Young girl dies after dangerous trend goes viral as parents warn ‘life and death’
A Texas girl has died after accidentally strangling herself while taking part in the viral “blackout challenge,” as her family is speaking out to warn other families of the dangerous trend sweeping social media.
JackLynn Blackwell, 9, was killed after she choked herself in the backyard of her family’s Stephenville home on Feb. 3, according to CBS News.
“She goes out to play like she always does, out in the yard. I noticed it’s kind of quiet — quieter than it should’ve been,” her father, Curtis Blackwell, told the outlet as he described the moment he found his daughter.
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“Then I saw her kind of around the corner that goes to the carport, saw her hair. I said, ‘JackLynn!’ I thought she was bending over playing ’cause she was always in that area playing, but she wasn’t playing.”
The father quickly went to check on his daughter, who was found motionless with a cord wrapped around her neck.
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“I tried to do everything I could to save her,” Curtis Blackwell told the outlet. “I got her off the cord. I tried to give her CPR until the first responders got there. It was the most terrifying, shocking thing I’ve ever seen.”
The incident unfolded after JackLynn showed her grandmother a video of the online challenge in which children and teens film themselves intentionally being choked to the point of blacking out or experiencing a euphoric “high,” according to CBS.
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“It was horrible to see my daughter in such a vulnerable state because of something so senseless.”
In light of their daughter’s tragic death, JackLynn’s parents are slamming social media companies for allowing such dangerous videos to circulate on their platforms, CBS reported.
“It’s not a joke, it’s not a game, it’s life and death,” Curtis Blackwell said, according to the outlet.
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“Most of the kids are like 9 years old to 14 years old. A lot of kids her age, their brains aren’t fully developed, and they are very easily influenced.”
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Approximately 80 children have died from the online trend, according to the CDC, CBS reported.
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Several social media companies are reportedly blocking videos related to the deadly challenge or issuing warnings to viewers who search for related keywords.
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However, the warnings are too late for JackLynn’s grieving parents, who are looking to hold social media companies accountable for the videos posted to their platforms.
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“You could check on your kid, it could be kid-friendly videos, and then three minutes later it could be totally something dark because of the algorithms they start creating,” Curtis Blackwell told CBS. “There’s too many of these kids lost for these companies not to be held accountable in my eyes.”
State forbids cities from requiring voter ID, 2028 prospect flabbergasted
Rep. Kevin Kiley explained California’s voter ID during an appearance Thursday on “Straight Shooter with Stephen A,” on SiriusXM, prompting a stunned response from host Stephen A. Smith as the conversation turned to election integrity and federal reform.
“California does not have voter ID,” Kiley said. “You don’t need to present it to register. You don’t need to present it to vote.”
“What!? That’s why the SAVE Act has been proposed right there … the state of California,” said Smith, shocked.
The exchange unfolded as the House of Representatives had already passed the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, which would require proof of citizenship to vote in federal elections, with a path to pass awaiting in the Senate.
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Kiley argued California laws prevent local governments from setting their own requirements, claiming it is “banned” within the state.
“The state passed a law forbidding voter ID,” Kiley said, adding that localities, cities and counties are not allowed to enact their own standards. Smith admitted he was unaware of the policy.
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“I thought every state just showed an ID … little did I know,” Smith said, calling the situation surprising.
Kiley framed voter ID as the global norm, claiming America is one of few democracies that haven’t enacted proof of citizenship legislation.
“There’s maybe like two or three democracies in the world that don’t have it,” Kiley noted. “This is just kind of a standard administrative requirement in a well-functioning democracy.”
Smith acknowledged Republicans are likely to use California’s approach as a central argument in pushing federal election reforms.
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“That’s what the Republicans [are] gonna lean on as an excuse to definitely push forth the Save Act right there, right there. I can’t believe it,” Smith stated.
The conversation widened beyond elections, with Kiley discussing California’s high cost of living and gas prices, arguing that high costs within the Golden State are driven more by state policy than global events.
“We have $5.56 per gallon right now in California … nearly $2 higher than the national average,” he said. “Our regulations are impossible to comply with.”
Kiley also highlighted broader economic pressures, pointing to housing, energy and taxation.
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“We have the highest housing prices … highest electricity rates … highest taxes,” he said. “That’s why we have the highest poverty in California when you factor in cost of living.”
Kiley became an independent after California’s new Proposition 50 gerrymandered congressional maps were passed in the state in November 2024, which includes much of his home base in the suburbs of Sacramento.
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Luxury brand could face legal action after staffer allegedly leaked Kirk purchase history
High-end athleisure brand Alo could face legal trouble after Turning Point USA CEO Erika Kirk’s private purchase history was allegedly leaked and used to smear her.
A TikTok content creator recorded a now-viral video this week claiming he received an email from “someone who works at Alo” who looked up Kirk’s account and found that she spent over $1,000 the day after her husband was assassinated. The TikTok creator, who displayed the receipt online, mocked Kirk over the timing of the “shopping spree.”
The influencer – @markosbits on TikTok – insisted the leaked receipt would “completely ruin Erika Kirk’s entire story,” and suggested that it proved she wasn’t grieving the morning after her husband was assassinated. The account has nearly 900,000 followers and the video has been viewed over 8 million times.
The stunning invasion of privacy quickly emerged as fuel for others to further torment and abuse Kirk. On Thursday, TPUSA staffer Elizabeth McCoy took to social media to explain that she purchased the clothes because Kirk was forced to quickly board a plane after learning her husband had been assassinated at Utah Valley University.
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“I was the one who made the Alo purchase, in person, in Utah. When we got the call that Charlie had been shot, we rushed from the office and into the airplane. We arrived in Utah with nothing but the clothes we were wearing. We were in those clothes all day at the hospital and slept in them that night,” McCoy wrote.
“The next morning, our friend Stacy handed me her card, and I went out and picked up some items and toiletries for various team members and Erika. Alo was down the street,” McCoy continued. “To accuse Erika or anyone else of entertaining a ‘shopping spree’ hours after her husband was brutally murdered is cruel and vicious.”
McCoy called the campaign against Kirk a “planned, manufactured attack.”
A Turning Point USA insider confirmed to Fox News Digital that the items were purchased for staffers who rushed to Utah without extra clothing.
Alo did not immediately respond to a series of questions, including whether it would investigate who leaked the receipt and if the company finds it appropriate to share a customer’s purchasing history.
The influencer who posted the receipt, allegedly sent by an Alo employee, has been extremely critical of Kirk and previously called her a “crazy b—h” on TikTok.
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Attorney Danny Karon, author of “Your Love Lawyer’s Guide to Legal Wellness,” said that retail stores can’t freely disclose your purchasing history to just anyone.
“The level of protection they owe you depends on how they use your data, who they share it with, and which state’s laws apply,” Karon told Fox News Digital.
Utah, where the Alo purchase was made, enacted comprehensive consumer privacy legislation in 2023. The Utah Consumer Privacy Act (UCPA) allows retailers to share or sell customer purchasing data to third parties so long as the retailer’s privacy notice discloses this practice and allows consumers to opt out, according to Karon.
“Consumers aren’t permitted to bring UCPA claims; only the Utah attorney general can. But no matter, because what happened to Erica Kirk wasn’t a share or sale as contemplated by the UCPA, meaning Alo may not take refuge in it,” Karon said.
“Instead, what happened was a privacy breach that gives rise to several common-law —— as opposed to statutory, like the UCPA —— claims, such as public disclosure of private facts, breach of contract, intrusion upon seclusion, doxxing and negligence,” Karon continued. “And even though Kirk is not a Utah resident, because her Alo purchase occurred in a Utah brick-and-mortar location and the disclosure occurred in Utah, personal jurisdiction over the parties exists in Utah, as does the application of Utah law. This means, she may file her case in Utah under Utah law.”
Karon said that the Federal Trade Commission Act also prohibits deceptive or unfair practices, meaning “if a retailer promises not to share your data but does, they could violate federal law.”
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TPUSA did not immediately respond when asked if Kirk plans to take legal action.
Alo’s X account is locked as private amid the controversy, but some Kirk supporters have taken to Instagram to scold the company for leaking private information.
“I am so sorry that you all have to deal with this viciousness,” conservative pundit Dana Loesch responded.
“SCUM. An @aloyoga employee leaked a customer’s private purchase history to smear her—after those items were bought in the immediate aftermath of one of the most HORRIFIC MURDERS in American HISTORY, when there was no time to grab anything but the clothes on their backs,” podcaster Alex Clark posted on X.
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“Alo REFUSES to apologize and NOW LOCKS THEIR TWITTER ACCOUNT. You are a despicable company and this is PREDATORY behavior,” she continued. “Alo needs to make a statement immediately-do you or do you not prey on conservative customers?”
OutKick’s Mary Katharine Ham, who tragically lost her first husband in 2015, explained that sometimes it’s important to “feel human and look presentable” in clothes that don’t have memories attached following a crisis.
“It is insane they have to defend or explain this, but since people are intent on making them do so, let’s use it as a teachable moment. If your loved one dies far from your home and you rush to them, you will need clothes. I am contacted by people in crisis (or their friends) often about how to help, and sending comfortable matching sets they can wear from couch to funeral home to probate court is one of my tips,” Ham wrote.
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Barksdale Air Force Base hit by week-long drone incursions near nuclear bombers
A U.S. Air Force Base that houses B-52 bombers capable of carrying nuclear weapons detected “multiple unauthorized drones” in its vicinity earlier this month, a base official confirmed to Fox News Digital.
“Barksdale Air Force Base detected multiple unauthorized drones operating in our airspace during the week of March 9th,” a Barksdale AFB spokesperson told Fox News Digital on Friday.
The spokesperson added: “Flying a drone over a military installation is not only a safety issue, it is a criminal offense under federal law.”
Base officials are working closely with federal and local law enforcement agencies to investigate the drone sightings, the spokesperson said.
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“The security of our installation and the safety of our people are top priorities, and we will continue to vigilantly monitor our airspace,” the official added.
Barksdale is east of Shreveport in Louisiana and encompasses 22,000 acres with a population of around 15,000.
The drone detections come amid heightened security at Air Force bases in the U.S. as the war in Iran continues.
A shelter-in-place order was issued on March 9 at the base that was lifted shortly after, but the drone sights continued through the week.
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Mick Mulroy, former deputy assistant secretary of defense for the Middle East, told ABC News it didn’t look like an average drone enthusiast.
“It looked like this was deliberate and intentional to see just how they would react,” he said. “Seeing this probe on a base in the United States is very troubling.”
Former MLB outfielder best known for spoiling a perfect game dead at 84
Former Major League Baseball player Larry Stahl died at age 84 Tuesday at Caseyville Nursing and Rehab in Caseyville, Illinois.
Stahl, who played 10 seasons with four different teams, was best known for spoiling a perfect game.
On Sept. 2, 1972, Chicago Cubs pitcher Milt Pappas had retired the first 26 batters he had faced and was one out away from etching his name into the history books.
Stahl, a left-handed hitter, was playing for the San Diego Padres at the time and was sent out to pinch hit against the right-handed pitcher by manager Don Zimmer.
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Stahl worked the count full and, on the payoff pitch, checked his swing and controversially drew a walk, ending Pappas’ perfect game bid. Pappas retired the next batter and ended the game with a no-hitter.
Pappas blamed the home plate umpire for making the incorrect call years later.
“They were strikes or ‘that close’ to being strikes that he should’ve raised his right hand,” Pappas told ESPN in 2007. “I had the opportunity for a perfect game, and, unfortunately, Bruce Froemming did not help me at all.”
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In 10 seasons, the Belleville, Illinois, native had a .232 batting average with 36 home runs and 163 RBIs.
He spent the first three seasons of his career with the Kansas City Athletics, then two seasons with the New York Mets, four with the Padres and the final season of his career with the Cincinnati Reds.
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Stahl’s best season came with the Padres in 1971, when he hit .253 with eight home runs and 36 RBIs.
The only time Stahl made the postseason was in 1973, the final year of his career, with the Reds. He played in four games and had two hits in four at-bats.
Kathy Ireland reveals ‘red flag’ that exposed alleged $100M betrayal
Kathy Ireland is speaking out after filing a lawsuit against her former business managers, claiming they betrayed her trust “on a staggering and unconscionable scale” and allegedly stole millions from her and her family.
The 63-year-old business owner and former model spoke about the lawsuit in a new interview with ABC News’ “Nightline,” in a joint interview with her attorney, Jill Basinger, a portion of which was previewed on “Good Morning America” on Friday.
“My old, long-ago job description was, ‘Shut up and pose.’ And I reject that,” Ireland said. “And I’m not going to idly stand by and allow anyone to lie, to abuse, to hurt my family and to hurt others.”
In the lawsuit filed by Ireland in a Santa Barbara court, the model — who Forbes once estimated to be worth $420 million through her self-titled brand — claimed her family was targeted by Jason Winters and Erik Sterling, who were allegedly at the helm of a deceptive management scheme.
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Ireland said the defendants told her “she was extraordinarily wealthy” and that the family would “never need to worry,” but claims her former team “failed to create wealth and make investments” as promised for their family, leaving Ireland and husband, Greg Olsen, in extreme debt and forced to sell their family home.
“Our son and his wife purchased a house on their own. They had to move … and we wanted to help ’em out,” she told ABC News about how she found out about her financial situation. “Our son said, ‘If you and dad can co-sign, that would be great.’ And when we were denied the right to co-sign because our credit had been destroyed, that was a big red flag.”
She added that she doesn’t “know all of it,” noting she and her husband “believed our bills were being paid, and they were not.”
The lawsuit states that “the Defendants are liable to Plaintiffs for damages in the tens of millions of dollars, if not exceeding $100 million, subject to proof at trial,” adding that the “Defendants continue to withhold the funds they took from and owe to Plaintiffs.”
“We suspect they took out a mortgage on the house,” Basinger told the outlet regarding how the money was spent. “We suspect that, even though there was a life insurance policy purchased, that they somehow took the equity.”
In a statement to ABC News, the defendants rejected Ireland’s claims, saying the dispute stems from an alleged $25 million fraud case filed against her last year. They described her allegations as “false, defamatory and unsupported by any documentation,” adding that all loans in question bear Ireland’s signature and that those involved were “partners and equal shareholders from the outset, not business managers.”
Ireland first rose to fame in the 1980s and 1990s as a “Sports Illustrated” Swimsuit Issue cover model, later entering the business world in her 20s. She found huge success as a businesswoman, with Forbes once naming her one of the most successful self-made woman with an estimated net worth of $400 million.
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Despite her success, the lawsuit claims she and her husband “now know there are no substantial retirement accounts,” any “prudently managed investments securing their future” or any money “securing their retirement and their children’s futures, as they were led to believe.”
“At that young age, Kathy was building her career,” the lawsuit stated. “She was newly married, planning to start a family. She believed in hard work. She believed in doing business with integrity. And, she believed in them, based on their promises to her. Tragically, that belief was misplaced. They were deceiving her, all along.”
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Ireland shared that she was forced to sell her family home due to the amount of debt she and her husband are now in.
WATCH: KATHY IRELAND IS LEANING ON FAITH AFTER ACCUSING FORMER TEAM OF DEFRAUDING HER OF FORTUNE, HER ATTORNEY SAYS
In a previous interview with Fox News Digital, Basinger commented on Ireland’s strength throughout the whole ordeal, calling her “a strong person.”
“Kathy’s a strong person of faith, and her trust in God has really helped her and (her husband) Greg (Olsen) navigate the betrayal and the broken trust, and given her hope for the future,” Basinger said.
When it comes to the defendants, Ireland told ABC News she does “hope the best for them.”
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“I hope the best for them. I do not and that does not include continuing in this,” she said. “You don’t get to hide behind me and do things that I would never approve of, that I would never say were OK…Do the right thing, and tomorrow will be better than today.”
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Taylor Frankie Paul controversy grows after video release, ABC cancels ‘Bachelorette’
As Taylor Frankie Paul faces a new wave of domestic violence allegations, the 31-year-old “Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” star’s turbulent past has resurfaced following ABC’s decision to scrap her upcoming season of “The Bachelorette.”
On March 15, production for Season 5 of “Mormon Wives”came to a halt due to an alleged physical altercation between Paul and her ex-boyfriend, Dakota Mortensen, that occurred in 2023, according to TMZ.
On Thursday, TMZ was first to publish video of the altercation that shows Paul choking and attempting to kick Mortensen, as well as throwing steel bar stools towards him — one of which allegedly struck her daughter.
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Paul shares two children with ex-husband Tate Paul: Indy, 8, and son, Ocean, 5. Additionally, she and Mortensen share a 1-year-old son, Ever.
“This is called physical abuse,” Mortensen can be heard saying in the video, as Paul attempts to put him in a chokehold. “See Taylor, this is all you do. It’s the only thing you know how to do is hurt me. Do you think this is OK? It’s not OK.”
After Mortensen asked Paul to leave him alone, the mom of three threw a steel bar stool toward Mortensen while her daughter allegedly sat on the couch.
“Your daughter is right here,” Mortensen said, while trying to avoid getting hit.
As Paul hauled another stool, a child could be heard crying in the background, screaming, “Mommy.”
“Help your daughter, stop screaming at me,” he said.
“You did this,” Paul kept screaming, as the child continued to cry.
As Mortensen begged Paul to stop multiple times, he said, “I’m sorry, Indy.”
“Your daughter just got hit in the head with a metal chair,” he told Paul.
“Get away from my daughter,” Paul screamed.
As tensions escalated, the doorbell rang. “What’s going on?” a male voice, presumably law enforcement, can be heard asking.
“She’s hammered,” Mortensen answers.
“How about we just separate?” the man asked before the video’s conclusion.
A spokesperson for the Draper City Police Department told People magazine that both Paul and Mortensen are part of an open “domestic assault investigation.”
The spokesperson added that “allegations have been made in both directions” and “contact was made with involved parties on [Feb.] 24th and 25th.”
Paul’s past controversies have ignited online backlash from fans of the ABC show.
“WHY DID WE CAST A LEAD WITH MULTIPLE DV CHARGES,” one user commented on a promo video posted to the official “Bachelorette” Instagram account.
“I have watched EVERY season of this show. I refuse to watch this and support it,” another wrote. “I even watched ‘SLOMW’ up to this point. But her latest act is horrendous and cannot be supported. Her season needs to be pulled. She needs to learn and heal and move on. This is not her first aggrievance and cannot be glossed over. I expect better from you, ABC.”
One fan simply wrote, “Cancel it!”
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In a statement to Fox News Digital on Thursday, a spokesperson for Disney Entertainment Television said, “In light of the newly released video just surfaced today, we have made the decision to not move forward with the new season of ‘The Bachelorette’at this time, andour focus is on supporting the family.”
A spokesperson for Paul told Page Six, “Taylor is very grateful for ABC’s support as she prioritizes her family’s safety and security. After years of silently suffering extensive mental and physical abuse as well as threats of retaliation, Taylor is finally gaining the strength to face her accuser and taking steps to ensure that she and her children are protected from any further harm.”
The statement continued, “There are too many women who are suffering in silence as they survive aggressive, jealous ex-partners who refuse to let them move on with their lives. Taylor has remained silent out of fear of further abuse, retaliation, and public shaming. She is currently exploring all of her options, seeking support, and preparing to own and share her story.”
Paul first found fame as the creator of MomTok, a group of Mormon, Utah-based wives and mothers who rose to fame on TikTok for their viral dancing and lip-sync videos.
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But her life exploded in 2022, after detailing her “soft-swinging” lifestyle with then-husband, Tate Paul, and other married Mormon couples during a TikTok livestream.
Paul said the group had an agreement that they “wouldn’t go all the way” with their other partners. However, Paul admitted that she “did step out of the agreement” with one of the other husbands in the group.
“That’s where I messed up, and I, obviously, am losing everything that I have,” Paul said during the livestream.
Paul claimed that “no one was innocent” within the swingers group and that “everyone had hooked up with everyone.”
One year later, Paul was arrested and charged with domestic violence in February 2023.
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“That one was super difficult,” Paul told Fox News Digital in 2024. “That was the worst thing that I’ve gone through.”
She continued, “I did go more into depth on the show with that very emotional topic. But I felt like I have learned from it.”
“It was a regret,” Paul added. “Hitting rock bottom, there’s only one way to go, and it helped me to go up. So honestly, as bad as that night was — I think it was also like a blessing in disguise and maybe could have saved my life in a weird way, like, where I was just drowning in misery. So, you’ll see more of that on the show.”
After her arrest, Paul was charged with aggravated assault, two counts of domestic violence in the presence of a child, child abuse with injury and criminal mischief, according to Herriman police in Salt Lake County.
A complaint filed in Salt Lake County in March 2023 alleged that Paul threw a phone, a wooden play set and “heavy metal chairs” at her boyfriend, Dakota Mortensen. One of the chairs allegedly hit one of her children who was sitting next to Mortensen on the couch during their argument, an affidavit stated.
She pleaded guilty in August of that year to aggravated assault, while the other four charges were dismissed with prejudice.
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During an appearance on “Good Morning America” on Wednesday, Paul addressed the latest allegations and admitted it’s been a “heavy” time.
“Honestly, it’s been a heavy time to see the headlines, especially during this time of ‘The Bachelorette’ being released, and it’s supposed to be a really exciting time,” Paul said.
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“I’m a person that will always speak my truth, and that’s what I’m known for. And, so, when the time is right, I will be. But right now, just trying to be in the present moment and focus on this.
“My kids do come first,” the mom-of-three continued. “My kids come first, and so it’s been like just a back-and-forth process trying to be here in the present moment, you know, worrying about home and headlines. It’s been stressful to be honest.”
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Paul told Entertainment Weekly that she and Mortensen are using a “third-party” to communicate with one another regarding their 1-year-old son.
A rep for Mortensen told the outlet that “his number one priority here is protecting [their son], Ever.”
Alabama student’s spring break death may not be accidental, source says
University of Alabama student Jimmy Gracey’s spring break death off the coast of Spain is primarily believed to have been an accident, but authorities have not yet ruled out the possibility he was drugged, a law enforcement source in Barcelona tells Fox News Digital.
However, the 20-year-old’s wallet was recovered intact, with cash, credit cards and identification all inside.
Investigators believe Gracey walked toward the water on his own and fell in while under the influence of drugs, alcohol or both, according to the source, but they’re not certain enough to close the case yet with autopsy and toxicology results pending.
POLICE CALL JIMMY GRACEY’S DEATH AN ACCIDENT AFTER VANISHING ON SPRING BREAK IN BARCELONA, AUTOPSY PERFORMED
The source also shed new light on the arrest of a man who had Gracey’s phone. The subject was previously known to authorities and has a history of prior thefts. However, according to the source, he is not believed to have taken it from Gracey directly.
He is believed to have found the phone on a street and picked it up — leading to his arrest later.
As far as investigators can tell, he didn’t have any contact with Gracey, the source told Fox News Digital.
Investigators are still reviewing surveillance video, the source said. Autopsy results and a toxicology report are not expected to be completed until next Thursday, and authorities are not expected to announce an official cause of death before then. There was no word on any potential signs of trauma Friday.
UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA STUDENT JAMES GRACEY DISAPPEARS IN BARCELONA AFTER VISITING FRIENDS STUDYING ABROAD
There are said to be several “loose ends” that authorities need to tie up before the case comes to a close.
Other active hypotheses that remain in play include that Gracey could have been drugged, taken drugs himself or ingested a large enough amount of alcohol to disorient himself.
Much like in parts of the U.S., the source acknowledged theft rings and migrant crime can be a problem in the waterfront promenade area, where Gracey was last seen. He said that while there is a notable amount of crimes of opportunity there, especially at night and near the clubs and bars, overall crime in Barcelona has been in decline for several years.
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Earlier Friday, a spokesperson for Mossos d’Esquadra, the Catalan regional police, said they believed Gracey’s death to be accidental but declined to release specific details about his final moments.
Gracey, a college junior standing 6 feet, 1 inch tall, and a group of friends from the Alabama chapter of the Theta Chi fraternity flew to Europe for a spring break trip, with plans to visit friends in Barcelona who are studying abroad.
He was last seen alive early Tuesday morning at Shoko, a nightclub on the beach next to the Port Olimpic marina, where authorities found his remains Thursday evening.
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The final known photo of him shows him inside the club, with curly brown hair and wearing his signature gold chain, with a rhinestone cross.
Most of the group left around 3 a.m., but Gracey stayed behind. He was seen talking to an American woman with brown hair, according to local reports.
By the time his friends awoke later that morning, he’d failed to return to the group’s Airbnb along Ronda de Sant Pere, a central avenue in the city about 1.5 miles from Shoko.
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Friends notified his family and local police, who opened an investigation, according to Mossos d’Esquadra, the regional police force in Catalonia, which includes Barcelona.
The case made international headlines after Gracey’s mother, Therese Gracey, posted about his disappearance in a Facebook group for expats in Barcelona, and his father, Taras Gracey, flew to Spain to take part in the search effort.
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On Thursday, Mossos d’Esquadra deployed dive teams along the Mediterranean beach.
Around 6:30 p.m., a worker at the marina was seen running out and flagging down officers. He pointed in the direction he came from, and police soon cordoned off the area, with investigators focused on something inside.
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Despite low visibility — just under 16 inches — they recovered Gracey’s remains around 7:15 p.m.
Back home, his girlfriend in Tuscaloosa posted a heartbreaking tribute about Gracey on TikTok.
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“Fly high my angel,” she wrote in the captions, with Noah Kahan’s “Strawberry Wine” playing.
“Forever in debt for having been lucky enough to be loved by the most pure-hearted, sweet, devoted, and selfless soul,” wrote Kenna Cole. “I so badly wish I could rewind time, but I am so grateful I was able to witness the last six months of your incredible life. James Paul Gracey, you truly were a blessing, and every moment I spent with you felt nothing less than that. Please continue to pray for the Gracey family and keep Jimmy’s memory close to your hearts.”