Latest news with #Edwards
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
Former Florida student schemed to overturn his conviction in friend's 2012 murder
The murder of University of Florida freshman Christian Aguilar shocked the campus and his hometown of Miami in 2012. More than a decade later, the case took stunning new turns, authorities alleging an elaborate scheme orchestrated from behind prison walls by the man convicted of killing him. Pedro Bravo was serving a life sentence in a Florida prison after he was convicted of first-degree murder and six other counts in Aguilar's death in 2014. Aguilar had been dating Bravo's former girlfriend Erika Friman, who was also a high school friend of the two men. "I was the art kid, and I was cracking jokes... and now I'm in a place where there's hardened criminals, people that have done serious things, and to add to all that, they're also calling me my best friend's killer," Pedro Bravo told "20/20" in his only interview before his death in March 2025. A new "20/20" episode, "They Know Everything," airing Friday, June 20, at 9 p.m. ET on ABC and streaming the next day on Hulu, examines the case. You can also 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. In May 2025, two people pleaded guilty for their roles in what prosecutors called a plot by Bravo to overturn his conviction. Kelcie Edwards pleaded guilty to fraud for providing false testimony, while Michael Angelo pleaded guilty to perjury for falsely recanting his original trial testimony. According to investigators, the supposed plot unraveled after they discovered that Edwards was connected to Bravo through a fellow inmate, Brandon Campbell, with whom Edwards had two children. Digging into Edwards' phone and financial records, investigators uncovered a cache of secret messages and Cash App transactions between Bravo and Edwards. "They know everything," Campbell said to Edwards in one of a series of recorded calls which helped investigators uncover Bravo's alleged scheme. Campbell was not charged in the case and authorities said he was fully cooperative in the investigation. Investigators said Edwards claimed to be an eyewitness who saw Aguilar walk away alive after a fight with Bravo in 2012. Once the connection between Edwards and Campbell was discovered, the rest of Bravo's plan came to light, according to authorities. "I'm shocked by the complexity of it and the depth of it," State Attorney Brian Kramer told "20/20." "The amount of subterfuge, lies and creation of false evidence, is beyond what we would ever see." Around the same time Edwards came forward, Angelo, who had testified at Bravo's original trial about an alleged jailhouse confession, recanted his testimony. He previously testified that Bravo revealed details about the murder that only the killer would know. The elaborate plot by Bravo was his final attempt at freedom in a decade-long saga that began as a missing persons case in September 2012. It was then that Aguilar vanished after a routine day on the University of Florida campus. Aguilar's disappearance was first reported by his girlfriend Erika Friman, and Bravo, his high school best friend. The connection between the three former classmates from Miami's Doral Academy Charter School would later prove crucial to understanding the crime. While Bravo claimed to be "OK" with Friman dating his best friend, his private journals told a different story. "Every time that we would ask him questions, it seemed the version would change a little bit," former Gainesville Police Detective Randy Roberts told "20/20" in reference to Bravo's evolving explanations of what happened the day Aguilar disappeared. For three weeks, hundreds of volunteers searched the dense woods and swamps around Gainesville for any sign of Aguilar. His father, Carlos Aguilar, told "20/20" he made a promise: "We're not leaving. We don't care if we lose the house. We don't care if we lose everything. Christian is missing, we are going to find Christian." Meanwhile, evidence began contradicting Bravo's story. Police found surveillance footage of him cleaning his vehicle at 1 a.m. at a local car wash, focusing particularly on the undercarriage. A receipt showed he had purchased a shovel and Gatorade from Lowes. The investigation took a turn when forensic analysis of Bravo's computer revealed disturbing searches including "Where can I bury a body?" and "How many sleeping pills will it take to kill someone?" In October 2012, hunters discovered Aguilar's body in a shallow grave in Levy County. Bravo was charged with first-degree murder and later convicted. It wasn't until over a decade later, in correspondence with Edwards about his scheme to overturn his conviction, that Bravo finally admitted to killing Aguilar, although his version of events differed from what prosecutors alleged. "He said that they fought and he left him there, like he'd said in trial, but this time he admitted that Christian passed away in his car. He panicked, and ultimately went out and buried him," prosecutor Tom Mullins told "20/20." "To my knowledge, other than the confession he made to Mr. Angelo, this was the first time he'd ever come close to actually confessing to that murder." On March 12, 2025, Bravo died by suicide at the Okeechobee Correctional Institution. His death came shortly before Edwards and Angelo pleaded guilty to their roles in Bravo's failed scheme. Angelo was sentenced to seven years in prison, while Edwards will serve five years' probation.
NBC Sports
a day ago
- Automotive
- NBC Sports
Chad Reed heads six-person list for the 2025 AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame
Chad Reed is one of six inductees to the 2025 AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame, with ceremonies scheduled for October 23 in Pickerington, Ohio. In addition to Reed, the 2025 Hall of Fame Class includes Dana Bell, Chris Carter, Colin Edwards, Joe Kopp, and Ryan Young. 'This distinguished group of motorcyclists exemplifies the spirit, diversity, and dedication of the motorcycling community,' said AMA President and CEO Rob Dingman in a news release. 'Each has made a lasting impact on our sport and lifestyle — whether through competition, advocacy, innovation, or inspiration. Their contributions, from racetracks to legislative chambers to the open road, have shaped motorcycling as we know it, and we are proud to recognize them with this well-deserved honor.' Reed's success in Supercross and Motocross spans more than two decades, including the 2004 and 2008 Supercross premier championships, as well as the 2009 Pro Motocross 450 title. During his career, he earned 61 victories in the combined disciplines. Reed is joined by another dirt bike racer. Kopp won the 2000 AMA Grand National Championship as well as the AMA Supertracker National Championships in 1999 and 2000. He amassed 21 career wins in AMA Grand National competition (17th on the all-time list) and 81 podiums (ninth). Edwards achieved the nomination for his road racing prowess. Edwards won the 1992 AMA 250cc Grand Prix Championship in his first professional season. He also won the 2000 and 2002 World Superbike titles, with 31 victories in World Superbikes. Edwards won three Suzuka 8-Hour Endurance Races and scored 12 podium finishes in MotoGP. Bell's nomination came in the category of Leadership and Rights, Carter's in the category of Ambassador and Industry, and Young's in the Specialty Competition category. More SuperMotocross News Chance Hymas injures knee at High Point High Point 450 Results | 250 Results Jett Lawrence wins High Point overall; Eli Tomac takes Moto 2 Haiden Deegan shrugs off last week, sweeps High Point Jett Lawrence stalls in High Point Moto 1, recovers, wins Haiden Deegan wins High Point 250 Moto 1, restarts streak High Point 450 Qualification | 250 Qualification Cameron McAdoo update High Point Betting Preview Reid Taylor to make debut at High Point
Metro
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Metro
Jurassic World Rebirth embraces hardcore horror: 'I waited for studio to say no'
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Jurassic World Rebirth's director 'cranked up' the scare-factor in the new dinosaur film, bringing the franchise back to its horror roots. British filmmaker Gareth Edwards helms the latest movie in the Jurassic universe, which first hit screens in 1993 with original director Steven Spielberg's Jurassic Park. The film had a huge impact on popular culture's perception of prehistoric creatures, including Velociraptor and Triceratops – as well as the big baddie, the Tyrannosaurus Rex, a 40-foot-long carnivorous dinosaur. Spielberg and screenwriter David Koepp kept audiences tense and terrified with the stealth and size of the T-Rex, as well as creating classic cinematic tropes, such as water rippling in a glass as the massive beast approached for its grand onscreen reveal. Speaking at Jurassic World Rebirth's London premiere on Tuesday, 50-year-old Edwards said he wanted to make the new movie as scary as possible. 'I feel like the original Jurassic Park is really a horror movie on the witness protection programme, pretending to be a family adventure – but we all know it's a scary horror film,' he told Metro when asked about returning to the franchise's horror beginnings. 'It was just a really good excuse – especially as being an adult now, it's harder to get scared. So we just cranked that up a little bit and wanted to go as far as we could.' However, he confessed that he didn't think Universal would let him get away with as much horror content as they did. 'I kept waiting for the studio to come along and say, 'No, no, no – think of the kids, stop' – and they never did! I think they felt the same way and kids are a lot more mature than we give them credit [for and they want to be scared.' Edwards likened the thrills and scares of Jurassic World Rebirth to a theme park ride. 'It's like a roller-coaster where you're safe, a dinosaur's not going to come out and get you after you finish the film, I don't think – but you never know.' 'The movie felt like that; you want to be afraid. You want to go in and feel the tension and get the anxiety. I've probably failed at my job if not.' Edwards, who is also known for helming 2016's Rogue One: A Star Wars Story as well as original sci-fi The Creator, was announced as director for the film in February 2024 before its cast – including self-confessed Jurassic 'total nerd' Scarlett Johansson and Wicked star Jonathan Bailey – later came onboard for a five-month shoot. Jurassic World Rebirth has teased dinosaurs such as Mosasaurus, Spinosaurus and Quetzalcoatlus, as well as, of course, the return of the T-Rex. There's also a new main antagonist, the Distortus rex, the design of which was inspired by the xenomorphs of the Alien franchise. Set 32 years after dinosaurs were brought back from extinction thanks to the events of Jurassic Park, Jurassic World Rebirth follows a top-secret expedition including Johannson's former military operative Zora Bennett, Bailey's bespectacled palaeontologist Dr Henry Loomis, Rupert Friend as pharmaceutical rep Martin Krebs and Mahershala Ali's team leader Duncan Kincaid. The group braves the forbidden isolated equatorial regions where dinosaurs still roam freely to extract DNA from three massive prehistoric creatures in the hopes of a major medical breakthrough. More Trending Jurassic World Rebirth is the seventh feature-length film in the series, which also includes sequels 1997's The Lost World and 2001's Jurassic Park III as well as a rebooted phase started with 2015's Jurassic World. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video This was followed by Jurassic Park: Fallen Kingdom (2018) and Jurassic World Dominion (2022), which brought together stars from across the years including Sam Neill, Jeff Goldblum, Laura Dern, Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard. Koepp returned to pen the new film after exiting following The Lost World, while Spielberg remains on board as an executive producer. Jurassic World Rebirth is released in cinemas on Wednesday, July 2. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: 'Mind-bending' horror film available to stream for free as sequel wows critics MORE: Phenomenal 28 Years Later is the first horror film to make me cry MORE: Jodie Comer talks through her character's agonising journey in unseen 28 Years Later clip
Yahoo
a day ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
North Dakota Juneteenth celebrations draw more interest and awareness in 2025, organizers say
Jerome Zamgba speaks on stage during the Jamestown Juneteenth event on June 12, 2025. He served on the planning committee for the event. (Photo contributed by Lisa Lang/Happy Mermaid Photography) Sharing culture. Sharing history. Bringing the community together. That's how people should commemorate Juneteenth, according to North Dakota organizers and advocates for the federal holiday. Juneteenth events across the state kicked off last week in Jamestown, but more community celebrations are scheduled in Fargo, Grand Forks, Minot, Moorhead and Bismarck in coming days, giving North Dakotans a chance to commune with neighbors, families and friends. One of the featured speakers at the upcoming Juneteenth events, Frederick Edwards Jr. of Fargo, said he's noticed an expanded interest in the still relatively new national holiday. He said sharing the commemoration with a wide swath of people is a way for members of the Black community to share their collective history with those who may not have been exposed to it. 'Because it is no longer seen as a secretive, mystery event, I think it does get a pedigree of importance,' Edwards said. 'People are OK even talking about Juneteenth, whereas three or four years ago a person wouldn't have even asked me what I'm doing for Juneteenth.' Edwards founded a nonprofit focused on creating connections through cultural exchanges called Fred's Dissonance. He said the holiday commemorates African Americans overcoming chattel slavery, and the sharing of that history with people from every generation can bring communities closer together. He said celebrations of Juneteenth happened every year in the Twin Cities and other communities where Edwards lived even if it had only become a national holiday in 2021. He said the holiday is similar to an African-American independence day. 'People celebrate collectively at my events, and I know all across America they are having Juneteenth events that people can tap into,' Edwards said. Former North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum signed a bill in 2021 that recognizes June 19 as Juneteenth to commemorate the ending of slavery. Still, it is not an official North Dakota state holiday. Several county courthouses are closed. Gov. Kelly Amstrong issued a Juneteenth proclamation that stated the national holiday recognizes 'the triumph of the human spirit over slavery' and commemorates the 'strength and resolve of Black Americans throughout our national history.' The holiday is growing. Edwards said he used to have to solicit donations from communities in order to have the funds to put on some of his events, but he doesn't have to do that anymore because of expanded knowledge and engagement around Juneteenth. People have access to free digital toolkits through the National Museum of African American History and Culture for organizers to use to set up their own Juneteenth events, or for anyone to learn more about the holiday on their own, he added. If organizations or groups need help planning a future Juneteenth event, Edwards said he'd also be willing to give them advice on how to organize the celebration, no matter the size of the city or town. 'My philosophy is community power sharing. My liberation is your healing,' he said. Lyn Dockter-Pinnick, chair of the North Dakota Human Rights Coalition Board, said Juneteenth is more important than ever as some people attempt to 'whitewash' American history and demonize previously celebrated ideals like diversity, equity and inclusion. 'For the community that is honoring Juneteenth to allow the rest of us in, first of all, I think is amazing,' Dockter-Pinnick said. 'And secondly, including all of us is a way to recognize the diversity of this country and just never forget where we've been.' Edwards attended the second annual Juneteenth event in Jamestown earlier this month and said he was inspired to see about 250 people attend — even in the rain. Heather McDougall, chair of the planning committee for Jamestown's Juneteenth event, said people in the community seemed more receptive to the event this year. 'The first year was such a good success and really showed people that it is a celebration,' McDougall said. 'It's about celebrating everyone in our community and our country's evolution, and honoring all of that.' She said the planning committee tripled in size, from four to 12, for this year's event. 'I think we more than doubled our fundraising, which was essential to pull off this year's event,' McDougall said. To commemorate the holiday, McDougall suggested connecting with people who are celebrating and asking questions. 'Just be open, and curious, and ready to learn,' she said. 'It's the value of community. No matter who you are, what you look like, just knowing that there are people who are willing to show up for each other in that kind of a setting, that just builds bonds that can go so much further than the event itself.' Jerome Zamgba, a member of Jamestown's Juneteenth planning committee, is an immigrant from Liberia who came to the United States in 2006. After living in Pennsylvania, he moved to Jamestown in 2019 and opened JayCon Grocery. He said he met Edwards at the 2023 Juneteenth event in Fargo, which prompted him to help bring a similar celebration to Jamestown the following year. 'If we talk about celebrating this holiday, we talk about celebrating Americans,' Zamgba said. 'What we want to do is to bring people together, not just Africans, or African Americans, but everybody to come together to celebrate this.' He said the Emancipation Proclamation was about more than just ending slavery. 'It was a good thing for America to have a better image of our country, of our people, and the things that happened, to do away with them and just come together,' he said. Zamgba said the Jamestown Juneteenth planning group hopes to introduce a new event next year in Valley City. 'Everything starts from somewhere,' he said. Upcoming Juneteenth events will be held on: June 19 in Moorhead, Minn., on the Bell Tower lawn near the Knutson Campus Center at Concordia College from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. June 19 in Grand Forks at University Park from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. June 21 in Fargo at Black Coffee and Waffle Bar from noon to 3 p.m. and Broadway Square from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. June 21 in Minot at Oak Park from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 28 in Bismarck at Kiwanis Park from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Powys County Times
a day ago
- Powys County Times
Cocaine courier found with drugs in BMW in Powys sentenced
A drug addicted cocaine courier who brought in almost £5,000 worth of drugs into Wales has been spared an immediate jail term. Police stopped Reece Williams, 24, in Llangedwyn, north Powys, with nearly 28 grams of cocaine in the driver's side of the BMW he was driving after collecting the package from Birmingham in July 2023. The Pwllheli man was jailed for 18 months, suspended for 18 months, after admitting possessing with intent to supply cocaine and being concerned in the supply of the Class A drug. Sentencing, Williams at Caernarfon Crown Court on Thursday, June 19, Judge Nicola Jones said: "You clearly were trusted bringing almost £5,000 of cocaine into the country but I accept that you had limited financial gain from a drug to which you were addicted." Prosecution barrister Dafydd Roberts said messages on seized mobile phones showed Williams had been involved with dealing drugs over a two-week period between June 25 and July 8, 2023. The court was told that the street value of seized drugs was between £4,800 and £6,075. "In fairness to the defendant, he was selling at a cost price and there is no suggestion that he was making an advantage with the amount," Mr Roberts said. Williams had admitted to police that the drug found in his car was cocaine and that he was a regular user. It took 19 months before Williams was charged in February this year which the prosecuting barrister said the delay was not the defendant's fault but "due to the volume of work for North Wales Police". 'Sheer desperation' Williams' barrister Richard Edwards said the 24-year-old's life has changed "dramatically" since his arrest. "He fell into the unfortunate and all familiar trap of ever-increasing addiction to drugs and debts that led to homelessness and the supply of drugs which he was addicted to and taking in some considerable amount," Mr Edwards explained. "He says his involvement was not brought about from threats but from his sheer desperation and hopeless situation that he found himself. "He was arrested after travelling from Birmingham with drugs which were bound for North Wales. "The arrest was the wake up call the defendant needed. He had been homeless, sleeping on friends' sofas, mixing in an environment where drug taking was a daily routine. "He has moved out of the area and stopped mixing with those people. "He is now a mobile mechanic who is slowly building up a business in Birmingham and North Wales. He's trying to increase work in North Wales because that is where he hopes to settle in future. "He is taking it slowly because he is not taking these proceedings lightly. He doesn't want to let people down should the worst happen to this young man who is showing good insight and empathy for others." Mr Edwards said he had remained abstinent from drugs, adding: "Rehabilitation has no doubt been assisted by the probation service following motoring matters in the magistrates' court. "He complied with the order and there were no breach proceedings. He has clearly taken in the input that probation has been able to provide." 'Turned your life around' Judge Jones told Williams that she considered him an "immature individual" at the time of his offending because "men's brains do not fully develop until they are 25 years old". "You have shown to the court that you are capable of rehabilitation because in the time of the delay of this case you have not committed further offences and got yourself working and turned your life around,' the judge said. "There will be no punitive element. This is a prison sentence albeit suspended which is a sufficient punishment for you. "This young man has taken great steps to set himself in business and I don't want that to crush him financially."
