The Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against rideshare company Lyft, accusing it of discriminating against passengers with disabilities by repeatedly denying rides, charging improper fees and failing to make accommodations.

The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California on Monday, accused Lyft of denying service to "hundreds, likely thousands," of individuals with disabilities who travel with service animals or who use wheelchairs or other mobility devices, the suit said.

Lyft allegedly receives "thousands of complaints each year alleging disability-based discrimination," but the company refuses to modify its policies, practices or procedures "to avoid discriminating against riders with disabilities," the suit alleges.

The DOJ accused Lyft of violating Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, according to the suit.

"Lyft is aware of, but fails to prevent and remedy, disability-based discrimination throughout its transportation services. Lyft does not adequately train its drivers and customer service representatives about their ADA obligations; monitor its drivers to prevent discrimination; or provide meaningful relief to people it has discriminated against," the suit alleges.

In a statement, Lyft said it disagrees with the allegations made by the government.

"Discrimination has no place in the Lyft community. We have long-standing policies requiring drivers to accommodate riders who travel with service animals or use foldable mobility devices, and drivers who violate these policies face serious consequences, including permanent deactivation," Lyft said in a statement.

"We’ve backed those policies with in-app tools, like letting riders tell drivers in advance that they’re traveling with a service animal and reminding drivers that refusing one is against the law. We’ve cooperated with the DOJ throughout its review and remain committed to serving every rider, including riders with disabilities," Lyft added.

The suit included testimonies from passengers who the government alleges were discriminated against by Lyft, including James Rath of Tennessee who is legally blind. Rath claims he was denied repeated rides since getting a guide dog in November 2025 and in June he says he was denied a pickup from the airport because a driver refused to take his dog and drove away without canceling the ride, the suit alleges.

When he says he complained through Lyft’s chat feature, the company allegedly did not follow up with him until he posted his experience to social media about the incident. Lyft then gave him a $10 credit, according to the lawsuit.

Virginia Prince of California is blind and travels with a guide dog, and claims she has been repeatedly denied Lyft rides because of the service animal, according to the lawsuit.

Jodie Simon of Nevada, who has mobility disabilities due to a near-fatal car accident, also claims she was denied multiple Lyft rides in a row in May 2024 because of her wheelchair, the suit alleges.

Several users named in the complaint reported being late due to the delays and having to argue repeatedly with drivers who do not want to allow service animals in their vehicles, according to the lawsuit.

The government also alleges that Lyft has notice of "widespread disability-based discrimination in its transportation services but has failed to prevent it," the suit says.

The government is seeking $53 million in damages for people with disabilities who they say Lyft has discriminated against and have submitted complaints to Lyft or the government. Additionally, the government is seeking a court order to force Lyft to stop discriminating against individuals with disabilities, to modify its policies to comply with the ADA and to train its staff and drivers on the ADA, according to a press release published by the DOJ.

The government is also seeking that Lyft pay a civil penalty to vindicate the public’s interest in eliminating disability discrimination.

"Our purpose in the Department of Justice is often to fight for what’s right on behalf of those who can’t fight for themselves. And there are few areas where the fight is more important than in ensuring equal access to transportation services for all Americans," U.S Attorney Craig H. Missakian for the Northern District of California said in a statement.

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

In a report summarizing the conclusions of its 15-month Jeffrey Epstein probe, the Republican-led House Oversight Committee rebuked the Justice Department's handling of the Epstein case and recommended that the department renew its investigation of Epstein's associates. 

The 136-page report blamed the failures by federal prosecutors on "poor judgment" and "Epstein's pervasive and wide-reaching influence," and criticized the DOJ for failing to prevent the convicted sex offender's crimes through a controversial non-prosecution agreement in 2007 and for its recent efforts to release files about the case that included sensitive information about Epstein's victims. 

"Upon review, the Committee finds that the crimes committed by Epstein after 2005 could have been prevented and justice served had it not been for the failures of investigators and federal prosecutors in South Florida and Washington, D.C," said the report on the committee's probe into the federal government's mishandling of investigations into Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell. 

While the report applauded the release of the Epstein files, it also faulted the Justice Department for failing to comply with the requirements of the Epstein Files Transparency Act, improperly releasing sensitive information about victims, and preventing victims from full access to the files. 

In response, a DOJ spokesperson said, "With all due respect, the Chairman's recommendations have already been addressed. The Attorney General has repeatedly said that the Epstein case is not closed and there is no statute of limitations on human trafficking."

"The Chairman should know that the FBI has a long-established 'process for crime victims and their representatives to access personal files' that starts by filing out form DOJ-361. The Committee notably fails to acknowledge the historical overlap between potential co-conspirators and victims, which all members who visited the reading room could see for themselves. The Department will continue following all additional investigative leads in matters relating to Jeffrey Epstein."

The House panel's report, authored by the Republican majority, also sought to vindicate President Donald Trump, who has long been embroiled in the controversy over the release of the files. The majority accused Democrats on the committee of being "obsessed with trying to implicate President Trump and insinuate that he was involved in the crimes of Epstein and Maxwell." 

"Their unfounded witch hunt continued without regard for the interests of survivors, even though the facts gathered during this investigation do not suggest President Trump is implicated in any of Epstein's crimes," the report said.

Democrats on the Oversight Committee said the majority-authored report is incomplete and vowed to continue the investigation with the new Congress. 

"Oversight Republicans have released a report based on an incomplete investigation and zero public hearings on Jeffrey Epstein," said Rep. Robert Garcia. "We will not allow the President and his allies to dismiss this investigation. We intend to hold real public hearings uplifting survivors and asking tough questions of the powerful men who associated with Epstein, including Donald Trump. Our work is just getting started." 

The report had harsh words for several of the prominent individuals interviewed by the Committee -- including President Bill Clinton, Leslie Wexner, and Leon Black -- who said they were unaware of Epstein's crimes. 

"The Committee's investigation instead tends to show that the willful ignorance of those in Epstein's orbit enabled him to continue his offenses for so many years," the report said. 

The majority said the investigation showed that Epstein was able to use his "wealth, intimate connections, and social and professional prominence to conceal his crimes." The report said Epstein was able to use those connections as a facade to bolster his reputation, despite his conviction for soliciting prostitution from a minor in 2008. 

"Some Epstein associates questioned by the Committee seemingly claimed in their testimonies that a man with connections to global political leaders, major philanthropists, titans of industry, billionaires, Hollywood celebrities, and even a British prince could not be a sex trafficker," the report said. "However, despite the repeated assertions of ignorance to Epstein's crimes, these same associates offered inadequate explanations for their continued close association with Epstein after his 2008 conviction for soliciting prostitution from a minor." 

Epstein, a wealthy financier who owned two private islands in the Virgin Islands, served 13 months of an 18-month sentence for sex crime charges in 2007, and in 2019 was indicted on charges that he "sexually exploited and abused dozens of minor girls at his homes in Manhattan, New York, and Palm Beach, Florida" and used cash payments to recruit a "vast network of underage victims," some of whom were as young as 14 years old.

Epstein died in jail while awaiting trial on August 10, 2019, in what was ruled a suicide by the New York Medical Examiner's Office.

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

A man dishonorably discharged from the U.S. Army is accused of falsely casting himself as a decorated combat veteran and stealing tens of thousands of dollars from a veterans organization, prosecutors in New York said on the eve of Veterans Day as they announced criminal charges.

David Agtsteribbe, 58, of Hampton Bays, is accused of receiving benefits and stealing money from an American Legion post on Long Island by falsely portraying himself as the recipient of two Purple Hearts, when he had in fact received a bad-conduct discharge following a court-martial conviction in 1988, according to Suffolk County prosecutors.

The criminal complaint alleges that Agtsteribbe repeatedly falsified military records to obtain personal and financial benefits by claiming he received a Purple Heart for actions as a member of the elite Combat Applications Group in Panama and received his second Purple Heart for wounds received while protecting a U.S. senator in Iraq.

He is also accused of obtaining a leadership position in the Hampton Bays American Legion and stealing more than $81,000 from the organization. The stolen funds were allegedly used to pay for various personal expenses, including Amazon purchases, residential electric and cable bills, a private business-membership program, streaming services, travel and leisure, clothing and accessories, and other personal purchases, prosecutors alleged.

"This case is about alleged fraud, theft, and the exploitation of resources that exist to support and honor those who have served our country. That's what they're for. They're for our veterans. They are not for fraudsters," Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney said during a news conference Tuesday announcing the charges.

For the better part of a decade, Tierney said Agtsteribbe submitted falsified military documents to obtain memberships in multiple veterans' organizations, attend recognition ceremonies, make media appearances, promote his businesses, and obtain official government documents -- including a veteran's photo identification, Purple Heart license plates, and government permits.

"Our investigation revealed that the defendant should never have been able to join the American Legion in the first place, but was able to do so, only able to do so by falsely portraying himself as a decorated combat veteran with over three decades of service that never took place. So not only did he steal from veterans, he pretended to be one as well," Tierney said.

He also claimed to be a prisoner of war. However, according to prosecutors, during the time he claimed to be a prisoner of war, Agtsteribbe was a prisoner in upstate New York for a grand larceny conviction.

Agtsteribbe is charged with grand larceny, criminal possession of a forged instrument, offering a false instrument for filing and falsifying business records. He was arrested on Monday by Southampton police.

He was ordered remanded during his arraignment on Tuesday and is due back in court later this week. He faces 25 years to life in prison if convicted on the top count, prosecutors said.

ABC News has reached out to the Legal Aid Society, his representation, and the Hampton Bays American Legion for comment on the case.

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth dismissed an effort to impeach him as "political spectacle," saying the resolution "puts a target on the backs" of U.S. troops and signals to America's enemies that Congress will "punish its own warriors and its own civilian leadership for successfully executing lawful military operations."

"What one disgruntled and defeated congressman is attempting is not oversight, and it's not accountability. It's a political spectacle, a personal manifesto driven by ego and resentment," Hegseth said during a press conference at the Pentagon.

The press conference comes as calls to impeach Hegseth have grown as several Republicans have attributed the GOP's sweeping midterm losses to the Iran war. Republican Rep. Thomas Massie introduced articles of impeachment against Hegseth on the House floor Monday afternoon.

A defiant Hegseth on Tuesday morning said each of the military engagements mentioned as part of the effort -- including strikes on alleged drug-smuggling boats in the Caribbean and the war with Iran -- were lawful actions directed by President Donald Trump.

Hegseth framed the articles of impeachment as being directed at U.S. military service members.

He described the efforts to impeach him as "partisan politics," saying that they "mock the Constitution, they attack the chain of command, and they criminalize the warfighters who execute lawful orders."

He pointed out that no Defense Secretary has ever been impeached "for carrying out lawful military operations, and in our case, successful ones at that."

"One disgruntled congressman wants to shred it over policy disagreements. That's what it is: policy disagreements, not high crimes, not misdemeanors, not treason, not bribery, not the kinds of offenses the founders intended when they wrote the impeachment clause," Hegseth added.

The House must take up the measure, since impeachment is a privileged matter, within two legislative days -- forcing Republicans to go on the record after suffering major losses in the 2026 midterm elections.

After the articles of impeachment were introduced on Monday, Trump said during a press briefing that Hegseth has "won the war in Iran."

"He certainly, I think, he's won the war in Iran, but he's certainly winning the war," Trump said of Hegseth. "Iran would love to make a deal. And they've been obliterated, their navy and their air force."

Hegseth on Tuesday sought to align his potential impeachment to Trump’s, effectively framing it as a sequel.

"The proper remedy for a policy disagreement, it's legislation, it's debate, it's the next presidential election," said Hegseth. "It's not handing the House and Senate floor to the Democrats so that they can run a show trial against the president and the Secretary of War while Republicans still control Congress and should be delivering wins for the American people. You see, we've seen this show before. They impeached President Trump over a perfect phone call. They impeached him again in his final week in office. Both times they failed. Both times he came back stronger, and the American people sent him back to the White House."

He added, "Now they're trying a third time. This time against a member of his cabinet. They will fail again. And if standing with President Trump puts me in that company, I'll take that company every day of the week."

Hegseth again criticized the press saying, "The media can just never admit the military success because they, you, hate the president more than you love our country, or our troops."

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Days before a former undergraduate student now known as Jane Doe filed a civil lawsuit alleging a fraternity house gang rape, Cornell University was negotiating a way for the fraternity to return to campus in a matter of years, documents obtained by ABC News show.

Cornell said the fraternity, Chi Phi, could return to campus as soon as 2030 if it admitted to certain violations of the university's student code of conduct.  

The documents show negotiations were underway as early as March and stalled on Sept. 10, four days before Jane Doe filed her lawsuit that alleged seven fraternity brothers plied her with alcohol and ketamine, snorted the drug off her body, and sexually assaulted her over a period of hours in October 2024.

All seven have denied wrongdoing.

Cornell's proposal required Chi Phi to admit the chapter violated provisions of the student code governing "alcohol-related behavior," "collusion or complicity," "drug-related behavior," "misconduct related to student organizations or groups" and "assault and endangerment," which prohibits unwelcome physical contact and preventing a person from leaving a location.

The alleged gang rape is now being investigated by the New York attorney general's office.  

The university offered the Chi Phi chapter two options for reinstatement, according to the documents. One made the fraternity eligible to return from suspension in 2031. The second lifted Chi Phi's suspension a year earlier but kept the fraternity on a form of probation known as deferred dismissal.

Either date would assure none of the Cornell students who were members at the time of Jane Doe's alleged rape would still be on campus.  

During the negotiations, the fraternity proposed removing language about alcohol-related behavior, allegations of assault and endangerment and allegations of collusion and complicity, the documents show. Cornell refused.

"Of particular concern is the chapter is alleged to have engaged in egregiously unsafe social event hosting practices by providing alcohol and providing drugs to attendees," said Cornell's response to the proposed change. "We disagree with its removal."

In a statement provided to ABC News, Cornell representatives said, "The discussion around this alternative resolution was vehemently rejected by the University, prior to the lawsuit filing by Jane Doe, due to Chi Phi's refusal to accept responsibility for their violations of the Student Code of Conduct. That was and remains unacceptable to the university. Chi Phi remains barred from campus."

Attorneys for the Chi Phi chapter did not respond to a request for comment from ABC News. A representative for Chi Phi's national organization -- which disbanded the Cornell chapter of the fraternity in 2024 -- also did not respond to a request for comment. 

An attorney for Jane Doe said there is no reason to allow the fraternity back on campus, ever.

"We are shocked that Cornell would even consider allowing the Chi Phi Fraternity to return to campus after what was done to Jane Doe," the attorney, Thomas Giuffra, told ABC News.

"Cornell clearly recognized the repeated violations related to the assault and endangerment of Jane Doe and the complicity of the men who aided and abetted the wrongful conduct," Giuffra said. "Obtaining an admission from Chi Phi merely masquerades as accountability."

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Officials at the University of Mississippi are investigating a video showing three white women outside a Black student's apartment Friday evening, with two of them allegedly making racist noises and gestures captured on Ring camera footage.

"[T]he incident is being actively investigated by the appropriate university offices," Vice Chancellor Shawnboda Mead said in a statement Monday, in part, adding, "our staff have reached out to the students directly impacted to offer support, listen to their concerns, and connect them with available resources. We will continue to support them as we work through this process." 

"Every student deserves to feel safe, respected, and valued at the University of Mississippi. Racism and actions that disparage people because of an aspect of their identity have no place in our campus community," the statement also said.

The two women in the video, which was posted to TikTok, are seen briefly stepping toward the door camera, beating their chests while grunting and cooing like monkeys.

The third woman glanced towards the camera, but she did not appear to make any gestures or monkey noises. The school said in its statement that it was investigating "the incident."

The video had been viewed over 12 million times as of early Monday afternoon.

The incident has sparked outrage online, with many comments decrying the video's apparent use of the racist trope of comparing Black people to monkeys.

"The university is aware of a video depicting offensive, hurtful, and unacceptable behaviors that conflict with our university values and we condemn them," Ole Miss told ABC News in a statement. "The university has reached out to those targeted by the actions to share information, resources, and support."

The school confirmed to ABC News that the women in the video are students at the university. It did not respond to ABC News' question regarding whether disciplinary action was taken against the students in the video.

"It's important to note that student conduct cases, records, and any potential disciplinary action are protected by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)," university representatives told ABC News.

Jakiyra Metcalf, one of the Black students who lives in the apartment, told ABC News that they were expected to meet with university officials on Monday.

Metcalf posted the video to TikTok over the weekend. "What do we have to say about this ??" she wrote in her post, tagging Ole Miss.

Tasha Bolton, whose daughter is of one of the Black students living in the apartment, told ABC News that the women seen in the video live upstairs in the same apartment building.

"The video has been shared with university administration, and we want answers. Specifically, what steps will be taken to address this behavior and ensure accountability?" Bolton posted online. "This is absolutely disgusting and unacceptable. College is supposed to be a place where young adults can learn, grow, and feel safe."

A similar incident occurred at the university in 2024 when a white student directed monkey gestures at a Black woman protesting the war in Gaza. That act was also captured on video.

"As a public institution, we are committed to supporting the rights of our students, faculty, and employees to express their views in a respectful manner and to assemble peacefully as guaranteed by the First Amendment," Chancellor Glenn F. Boyce said then in an email response to the incident. "However, some individuals at the demonstration acted in ways that conflict with our university's values. Behaviors and comments that demean people because of their race or ethnicity marginalize them and undermine the values that are fundamental to a civil and safe society."

The student who made the gestures toward the Black protester was ultimately expelled from his fraternity.

ABC News' Rowan Henchy contributed to this report.

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

The trial for the man accused of murdering Charlie Kirk while the conservative activist was speaking on a college campus last year is set to begin in mid-2028.

Utah District Court Judge Tony Graf had been expected to set a timeline for the high-profile capital murder case, including the trial date, during a hearing last month. He ultimately scheduled a hearing on the matter for Monday afternoon, during which he announced that jury selection will start on June 21, 2028.

That timing is intended "to ensure that the constitutional rights" of the suspect, Tyler Robinson, and Kirk's widow "are upheld at every junction," Graf said.

He reserved 105 days for the trial.

Defense attorneys for the suspect in the fatal shooting asked that the capital murder trial start in late 2029, while the state recommended early 2028.

In a memo filed last month, the defense asked for the trial to start in the third quarter of 2029 -- four years after Kirk was fatally shot during a Turning Point USA event -- arguing that that timeline is consistent with other capital cases in the state.

The defense anticipated that the trial could take six to seven months and would require "substantial time" for jury selection. The defense also noted they plan to undertake a venue study and, depending on the results, may request a change of venue for the trial.

In the state's own filing, prosecutors said they anticipate the trial lasting 17 weeks and that they could be ready to start as soon as Oct. 4, 2027. However, the state recommended that the trial begin on Jan. 31, 2028, to avoid the "worst of the winter season" as well as the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.

Kirk's family wants the trial to start as soon as next year, according to a court filing. In response to both filings, Kirk's widow, Erika Kirk, asked the court to "enforce the right to a speedy disposition" and set the trial for as early as possible in 2027, no later than the state's anticipated readiness date of Oct. 4, 2027, to avoid "needless delay."

"Under the Defendants' proposed schedule, Mr. Kirk's two children, who were one and three at the time he was murdered, will be six and eight years old by the time the trial concludes," a motion filed on Erika Kirk's behalf stated. "They will face the uncertainty of this criminal proceeding longer than they had their father in their lives. Each hearing induces anxiety, pain, and mourning. The Kirk family deserves to have this matter resolved expeditiously."

The motion also argued that a 2029 trial start will come at a "great cost to the taxpayers of Utah."

Robinson is accused of killing Kirk with a rifle shot fired from a building's rooftop approximately 415 feet from where the co‑founder of the conservative student organization Turning Point USA was speaking at an outdoor rally at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, on Sept. 10, 2025.

The 23-year-old suspect was charged with aggravated murder, a capital felony, which alleges that others were knowingly endangered in the shooting. He was also charged with felony discharge of a firearm causing serious bodily injury, obstruction of justice, witness tampering and commission of a violent offense in the presence of a child.

In September, Judge Graf found probable cause for Robinson to stand trial on all charges. The judge also found that there was a reasonable known risk of death to others at the time of the shooting, allowing prosecutors to pursue the death penalty.

Robinson has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

A crew member aboard a Royal Caribbean cruise ship was found by two fishermen and rescued off the coast of Southern California after surviving roughly nine hours in the Pacific Ocean, according to authorities and his rescuers.

The crew member, whose name was not released, is believed to have fallen from the cruise line's 14-deck ship "Ovation of the Sea" early Friday morning, officials said. He was discovered later that day about 15 to 20 miles off the coast of Newport Beach and rescued, according to the fishermen who saved him.

"He could not stop shaking and he could not talk," Sean Norton, of Newport Beach, told ABC station KABC. "And it was clear to us that he was near death."

Norton's fishing partner, Grant Garrett, said he first spotted the man floating on his back in the water near Catalina Island.

"I saw his head out of the water. He was flailing his hands just a little bit and his feet just a little bit just to keep his head above water so he could breathe," Garrett told KABC. "We acted as quick as we could to go and get him out of the water."

The fishermen said they contacted the U.S. Coast Guard for help. A crew from the Newport Beach Fire Lifeguard Department was dispatched to their vessel to treat the man.

The man was taken to a hospital and is expected to live, authorities said.

Fire and rescue officials estimate the man was in the water about nine hours before Norton and Garrett found him.

Royal Caribbean confirmed to ABC News that the man who was rescued was a crew member on board the ship that had departed from San Pedro, California, and was headed to Ensenada, Mexico.

"We are providing support and assistance to our crew member during this difficult time," Royal Caribbean said in a statement.

The circumstances of how the man ended up going overboard were not immediately clear.

Battalion Chief Mike Ure of the Newport Beach Fire and Lifeguard Department said the man is fortunate to be alive, adding that the warmer El Niño waters of the Pacific Ocean may have saved his life.

"The water was warm. It’s probably 72 to 74 degrees. Pretty good for survival, at least for the short term. And, yeah, he was really fortunate those conditions were present for him," Ure told KABC.

ABC News' Henderson Hewes contributed to this report.

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

One cyclist was killed, and a dozen others were injured Saturday morning after a car struck a group of bicyclists in Wake County, North Carolina, according to the State Highway Patrol.

Authorities said impairment is suspected to have played a role in the crash.

According to law enforcement, the crash happened around 9:39 a.m. on Optimist Farm Road near Talicud Trail, which sits near Raleigh, North Carolina.

Investigators said a black car was traveling along Optimist Farm Road when it crossed the center line and struck a group of cyclists, highway patrol said. The driver allegedly continued away from the initial crash scene before running off the left side of the road and crashing into a ditch about half a mile away, authorities said.

The driver, identified as Donald Robert Morris-Jones, 76, of Apex, North Carolina, was arrested and charged with felony death by vehicle, seven counts of felony serious injury by vehicle, eight counts of felony hit and run, driving while impaired, reckless driving and driving left of center, authorities said on Saturday.

Morris-Jones was held at the Wake County Detention Center on a $1 million secured bond, according to law enforcement.

According to authorities, the cyclist who died was identified as Patrick Allen Turner, 63, of Cary, North Carolina. 

Approximately 12 other cyclists suffered injuries ranging from minor to serious, and several were taken to local hospitals for treatment, highway patrol said.

The Capital Cycling Club identified the impacted bikers as club members in a board statement over the weekend.

The club remembered Turner, calling him a "strong, consistent, reliable and considerate rider," in the statement

"We are all in shock by the senseless decision by the individual that caused the collision. This horrific event was -no accident-. As far as we know, the individual made a decision to drive in a way that put others in grave and mortal peril," a statement from the club alleged.

The statement continued, "We do not think there was any possible way the driver did not know that he had collided with the group. He chose at that moment to keep driving away from the scene, leaving mass carnage in his wake."

The club said it is working with law enforcement and thanked first responders.

An attorney for Morris-Jones could not be immediately identified.

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

A "suspected homicide" is under investigation on board a cruise ship that docked in Texas, the FBI said Monday.

The incident occurred on board an MSC Seascape cruise ship that docked in Galveston on Monday, according to the FBI's Houston field office.

The suspect, 48-year-old Jason Watford of Tyler, Texas, is now in custody in connection with the alleged homicide. Watford has been booked into the Galveston County Jail and is on a federal hold in connection with the alleged murder.

According to Smith County Court records, Watford was previously arrested in August of 2024 for assault on a family member causing bodily injury. Later that year, in November, Watford was sentenced to 15 months of probation with 30 hours of community service for that assault charge.

Meanwhile, an autopsy on the victim, a woman, is expected to be performed on Tuesday, according to the Galveston County medical examiner.

The FBI said it is coordinating with the U.S. Coast Guard, Port of Galveston Police Department, Customs and Border Protection and the cruise line "as is customary with crimes aboard a cruise ship."

No additional details are being released due to the ongoing investigation, the FBI said.

An MSC Cruises spokesperson said the company is "cooperating fully with the investigation and providing support to those impacted."

"On reporting a guest incident aboard our ship, we were instructed by the authorities to return to the Port of Galveston," the spokesperson said.

The ship has since left port and resumed its planned itinerary, according to the cruise line.

"As this is an active investigation, we cannot provide more details," the MSC Cruises spokesperson said. "Our thoughts are with the guest’s family and friends at this difficult time."

A travel agent who is traveling on the cruise ship told ABC Houston station that they are traveling on a seven-day western Caribbean cruise that departed Galveston on Sunday afternoon.

The passenger, De'Andre Anderson, told the station that announcements on the ship alerted that there was a "medical emergency" on board.

"I kind of look out of my room, and I seen there were medical staff on board, you know, with gloves on and everything," he told KTRK. "I wasn't you know too worried because it doesn't directly affect me. I was just worried for the people that were involved."

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Heavy rain on Sunday in parts of southern Texas is prompting flash-flood threats that are expected to stretch into Monday and could produce rainfall totals of 7 to 9 inches.

A flood watch remains in effect on Sunday after multiple days of rainstorms have saturated the ground across the South Texas region.

Corpus Christi, Laredo, San Antonio, Brownsville and Kerrville are among the South Texas cities under a flood watch through Monday morning, where widespread rainfall amounts of 2 to 5 inches are likely. Some areas could receive 7 to 9 inches of rainfall from slower-moving and training storms.

Some areas of South Texas have already gotten more than 5 inches of rain since Sunday morning, including areas east of Laredo to near Kingsville.

Moderate to heavy rainfall is expected through Sunday evening for some parts of southern Texas that will linger into Monday morning's commute.

For the remainder of Sunday, a level 2 of 4 threat for flash flooding is in effect across southern Texas, including Brownsville, Corpus Christi, San Antonio and Kerrville. Rainfall rates at times could reach 1 to 2 inches per hour.

On Friday, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott directed the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) to bolster its emergency response to the ongoing flooding threat.

“The State of Texas is prepared to respond to the threat of heavy rainfall and flash floods across South and West Texas," Abbott said in a statement. "I directed the Texas Division of Emergency Management to mobilize additional state emergency response resources to support local officials and help protect Texans. I urge all Texans to remain weather-aware, monitor local forecasts, avoid flooded roadways, and heed guidance from state and local officials.”

The flooding threat in Texas comes just days after catastrophic flooding along the Tennessee-Georgia border, prompting numerous water rescues, officials said.

Emergency officials ordered residents in McCaysville, Ga., and Copperhill, Tenn., to evacuate on Thursday.

The two cities experienced catastrophic flooding after 6 to 9 inches of rain fell over several hours, leading the Ocoee River to rise to a record 18.05 feet. The Ocoee River's previous record crest was 17.8 feet, reached on Feb. 16, 1990.

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

The NYPD said it arrested a New York City teacher's aide Saturday in connection with the killing of Katie Suarez, who was stabbed while jogging in Brooklyn last week.

Sayed Mohassib, 27, was arrested after detectives allegedly developed evidence they say placed him at the scene of the attack, the police said. He has been charged with second-degree murder, according to police.

Suarez, 28, was stabbed in the neck on Oct. 30 while jogging along the Belt Parkway waterfront in Brooklyn. She succumbed to her injuries three days later.

She called her father around 8 p.m. Friday to tell him she was about a half mile from home, according to police.

When she did not arrive back home, her parents went looking for her, and her father found her stabbed in the neck, according to NYPD Chief of Detectives Joe Kenny.

Mohassib currently works as a teachers aide at a Brooklyn public elementary school that is near the crime scene, a source with knowledge of the investigation told ABC News.

He briefly worked for the NYPD before being removed for psychological reasons, the source said. He was later discharged from the Marines for mental health issues and was unsuccessful in an attempt to rejoin the NYPD, according to the source.

No attorney information was available and a motive was not immediately revealed by investigators.

-ABC News' Aaron Katersky and Meredith Ferrell contributed to this report.

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to facilitate the return of a Nicaraguan immigrant who was deported to the Central African Republic.

Kenis Lopez Gonzalez, who had been living in Minnesota since 2022 with a work permit, was detained by federal immigration agents in January during Operation Metro Surge, a large-scale federal immigration crackdown undertaken as part of the Trump administration's immigration crackdown.

After being detained for eight months, Lopez Gonzalez was placed on a bus with dozens of other immigrants and told he was going to be deported to the Central African Republic, according to court documents. He alleges in court filings that officers shot him with rubber bullets before placing him on a plane in restraints.

Lopez Gonzalez had previously been granted protection from deportation to Nicaragua due to the risk of torture, according to his attorney. He was deported to the Central African Republic without an opportunity to challenge his removal to that country.

"Lopez was struck by projectiles several times and developed welts on his legs, chest, and arms," his attorneys said in court documents. "Eventually, the detainees, who were still wearing restraints, were forced off the bus and onto an airplane."

Lopez Gonzalez has been in Africa since August, along with dozens of Latin American immigrants deported by the Trump administration.

"I'm very scared," Lopez Gonzalez said in Spanish during a press call on Friday.

On Oct. 30, U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Bryan ordered Lopez Gonzalez to be returned, finding that "the threat of irreparable harm to Lopez of remaining in the Central African Republic while his claims are pending is self-evident and was known to Defendants well before they ever forced Lopez (with quickly developing bruises and welts) onto a flight to the Central African Republic."

"Defendants relocated Lopez to an unstable country that they affirmatively knew to have corrupt and ineffective law enforcement and where residents are at the mercy of armed criminal groups," Judge Bryan wrote. "Lopez has no legal status in the Central African Republic and no means by which to provide for himself."

On Friday, Lopez Gonzalez's attorney said the government has so far complied with court deadlines to submit paperwork.

"If they drag their feet, if they slow-walk it, we'll be right back in front of the judge, asking the judge to light a fire under them," said attorney Simon Sandoval-Moshenberg.

Sandoval-Moshenberg -- who also represents Kilmar Abrego Garcia -- said the government has the legal authority to deport his client to a third country, but that he's entitled to a "reasonable fear interview" and a hearing before an immigration judge.

"He's entitled to a trial in front of an immigration judge, and that's all he's asking," Sandoval-Moshenberg said. "And of course, it goes without saying that the trial is supposed to be done before they forcibly put him on a plane, not after the plane lands and kicks him off in Central Africa."

Lopez Gonzalez said on Friday that he's been sick with malaria for five days and has witnessed violence due to the political conflicts in the Central African Republic.

"It's very difficult ... all the violations of due process that each one of us has gone through," he said.

ABC News was previously told by a group of Latin American immigrants who were deported to the Central African Republic that they were dismayed the U.S. government would send them to a place that it warns its own citizens against visiting. A Department of State travel advisory warns Americans not to travel there due to risks of unrest, crime, kidnapping, landmines, health issues, and terrorism.

One of the men interviewed by ABC was ordered returned by a federal judge in Colorado in September. He is still in the Central African Republic.

A spokesperson for DHS said Judge Bryan's order is an "example of an activist judge trying to thwart President Trump's agenda to remove illegal aliens who have no right to be in this country."

"This Biden-appointed judge is openly defying the Supreme Court by ordering this illegal alien's return despite him having already received a final order of removal from a judge and due process," the spokesperson said. "This illegal alien should have never been released into our country by the Biden administration."

The Immigration and Nationality Act allows the Department of Homeland Security to deport migrants to third countries when authorities establish that the individuals could face persecution in their country of origin or if that country cannot accept them.

According to immigration lawyers and advocates, third-country removals are rare, though not new. In recent months, the Trump administration has expanded third-country deportations following formal agreements with nearly three dozen nations to deport asylum seekers, refugees, and migrants with criminal records with little to no notice.

Some of the new destinations include Liberia, Ghana, the Central African Republic, and Sierra Leone.

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

In the early hours of Dec. 26, 1996, after a festive family Christmas, Patsy Ramsey walked down the stairs in her Boulder, Colorado, home to discover a terrifying ransom note telling her that her 6-year-old daughter JonBenét Ramsey had been kidnapped.

She immediately called 911 and the Boulder Police Department responded to the scene in three minutes.

The taunting two-and-a-half-page ransom note was addressed to JonBenét's father, John Ramsey, and demanded $118,000 for the safe return of his daughter.

"You stand a 99% chance of killing your daughter if you try to out smart [sic] us," the letter said. There was no sign of JonBenét or further communication from the would-be kidnappers.

A new "20/20" episode, "JonBenét Ramsey: Race Against Time, Who is 'Unknown Male 1?' -- A New Diane Sawyer Investigation" airing Friday, Nov. 6 at 9 p.m. ET on ABC and streaming the next day on Disney+ and Hulu, re-examines the case.

You can get more behind the scenes of each week's episode by listening to "20/20: The After Show" weekly series right on your 20/20 podcast feed on Mondays, hosted by "20/20" co-anchor Deborah Roberts.

Hours later, a police officer asked John Ramsey and a friend to look through the house to see if anything seemed out of place. John Ramsey discovered his daughter’s lifeless body in the basement of their home.

An autopsy report determined that JonBenét had been sexually assaulted and killed by blunt force trauma to the head and strangulation, which was carried out with a makeshift corded torture device called a garrote.

With 19 new interviews, ABC News anchor Diane Sawyer and chief investigative correspondent Aaron Katersky take a fresh look at this cold case, talking with investigators, forensic scientists, genealogy experts, the Boulder Police chief and JonBenét's brothers Burke Ramsey and John Andrew Ramsey, among others.

In the weeks and months after the murder, members of the Ramsey family came under intense scrutiny by both the Boulder police and the general public. Skeptics of the family pointed to several details of the case, including the ransom note, which some close to the investigation believed was staged by a family member to cover up JonBenét's death.

The note was written on Patsy Ramsey’s notepad but after numerous handwriting comparisons, only one indicated that the samples showed any similarities to Patsy’s writing. The Ramsey family vehemently denied any claims they were involved in their daughter's death.

In 2008, DNA was detected on the outside of JonBenét's pajama bottoms using a new testing method called touch DNA analysis. It matched the DNA found inside JonBenét's underwear and traced to the same unknown male, and not to any member of the Ramsey family.

With this development, then-Boulder County District Attorney Mary Lacy wrote a letter to John Ramsey. 

"This new scientific evidence convinces us that it is appropriate, given the circumstances of this case, to state that we do not consider your immediate family, including you, your wife, Patsy, and your son, Burke, to be under any suspicion in the commission of this crime," Lacy wrote. "I wish we could have done so before Mrs. Ramsey died."

Patsy Ramsey died from ovarian cancer in 2006, two years before Mary Lacy’s letter to the family.

Later, some Boulder officials said Lacy's letter was inappropriate for a prosecutor, and she should not have cleared the Ramseys while the investigation was ongoing.

In recent years, a new technology called single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) has made it possible to solve cold murder cases nationwide. The advanced testing can retrieve DNA from miniscule samples. Combined with genetic genealogy, it allows officials to identify suspects by matching DNA to that of distant family members in law enforcement databases, using online genetic databases.

Even with this promising new development, challenges remain for investigators. Some DNA samples obtained from the body and crime scene are very small and complex, as multiple DNA strands are mixed together, making it difficult to verifiably match with a single individual.

The current Boulder Police Chief Stephen Redfearn had never before done an interview about the Ramsey case. He sat down with ABC News' Sawyer, telling her that his department is in talks with labs that might be able to test the DNA using forensic genetic genealogy.

He said they are hesitant to send any sample until they have full confidence that the technology is advanced enough to get results that help progress the case. In some cases, if the sample is very small, it can be consumed by the testing.

"We might get lucky because we may only, in some circumstances, with what we have, have one shot at getting it tested," Redfearn said.

Redfearn said they are re-interviewing suspects, testing new evidence and pursuing every lead.

"I would love nothing more than 30 years since this little girl was murdered in her own home, someone finally decides to get something off their chest," he said.

Burke Ramsey, who has largely stayed out of the public eye since his sister's death, praised his parents for how strong they were in the aftermath of the tragedy.

"This awful thing happened to this family, and the world turns against you. And it's cruel," he said.

JonBenét’s older half-brother, John Andrew Ramsey, said investigators must have courage and act aggressively to get the case solved as soon as possible.

"I know we're going to find this person," he said. "This is a case that can be solved. There's a mountain of evidence out there. We've got the DNA testing that's in our favor. It's not a question of if, but when."

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

One police officer was killed and three others wounded after a gunfight with a suspect who was trying to get on a bus in Lakewood, Colorado, Thursday night, police said.

The suspect was killed in the gunfire, John Romero, the public information officer with the Lakewood Police Department, told reporters at a press conference.

A civilian was also injured in the incident, but the circumstances are unclear, he said.

Officers were called to the area of Colfax and Wadsworth, in Lakewood, about 5 miles west of downtown Denver, at about 6:30 p.m. local time for the report of a "suspicious person," who may have been involved in a hit-and-run earlier in the day, Romero said.

When officers encountered the suspect he was attempting to get on a Regional Transportation District bus, Romero said.

"Within seconds of agents approaching the suspect, the suspect opened fire on our agents. A gunfight ensued," he said.

All four officers were taken to area hospitals, where one of them died. Romero said he did not have the conditions of the three wounded officers.

The identity of the victims and the suspect have not been released.

The Jefferson County Critical Incident Response Team will handle the investigation into the officer-involved shooting, Romero said.

"Right now, our main concern is the family of our fallen agent and our agents here at the Lakewood Police Department," Romero said. "We just want the family to know that we love them, that we're here for them, and Lakewood Police Department is a family, and we will be here for each other."

In a statement, the RTD transportation service said: "RTD is deeply concerned by the shooting that occurred this evening aboard an RTD-contracted operated bus servicing Route 76 in Lakewood. Our thoughts are with those affected directly by this incident. The safety and well-being of our customers, employees and partners remain our highest priority."

In a statement posted on social media, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis said: "Law enforcement put their lives on the line for our safety everyday and I am heartbroken to learn that a Lakewood Police Agent was killed in the line of duty this evening."

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Three people face charges alleging they schemed to use artificial intelligence to defraud companies of nearly $130 million, federal prosecutors in Manhattan announced Thursday.

Jacob Soall, who called himself "Rocky Balboa," Sharon Hazan and Guy Sheetrit were arrested in Europe and are awaiting extradition to the U.S. to face conspiracy, money laundering and other charges, prosecutors said.

Between July 2024 and February 2026, the trio allegedly used AI to impersonate the voices of corporate executives at numerous companies and attorneys at big law firms in order to trick employees into sending large payments to bank accounts all over the world, according to the newly unsealed indictment.

According to the indictment, they would tell the target company's employees they needed assistance with a confidential financial transaction and would use AI to mimic the CEO's voice or image in calls with the employee.

While pretending to be the CEO, they would direct the employee to get in touch with lawyers at large international law firms who they said were also working on the sham financial transaction, the indictment alleged. They would then impersonate those lawyers to further make the employee believe that the financial transaction was real, the indictment alleged.

Ultimately, the employee would be directed to wire a large sum of money to a particular bank account controlled by members of the conspiracy, costing the companies more than $129 million, according to prosecutors.

The scheme allegedly stole $4,829,580 from a hospital system headquartered in Missouri; $2,684,580 from a bank headquartered in Rhode Island; $2,968,497 from a hospital system headquartered in California; $11,578,474 from a financial technology company headquartered in the United Kingdom; $4,639,918 from a mutual fund company headquartered in Massachusetts; and $5,242,747 from a pet food company headquartered in Florida, among other victims, according to the indictment.

AI technology "offers tremendous potential. But the public should recognize that there are some who seek to use this emerging technology to pursue criminal goals," U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald said in a statement.

The three foreign nationals were arrested in recent months, according to the DOJ. Soall, 41, of Marbella, Spain, and the U.K., was arrested in Spain in June. Hazan, 54, of Israel, was arrested in Spain in August. Sheetrit, 42, of Israel and the United Arab Emirates, was arrested in the U.K. in September.

The charges carry a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison.

Hazan was previously convicted in Manhattan federal court of conspiracy to commit bank fraud in 2008, according to the DOJ.

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

The suspect in a deadly shooting at a Citibank business complex in Florida was "irate" after receiving a court summons over some $2,500 in credit card debt that he owed the financial institution, according to authorities.

Hours after allegedly threatening violence against the company, authorities say he crashed his vehicle into the courtyard of the Tampa-area Citibank office complex and opened fire, fatally shooting the first person he saw and sparking panic on the large campus.

Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister said there likely would have been more casualties if not for the heroic actions of a Citibank security guard, who shot and killed the gunman after he entered a cafeteria armed with a rifle.

"Phenomenal job by everyone collaboratively coming together to make sure that this tragic incident wasn't catastrophic," Chronister said during a press briefing on Thursday. "Our suspect took one life, and that's one life too many."

Chronister identified the suspect in Wednesday's shooting as 35-year-old Jacob Pearson, a married father of one with no criminal record, who lived in Orlando.

"This was targeted; he targeted Citibank employees yesterday, holding them responsible for his debt," Chronister said.

Around 9 a.m. Wednesday, Pearson contacted an attorney's office contracted by Citibank for collection, "upset" and "irate" that he recently received a summons to go to court over a delinquent payment, according to Chronister.

According to the sheriff, Pearson allegedly told the attorney's office, "Unless you want me to go over there with my AR-15, my bulletproof vest, and my insanity ... cancel this court case. Do you understand me? They are only an hour and three minutes away, so the last thing you want to do is f with me."

Court records show that Pearson owed $2,556.40 on a credit card issued by Citibank and had recently been summoned to appear for a pre-trial conference in the small claims case in February.

The attorney's office contacted Citibank's head of security, who then contacted the Orlando Police Department to request a welfare check on Pearson, according to Chronister.

Pearson had already left by the time officers arrived at this Orlando residence, according to the sheriff. His wife told police she did not know where he went but that he "appeared to be angry," Chronister said.

Orlando police updated the head of security at Citibank, who contacted the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office to report the threat, saying, "We don't know where he's at. We don't know if he intends on following up on that threat," according to Chronister.

The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office dispatched two law enforcement officers to the Citibank campus, and while coordinating with the Citibank security team on where to go, gunshots were fired in the courtyard shortly after noon, according to Chronister.

The suspect had crashed his vehicle through a gate in the courtyard, exited it carrying a rifle and walked toward the first Citibank employee that he saw and shot her three times, according to the sheriff.

"As he shoots her, his rifle begins to malfunction," Chronister said. "This suspect returns back to his car, retrieves his handgun, walks back over to the victim, who's trying to crawl away with her life, and executes her."

The suspect then entered a cafeteria, where he encountered a security guard who had taken a "tactical position" in the men's restroom after hearing gunshots, according to the sheriff. The two engaged in a gunfight and the security guard struck the suspect five times, Chronister said.

The suspect was transported to an area hospital, where he died, officials said.

The victim was pronounced dead at the scene. Chronister identified her as 41-year-old Leanne Selman, of Palm Harbor. She had worked at Citibank for nine years and was in human resources, the company said.

Chronister identified the "hero" security guard as John Fraley, a Marine Corps veteran who is the vice president of operations on Citibank's security team.

The sheriff said the suspect was armed with 90 rounds of ammunition and was "intent on one purpose, and that purpose was to hunt any human being he could find and kill."

"Because of the heroic actions of this Citibank security officer, vice president of operations, his reign of terror ended," Chronister said.

A Citigroup spokesperson also commended the security team.

"Our hearts are heavy, but they are also full of gratitude," Ed Skyler, the head of Enterprise Services and Public Affairs at Citigroup, said during Thursday's briefing. "We are grateful to the actions of our security team, their heroic actions to prevent this tragedy from becoming even worse."

Skyler said that threats "come in frequently" and are "all assessed."

"This threat was taken incredibly seriously," he said. "Our security team was aware of it, was changing their security posture as the event was starting."

He continued, "We have highly trained, disciplined people on site that thankfully were able to handle the situation, prevent what was a tragedy from becoming something much, much worse."

Skyler said the company is in touch with the victim's family, whom he described as a "bright light" and "beloved" employee, as well as the 9,500 Tampa colleagues, many of whom were on site Wednesday.

"Many witnessed the event, and all were evacuated," he said. "We are making sure we offer whatever resources we can to support them."

The shooting sparked panic as employees fled the scene and four people went to the hospital. During the chaos, two people suffered minor injuries and a third had chest pains, according to Chronister. Police also urged a pregnant woman to go to the hospital "out of an abundance of caution," he said. All have since been released, he said.

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

State police in Pennsylvania announced DNA testing has tied together two long-standing cold case deaths and allegedly confirmed a "serial killer" was in Washington County in southwestern Pennsylvania in the 1970s.

Authorities alleged at a press conference on Wednesday that James Richard Clark Sr., who was born in 1957 and died at 66 in 2023, was responsible for the murders of both Susan Rush and Brenda Ritter.

He was 19 and 20 years old, respectively, at the time of the two homicides, and lived in the Washington County area at the time, state police said.

"Testing confirmed there was a serial killer in Washington County during this time frame," said Cpl. James Petrosky, the criminal investigation assessment supervisor with Troop B of the Pennsylvania State Police at the press conference.

According to ABC News Pittsburgh WTAE, authorities said Rush was found dead, sexually assaulted and strangled in the trunk of her car in 1976.

Ritter, 18, was killed in 1977. Her remains were found on a hillside, and authorities determined she had been sexually assaulted and strangled, according to WTAE.

Petrosky said additional DNA testing was done in May of 2025, and "identified the same offender murdered both Susan Rush and Brenda Ritter," Petrosky said.

Authorities said families of both victims have been notified and have asked for privacy.

Taking questions at the press conference, Petrosky said authorities were not ruling out that Clark may be responsible for other homicides.

"I believe that once you're a serial killer, you're always a serial killer," he said. "I believe there could potentially be more victims out there."

Authorities said the investigation is ongoing.

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

Two college students who went missing on a weekend hike in the Colorado mountains died after an anchor they were using while climbing failed and they fell a "substantial" distance, according to authorities.

Kaden Matsuda, 19, and Jackson Donlon, 20, were found dead in a basin of West Apostle Mountain on Oct. 28, days after setting out on their trip, according to the Chaffee County Sheriff's Office.

An autopsy this week determined that the cause of both of their deaths was multiple blunt force injuries, according to the Chaffee County Sheriff's Office and Chaffee County Coroner's Office. Their deaths were "instant," the offices said in a statement on Tuesday.

An investigation found that the two fell a "substantial" distance while rappelling after their anchor "had a catastrophic failure of unknown cause," the offices said.

A heavy snowstorm had impacted the area while they were on their trip. It is unknown if the storm "had a negative impact leading to the incident, but it did not play a direct contributing factor in their death," the offices said.

The two friends had attended Colorado Mountain College in Leadville. Matsuda -- of Ridgway, Colorado -- was studying to be a wildland firefighter, and Donlon -- of Queensbury, New York -- was studying to become a mountain guide, authorities said.

"Kaden and Jackson lived life at the highest peaks chasing freedoms and panoramic views that most of us only see in pictures. We hope their families and friends find strength in the memories of their vibrant spirits," Chaffee County Sheriff Andy Rohrich said in a statement.

The sheriff said there is also "relief knowing neither of them suffered."

"While their lives were far too short, they spent their final moments together surrounded by the majestic beauty of Chaffee County's high peaks that they loved," he said.

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

A sixth person in Pennsylvania has died of measles, state health officials said Wednesday.

The person was unvaccinated and a resident of Jefferson County, according to the officials.

This brings the nation’s total to seven measles-associated deaths this year, which includes six in Pennsylvania and one in New York.

Pennsylvania has reported 1,467 cases so far this year, becoming the largest outbreak in U.S. recent memory. 

The death in Pennsylvania comes just days after New York state reported its first known measles-associated death in the state in over 30 years.

Health officials said a child died in Lewis County amid the ongoing outbreak.

At least 96% of measles cases in the U.S. this year have been among people who are unvaccinated or whose vaccination status is unknown.

Early symptoms include cough, runny nose, fever as high as 104 degrees Fahrenheit and red, watery eyes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Two to three days after symptoms start, patients may develop Koplik spots, which are tiny white spots that may appear inside the mouth on the inner cheek.

Three to five days after symptoms start, patients may experience a rash, first appearing on the face at the hairline before moving downwards to the neck, chest, stomach, arms, legs and feet. Fever may spike even higher than 104 F when the rash appears, the CDC says.

Nationally, more than 4,800 measles cases have been confirmed this year in the U.S., with infections reported in almost every state, according to the CDC. It's the highest number of illnesses from measles since 1991.

The CDC currently recommends that people receive two doses of the MMR vaccine, the first at ages 12 to 15 months and the second between 4 and 6 years old. One dose is 93% effective in preventing measles infection, and two doses are 97% effective, the CDC says.

Infants aged 6 to 11 months living in or traveling to high-risk outbreak areas may receive an early third dose of the MMR vaccine.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

Copyright © 2026, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.