Mystery remains around the case of a woman who vanished while on a hike after the person she was with lost sight of her for just 45 seconds.
On July 18, 2007, Barbara Bolick was hiking with Jim Ramaker near Bear Creek Overlook outside Victor, Montana.
Ramaker reported that she was there one moment, and gone the next. In a matter of seconds, he says, Bolick vanished without a trace, per NBC Montana.
Bolick would now be 71 years old. Described as 5-feet tall and 115 pounds, with brown eyes, red or auburn hair, and pierced ears, she was last seen wearing a pastel-colored shirt, tan shorts, and a black backpack.
Despite exhaustive ground searches, including the use of police dogs, no sign of her has been found.
Bolick’s disappearance has prompted continued calls for information, with law enforcement agencies renewing efforts to understand what might have occurred.
Last year, authorities issued a fresh appeal for any information that might help reconstruct the events leading up to her sudden vanishing.
Ramaker, Bolick’s hiking partner and the last person known to have seen her, has cooperated fully with police, who do not suspect him of any wrongdoing in the case.
“They were only a short distance apart,” said Jim Harmon, a news historian and former NBC Montana news director.
“Yet in a few seconds, he looks back and she’s not there. It’s just amazing to me. How in the world did that happen? How could she not just have been a short distance down the hill? It’s absolutely a mystery.”
The search for Bolick has been costly, involving multiple agencies and substantial resources.
“You can imagine the apparatus that is involved when someone disappears,” said Jesse Laslovich, U.S. Attorney for the District of Montana, in an interview with NBC Montana.
“It’s not only local and state authorities. We also have search and rescue involved with some of these volunteer organizations. We have federal authorities involved. It’s hundreds and thousands of dollars, just in hours that are put into it, that we’re paying people who are actually investigating the cases. Is it worth it? Of course.”
Laslovich also rejected theories suggesting Bolick may have chosen to disappear voluntarily, explaining that it would be nearly impossible to build a new life undetected.
“It’d be highly unlikely if someone were still alive, still able to function, especially when we have really extensive means at the federal level,” he said.
“So it just would be really difficult for someone to just disappear; to start a new life with nothing.”
Featured image credit: Missoula County Sheriff’s Office
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Beloved social media star Peanut the squirrel is euthanized after being seized by authorities in New York
By James Kay
Peanut the Squirrel, a beloved social media star, has sadly been euthanized after being seized by the authorities in New York, leaving its family and fans devastated.
Peanut was a rescue squirrel who had lived with Mark Longo for seven years after a tragic beginning.
Longo initially encountered Peanut as a baby squirrel, left orphaned when his mother was struck by a car, per USA Today.
Unable to find a shelter willing to take the squirrel, Longo hand-fed Peanut for eight months before trying to release him back into the wild.
“I released him in the backyard, and a day and a half later, I found him sitting on my porch, missing half his tail,” Longo recounted in a 2022 interview with USA TODAY.
“So here I am, bawling my eyes out… I kind of opened the door, he ran inside and that was the last of Peanut’s wildlife career.”
Peanut became an integral part of Longo’s life, joining Longo and his cat, Chloe, in a peaceful coexistence for five years.
Last year, Longo established P’Nuts Freedom Farm Animal Sanctuary in Pine City, a nonprofit offering a “haven where neglected and homeless animals receive a second chance at life.”
According to the sanctuary’s website, it currently houses 18 horses, a mini horse, four cows, three alpacas, a parrot, a pig, and two geese.
Peanut became an Instagram sensation with over 534,000 followers.
Sadly, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and the Chemung County Department of Health confirmed in a joint statement that both a squirrel and a raccoon, seized from a residence on Wednesday, were euthanized for rabies testing.
The decision followed an incident in which a person involved in the seizure was bitten by a squirrel.
On Wednesday, DEC officers arrived at Longo’s residence and removed Peanut under state regulations concerning rabies risks.
The DEC and health department cited a longstanding presence of rabies in raccoons within New York’s Southern Tier, including Pine City, as a key concern in the decision. “Rabies has been documented in raccoons in this area for more than 30 years,” the statement noted.
Over recent days, Longo posted updates on Peanut’s Instagram account, sharing his hope that Peanut might be returned.
Earlier on Friday, he had shared an emotional video, saying: “It has been a terrible nightmare for me.”
The incident has sparked significant public support for Longo.
In response, a Change.org petition and a GoFundMe campaign were launched, calling on authorities to “return him (Peanut) to his family.”
At the time of writing, over $95,000 has been raised by the GoFundMe page.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), rabies testing requires euthanizing animals to extract tissue samples from the brain stem and cerebellum for lab analysis.
No approved methods currently exist to test live animals for rabies, making euthanasia the only means to confirm the disease.
The DEC and Chemung County Department of Health have advised anyone who had contact with Peanut or the confiscated raccoon to consult a physician regarding potential rabies exposure.
Featured image credit: GoFundMe
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Security footage of mother who ‘intentionally’ jumped from Niagara Falls with her two children reveals chilling final act
By James Kay
Warning: This article may contain some information that some readers may find distressing.Security footage reportedly shows the devastating tragedy that saw a mother and her two children “intentionally” jump from Niagara Falls.
Authorities are continuing to investigate a tragic incident that occurred Monday, October 28, when 33-year-old Chianti Means fell to her death along with her two young children, nine-year-old Roman Rossman and five-month-old Mecca Means.
The mother and her children reportedly climbed over a safety railing at Niagara Falls State Park. Police believe the incident was intentional.
Witnesses reported seeing the family near Luna Island, a small area between the American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls, around 9:00PM, prompting New York State Police and Park Police to respond to the scene.
In an interview with WKBW TV, a member of the New York State Police said investigators suspect that Means deliberately jumped with her children.
“We do believe it was intentional, but the circumstances of that investigation and the circumstances of what actually happened are still under investigation,” the police representative stated.
“But we know that they went over due to the information from park police and some of the information we were able to obtain through multiple different sources in and around Niagara Falls and pieces of evidence we were able to come across in search warrants.”
Security footage reviewed by police appears to confirm that nine-year-old Roman Rossman was sent over the barrier first, followed by five-month-old Mecca Means.
Means herself reportedly went over afterward, per the Niagara Gazette.
Means, who lived in the Buffalo-Niagara Falls area and worked as a domestic violence counselor, had shared a series of concerning posts on social media prior to the incident.
The New York Post reports that she graduated from Buffalo State University in 2019 with a Bachelor’s degree in social work and later completed a Master of Social Work at the University of Buffalo.
In the weeks before her death, Means, whose Facebook account was registered under the name Diamond Scott, made several posts indicating emotional distress.
One message read: “I wish someone would love me because the man that’s suppose [sic] to does not.”
On October 1, she posted: “Everyone please leave me alone I’m in love with my daughter’s father,” and added: “I want my family back. Respectfully Idga* what I said about him before or what anyone else thinks.”
In her final post, a day before her death, she wrote: “Unfortunately for everyone who wanna get with me… my body only craves one person. GM.”
The New York State Police, along with the Park Police, continue to work on locating the bodies of Means and her children.
Specialized units, including the State Police Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Aviation, and Underwater Recovery Units, are assisting in the search efforts.
In a statement shared by The New York Post, state troopers confirmed: “The investigation has determined that this incident was intentional in nature, though the circumstances remain under investigation.”
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or visit 988lifeline.org.
Featured image credit: © Vincent Boisvert, all right reserved / Getty
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Pastor’s home is searched by FBI months after he announced to congregation that his wife had taken her own life
By James Kay
New reports show that the home of a pastor who announced his wife’s death to his congregation has been searched by the FBI.
As previously reported, Mica Miller, 30, was found dead on April 27 in Lumber River State Park, North Carolina, with a gunshot wound to the side of her head.
Just days after, John-Paul Miller, pastor of Solid Rock Church in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, shared the news with his congregation, explaining her struggles with mental health.
“I got a call late last night, my wife has passed away. It was self-induced and it was up in North Carolina,” Miller said during a Sunday service.
Miller told the congregation about the challenges his wife faced, adding: “Y’all pray for me and my kids and everybody.
“You all knew she wasn’t well mentally and she needed medicine that was hard to get to her.”
He mentioned Mica had previously “struggled” with suicidal thoughts but said that “God took care of her and got her through it,” as reported by The New York Post.
Court records reveal that the Millers had been dealing with marital issues before Mica’s death, with divorce proceedings in progress earlier this year.
The case was dismissed in February, yet shortly afterward, Pastor Miller filed for “separate support and maintenance,” seeking financial support while the couple remained legally married.
The Robeson County Sheriff’s Office subsequently opened an investigation, leading Medical Examiner Dr. Richard Johnson to confirm that Mica had died by suicide.
He noted: “Based on the nature of the wound, it is consistent with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. And it was not in the back of the head, as it has been speculated,” he told WPDE.
In a new update on Friday, FBI agents executed a search warrant at the home of South Carolina pastor, per the New York Post.
Miller’s attorney, Russell Long, confirmed the search warrant in a statement to the Post and Dispatch, but he questioned its purpose.
When asked what authorities were searching for, Long described it as a “fishing” expedition,” adding: “There was no affidavit attached to the search warrant. Therefore, I have no idea what it’s in relation to.”
Miller was not at home during the search.
As the FBI searched the property on Friday, a group of around 20 protesters gathered nearby, many wearing purple #justiceformica shirts. One protester held a sign displaying a photo of Mica and the message: “Your voice is powerful.”
The FBI has yet to release details related to Friday’s search.
Before her death, Mica had reportedly written an affidavit for her attorney, alleging “abuse in every way I can think of.”
Additionally, she posted a video on Facebook addressing her experience with abuse, offering support to others who might be facing similar situations.
Following the online circulation of this video, Long issued a statement to The New York Post, addressing the speculation surrounding Mica’s death.
“Following the untimely death of Mica Miller, unfounded rumors and false accusations began circulating on social media and in various media outlets, suggesting Pastor Miller’s involvement in her demise,” he said.
Long continued: “This created a buzz, causing local and national media outlets to be proliferating these falsehoods, on a mammoth proportion. Our client refutes any report that suggests he ever abused his wife.”
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or visit 988lifeline.org.
Featured image credit: urbazon/Getty
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Barack Obama reacts to daughter Malia dropping her last name
By James Kay
Barack Obama has shared that his daughter Malia has dropped her last name.
Sitting down with the Pivot Podcast, former President Obama delved into his family life, particularly his daughters.
The former president shared that the heightened public attention since the girls left the White House has been difficult for them.
“Their attitude is, ‘We’re not looking for all that,’” he said, noting that both daughters are determined to maintain their privacy. “So they’re grounded,” he added.
Reflecting on his presidency, Obama discussed the careful relationship he managed with political journalists to protect his daughters from unwanted exposure.
“I said, ‘You can follow me around,’” he explained. “‘You can talk about me. You do whatever you need to do. Leave my children alone because they have the right to grow up. They didn’t choose this. Let them grow up.’ And to the credit of the press, they did leave them alone.”
Obama shares two daughters, Malia and Sasha, with his wife Michelle.
During the podcast, Obama opened up about his daughter Malia’s choice to use her middle name professionally, leaving “Obama” out of her credits for her debut film, The Heart.
The 26-year-old writer and director opted to go by “Malia Ann” instead, PEOPLE reported.
“Ann” is her middle name, a tribute to the former President’s late mother.
“I was all like, ‘You do know they’ll know who you are,'” Obama recalled telling Malia.
“And she’s all like, ‘You know what? I want them to watch it that first time and not in any way have that association.’ So I think our daughters go out of their way to not try to leverage that.”
Obama explained that both Malia and her younger sister Sasha have a strong desire to succeed on their own, without relying on the influence of their parents’ public profile.
“The challenge for [Michelle and me] is letting us give them any help at all,” Obama said, emphasizing his daughters’ independence.
“I mean they’re very sensitive about this stuff. They’re very stubborn about it.”
Malia recently attended the 50th annual Deauville American Film Festival in France, where she presented The Heart and was honored with the Young Spirit Award.
In her first experience on the red carpet, Malia shared her mixed emotions.
“I’m so excited. I mean, I’ve never done anything like this … so of course [I’m] a little bit terrified, but mostly just excited,” she told Paris Match in a clip that surfaced on TikTok.
Featured image credit: Spencer Platt / Getty
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What we know about the 33-year-old mother who went over Niagara Falls with her two children
By Asiya Ali
Warning: This article may contain some information that some viewers may find distressing.Here’s what we know about the devastating tragedy that took place in Niagara Falls.
On Monday (October 28), a woman identified as 33-year-old Chianti Means climbed over a safety rail at the park and fell to her death along with her two children, nine-year-old Roman Rossman and five-month-old Mecca Means.
Police believe the tragic incident was “intentional”.Authorities arrived at Luna Island, which is a small island between the American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls, at 9PM after they were contacted by witnesses who reported seeing the family.
A member of the New York State Police revealed in an interview with WKBW TV that investigators believe the mom consciously jumped with her two children.
“We do believe it was intentional but the circumstances of that investigation and the circumstances of what actually happened are still under investigation,” they said. “But we know that they went over due to the information from park police and some of the information we were able to obtain through multiple different sources in and around Niagara Falls and pieces of evidence we were able to come across in search warrants.”
The police added: “They went there and they never came out. So that’s where we’re at. […] Like I said there’s a lot of safety railings, a lot of security measures at the state park so it’s not something where they just stumbled in.”
Means shared alarming posts on social media before her death.The 33-year-old mom lived in the Buffalo-Niagara Falls area and worked as a domestic violence counselor, according to the New York Post.
She graduated from Buffalo State University in 2019 and has a Bachelor’s degree in social work. She also earned her Master of Social Work at the University of Buffalo.
Means’ Facebook page, which was under the name Diamond Scott, has since been recovered by investigators and revealed shocking posts she made about the father of her 5-month-old.
Posting on the social media platform last month, she wrote: “I wish someone would love me because the man that’s suppose [sic] to does not.”
On October 1, Means returned to Facebook to share a harrowing post, which read: “Everyone please leave me alone I’m in love with my daughter’s father,” also adding: “I want my family back. Respectfully Idga* what I said about him before or what anyone else thinks.”
One day before her tragic death, the mom-of-two posted: “Unfortunately for everyone who wanna get with me… my body only craves one person. GM.”
Tributes have been shared on Facebook.Daily Mail reported that Means’ friends and family have shared tributes on Facebook in remembrance of her. The posts have not been verified.
“I can’t even [bear] to write a post about her and share memories,” someone named Mich Molina wrote. “‘I am literally sick to my stomach and I can’t even deal with the emotions I am feeling. Just know her and her children are dearly loved by me and my children.”
Shanti Kendyll said: “So sorry you didn’t feel like you could turn anywhere else Chianti,” while Amanda Lynn Marie Roberts-Conrad posted: “my sweet, sweet friend,” followed by four broken-heart emojis.
Police have not found the bodies.New York State Police and New York Park Police are working to recover the bodies of a mother and her two children.
The New York State Police Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Aviation, and Underwater Recovery Units are all helping with the investigation.
“The investigation has determined that this incident was intentional in nature, though the circumstances remain under investigation,” state troopers said, per The New York Post.
Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this tragedy.