Zak Failla

Assistant Managing Editor

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Equal parts Lois Lane, J. Jonah Jameson and Vicki Vale, Zak! has traveled from coast-to-coast covering small and big town community news in both in print and online for nearly a decade since his graduation from the award-winning Roy H. Park School of Communications at Ithaca College in 2010.

Before settling into the Hudson Valley, Zak! previously spent time in the New York Daily News newsroom and worked for hyperlocal digital news outlets on Long Island. He wrote sports for The Ithacan and The Ithaca Journal before taking his talents to the Pacific Northwest, where he served as the sports editor at the Shoshone News-Press until heading back east to work with Daily Voice.

Zak Failla's Contributions

Chevy Chase, MD
Breaking News
Water Bottle DNA Finally Jails DC Man Who Killed Ex’s Mom In Chevy Chase Shower 24 Years Ago Water Bottle DNA Finally Jails DC Man Who Killed Ex’s Mom In Chevy Chase Shower 24 Years Ago Water Bottle DNA Finally Jails DC Man Who Killed Ex’s Mom In Chevy Chase Shower 24 Years Ago
Water Bottle DNA Finally Jails DC Man Who Killed Ex’s Mom In Chevy Chase Shower 24 Years Ago After 24 years of silence and questions, justice has finally been served for a Maryland family. A DC man who admitted to murdering his ex-girlfriend’s mother inside her Chevy Chase home more than two decades ago — a cold case that stunned a quiet Montgomery County neighborhood and baffled detectives for years — is heading to prison for decades, authorities announced. Eugene Teodor Gligor, now 45, pleaded guilty in Montgomery County Circuit Court on Wednesday, May 7, to second-degree murder in the 2001 slaying of 50-year-old Leslie Preer, who was found face-down and bloodied in her shower af…

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by Zak Failla
Fredericksburg, VA
Breaking News
Cops Chase Virginia Man From ER As His Roommate Crashes Car In Spotsylvania: Sheriff Cops Chase Virginia Man From ER As His Roommate Crashes Car In Spotsylvania: Sheriff Cops Chase Virginia Man From ER As His Roommate Crashes Car In Spotsylvania: Sheriff
Cops Chase Virginia Man From ER As His Roommate Crashes Car In Spotsylvania: Sheriff A pair of roommates in Virginia put police through their paces during an eventful few hours in Spotsylvania, officials say. Paul White, 38, and Tommy Negron, 47, are both facing drug-related and other charges following a strange series of events that played out late in the afternoon on Tuesday. According to the Spotsylvania County Sheriff's Office, shortly after 6:45 p.m. on Aug. 26, deputies were called to Wawa on Falcon Drive to conduct a welfare check on a man — later identified as White — who was spotted with a baggie of drugs hanging out of his pocket. He also advised responding deput…

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by Zak Failla
Arlington, VA
Your Community
IndyCar Reportedly Eyeing DC Street Race To Celebrate America’s 250th: SBJ IndyCar Reportedly Eyeing DC Street Race To Celebrate America’s 250th: SBJ IndyCar Reportedly Eyeing DC Street Race To Celebrate America’s 250th: SBJ
IndyCar Reportedly Eyeing DC Street Race To Celebrate America’s 250th: SBJ IndyCar may be exploring a possible street race in DC to celebrate the US's 250th anniversary, though it could be too late in the game, according to a new report. Adam Stern from the Sports Business Journal reported that IndyCar officials are in the early stages of planning a possible race in the nation's capital, though are still in their infancy as IndyCar winds down its 2025 schedule this weekend in Nashville. The report speculates that the race could come to fruition after Fox Corp. purchased a 33 percent stake of IndyCar owner Penske Entertainment and has vowed to put on big-time …

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by Zak Failla
Upper Marlboro, MD
Your Community
'Forgetful Grandad' Forgets Powerball Ticket, Buys Same Numbers Twice In PG County — Wins $1M 'Forgetful Grandad' Forgets Powerball Ticket, Buys Same Numbers Twice In PG County — Wins $1M 'Forgetful Grandad' Forgets Powerball Ticket, Buys Same Numbers Twice In PG County — Wins $1M
'Forgetful Grandad' Forgets Powerball Ticket, Buys Same Numbers Twice In PG County — Wins $1M Talk about a happy accident. A Prince George’s County man’s forgetfulness turned into a million-dollar payday when he accidentally bought a second-tier winning Powerball ticket, Maryland Lottery officials announced. The retiree — who went by the name “Proud Granddad” to claim his prize and stay anonymous — wasn’t sure if he already had a ticket for the Wednesday, Aug. 20 Powerball drawing.  So, just to be safe, he bought another on Aug. 18 that covered three drawings with the Double Play option. That move made him $500,000 richer. But then came the kicker: he already had the same nu…

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by Zak Failla
Woodbridge, VA
Breaking News
Body Found In Bushes Along Prince William Parkway In Woodbridge: Police Body Found In Bushes Along Prince William Parkway In Woodbridge: Police Body Found In Bushes Along Prince William Parkway In Woodbridge: Police
Body Found In Bushes Along Prince William Parkway In Woodbridge: Police A 30-year-old man was found dead in the bushes along a busy highway in Woodbridge early Thursday, police said. On Aug. 28 at 3:51 a.m., officers responded to the 2600 block of Prince William Parkway after a man was discovered unconscious in the brush, according to the Prince William County Police Department. The man was pronounced dead at the scene. Police said that preliminarily, there were no signs of foul play.  The body was transported to the Medical Examiner's Office for an autopsy to determine the cause and manner of death. Officials noted that there is currently “no threat to…

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by Zak Failla
Arlington, VA
Breaking News
Child Sex Suspect Released In Virginia Put On ‘Crocodile Tears’ Show During DC Arrest, ICE Says Child Sex Suspect Released In Virginia Put On ‘Crocodile Tears’ Show During DC Arrest, ICE Says Child Sex Suspect Released In Virginia Put On ‘Crocodile Tears’ Show During DC Arrest, ICE Says
Child Sex Suspect Released In Virginia Put On ‘Crocodile Tears’ Show During DC Arrest, ICE Says A 35-year-old Mexican national accused of sex crimes against a Virginia child was arrested near the National Mall after being released from custody despite an ICE detainer, federal officials announced. On Wednesday, Aug. 20, special agents with ICE Homeland Security Investigations and Metropolitan Police arrested David Perez-Teofani, 35, who had previously been charged with felony indecent liberties-proposed sex acts and aggravated sexual battery of a victim under 13, according to ICE. Perez-Teofani has been removed from the US twice before and illegally reentered each time, officials said.…

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by Zak Failla
Catonsville, MD
Obituaries
Decomposing Body, Dead Dog Found Inside Maryland Home After Welfare Check Decomposing Body, Dead Dog Found Inside Maryland Home After Welfare Check Decomposing Body, Dead Dog Found Inside Maryland Home After Welfare Check
Decomposing Body, Dead Dog Found Inside Maryland Home After Welfare Check When neighbors grew concerned after not seeing or hearing from Jahdon Gist for some time in Baltimore County, they decided to conduct a welfare check — just in case. While checking on him, they could not have imagined the grisly discovery they made inside. Gist's decomposing body was found inside the home on Sunday, Aug. 23, leaving friends and family stunned by his unexplained death. His dog was also found dead, in an unknown state of decomposition. "This is a complete shock and unexpected," his sister, Teryn Gist, wrote on a GoFundMe organized for the family. "My beloved brother was une…

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by Zak Failla
Arlington, VA
Obituaries
DC Mom Killed In Cold-Blooded Shooting Was Doting Parent, Amazon Driver, Pet Groomer DC Mom Killed In Cold-Blooded Shooting Was Doting Parent, Amazon Driver, Pet Groomer DC Mom Killed In Cold-Blooded Shooting Was Doting Parent, Amazon Driver, Pet Groomer
DC Mom Killed In Cold-Blooded Shooting Was Doting Parent, Amazon Driver, Pet Groomer Mignon Renee Brown-Massey wore many hats and was the hardest-working person in the room right up until she became the victim of gun violence in the region. The 36-year-old DC mother, who was a pet care provider and groomer by day, and a tireless Amazon delivery driver by night, was shot and killed earlier this month in what her family described as "senseless violence."  Officers from the Metropolitan Police Department were called at around 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 13, to the 3300 block of 15th Street NE, where there was a reported shooting. Upon arrival, they found Brown-Massey…

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by Zak Failla
Annapolis, MD
Breaking News
BMWs, $100K In Drugs, $69K Cash Seized In Massive Annapolis Bust: Police BMWs, $100K In Drugs, $69K Cash Seized In Massive Annapolis Bust: Police BMWs, $100K In Drugs, $69K Cash Seized In Massive Annapolis Bust: Police
BMWs, $100K In Drugs, $69K Cash Seized In Massive Annapolis Bust: Police A seven-month investigation into drug trafficking in Maryland ended with two men behind bars — and the seizure of luxury BMWs, cash, and drugs worth more than $100,000, authorities said. Earlier this month, members of the Annapolis Police Department’s Drug Enforcement Unit, Special Investigations Section, and Patrol Division conducted a coordinated operation in the area of Oaklawn Avenue and Carver Street, according to police. Investigators arrested 35-year-old Timothy Charles Johnson, the primary target of the probe, on multiple CDS-related indictments.  Brocenbeauh Smit, 56, was als…

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by Zak Failla
Triangle-Dumfries, VA
Breaking News
Dumfries Man Exposed Himself To Same Walmart Worker Multiple Times: Police Dumfries Man Exposed Himself To Same Walmart Worker Multiple Times: Police Dumfries Man Exposed Himself To Same Walmart Worker Multiple Times: Police
Dumfries Man Exposed Himself To Same Walmart Worker Multiple Times: Police A 58-year-old man who exposed himself to the same employee at a Virginia Walmart was apprehended  following a weeks-long probe, police say. The investigation into William Irving Gorgon began over the weekend, when officers from the Prince William Police Department were called to investigate reports of an indecent exposure at the store in the 17000 block of Richmond Highway in Dumfries. According to police, it was determined that between Wednesday, Aug. 6 and Thursday, Aug. 21, Gorgon allegedly exposed himself to the same female employee on more than one occasion. No physical contact w…

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by Zak Failla
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