Harvey Weinstein’s third Manhattan sex crime trial ended today with yet another hung jury, as four women on the panel voted to clear him of raping actress Jessica Mann in 2013.
The deadlock reportedly happened just after 1:00 p.m. today, marking the second time a jury could not reach a unanimous decision in this situation. Reports indicate that 9 out of the 12 jurors were prepared to acquit Weinstein, including all of the female jurors. Three male jurors reportedly remained firmly committed to conviction, and neither side was willing to budge. With that, the former Miramax executive now faces another hung jury.
Jurors were reportedly upset that they could not come back with a verdict, with tensions and heated debates breaking out during deliberations. In many ways, it sounds exactly like 12 Angry Men… and in cases like this, perhaps it should. That is the way the justice system was designed to work. Debate, disagreement, and scrutiny are all part of the process. But in this particular case, an agreement simply could not be reached.
Even the most ardent opponents of the death penalty are having trouble grappling with the murder trial of Tanner Horner. Horner, a FedEx delivery driver, drove past the home of Athena Strand, a 7-year-old girl, and is accused of abducting her and killing her in a slow, brutal manner.
He ultimately pleaded guilty to killing Athena after making a delivery at her home.
His initial story, however, was far different. Horner claimed he accidentally struck the girl with his vehicle, then panicked. According to him, he placed her in his van to avoid telling her father what had happened. He said he tried to break her neck, and when that failed, he strangled her.
Prosecutors made it clear to the jury that this version of events didn’t hold up. The evidence told a much darker story.
During the trial, jurors were forced to listen to a series of deeply disturbing audio recordings. These recordings reportedly captured Horner repeatedly abusing Athena before ultimately killing her. It was, by all accounts, a mentally exhausting and emotionally devastating presentation—one that underscored just how brutal this crime truly was.
On Thursday, April 16, 2026, jurors were shown surveillance footage and audio from inside Horner’s delivery truck, including portions capturing Athena’s final moments before her death..
Jurors watched video showing Horner pulling up to the girl’s home and walking back toward his truck with Athena following behind him, before lifting her inside and shutting the door.
They then heard audio from inside the truck in which Athena repeatedly asked, “Are you a kidnapper?” and “Where are you taking me?” as Horner warned her not to scream or he would hurt her. At one point, he told her, “You’re really pretty, you know that?” before ordering her to remove her shirt. She refused and asked for her mother.
The audio included crying, screaming and banging, prompting jurors to sob and appear visibly shaken. Some of Athena’s family members left the courtroom during the playback.
The breadth of depravity in this case is undeniable.
What makes it even more haunting is the detail that the package Horner delivered that day was meant for Athena herself—a set of “You Can Be Anything” Barbie dolls. That small, innocent detail only amplifies the cruelty of what followed.
Many true crime watchers have questioned why Horner was not charged with additional sex crimes, especially given indications that something more may have occurred. One possible explanation is strategic: prosecutors already secured a capital murder case, which carries a sentence of life without parole or the death penalty. Adding more charges may not have changed the ultimate outcome.
There are also growing questions surrounding FedEx and its hiring practices. Athena’s father has publicly criticized the company, suggesting that background check failures may have allowed Horner to be hired despite prior disqualifying information. Civil litigation could follow, potentially bringing additional details to light in another courtroom.
This is one of those cases that cuts through everything—legal arguments, moral debates, even long-held beliefs about punishment. The sheer brutality, the inhumanity of it, has shaken a lot of people.
Sentencing is next.
And in a case like this, there won’t be tears shed for Tanner Horner if the death penalty is the final outcome..
All kinds of online how are breaking out about this one. An assistant to the US District Attorney New York apparently wrote an email late 2020 that the Epstein death was being investigated as a murder. This Revelation came in the documents about Jeffrey Epstein that have been released online, and it created a firestorm amongst many when it was discovered and shared..
From the email:
“I’m an AUSA in EDNY and am working on an investigation into the death of an inmate at the Brooklyn MDC,” the email reads, written by the individual – whose name was redacted – identifying themselves as a DOJ attorney, and to a recipient whose name was also redacted.
“The [Office of the Chief Medical Examiner] told me that it signed a confidentiality agreement in connection with the investigation into the murder of Jeffrey Epstein. We were hoping to extend a similar agreement and I wanted to see if you could share the agreement (or a boilerplate version of it). I’m happy to speak over the phone if that’s easier.”
The FBI is increasing its reward to $100,000 for information leading to the location of Nancy Guthrie or an arrest. They described the suspect seen in doorbell footage as a 5’9” – 5’10” tall male with an average build.
• Multiple gloves found: Evidence recovered by investigators includes multiple gloves. It’s unclear whether authorities believe they were worn by the suspect.
• Day 12 of investigation: Guthrie’s Tucson neighbors have been asked to submit any footage from doorbell cameras that includes cars and people from about four weeks before the 84-year-old went missing. Meanwhile, “Today” show anchor Savannah Guthrie shared a home video of her mother, saying “we will never give up on her.”
The strange case of Savannah sugar Nancy guthrie, Savannah Guthrie’s mother continues. Just hours after video was released showing a doorbell ring cam being obscured by a masked suspect, we have this information
There are new developments today in the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, mother of Savannah Guthrie. The FBI has now released surveillance footage of a potential suspect believed to be connected to the case. According to authorities, the individual was cloaked in a ski mask and dressed in a jacket and pants, wearing black gloves and carrying a backpack.
In the first video shared, the subject can be seen slowly approaching the front door with a hunched posture. The individual appears to look around cautiously before reaching toward the camera and covering it. After stepping back, the person searches the ground briefly, steps off the front porch, and pulls a plant from the lawn.
In a second clip, the plant appears to be placed directly in front of the camera, further obscuring the view. At one point, the individual seems to be holding what looks like a flashlight in their mouth while manipulating the camera.
The timing of this footage release is interesting. It comes just as a Super Bowl advertisement highlighted Ring cameras and their network capabilities, showing how connected doorbell cameras can help locate something as simple as a lost puppy. It was a feel-good ad reminder of how technology can work collectively and is all connected.. we would assume the same exists here ??
In this case, however, it appears the suspect may have been attempting to disable or obstruct a Ring camera .. though clear footage of the individual exists before that effort.
Another detail some viewers have pointed out is the outfit itself. The ski mask and overall appearance have drawn comparisons to the look worn by the Riddler in the 2022 film The Batman. We don’t know the actual color of the clothing from the footage released, but the mask immediately sparked that association for some observers.
And in a strange, almost symbolic twist, the case itself has felt like one long riddle — with ongoing questions, cryptic elements, and unusual developments continuing to surface. The story remains active, and authorities say the investigation is ongoing.
Savannah Guthrie called on the public for help and detailed the ongoing “nightmare” of her mother Nancy’s kidnapping in an Instagram video posted on Monday.
“We believe our mom is still out there,” Guthrie said in the video. “We need your help. Law enforcement is working tirelessly, around the clock, trying to bring her home, trying to find her.”
“We are at an hour of desperation and we need your help,” she added
Did you hear the one that Jeffrey Epstein was still alive playing Fortnite? You probably did. It’s an online rumor. It’s being reported in mainstream news. But there’s also reporting that Epic Games has attempted to debunk the notion.
We’ll explain. Or try to.
What Actually Happened
The speculation began after recently released DOJ documents related to Jeffrey Epstein included a reference to a YouTube username reportedly linked to him: “littlestjeff1.”
Around the same time, online sleuths noticed that a Fortnite account using the same name appeared on third-party tracking sites. Some of those tracking sites showed gameplay statistics extending beyond Epstein’s reported death in August 2019 .. and even into more recent seasons!
That was enough to ignite the everything that needed to be to make this into a story.
Adding to the intrigue, people began circulating claims that the account had purchased V-Bucks (Fortnite’s in-game currency) in 2019. Screenshots and stat pages were shared widely. Then, as attention intensified, the account reportedly went private which only fueled further speculation.
Epic Games has publicly stated that the account in question is not Jeffrey Epstein. According to reporting, a regular player changed their display name to “littlestjeff1” after the Epstein documents were released. Third-party tracking websites show current display names, not historical ownership records — meaning a name match does not equal identity confirmation.
Epic also reportedly stated they have no record tying Epstein’s known email addresses to any Fortnite account.
There is no verified evidence that Epstein had an active Fortnite account, and no evidence that he is alive playing the game.
As if that wasn’t enough, the UK Daily Mail published a photo that some online commentators claim resembles Epstein — older, with facial hair, appearing in a casual outdoor setting. Predictably, the image began circulating alongside the Fortnite rumors.
But again, resemblance alone is not verification.
There has been no credible authentication of the photo as showing Epstein, and no official confirmation supporting claims that he survived his 2019 death. Viral images, especially in high-profile cases, can spread rapidly before context or verification catches up.
The Bigger Picture
Online communities will continue to sleuth. That’s what we do. And rumors will continue to be generated, that’s also what happens from sleuthing.
But what’s important is that as a human species we need more answers.
However the investigation is over. So we won’t get them, at least from law enforcement..
The lack of further investigation of the files makes that even more painful. Gaps invite speculation. Silence invites narrative. And in the age of screenshots and stat trackers, coincidence can look like confirmation in seconds.
The search for Savannah Guthrie’s mother, Nancy, continues tonight, and above all, this is still about a family desperately wanting their loved one home safe. Law enforcement confirmed today that a person has been arrested in connection with sending a fake Bitcoin ransom note. Authorities say that note was not connected to whoever may actually be responsible for Nancy’s disappearance, but it certainly added another unsettling layer to an already disturbing situation..
Yesterday, the Guthrie family released a heartfelt video pleading for Karen’s safe return. It was emotional, direct, and clearly difficult for them to make. However, there is one particular moment from the video that has caught the attention of some viewers. Savannah’s words — and even the delivery — closely mirror the plea delivered by the mother of the abducted girl in The Silence of the Lambs. The phrasing, the head movement, even the pause .. it’s strikingly similar.
Some people are wondering what that means, if anything at all. Others have speculated whether this could reflect a long-standing FBI approach to family appeals .. perhaps a tactic that was dramatized in The Silence of the Lambs, rather than invented by it.
It’s also entirely possible that it’s coincidence. When families are under extreme stress, they may lean on familiar language or structured guidance provided by investigators.
Either way, the case has felt unusual from the beginning. Developments like this, small but noticeable, continue to add to the aura of strangeness surrounding the story. But the central focus remains unchanged: a woman is missing, and her family wants her home safely.
As always, we should approach this carefully and respectfully. Behind the headlines and online speculation, this is a real family going through something unimaginable.
Bill Gates issued an apology today regarding his past association with Jeffrey Epstein, acknowledging that the relationship was a serious error in judgment.
During an exclusive interview, Gates addressed renewed scrutiny surrounding documents that have recently resurfaced. He did not explicitly deny reports about an alleged email referencing a sexually transmitted disease and medication given to his ex-wife. Instead, he claimed the message in question was only a draft and was never actually sent.
At the same time, his ex-wife has publicly stated that the renewed attention is bringing back painful memories.
However, neither side in the divorce has confirmed or denied the specific allegations being circulated including claims involving a woman and an alleged STD connected to the Microsoft founder.
The larger backdrop to all of this is massive: the files tied to the Epstein investigation reportedly total 3.1 million pages. As people continue combing through the documents, it’s clear that more revelations and more reverberations are likely still to come.
