68 Cats Euthanized, Brick Man Learns Fate For Animal Cruelty: Prosecutor
A Brick man who kept more than 150 cats in his residence was sentenced to 180 days in jail on Friday, April 25, after previously pleading guilty to animal cruelty, authorities said.
On Thursday, May 4, 2023, Jeffrey Finlay called police to his home on Mantoloking Road, asking them to help remove an excessive number of animals from his residence, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said. Officers discovered approximately 157 cats and 3 dogs living at the residence, Billhimer said.
Over a day, the animals were removed from the residence and transferred for treatment and evaluation, Bil…
Disbarred Calverton Attorney Who Stole $25K From Real Estate Escrow Will Dodge Prison
A disgraced Long Island attorney won’t spend a day behind bars after confessing he stole $25,000 from a real estate escrow account.
Peter Saad Jr., 48, of Calverton, pleaded guilty to grand larceny in Suffolk County on Wednesday, April 16.
Saad, a former Riverhead attorney who has since been disbarred, represented the seller in a home sale in 2020. Because of unresolved permit issues, all parties agreed that $25,000 would be held in Saad’s escrow account until those issues were resolved.
Instead, Saad stopped responding to the parties and used the funds for personal expenses, according to…
Officer Otto Cruz, York County's Humane Hero, Dies At 47; SPCA Closes To Mourn
A beloved protector of animals and voice for the voiceless has died. Humane Society Police Officer Otoniel “Otto” Cruz passed away on Saturday, April 12, the York County SPCA announced.
The shelter closed to the public on Monday, April 15 and Tuesday, April 16, as staff mourned the loss of their cherished colleague.
Otto Cruz, 47, of York, was more than an officer—he was a bridge-builder, an advocate, and a father. Originally from Bayamón, Puerto Rico, Cruz became a police officer at just 18 years old. He served for a decade before relocating to Pennsylvania, where he continued his mission …
Longtime Village Trustee, Community Leader In Croton-On-Hudson Dies
A village in Northern Westchester is mourning the loss of longtime resident and former Village Trustee William A. Ryder, who died recently at the age of 96 after decades of serving his community.
Born on January 20, 1928, and raised in Ossining, Ryder, who died on Wednesday, April 2, moved to Croton-on-Hudson in 1959—a community he came to love deeply and served tirelessly for decades, according to his obituary.
Ryder was elected three times to the Village Board of Trustees, serving from 1969 to 1975. He held the position of Deputy Mayor for five of those years and played …
Virginia Protester Who Painted ‘Hamas IS Comin’ On Union Station Statue Sentenced In DC
A Virginia man who defaced a federal monument in Washington, DC, with a pro-Hamas message during a protest outside Union Station is heading to prison for a short stay, according to federal officials.
Zaid Mohammed Mahdawi, 26, of Richmond, was sentenced on Friday, April 4, to 10 days in federal prison and six months of supervised release after pleading guilty to destruction of government property, the US Attorney’s Office for DC announced.
The incident happened on July 24, 2024, during a protest rally at Columbus Circle.
Around 3:30 p.m., Mahdawi climbed onto the Columbus statue and …
Son Shot Retired Detective Dad 4 Times With Shotgun, Killing Him In Dix Hills, DA Says
New details paint a chilling picture in the case of a retired homicide detective who was allegedly shot and killed by his adult son on Long Island.
Christopher Miller, 43, of Dix Hills, was indicted for second-degree murder in Suffolk County Court on Tuesday, April 1, in the killing of his father, retired Suffolk County Police detective John “Jack” Miller.
The elder Miller, 75, was found shot to death inside his Dix Hills residence on Bruno Lane on Wednesday, March 19, as Daily Voice reported.
Officers initially responded to another Dix Hills residence, on Seaman Neck Road, at around 7:30…
Paterson Educator Hajja Safinaz Matter Dies—Masjid Fundraiser Launched In Her Memory
A trailblazing educator who shaped generations of students has passed away.
Hajja Safinaz Matter, known to many as Tante Safi, Sr. Safi, or Ms. Safi, dedicated over 50 years of her life to teaching Arabic and inspiring young minds around the world. Her death was recently announced by her family.
She was the widow of the late Elsayed Elmenshawy and the sister of Atef, Farida, and Niveen. She was a grandmother to Ahmed, Mariam, Aly, Nour-Eldeen, Abdulrahman, Abdullah, Selma, Mohammed, Ahmed, Amaly, Yusuf, and Ameer.
Matter, a graduate of Al-Alsun specializing in Italian and French, later ear…
