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West Australian
17 hours ago
- West Australian
Rodney McWeay: Father held children in ‘house of horrors' convicted of child abuse, murder
WARNING: DISTURBING DETAILS A Georgia man has been found guilty of starving his four-year-old daughter to death in what prosecutors described as a 'house of horrors'. Rodney McWeay, 32, was convicted on June 19 of murdering his daughter, Treasure McWeay, just days before Christmas in 2023 in a case of sickening child abuse and neglect. A jury found him guilty of 14 felony charges, including malice murder, felony murder, child cruelty, false imprisonment, kidnapping, and contributing to the dependency of a minor. The case revealed a grim timeline of abuse. McWeay's three children had previously been removed from his custody in June 2023 due to unsafe living conditions, including mould and unsanitary environments, Fox 5 Atlanta reported. Prosecutors said he later abducted the children from their mother and confined them in his apartment in Atlanta, described in court as a 'house of horrors.' Investigators testified that the children were kept locked in separate rooms with no food or water. Surveillance cameras monitored their movements, and they were not allowed to leave their rooms, even to use the bathroom, per CBS affiliate WRDW . Neighbours had raised concerns. Quasheea Cokley, who lived nearby, reported hearing frequent screams and crying from the apartment and contacted Georgia's Division of Family & Children Services. Despite multiple attempts, state and law enforcement agencies were unable to make contact before Treasure's death. Police discovered the young girl unresponsive in McWeay's apartment in the days leading up to Christmas. She and her two brothers were transported to the hospital, where Treasure was later pronounced dead. A medical examiner determined she died of cardiac arrest caused by prolonged malnutrition. At just 24 pounds, her weight was well below the healthy range for a child her age. During the trial, McWeay's defence acknowledged he had made 'some wrong decisions' regarding the children's mother but claimed he never intended harm. McWeay had previously rejected a plea deal of 75 years. He now faces the possibility of multiple life sentences when sentenced in the next 30 days. Young people seeking support can phone beyondblue on 1300 22 4636 or go to
Perth Now
17 hours ago
- Perth Now
Four-year-old dies of starvation in ‘house of horrors'
WARNING: DISTURBING DETAILS A Georgia man has been found guilty of starving his four-year-old daughter to death in what prosecutors described as a 'house of horrors'. Rodney McWeay, 32, was convicted on June 19 of murdering his daughter, Treasure McWeay, just days before Christmas in 2023 in a case of sickening child abuse and neglect. A jury found him guilty of 14 felony charges, including malice murder, felony murder, child cruelty, false imprisonment, kidnapping, and contributing to the dependency of a minor. The case revealed a grim timeline of abuse. McWeay's three children had previously been removed from his custody in June 2023 due to unsafe living conditions, including mould and unsanitary environments, Fox 5 Atlanta reported. Prosecutors said he later abducted the children from their mother and confined them in his apartment in Atlanta, described in court as a 'house of horrors.' Investigators testified that the children were kept locked in separate rooms with no food or water. Surveillance cameras monitored their movements, and they were not allowed to leave their rooms, even to use the bathroom, per CBS affiliate WRDW. Neighbours had raised concerns. Quasheea Cokley, who lived nearby, reported hearing frequent screams and crying from the apartment and contacted Georgia's Division of Family & Children Services. Despite multiple attempts, state and law enforcement agencies were unable to make contact before Treasure's death. Police discovered the young girl unresponsive in McWeay's apartment in the days leading up to Christmas. She and her two brothers were transported to the hospital, where Treasure was later pronounced dead. A medical examiner determined she died of cardiac arrest caused by prolonged malnutrition. At just 24 pounds, her weight was well below the healthy range for a child her age. During the trial, McWeay's defence acknowledged he had made 'some wrong decisions' regarding the children's mother but claimed he never intended harm. McWeay had previously rejected a plea deal of 75 years. He now faces the possibility of multiple life sentences when sentenced in the next 30 days. Young people seeking support can phone beyondblue on 1300 22 4636 or go to
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Yahoo
Georgia Couple Arrested for Allegedly Leaving 3-Year-Old Child Alone in Shed 'Without Running Water or Electricity': Reports
A three-year-old boy, Bjorn Turner, was allegedly left unsupervised in a filthy shed without running water or electricity for weeks On June 2, Sarah Pombert, 34, and Joseph Turner, 35, were arrested on charges of child cruelty, per Fox 5 Atlanta They are currently being held in Douglas County Jail, facing felony charges for allegedly causing "cruel or excessive mental or physical pain"A Georgia couple has been arrested for second-degree child cruelty after being accused of keeping a three-year-old child alone in a backyard shed for weeks. On June 2, Sarah Pombert, 34, and Joseph Turner, 35, were arrested for allegedly leaving three-year-old Bjorn Turner 'unsupervised, unbathed and unclothed' in a backyard shed in Douglasville from May 1 to May 22, ABC News, Fox 5 Atlanta and the Miami Herald reported. An arrest warrant filed on May 29 by the Douglas County Sheriff's Office stated that the accused 'kept a dirty living space in a shed without running water or electricity, and left the child unsupervised, unbathed, and unclothed with criminal negligence," according to the outlets. Officials have not disclosed the child's connection to Pombert and Turner, nor have they shared how they became aware of the child being left in the space, ABC News and the Miami Herald reported. A neighbor, Matthew Govoni, alleged that the couple had lived at the home for over a decade and the shed recently 'burned down during Memorial Day weekend,' ABC News reported, citing Atlanta ABC affiliate WSB. He also allegedly told the outlet that he was 'not surprised' to hear about the child's treatment and living conditions, considering 'the lifestyle [the family] live.' "I'm saddened for them and the child, but I mean, for the child, I hope they can get to a place where they can be helped," Govoni told WSB, per ABC News. Pombert and Turner are currently being held at the Douglas County Jail. The couple faces felony charges for allegedly causing "cruel or excessive mental or physical pain" to a child, according to Douglas County jail records obtained by Fox 5 Atlanta. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. As of Friday, June 6, no defense attorney was listed for Pombert or Turner, ABC News reported, citing court records. PEOPLE has reached out to the Douglas County Sheriff's Office for comment. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Why Taco Mac's Latest Closure Feels Like a Slap in the Face
For years, Taco Mac's Midtown location on Peachtree Street was a go-to for wings, beer, and game-day crowds. But this week, the doors shut for good—and no one gave the staff a heads-up. Fox 5 Atlanta reported that according to former employees, including bartender Brandon Jovan Stephens, the closure came without warning. "I worked Saturday and Sunday like normal," he said. "Nobody told us anything." He didn't hear it from a manager, an email, or a team meeting. Like many others, Stephens found out through a text, a sign on the door, and social media posts confirming what no one at the company would explain: Taco Mac Midtown was permanently closed. "It's frustrating because it's not knowing," he said. "Just be honest. We bust our ass here." The sign taped to the door read "Permanently Closed" and included a vague note that "dedicated team members... will be offered opportunities at nearby locations." But for many staffers who relied on the Midtown gig as their primary income—some supporting families—there's no guarantee of what comes next. This closure marks the third Atlanta-area Taco Mac shutdown in two years. In 2023, the Decatur location shut down after 22 years in business. Just weeks ago, the chain shuttered its original Virginia-Highland location after 46 years, making way for a Jack Brown's Beer & Burger Joint. Midtown had been the only remaining in-town location. For Stephens and his co-workers, it feels like a gut punch. "We built a clientele with our regulars," he said. "For this place to be shut down like this was just like a slap in the face." What stings even more is the silence. No official explanation. No chance to say goodbye to coworkers or longtime customers. Just a locked door, a paper sign, and a lot of unanswered questions. Despite the setback, Stephens is trying to stay hopeful. "It affected a lot of people that worked here," he said. "But when one door closes, another one opens. That's all we can do—keep going." Why Taco Mac's Latest Closure Feels Like a Slap in the Face first appeared on Men's Journal on Jun 5, 2025
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Mike Sumler, Kool & the Gang Hype Man, Dies at 71
Mike Sumler, hype man of the Grammy Award-winning group Kool & the Gang, has died. He was 71. Sumler died in a car crash during Memorial Day weekend, according to Fox 5 Atlanta. The R&B group confirmed his death in a Wednesday post on X. More from The Hollywood Reporter Taylor Swift Buys Back Rights To Her First Six Albums Years After Scooter Braun Drama Who's Who in the Sean "Diddy" Combs Trial: Key Witnesses, Industry Enablers and Victims So Far Miley Cyrus Releases Ninth Album, 'Something Beautiful' 'We're deeply saddened to hear about the passing of our longtime wardrobe valet, Mike Sumler,' Kool & the Gang wrote. 'Mike worked alongside Kool & the Gang from 2000-2015, making sure the guys looked their best on stage every night. He also hyped the crowd with his energy and dance moves at the.' Sumler first crossed paths with the group in 1985 when he was performing with his own band, Power Pac. He looked back on the experience of meeting Kool & the Gang in a 2018 interview with Kelly Talk Show when he said that 'One of the Kool & the Gang security guys caught our act in the club in Chicago and we became friends.' He continued to travel with the group as their stylist-choreographer, but 'once they saw that I could do some other things, they said we need to have you onstage.' That's when Sumler joined the 'Get Down on It' hitmakers as their hype man; he went on to provide background vocals for their music. Kool & the Gang has earned three Grammy nominations and one win in 1979 for album of the year for their work on the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack. They received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2015 and were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame last year. Best of The Hollywood Reporter Most Anticipated Concert Tours of 2025: Beyoncé, Billie Eilish, Kendrick Lamar & SZA, Sabrina Carpenter and More Hollywood's Most Notable Deaths of 2025 Hollywood's Highest-Profile Harris Endorsements: Taylor Swift, George Clooney, Bruce Springsteen and More
