"EMPIRE" STAR JUSSIE SMOLLETT CONVICTED FOR FAKING FELONY HATE CRIME: CONVICTION OVERTURNED

Former "Empire" actor Jussie Smollett is convicted of staging a hate crime attack against himself on a cold Chicago night.  Smollett was convicted on five disorderly conduct count and sentenced to 150 days. In reality, he spent only six days behind bars while maintaining his innocence.  Now the Illinois Supreme Court has overturned Smollett's conviction. The court did not consider where the actor committed the crime, only that his constitutional rights were violated when he was prosecuted again after  the original charges were dropped.  

The state's highest court sided has ordered the case against Smollett be dismissed.

SUSAN SMITH LEAVES HER CHILDREN TO DROWN IN A LAKE, NOW WANTS OUT OF JAIL

Thirty years after Susan Smith drove her car into a lake with her two sons still strapped in their car seats, she is seeking parole.

After high school, Susan Leigh Vaughan married David Smith. They had two sons, but the children did not hold the marriage together. The Smiths separated multiple times. During one of these separations, Susan began dating Tom Findlay, the single son of a wealthy mill owner. Smith envisioned a future with Findlay until she received a "Dear John" letter from him. He explained he did not want an instant family.

On the night of October 25, Susan Smith knocked on the door of a house near John D. Long Lake. Hysterical, she told the man who answered to call the police. She claimed an armed Black man had carjacked her at a red light, with her two boys—3-year-old Michael and 14-month-old Alex—still in the car. For days, Susan repeated increasingly inconsistent versions of the carjacking story.

Eventually, Smith confessed. There had been no hijacker. Feeling desperate, alone, and suicidal, she had gone for a drive with her sons buckled in their car seats. At John D. Long Lake, she put the car in neutral, jumped out, and watched it sink. Scuba divers later found the vehicle with the boys still strapped in the back seats.

Since her conviction and incarceration, tabloid reports have alleged that Smith told prison investigators about four sexual encounters with Lieutenant Houston Cagle, a supervisor at South Carolina’s Women’s Correctional Institution. C

agle admitted to having sex with Smith and another inmate. In August 2000, he was charged with the offenses, pleaded guilty, and served three months in jail. Captain Alfred Rowe also pleaded guilty to having sex with Smith and received five years of probation.

Over the years, several men have written to Smith, fueling her hopes for a life beyond prison.

In March 2022, People Magazine published excerpts from letters Smith wrote to a long-distance boyfriend. In one letter, she wrote, "I can't wait to build a life with you, leave the past mistakes behind, and start fresh, just you and me."

JUDGE RULES AGAINST GABBY PETITO FAMILY IN MOAB POLICE LAWSUIT

Gabby Petito was strangled by her then boyfriend Brian Laundrie while the pair were on a cross-country van trip. The FBI report  states that Laundrie confesses to the murder in a hand written notebook, found near the remains of Laundrie's body after he committed suicide.  According to the report, Laundrie tried to cover up Petito's death by using the woman's debit card, and then also sending text messages from her phone, to give the impression that Gabby was still alive. During the trip, a domestic violence episode was caught on Moab police body cam, after a 911 call came in reporting a man slapping a woman. 

The footage shows Petito was injured with scratches and  bruises. Police determined however that Petito was the aggressor, after she admitted hitting Laundrie.   The pair was separated for the night, with no domestic violence counseling. 

Petito's family filed a wrongful death lawsuit  against the Moab Police Department. Utah's 7th District Court Judge Don Torgerson dismissed the case, citing governmental immunity. Torgerson said he is bound to follow the law as it currently exists and follow rulings of other courts. The Petito's attorney argued to end just the police immunity.  He added the Court of Appeals has the authority to determine whether the governmental immunity law is constitutional.

DIDDY JAIL-CELL RAID: DEMANDS "DIG UP DIRT" ON VICTIMS

As part of an interagency contraband sweep at the MDC, agents confiscated 19 pages of notes from Sean Combs’ belongings and turned them over to federal prosecutors.

The notes included inspirational quotes, reminders about family and financial matters, and a "To-Do List." The list instructed a family member to, quote, “find dirt” on two potential victims and, quote, “find everything” on another victim.

Attorney Marc Agnifilo expressed shock and outrage upon learning prosecutors possessed the notes for weeks before notifying the defense. He accused prosecutors of a "complete institutional failure" and claimed Combs' constitutional rights were violated, as the notes contained privileged materials. The defense is now seeking dismissal of the indictment or recusal of the prosecution team.

Prosecutors argued no wrongdoing occurred, stating the notes were reviewed by a "filter team" to ensure they contained no privileged information before prosecutors saw them. Federal agent Mary Slavik maintained her team acted “in a completely appropriate fashion” regarding the documents.

Judge Subramanian called an emergency hearing on the matter. Combs appeared unshackled, a privilege granted for future court appearances. He seemed more at ease, hugged his attorneys, and surveyed the courtroom. 

Judge Subramanian ruled the notes inadmissible as evidence and ordered prosecutors to destroy all copies of the documents.

FREAK DIDDY: LINED WALLS, CEILING OF $500K ‘FREAK-OFFS’ WITH HUNDREDS OF MIRRORS: ‘WALL-TO-WALL' DEBAUCHERY

While the public believes Sean "Diddy" Combs is confined to a tiny cell at the MDC, he has actually been moved to the lowest-security unit in the prison, 4 North.

This unit provides access to a tablet, cards, music, TV, movies, ping-pong, air hockey, and even a peep show. Who needs expensive "freak offs" when male inmates can spy on female inmates through a grate in the floor?

Combs now faces 30 individual lawsuits. The latest accuses him of shooting at a man outside a New York City nightclub three years before the infamous Club NY shooting. DeWitt Gilmore claims he and two friends were leaving the nightclub when Combs, driven by his bodyguard, began hurling insults and threatening violence from the passenger seat of his car. Combs allegedly escalated the situation by blocking the men from leaving in their own car before firing several shots at them. Gilmore says they eventually lost Combs in traffic but could not determine what provoked the incident.

Ray J, a longtime friend of Diddy, claims many celebrities in Combs’ inner circle are fearful of being implicated in legal actions. According to Ray J, some are reaching out to potential accusers and offering cash to keep their names out of lawsuits. He also alleges unnamed celebrities have approached him as a potential “vessel” for leaks due to his friendship with Combs

GUILTY ALL COUNTS: RICHARD ALLEN STONE-FACED AS DELPHI JURY SAYS HE MURDERED ABBY & LIBBY, LEFT BODIES IN WOODS

The jury took two minutes from entering the courtroom to announce the verdict: Richard Allen, guilty on all charges.

Allen was convicted of felony murder for Abby Williams and Libby German, as well as for knowingly and intentionally killing both girls. Judge Gull maintained order in the courtroom, where there were no outbursts, but outside on the streets of Delphi, shouts of "Guilty on all charges" echoed.

As Kathy Allen, Richard Allen's wife, left the courthouse, she was heard saying, "This isn't over at all."

The jury, composed of seven women and five men, heard 17 days of testimony, including dozens of witnesses, disturbing jailhouse videos of Richard Allen, and photos of Abby and Libby as they were found at the crime scene.

They deliberated for 19 hours over parts of four days to reach a unanimous verdict. Richard Allen was found guilty of four counts: two counts of felony murder and two counts of knowingly and intentionally killing Abby Williams and Libby German.

DELPHI VERDICT WATCH: JURY DELIBERATES MURDERS OF ABBY, 13, LIBBY, 14

Richard Allen's fate is now in the hand of the jury. Twelve men and woman have been tasked with determining, back on the evidence presented, whether or not Allen is guilty  beyond a reasonable doubt. The burden of proof is on the state.   The judge told the jury in their instruction that "beyond all possible doubt” is not their guidepost. She said defendants are not convicted on suspicion, and that the jury decision must be unanimous.

The defense surprised the courtroom yesterday by resting their case, not calling as many witnesses as expected.   Closing arguments today were completed by lunchtime. Just after 1pm the jury went behind closed doors to pick a fore person. Deliberations will continue until 4pm today, unless the jury chooses to stay and deliberate longer. Sunday is the only day, deliberations won't take place. 

DIDDY CELL-EBRATION WHINES ABOUT BIRTHDAY GRILLED-CHEESE AS GRAND JURY LOOMS

Sean "Diddy" Combs marked his 55th birthday behind bars at the MDC, receiving a call from his children and enjoying a "breakfast cake" as his first meal of the day, followed by a choice of pizza, salad, or pasta for dinner.

The disgraced mogul faces his birthday amid a push to instate a gag order as new allegations emerge from witnesses and complainants. The latest claim? A grand jury witness reportedly possesses at least eight of Combs’ sex tapes featuring A-list celebrities, some of whom may be minors.

Courtney Burgess, reportedly a friend of the late Kim Porter, told reporters outside the courthouse that he testified before the Diddy Grand Jury. Burgess claims Porter entrusted him with 11 flash drives shortly before her death. According to Burgess, the drives contain at least eight tapes depicting Combs with various A-list celebrities, whom he describes as victims, with two or three allegedly appearing as minors. Burgess says he no longer has the tapes in his possession.

Two days after Burgess’s public comments on his testimony, Combs’ legal team submitted a letter to Judge Subramanian, urgently requesting a gag order. The defense cites Burgess’s media comments and a New York Post article quoting a federal agent as “improper pretrial publicity” that, they argue, is making it “impossible” for Combs to receive a fair trial.

DELPHI MURDER SUSPECT'S COLD 8 WORDS TO WIFE: "I DID IT. I KILLED ABBY & LIBBY”

Prosecutors rest their case after 12 days, spending time proving that Richard Allen is infamous "Bridge Guy" captured on Libby German's phone.  Prosecutors believe Libby and Abby were led down the hill to be raped before their killer panicked, slashed their throats and covered their bodies with sticks before fleeing the area. One of Richard Allen's 61 + confessions said he got scared by a white van.The prosecution found a neighbor got home in his white van near the scene of the murders. 

The defense calls their first witness, Cheyenne Mill. She is walking the trails and bridge the day Abby and Libby vanished. Says she was there from 2:50pm, talked to her boyfriend on her phone at 3:12 pm, saw an overweight man on Freedom Bridge who did not say HI back to her. She describes the man as old with a camera around his neck. Mill tells jurors she didn't hear of seeing anything unusual or see anyone in the wooded area and she spoke to police the next day after hearing about the girls. Six months later the FBI contacted her saying her phone pinged on the Hight bridge February 13. Mill cries on stand talking about online vigilantes doxing her. 

TRIAL DELAY IN RACHEL MORIN MURDER

Rachel Morin's mother cried as the man charged in her murder walked into the courtroom. It was the first time Patty Morin had seen Victor Antonio Martinez Hernandez in person. Now, a judge has granted a defense request to postpone the trial to April 1, 2025.    

The suspect in Rachel Morin's brutal murder was found casually sitting in a Tulsa, Oklahoma bar. During the arrest, Hernandez initially lies to authorities about his true identity and denies any knowledge of the attack on a 9-year-old little girl in Los Angeles and the murder of Morin. 

The Morin family and investigators strongly believe that the two known crimes are not the only ones Victor Hernandez committed while in the U.S. The attack on a little girl and her mother in L.A. came just two months after Hernandez allegedly murdered a woman in his native El Salvador.

Rachel Morin’s body was found nearly five months later, and another 10 months passed before Hernandez’s arrest. More than a year of Hernandez’s time in the U.S. is still unaccounted for.

While there is a sense of closure, Morin’s sister, Rebekah, says it also feels like "day one all over again."

Matt McMahon, the father of Morin’s eldest daughter, says the Ma and Pa trail feels like it ‘belongs to Rachel again,’ and is even more grateful for the arrest as their daughter, Faye, is now expecting her own little girl later this year.

McMahon describes the news as bittersweet, knowing how excited Rachel Morin would be to learn she was going to be a grandmother. 

GLAM-MOM MURDERS SLEEPING HUBBY, WHINES JUDGE "RUINING HER LIFE"

A judge has ruled that Jennifer Gledhill, cannot have contact with her children. Prosecutors say the children could be witnesses. The defense claims the protective order that had been put in place "is an overall heavy-handed kind of punishment." Jeremy Deus told the judge that "it feels like, the state and the city, that the police agency that investigated this, are trying to set everything that my client loves on fire."    The judge lifted the protective order, but maintained a no- contact order.  

A police informant helps break a case wide open when he tells police Matthew Johnson was murdered by his wife, Jennifer Gledhill. Pushing for more answers the informant tells police he knows what happened because he has been having an affair with Jennifer Gledhill and she told him exactly what happened, when it happened, and why. 

Jennifer Gledhill tells her "lover" that her husband yelled at her because he knew she was sleeping with someone else, so that night when he went to sleep in the bed they share, she shot him in the head. The confidential informant goes on to tell his handlers that after shooting her husband, she put his body in a rooftop storage container, then slid him down the stairs of their home and loaded his body into a minivan. Gledhill told him she had dug a hole somewhere "north" of their home and buried Johnson's body in a shallow grave. Matthew Johnson is still missing. 

We also learn that investigators find a neighbor who says Jennifer Gledhill's parents were at the house cleaning until late into the evening, even though her mother is on record as saying they had only been there for an hour. Jennifer Gledhill's mother says she purchased a mattress from Amazon at her daughter's request. The Gledhills have now been arrested as well. 

DIDDYWEEN: COMBS' HALLOWEEN FRIGHT NIGHT, NEW GRAND JURY CHARGES

The investigation into Sean "Diddy" Combs has entered new territory as a New York federal grand jury hears new evidence. According to an attorney representing some victims, a male client of hers is testifying today.

This development follows new information about requirements Combs’ employees reportedly enforced for admitting women to his White Parties. According to sources, these requirements included: women could not weigh over 140 pounds, with weight verified by a nearby scale.

Other restrictions included no flab, cellulite, excessive piercings, or heavy tattoos. Women had to avoid short hair, pants, or jeans and instead were expected to be young, attractive, and dressed provocatively. Each woman had to wear a short party dress just covering her buttocks, along with stilettos.

DOPE DIDDY: 'FORCED' STAFF TO STASH 'PINK COCAINE' 24/7, MORE SEX-ASSAULTS EMERGE

Sean "Diddy" Combs faces seven new lawsuits from alleged victims of molestation and sexual assault, bringing the total number of plaintiffs to 27. Two of the latest anonymous plaintiffs are minors, and several unnamed celebrities are cited in the accusations. Each case has been assigned to a different judge, with at least two judges asking plaintiffs to justify their anonymity.

Many victims report similar experiences of being drugged with laced drinks at Combs’ parties, later waking up disoriented with either memories of assault or physical injuries suggesting assault. Two of the latest plaintiffs, including a 17-year-old boy, accepted party invitations from Combs hoping to advance their music careers. Some attacks date back to the early 2000s, with others as recent as 2022.

This comes amid reports that Combs allegedly required staff to carry various drugs for his use at all times. Kristina Khorram, his chief of staff, reportedly enforced this rule to ensure Combs’ drug of choice was always available.

Among the alleged substances were pills, ecstasy, marijuana gummies, and GHB, with one of Combs' preferred drugs reportedly being "pink cocaine," a mix of ecstasy, ketamine, caffeine, and the psychedelic 2-CB, also known as Tusi.

Former NBA player and recovering addict Lamar Odom says pink cocaine can cause auditory hallucinations. It’s also reportedly the same drug Liam Payne used shortly before falling to his death from a Buenos Aires hotel balcony

DELPHI MURDERS: SUSPECT CONFESSES 61 TIMES TO GIRLS’ MURDERS, WIFE SAYS “STOP TALKING!”

On day five of Richard Allen's murder trial, jurors heard testimony from the forensic pathologist who performed the autopsies of Abby Williams and Libby German, as well as from a witness who saw the 'Bridge Guy' on the day of the murders.

Dr. Ronald Kohr, who previously reported that he believed two knives were used in the killings, testified that he now believes the 'serration' seen in some of Libby's wounds was likely caused by an element on the handle of the blade. Kohr suggested that a box cutter with an extra thumb grip could have been the sole murder weapon. This testimony surprised Allen's defense team and directly contradicted Andrew Baldwin's opening statement, aligning instead with the state's claim that Allen used a box cutter to slash the girls' necks.

Sarah Carbaugh, a lifelong Delphi resident who was walking her dogs on the afternoon of February 13, 2017, also testified about her sighting of the 'Bridge Guy.' She said she saw a man walking west on Country Road 300, covered in blood and mud, as if he had fallen on the trail. Carbaugh later recognized him from the video clip released from Libby's phone, but waited three weeks to report the sighting due to anxiety.

Allen's defense questioned Carbaugh about discrepancies in her description during cross-examination, noting that her recorded interview mentioned blood only once. Baldwin also pointed out unusual details in her description, including her remark about the man's "effeminate eyes." Carbaugh pushed back, reminding Baldwin that over an hour of her interview video had been accidentally destroyed.

Jurors have yet to hear testimony on Allen's 61 confessions. Among the hundreds of pages of court documents released since the start of the trial, a signed confession letter from Allen, stating, "I hope I get the opportunity to tell the families I'm sorry." 

THE DELPHI MURDERS: SUSPECT RICHARD ALLEN BOWS HEAD, PRAYS BEFORE SHOCKING PICTURES OF ABBY & LIBBY SHOWN IN COURT

Libby German's and Abby Williams' families were informed that crime scene photos, including some very gruesome images of the girls, would be shown during testimony.

Although the photos have not been made public, they were shown to the jury, and members of the gallery could also see them. As the photos were displayed, Crime Scene Investigator Sergeant Jason Page described what was captured in the 42 crime scene photos, including more than 20 images of Libby and Abby.

Sgt. Page took the crime scene photos presented in court. Referring to the area as "ground zero," Page explained that the taped-off section was roughly the size of a football field, though most of the physical evidence was concentrated within 30 to 40 feet of the girls' bodies.

The photos clearly showed a significant amount of blood at the scene, with Sgt. Page testifying that there was enough blood to soak into the ground beneath the leaves.

One of the photos depicted Libby and Abby lying less than five feet apart, their feet angled toward each other. Fourteen-year-old Libby was nude, her pale skin stained with blood on her hands, thigh, chest, throat, and face. She was covered with twigs, which crisscrossed her throat, and a heavy bough lay lengthwise across her left side.

Thirteen-year-old Abby, lying to Libby's right, was dressed in some of Libby's clothing in addition to her own. Sgt. Jason Page noted that her jeans appeared damp.

During the photo presentation, an image unexpectedly flashed on the screen without warning or introduction. It was a close-up of Libby German's bloodied face.

The image startled the courtroom, causing audible gasps from the families in the gallery, and prompted an apology from State Attorney James Luttrull Jr., who said he had intended to provide a lead-in to the picture.

Anticipating the prosecution's introduction of audio and video recordings from Libby German's phone, Richard Allen's defense team filed a motion requesting that the judge prevent the jury from seeing or hearing the recordings that were provided to the defense.

The defense team argued that the audio and video supplied by the state had been manipulated, with the audio enhanced and sections of the recording looped.

The defense is not asking to block the jury from seeing or hearing the recordings but is seeking guidelines on how the jurors will view and listen to them. They also want specific limits on the questions that can be asked of witnesses regarding the recordings.

The request aims to prevent questions that would lead witnesses to interpret the words and sounds. The defense stated, "It is up to the jury to determine what words or sounds exist on the recordings."

Richard Allen's defense team claims that the audio and video clips from Libby German's phone, provided by the state, had been enhanced and that certain sounds were looped, repeating a phrase spoken by either Libby or Abby, along with an audio clip of a man's voice.

The defense argues that these enhancements are "investigatory tools" and that "interpreting the words and sounds on the enhanced video requires a completely subjective analysis

DELPHI TRIAL BEGINS WITH LIBBY, 14, ABBY, 13, BODIES FOUND & SLIT THROATS

The trial of Richard Allen is underway at the Carroll County Courthouse, where seating is limited to 72 seats.

Cameras are prohibited in the courtroom, but the judge has designated 12 seats for media coverage. On the first day, after jurors arrived, journalists' cameras outside the courthouse were confiscated. Judge Fran Gull has warned the media not to follow or photograph jurors, who will be sequestered for the month-long trial.

Citizens hoping to attend the trial have been camping out, and for the first two days of testimony, anyone arriving after 2:30 a.m. could not secure a seat.

Despite years of coverage on the murders of Libby German and Abby Williams, police have never disclosed how the girls were killed. During his opening statement, Prosecutor Nick McLeland informed the jury, "You're going to see the crime scene. It was a gruesome scene.

Libby was completely naked. Her throat was cut, blood all over. Abby's throat was also cut."

The prosecution focused its case on three key points: the "Bridge Guy," the unspent bullet found at the crime scene, and the brutal murders of Libby and Abby near the Monon High Bridge.

Prosecutor McLeland outlined a timeline, stating that Libby posted a photo of Abby on Snapchat while they crossed the Monon High Bridge. After noticing a man behind them, Libby started recording on her phone at 2:13 p.m. on February 13, 2017. McLeland said the man pulled a gun and ordered the girls "down the hill." The girls complied, and the phone video then stopped recording.

McLeland added that Richard Allen admitted to being on the trail that day. Investigators later found a gun at his house, and testing showed that an unspent round found between the girls at the crime scene had been cycled through that gun.

McLeland also stated that Allen voluntarily confessed to the crime to both his wife and mother while in jail.

DIDDY WAH-WAH: WHINES FEDS LEAK DAMNING INFO, DEMANDS SEX VICTIMS OUTED

The number of lawsuits filed against Sean Diddy Combs grows.  Seven new civil lawsuits have been filed. Six of the cases are from anonymous victims’ represented by Houston attorney Tony Buzbee. Four of the accusers are male, one of the men a minor at the time of the alleged ‘White Party’ assault. Like the other alleged attacks, this one too happened at a White Party.  

The victim, a 16-year-old aspiring artist, saw his invitation as a chance to rub shoulders with big names in the industry. He was shocked and confused when Combs took him aside and told him to drop his pants if he “wants to break into the industry.” Out of fear the teen eventually complied, and Combs grabbed and held his exposed penis for an extended period of time, before returning to the party, saying over his shoulder, ‘We’ll be in touch,’ as he walked away.  

The remaining four John and Jane Does all allege that Sean Combs attacked them after plying them with alcohol or drugs at parties ranging from 1995 to 2021. One woman was a freshman in college when Combs locked her in a hotel room and forced her to perform oral sex on him. Another man wasn’t even a party attendee. The victim was working as a White Party security guard when Combs forced him to take a drink that the victim believes was laced, before shoving him into a van and raping him.     Another of Buzbee’s client says he lost his job at the flagship Herald Square Macy’s Department Store after reporting that Combs attacked him in the storeroom.  

The seventh and most recent filing by Ariel Mitchell is on behalf of Ashley Parham, a woman who claims Combs and three other men ‘gang raped’ her for making a comment about his possible involvement in Tupac’s murder. 

Ashley Parham alleges that she met Sean Combs over Facetime when a date called him in an attempt to impress her. With Combs still on the phone, Ashley comments that she isn’t impressed and has always thought he was involved in Tupac’s murder. Before they hang up, Combs tells Ashley she will “pay” for what she said. Ashley agrees to meet up with her date as his apartment, but says when she arrived, Combs and three other men were waiting with knives. Ashley says Combs threatened to kill her and raped her with a tv remote before passing her off to the other men to “use.”  

In an effort to combat the lawsuits, Diddy’s attorneys want the judge to release the names of victims in order to build a defense.   

JODI ARIAS SELLING ARTWORK FOR THOUSANDS, STABBED LOVER DEAD

Jodi Arias is creating a cottage industry for herself behind bars. With a little help from her family, Arias is selling artwork online and has a website and an Instagram account promoting and selling her artwork.  She begins selling her artwork through her brother and his Ebay account.  Arias claims when her art begins to gain recognition, eBay bans it quote "on the grounds that I was a felon." 

Jodi Arias claims, "random opportunists" are exploiting her by making money on a "postcard I may or may not have written", so, with the help of her family, Arias sets up her own online store and art gallery where she offers up paintings from $28 to $40 and a set if collectible postcards for $34.95.  Her website claims an acrylic painting titled "Beyond the Horizon" is selling for $2,500. 

DIDDY “PARTY COCKTAIL?” COCAINE & HORSE TRANQ: MOM'S BOMBSHELL

Sean "Diddy" Combs' attorneys are returning to court for a third bail hearing, hoping for a different outcome.

A judge previously denied bond, citing Combs as both a flight risk and a threat to witnesses. Combs disputes these concerns. Meanwhile, Combs' mother, Janice Combs, has publicly responded to the allegations for the first time.

In a lengthy statement, she criticized what she called the "public lynching" of her son. While acknowledging that he has made mistakes and been dishonest about his treatment of his ex-girlfriend, she insists he is not guilty of the "repulsive allegations" and charges against him.

Janice Combs described the multiple lawsuits as attempts to extort money and blamed the federal indictment on his legal team's mishandling of Cassie Ventura’s lawsuit.

BRYAN KOHBERGER TRIAL: VICTIM KAYLEE GONCALVES’ DAD LIVE

Moving the trial of Bryan Kohberger nearly 300 miles from the crime scene may provide a larger jury pool, but it also creates potential hardship for some victims' families.

A GoFundMe account has been launched to help the Goncalves family raise money so they can attend the trial, now set to take place nearly 400 miles from their home. The family, living about 100 miles north of Moscow, has attended every hearing and court appointment since the legal process began and does not want that to change.

The trial of Bryan Kohberger is scheduled for next June and is expected to last about three months. The Goncalves family started the GoFundMe campaign titled "Help Kaylee Goncalves Family Attend Trial" to raise funds for accommodations, hoping to secure an Airbnb or house for all 10 family members and their small pets during the trial.

They also aim to cover loss of income, food, and other essentials.