Missing Middlebury College student Lia Smith has officially been confirmed dead.
Smith, 21, was reported missing by her father on Sunday, Oct. 19, two days after she was last seen on campus. A body was discovered near the college by Vermont State Police on Thursday, Oct. 23, and an autopsy has now confirmed that it is that of Smith, per a press release from the Vermont Police Department (VPD) shared on Friday, Oct. 24.
The Vermont Chief Medical Examiner’s Office determined that Smith died by suicide, per the release.
PEOPLE reached out to both the VPD and the Medical Examiner’s Office for comment on Saturday, Oct. 25, but did not receive an immediate response.
Middlebury College president Ian Baucom announced the news to the campus community in a statement on Facebook on Saturday, sharing that he had spoken to Smith’s family and expressed his “heartbreak” to them.
Lia Smith. Middlebury Police Department
“As president, and far more as a fellow parent, I ache for them. This is a profound loss that nobody should have to endure,” he continued.
“As we mourn, I want to express my deep appreciation for the efforts of our Student Affairs staff who have been offering such compassionate support to Lia’s family, friends and students across our community. We will continue to support them in every way possible,” Baucom said.
He noted that Smith, who was from Woodside, Calif., was a “remarkable person.”
“She was a diver on our Women’s Swimming and Diving team, a member of our Chess and Japanese clubs, and an articulate advocate of transgender rights. Her academic interests were broad, and she was pursuing a double major in computer science and statistics. She was a gift to us, and we are so grateful that she was — and will always remain — a member of our Middlebury family,” he added.
Members of the Vermont State Police and Rescue Team found Smith’s body in Cornwall, Vt., near the college’s organic farm, the Middlebury Police Department said in a statement.
Middlebury students had joined authorities in the search for Smith, per MyNBC5.
“We’re a really small community,” senior Lucy Schembre told the local news outlet during the search efforts. “Even if you don’t know someone personally, you definitely know somebody who knows them, and you’ve definitely seen them around. It’s very jarring for somebody who’s supposed to be here, to not be here.”
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health challenges, emotional distress, substance use problems, or just needs to talk, call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org 24/7.
Warning: This article contains discussion of sexual assault allegations which some readers may find distressing.
Ex-Playboy model Kendra Wilkinson revealed that she’d been to ‘one or two’ of Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ parties and spoke about what she saw.
On May 5, the trial of 55-year-old rapper Diddy, who was charged with sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution last year, began.
The rapper has plead not guilty to the charges against him and has repeatedly denied all allegations of wrongdoing.
The star was detained at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York, after his arrest on September 16, 2024.
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ trial began earlier this week (Shareif Ziyadat / Contributor / Getty)
An indictment reads: “After Freak Offs, Combs and the victims typically received IV fluids to recover from the physical exertion and drug use.”
Prosecutors have also accused the Bad Boy Records founder of recording sex acts – sometimes without the victim’s knowledge – during these ‘freak offs’. Judge Arun Subramanian, who has been on the federal bench since 2023, will preside over the Diddy case.
One famous face who has confirmed that she’d attended a couple of P Diddy parties in the past is Kendra Wilkinson, one of Hugh Hefner’s former girlfriends.
In an interview with KIIS FM host Jackie ‘O’ Henderson, Wilkinson was asked about ‘going to P Diddy’s parties back in the day’.
She replied: “I remember just going to like one or two, but again, like I had a great time in my youth.
Kendra Wilkinson admitted to attending a couple of Diddy’s infamous events (Paul Archuleta / Contributor / Getty)
“Like, I didn’t really see anything. Like I never saw anything really bad happening around me. Sex is sex, in my opinion.”
When asked if she saw anything abnormal to that of a typical ‘Hollywood party,’ Wilkinson responded: “Look, you’re going to the Playboy Mansion. You know, there’s girls topless in the grotto.
“Don’t we already know that. […] [The Mansion] was pretty nasty. You know, there was dog poop everywhere and Hef [Hefner] would wobble by and just pick it up with his bare hands.”
Wilkinson has previously spoken out about how Playboy ‘really messed [her] whole life up’.
She ultimately resolved about her experiences with Diddy: “I’m not saying that something bad didn’t happen. I’m saying that, you know, nothing bad ever happened to me.”
A timeline of events leading to Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ trial
November 2023: Cassie Ventura files a civil lawsuit against Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs
Musician and Diddy’s ex-partner, Cassie Ventura, filed a lawsuit accusing him of rape and years of abuse. She said he used his power to ‘set the groundwork’ for a ‘manipulative and coercive romantic and sexual relationship.’ The lawsuit was settled out of court the day after for an undisclosed amount.
February 2024: Another lawsuit filed
Music producer Rodney ‘Lil Rod’ Jones filed a lawsuit alleging Combs ‘sexually harassed, drugged and threatened him’, as reported by NBC. Combs’ lawyer Erica Wolff quickly fired back at Jones’ claims saying: “Mr. Jones’s lawsuit is pure fiction — a shameless attempt to create media hype and extract a quick settlement.”
March 25, 2024: Federal raids
Diddy’s properties in LA, Miami and New York were raided by Homeland Security after they served search warrants in the early hours of the morning. The raid was in connection with a sex trafficking investigation – which is one of the charges Diddy is facing.
May 17, 2024: Assault video released
CNN released a video which showed Diddy attacking ex-partner Cassie Ventura in the hallway of a hotel. The video is said to be from 2016. The video mirrors the assault allegations Cassie made in her lawsuit against the disgraced music mogul.
May 19, 2024: Public apology
Diddy posted a video to his Instagram and Facebook accounts, apologising for the assault on Cassie. He said in part: “So difficult to reflect on the darkest times in your life, sometimes you got to do that. I was f**ked up.
“I mean I hit rock bottom, but I make no excuses, my behaviour in that video is inexcusable. I take full responsibility for my actions in that video, I’m disgusted.”
September 16, 2024: Federal arrest
Combs was arrested in Manhattan after a grand jury indicted him on charges of sex trafficking and racketeering. Diddy is charged with racketeering conspiracy, two charges of sex trafficking and two charges of transportation to engage in prostitution, as reported by the BBC. These also include accusations of kidnapping and drugging his victims.
October 10, 2024: Trial date set
A federal judge set May 5, 2025, as the start date for Diddy’s trial.
February 21, 2025: Diddy’s defense Attorney quits
Anthony Ricco, one of Diddy’s defense attorneys withdrew from the high profile case citing an inability to continue effectively representing him. He said at the time: “Under no circumstances can I continue to effectively serve as counsel for Sean Combs, consistent with the ABA Standards for Criminal Justice.
“While I am aware that the Local Rule requires that an application for withdrawal of counsel is supported and granted ‘only upon a showing by affidavit or otherwise of satisfactory reasons for withdrawal,’ there are sufficient reasons (related to the protections afforded by the attorney/client privilege) for brevity in my application for withdrawal as counsel in this case.”
May 5, 2025: Trial begins
Jury selection commenced in Manhattan federal court, marking the official start of Diddy’s trial.
At least one person has died and six have been injured in a shooting at a university campus.
The shooting happened at Lincoln University in Pennsylvania, and seven people were hit by gunfire outside the university’s International Cultural Center during homecoming celebrations after a football game, police have said.
Several people were also treated for injuries at the scene after being knocked to the ground and trampled on as people ran for cover.
Lincoln University is around 55 miles west of Philadelphia, and is described on its website as ‘the nation’s first degree-granting Historically Black College and University.’
It is understood that police have taken one person carrying a firearm into custody.
Authorities have since spoken of a ‘devastating’ night.
The shooting happened outside the International Cultural Center (Kyle Mazza/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Chester County District Attorney Christopher de Barrena-Sarobe said (via CNN): “We’re devastated to announce tonight that one person has died, six other people have been struck by gunfire.”
He added: “This is a devastating night. It was a chaotic scene, and people fled in every direction.”
De Barrena-Sarobe went on to say that authorities are still piecing together exactly how the tragic events unfolded, as he continued to say: “We don’t have a lot of answers about exactly what happened. We are investigating with the full power of federal, state and local law enforcement.”
Police have yet to determine a possible motive for the attack, with officials also saying that they don’t believe it was a planned mass shooting, according to ABC News.
De Barrena-Sarobe said that the tragedy does not at present appear to be ‘where someone came in with the design to inflict mass damage on a college campus’.
A statement from the Chester County District Attorney said: “Local, state, and federal law enforcement are investigating the shooting at Lincoln University. At this time, seven gunshot victims have been identified.
Authorities are investigating the tragic incident (Kyle Mazza/Anadolu via Getty Images)
“The public should continue to avoid the area around the University. If anyone has information about this investigation, please call 1-800-CALLFBI.”
Authorities have said that people who were hit were taken to the hospital in Delaware for treatment; however, the severity of their condition has not been confirmed.
Officials have confirmed that the campus itself is no longer under lockdown; however, the area where the shooting took place remains an active crime scene.
The university has also confirmed that counselling services will be available to anyone affected by the shooting in a post to its Instagram page.
Governor Josh Shapiro posted on social media that he had been briefed on the attack and offered his condolences to the university.
He said: “Join Lori and me in praying for the Lincoln University community.”
Virginia attorney general candidate Jay Jones faced new political fallout Friday after a report revealed his wife had donated to the Minnesota Freedom Fund, a controversial bail organization that used millions to spring violent offenders, including accused rapists and murderers, from jail.
In May 2020, during unrest in Minneapolis after George Floyd’s death, Mavis Jones posted on Twitter: “I just donated to the Minnesota Freedom Fund,” linking to the group’s donation page and urging others to do the same. The account has since gone private.
The revelation, first reported by The Washington Free Beacon, comes as Jones, a Democrat, trails Republican incumbent Jason Miyares in a tightening race for Virginia’s top law enforcement post. The state’s attorney general oversees state-level prosecutions and police oversight.
The Minnesota Freedom Fund, promoted at the time by several progressive figures, including Sen. Kamala Harris, raised more than $41 million during the 2020 protests, pledging to support demonstrators arrested during clashes with police.
But a FOX 9 investigation later found the group spent most of its money bailing out defendants accused of serious violent crimes rather than low-level protest offenses.
Jay Jones addresses supporters after winning the Democratic nomination for Virginia attorney general as wife Mavis Jones looks on in Norfolk, Va., June 17, 2025. (Trevor Metcalfe/The Virginian-Pilot/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
Among those bailed out was Christopher Boswell, a twice-convicted rapist facing new kidnapping and assault charges who was freed after the fund posted $350,000 in cash bail.
The group also paid $100,000 to release Darnika Floyd, who was charged with second-degree murder, and $75,000 for Jaleel Stallings, who allegedly fired at a Minneapolis SWAT team before being acquitted at trial.
Greg Lewin, then the fund’s interim executive director, told FOX 9 that same year, “The last time we were down there, the clerk said, ‘We hate it when you bail out these sex offenders.’ I often don’t even look at a charge when I bail someone out.”
Darnika Floyd, charged with second-degree murder, was released after the Minnesota Freedom Fund posted $100,000 bail in 2020. (Minnesota Department of Corrections)
In one case, the fund posted bail for George Howard, a career criminal later charged with fatally shooting a man in a Minneapolis road rage incident just weeks after his release.
The news adds to a string of controversies for Jones, 35, who has already apologized for violent text messages directed at Republican leaders. In one exchange, he wrote that then–House Speaker Todd Gilbert gets “two bullets to the head” and that Gilbert’s wife Jennifer should “watch her children die.”
Mavis Jones, wife of scandal-plagued Virginia AG candidate Jay Jones, D-Va., eportedly posted about her support of the Minnesota Freedom Fund in 2020, which bailed out accused murderers and rapists. (Jay Jones via X)
Court records also show Jones was convicted of reckless driving in 2022 for traveling 116 mph on a Virginia highway. He was fined $1,500 and ordered to perform 1,000 hours of community service, but a state ethics review is examining whether hours spent volunteering for his own political committee should count toward the sentence.
The latest controversy gives Miyares and Republicans new fodder in the closing weeks of the campaign. A Trafalgar Group poll released Oct. 17 found Miyares leading 49.5% to 44.6%, a reversal from earlier surveys that had Jones up six points before the text scandal broke.
As of Friday, Mavis Jones has set her X account to private.
The Minnesota Freedom Fund and the Jay Jones campaign did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
When deputies arrived at the scene, they say they found a 13-year-old girl with a stabbing wound to her upper torso. Her injury is reportedly serious, but she is in stable condition and expected to recover.
Authorities say the 13-year-old was stabbed by her 12-year-old brother during an altercation. At the time of this report, deputies were looking for the boy.
According to an official at the scene, criminal charges against the boy are pending.
What we don’t know:
No one involved has been identified.
There is no information on where the boy fled to after the incident.
This is a developing news report. We will update when more information is available.
A man who killed a young couple at their home in #Newhaven has been found guilty of their murders.
Derek Martin walked into Brighton Police Station on the evening of 9 June, 2023 and told officers: “I’ve killed two people.”
He admitted causing the deaths of Chloe and Josh Bashford, but denied murder due to diminished responsibility resulting from a depressive disorder
A jury found him guilty of two counts of murder on Friday 24 October following a three-week trial at Lewes Crown Court, sitting at Brighton.
He has been remanded in custody and is due to be sentenced on 6 November.
The court was shown CCTV clips of Martin going about his normal routine before the incident occurred. This included ordering a drink at Costa in Newhaven and going for breakfast with Chloe, 30, at The Stonehouse restaurant in Peacehaven.
Later they returned together to the Bashford family home in Lewes Road, Newhaven, where Chloe and Josh lived with their four children.
In a police interview, Martin confessed he had been cleaning a window at the property when he “just flipped” over a row about money with Chloe.
He struck her over the head with a hammer then stabbed her to death.
Martin said that Josh, 33, arrived home a short while later and saw him with a knife in his hand. Josh ran upstairs but was chased by Martin, who repeatedly stabbed him then strangled him to death.
The 67-year-old, of Moulsecoomb Way, Brighton, then changed his clothes, picked up the couple’s four children from school, and took them to both Costa and McDonald’s in Newhaven.
During this time, he discarded Chloe’s mobile phone in bushes of the nearby Sainsbury’s.
He returned the children to their grandmother’s house in Brighton, then bought some beers from a shop in Whitehawk which he drank on the seafront.
Shortly afterwards, he handed himself in at the police station.
Officers attended the Bashford family home where they discovered the bodies of Chloe and Josh, and Martin was arrested.
The court heard Martin and Chloe became close a couple of years ago. Martin had been known to Chloe as he was previously married to her mother, but they had divorced some years before she was born.
Seventeen-year-old Deegan Walton had a smile that could light up any room. Outgoing, funny and endlessly curious, he shared his mother Lori’s love of cars, racing and anything with an engine.
“He was my little sidekick,” says Lori, 50. “We did everything together — sang in the car, worked on projects. He was so much like me.”
But in the fall of 2023, Lori began noticing subtle changes in her son. Though he still laughed and joked, something beneath the surface seemed different.
Lori Walton with her late-son Deegan as a kid. Courtesy of Lori Walton
It started with a bonfire at a friend’s house — one Deegan hadn’t known about. He wasn’t invited. The following week, he hosted his own get-together, filling the house with laughter and music. Yet Lori sensed something was off when she found him upstairs, alone, while his friends were downstairs.
A few days later, the unease deepened. After Lori and her husband returned from a day on the lake, Deegan asked his mom to come outside. At first, she thought it was one of his usual pranks. But when she saw his face, she knew something was wrong.
“He drove us to the end of the street,” Lori recalls. “I said, ‘Deegan, slow down. What’s happening?’ He turned the car around, put it in park, unbuckled his seatbelt — and I’ll never forget the look on his face. He was broken. He was sobbing and said, ‘I need help. I’m so sad all the time.’ ”
For more than an hour, they talked — about school, about friends, about how he felt left out. He told Lori that a friend had asked the girl he’d been pursuing to homecoming. “Mom, everyone knew except me,” he said. “They were all making jokes.”
Lori learned that some classmates had stopped including him. “It was simple but cruel,” she says. “He just wanted to belong.”
Deegan Walton in front of a car. Courtesy of Lori Walton
In the days that followed, Lori kept a close eye on him. Deegan stayed home from school for a bit, then returned, but nothing was the same. He wore earbuds to tune things out and often sat alone at lunch.
Even moments of excitement couldn’t lift him for long. A recent car event had left him elated, but the high didn’t last. On homecoming night, he joined his parents for dinner and a movie instead of going out, then stopped by an after-party before returning home.
When he came back later, he sat quietly in the driveway for a while. Lori texted to check in, and he replied that he was fine. Eventually, he came inside, said goodnight, and went to bed — like any ordinary nigh
The next morning, Oct. 1, 2023, Deegan was supposed to join his family at Lake St. Clair. Lori peeked in on him before they left. He was awake, joking and laughing — seemingly himself.
“He said he had a stats exam to study for, and his books were spread out on the counter,” Lori recalls. “There was no reason to think anything was wrong.”
But later that morning, Deegan died by suicide. He had crashed his car into an oak tree 2.7 miles from their home.
In an instant, the ordinary rhythms of their lives — laughter, errands, the hum of home — were shattered.
“The world just stopped,” Lori says. “It’s every parent’s worst nightmare.”
The Walton family. Courtesy of Lori Walton
In the days that followed, the grief was unbearable — and the stigma came immediately. The very next day, people began asking what the family was going to tell others. Still, Lori and her husband made a difficult choice: they wouldn’t hide the truth.
“Keeping quiet would only add to the silence,” she says. “We wanted people to know they’re not alone.”
Knowing they wanted to help other kids in their community, the couple started small — by bringing a mental health speaker to Deegan’s school. “We did a lot of research to find someone who would really connect with high school students,” Lori recalls. “That was much harder than you might think.”
A few months later, with encouragement from her older son, Christopher, and his girlfriend, Olivia, Lori shared Deegan’s story on TikTok and Instagram, hoping to reach teens who might be struggling in silence.
The experience made her realize how many teens were quietly struggling. “My husband and I said, if we can reach just one person who’s feeling like Deegan did — and it changes their mind — then it’s worth it,” she says. “And then it just exploded. The response was overwhelming.”
Within months, thousands began following their accounts, sharing how Deegan’s story had changed the way they saw mental health and loss. One video, simply captioned “The boy who was fine,” showing old photos of Deegan, reached nearly a million people.
Lori still remembers one message vividly — a teen who said they had planned to end their life that day but came across her TikTok instead. “They told me they chose to talk to their parents,” she says.
“Those stories stick with me,” Lori adds. “When people ask what I hope Deegan’s legacy is, it’s that people keep choosing to stay because they’ve heard his story.”
Deegan on his bike. Courtesy of Lori Walton
The outpouring of messages gave her and her husband a new sense of purpose. One day, he turned to her and asked, “Do you want to really do this? Like a nonprofit?”
From that determination, The Deegan Project, a Michigan-registered nonprofit, was born.
What began as a hope to connect with teens has grown into an organization that provides scholarships for students entering the trades and mental health fields, hosts inclusive events like Cars and Coffee, and partners with local schools to offer free or sliding-scale mental health services.
“We want to provide a safe space — somewhere they can go and know they’re not alone,” Lori explains. “Deegan’s story drives everything we do. It’s why we keep going.”
Her long-term goal is to eventually expand nationwide. “If a kid is brave enough to ask for help, there should be no reason they can’t get it,” she says. “That’s what we’re working toward — making sure those resources are there when they need them.”
Deegan Walton with his car. Courtesy of Lori Walton
Lori herself returned to school for a mental health certification as a nurse practitioner, providing counseling and medication management to those in need.
“When I speak to a group, I never just come out and say what happened,” Lori says. “I always talk about Deegan first because I want people to have a picture of him — this happy, funny, caring kid who was always laughing and joking, who played sports, had tons of friends and a cool car.”
She pauses. “None of those things fit the stereotype people have of depression. That’s why I share his story — because it can happen to anyone.”
In the time since Deegan’s passing, Lori says the support from their community has meant everything.
“Some of the parents of Deegan’s friends — people we didn’t even know that well before — have really been there for us,” she says. “Anything we’ve needed, they’ve shown up without hesitation. Whether it’s helping with The Deegan Project or just getting together for dinner, they’ve made it easy for us to reach out.”
She adds that their small Michigan town has also rallied around them. “We’ve leaned on our family, our friends and our community in so many ways,” Lori says. “Anything we’ve tried to do, people have been supportive. We’re really grateful for that.”
Even amidst the work, Lori allows herself moments to grieve. When she misses Deegan most, she lets herself cry.
“From day one, people said, ‘You carry yourself with such grace,’ or ‘You’re so strong.’ I don’t know if that’s true — I just don’t have a choice. I still have to put one foot in front of the other every day. But when I really miss him, I don’t try to be strong. I just let myself feel.”
Lori Walton with her late-son Deegan. Courtesy of Lori Walton
And in those moments, she thinks of him — of his humor, his light, the way he could always make her laugh. “The other day, I told my husband I was having a really hard time. I was crying, and I said, ‘If Deegan were here, he’d do something silly — tell a joke or make a face — just to make me laugh.’ ”
She smiles softly. “I just hope that if he’s up there looking down, he thinks, ‘That’s my mom. She’s doing cool things.’ More than anything, I just hope he’s proud of me.”
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health challenges, emotional distress, substance use problems, or just needs to talk, call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org 24/7.
Justine Mroz. Credit : Pasco County Sheriff’s Office
A Florida mother is accused of murdering her son before allegedly calling 911 to report his death.
The Pasco County Sheriff’s Office said that Justine Mroz, 40, had been arrested and charged with second-degree murder in connection with the death of her son in Land O’ Lakes, Fla.
According to the sheriff’s office, Mroz called 911 on the morning of Saturday, Oct. 19 and “reported the incident to dispatch.”
Details about the victim were not immediately released by police, just that he was a “juvenile male.”
It is not immediately clear if Mroz has entered a plea or retained an attorney.
The Miami Herald, WFLA and News 19reported that Mroz is a teacher for Pasco County schools. She taught at a school for grades 6 through 12.
“Pasco County Schools can confirm that Justine Mroz is employed by Pasco County Schools,” the school district said in a statement to WFLA. “She has been arrested by the Pasco Sheriff’s Office and will not be on any school campus. In accordance with Pasco County Schools policy and employee privacy laws, no additional information will be provided at this time.”
If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
Emman Atienza, TikTok star and the daughter of TV host Kim Atienza, has died at the age of 19.
Her family took to Instagram to share the heartbreaking news of her ‘unexpected’ passing.
She was known for speaking openly about mental health online, racking up more than 856,000 TikTok followers and nearly 50 million likes.
Emman was the daughter of Filipino TV presenter and weather man, Kim, and his wife, entrepreneur Felicia Hung. Her grandfather was former Manila mayor Lito Atienza.
Posting a collection of photos to Felicia’s Instagram, the family said: “It’s with deep sadness that we share the unexpected passing of our daughter and sister, Emman.
“She brought so much joy, laughter, and love into our lives and into the lives of everyone who knew her.
Emman was found dead at a Los Angeles home (emmanatienza/Instagram)
“Emman had a way of making people feel seen and heard, and she wasn’t afraid to share her own journey with mental health. Her authenticity helped so many feel less alone.”
They added: “To honor Emman’s memory, we hope you carry forward the qualities she lived by: compassion, courage, and a little extra kindness in your everyday life.”
The statement was signed off by Kim and Felicia and their children, Jose and Eliana.
Tributes soon began flooding in for the late social media star.
“I’m so sorry for your loss… sending my deepest condolences to you and your family. May Emman rest in peace,” one person typed.
“My heart breaks with yours… I’m so so sorry for your loss,” a second wrote.
Emman had moved to LA in August (Emmanatienza/Instagram)
“She was so pure… I’m so sorry,” another said.
Others shared how Emman’s candid videos about mental health helped them through their own tough times.
“Rest in peace Emman… you actually helped me with my depression 2mos ago after watching your video last June,” one person said.
In another tribute, a second fan said: “I was inspired by you to become my true self, and also to find happiness in every little thing. May your soul rest in peace.”
A third said: “When I discovered you here on Tiktok, I was so sure that you were the type of person I want my daughter to become. Brave, unapologetic, and opinionated.
“Thank you for sharing your life with us. Rest in power, Emman.”
Medical records from Los Angeles County say Emman died at an LA home on Wednesday, October 23.
Charlie Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, was assisnated this month, leaving behind a legacy of heated debates and a very divided following. After his death, an unexpected story popped up online. A man who said he went to school with Kirk claimed he suffered years of relentless bullying at his hands. The words he used painted a heavy picture, saying the cruelty pushed him so close to suicide he almost didn’t make it through.
It is difficult to verify the authenticity of the claim, as Charlie Kirk himself cannot reply to the allegation.
The Online Post and Allegations
When the news of Kirk’s passing spread, most people were sharing tributes, arguments, and memories. But tucked into the noise was a very different voice. The classmate described Kirk not as a bold political figure, but as a teenager who mocked and humiliated others for sport. He called the bullying relentless, a daily storm that chipped away at his sense of self.
Source: @_nickcaputo_ via Instagram Threads
Some who read the post thought it was wrong to speak badly of someone after they passed. Others defended it, saying truth has no expiration date and sometimes survivors only find the courage to share once the person who hurt them is gone.
High school is an awkward time for many. It’s half about learning algebra and half about trying to figure out where you belong. The hallways can feel like a stage, and one cruel laugh can feel like the whole crowd turning on you. If Kirk was as loud and popular as many say, then even small insults from him would have echoed loudly.
That’s how bullying works. It’s rarely just between two people. The audience matters too, because the laughter or silence of others makes the victim feel even more cornered.
The former classmate said Kirk’s treatment made him think about suicide. And sadly, that’s not exaggeration. Suicide is one of the leading killers of teens, and bullying sits high on the list of reasons why. When someone feels attacked at school, and there’s no break from it, hopelessness creeps in fast.
And the weight doesn’t magically vanish once you graduate. People carry it. Adults who were bullied often wrestle with low self-worth, trouble trusting others, or even nightmares about those years. The fact that this person spoke out only after Kirk’s death shows how long the memory lived inside him.
