids. Instead, his family is planning his funeral. Maryland and DC loved ones are mourning Jamari Millet, a young father of two who was killed in what relatives describe as a "senseless act of violence" on Tuesday, July 28. A GoFundMe created by his mother, Shawnice Millet, and co-organizer Markisha Moore says Jamari's death came without warning, leaving behind two young children, devastated parents, and a family now facing funeral expenses while trying to cope with an unimaginable loss. "Jamari was a wonderful father, a loyal friend, an am…
'The Glitter In Their Lives': Will Burkowske Remembered For Joy, Kindness, Final Gift To Others 'The Glitter In Their Lives': Will Burkowske Remembered For Joy, Kindness, Final Gift To Others
'The Glitter In Their Lives': Will Burkowske Remembered For Joy, Kindness, Final Gift To Others Some people leave behind memories. Will Burkowske left behind sparkle. The 38-year-old, remembered by loved ones for a smile that could light up a room and a heart that seemed to have room for everyone, died unexpectedly in Maryland, leaving behind a grieving family, countless friends, devoted clients, and a community still trying to make sense of the loss. To those closest to him, though, the overwhelming feeling isn't just heartbreak. It's gratitude that they got to know him. "Our beloved Will Burkowske was taken from us far too soon, and our hearts are broken," his family wrote in…
'One Of Our Own': Maryland Community Mourns 4-Year-Old Girl Found In River 'One Of Our Own': Maryland Community Mourns 4-Year-Old Girl Found In River
'One Of Our Own': Maryland Community Mourns 4-Year-Old Girl Found In River A Maryland town spent Sunday searching for a missing little girl. By nightfall, it was praying for her family instead. Pocomoke City is mourning 4-year-old Skylar after the child was found in the Pocomoke River following an urgent search Sunday morning, leaving behind grieving parents, heartbroken classmates, and a community struggling to make sense of the loss. Deputies with the Worcester County Sheriff's Office joined Pocomoke City police shortly before 11 a.m. on Sunday, July 26, after the girl was reported missing. She was found in the river a short time later. Police officers and EM…
'Brought Joy To Everyone': Thousands Raised For 9-Year-Old Killed In Virginia E-Scooter Crash 'Brought Joy To Everyone': Thousands Raised For 9-Year-Old Killed In Virginia E-Scooter Crash
'Brought Joy To Everyone': Thousands Raised For 9-Year-Old Killed In Virginia E-Scooter Crash The little boy whose death devastated a Northern Virginia neighborhood is now being remembered for something far bigger than the tragedy that took him. Friends and neighbors have raised more than $39,000 to help the family of 9-year-old Badrinarayan Hungund, describing the Herndon boy as someone who "brought joy, love, and happiness to everyone who knew him." The GoFundMe was created by family friend Venkata Pola on behalf of Badrinarayan's parents, Anand and Anusha Hungund, following the fatal crash that claimed their son's life last week. "No parent should ever have to endure the pain of…
Virginia Mom Killed In Motorcycle Crash 'Dedicated Her Life' To 3 Sons, Loved Ones Say Virginia Mom Killed In Motorcycle Crash 'Dedicated Her Life' To 3 Sons, Loved Ones Say
Virginia Mom Killed In Motorcycle Crash 'Dedicated Her Life' To 3 Sons, Loved Ones Say Jennifer Hollingsworth was doing what she loved. Then everything changed in an instant. The 39-year-old Fredericksburg mother of three was killed in a motorcycle crash on Thursday, July 23, in Fairfax County, leaving behind three sons now surrounded by a grieving community determined to help carry them through the days ahead. The crash happened shortly after 7:15 p.m. at the intersection of Ox Road and Chapel Road in Fairfax Station, according to Fairfax County Police. Detectives say Hollingsworth was riding a 2025 Suzuki GSX-R750 north on Ox Road when her motorcycle struck a 2021 Buick En…
Maryland Family Preparing For Milestone Birthday Now Planning Young Father's Funeral Maryland Family Preparing For Milestone Birthday Now Planning Young Father's Funeral
Maryland Family Preparing For Milestone Birthday Now Planning Young Father's Funeral A Maryland family is mourning a young father whose little boy is about to celebrate his second birthday without him. John William Stacey, 28, of Silver Spring, died after a single-vehicle crash early Saturday, July 25, leaving behind his son, who, according to loved ones, was the greatest joy of his life. "John was a loving boyfriend, a devoted father, a cherished son, and a loyal friend," organizer Julieta Quinonez wrote in a GoFundMe created to help his family following his death. "His greatest joy in life was his beautiful little boy, who is about to celebrate his second birthday." Phot…
'He Let His Art Speak': Maryland Artist Remembered For Life Beyond Murals 'He Let His Art Speak': Maryland Artist Remembered For Life Beyond Murals
'He Let His Art Speak': Maryland Artist Remembered For Life Beyond Murals Ezra Berger spent decades leaving his mark on Harford County, though not always in the places people first noticed. His murals covered walls. His paintings found their way into homes and private collections. His work became part of restaurants, businesses, book projects, and the visual identity of a city that had grown accustomed to seeing his imagination in public. But since Berger's unexpected death, the people who knew him have not spent much time talking about technique, style or acclaim.  They have talked about the friend who stayed in their lives long after the paint dried, the ar…
Twin Cheerleader Dies Suddenly, Thousands Raised For Maryland Family Twin Cheerleader Dies Suddenly, Thousands Raised For Maryland Family
Twin Cheerleader Dies Suddenly, Thousands Raised For Maryland Family Anna Onyekachukwu Ucheomumu did not blend into a room. Now, a Maryland family is mourning the unexpected loss of a beloved twin sister, aunt, and former University of Miami cheerleader remembered for a presence that was impossible to ignore. “She was a force. A leader. A light,” Susana Uche wrote in a Facebook post sharing a GoFundMe set up following her death. “A woman who walked into any room and instantly drew every eye, not because she tried, but because her presence was undeniable.” Anna was born on Sept. 29, 1993, alongside her twin sister (age 32). Records show she has ties to …
One Month After Turning 37, Maryland Man Mark Davis Was Killed Waiting For The Bus One Month After Turning 37, Maryland Man Mark Davis Was Killed Waiting For The Bus
One Month After Turning 37, Maryland Man Mark Davis Was Killed Waiting For The Bus One month after celebrating his 37th birthday, Mark Davis was gone. The longtime DC-area resident, whose life stretched between Washington and Largo, was struck and killed while waiting at a Metrobus stop on Tuesday, July 14, leaving behind a grieving family determined to make sure he's remembered for the life he lived, not simply the way it ended. Davis was standing at the bus stop at Southern Avenue and Suitland Road in Southeast DC when he was hit by a pickup truck, according to his family. "He was a human being with a story, a personality, and people who loved him," loved ones wrote in…
Father Dies Four Days After Daughter, 18, Killed On DC-295, Leaving Mom To Plan Two Funerals Father Dies Four Days After Daughter, 18, Killed On DC-295, Leaving Mom To Plan Two Funerals
Father Dies Four Days After Daughter, 18, Killed On DC-295, Leaving Mom To Plan Two Funerals One unimaginable loss became two in less than a week. Four days after 18-year-old Camari Primrose was struck and killed on DC-295, her father, Edwin Primrose, suffered a fatal heart attack, leaving a Maryland mother with the heartbreaking task of planning two funerals in the span of a single week. Camari, of Silver Spring, was killed early Monday, July 13, in Southeast Washington, according to the Metropolitan Police Department. According to MPD's preliminary investigation, Camari exited a vehicle stopped in the northbound lanes before entering the southbound lanes of DC-295, where she was…