Island Archives - The American Retiree

Long Island Man Exonerated After 31 Years in Prison for Wrongful Conviction in 1990 Coach Murder

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. — After serving more than three decades in prison, a Long Island man finally walked free, acquitted of the murder charges that had altered the course of his life. Christopher Ellis, 51, expressed relief and ongoing frustration as he exited the courthouse on Friday, marking the end of his long fight to prove his innocence in the 1990 killing of a Hofstra University assistant football coach. In an emotional statement, Ellis recounted the …

Rhode Island Man Charged in Brutal Road Rage Assault That Left Mother with Severe Injuries

Massachusetts – A road rage incident in Massachusetts led to severe injuries for Hailea Soares, a mother of two, following a collision last Friday morning. Authorities reported that Gladior Kwesiah, 26, from Rhode Island, faces multiple charges after he allegedly attacked Soares by forcibly removing her from her vehicle and assaulting her. The altercation occurred around 9 a.m. at an intersection after Soares inadvertently rear-ended Kwesiah’s car. According to witnesses at the scene, Kwesiah responded …

Chaotic Roadside Confrontation: Brothers Tasered After Assaulting Police in Green Island, Resulting in Hospitalized Officers

Green Island, New Zealand — A routine traffic stop escalated into a violent confrontation in Green Island, resulting in injuries to three police officers and the hospitalization of the assailants, authorities reported. The incident unfolded Sunday afternoon when a vehicle halted prematurely at a checkpoint along Brighton Road. The encounter began at approximately 3:45 p.m. when the driver of the vehicle, a 33-year-old man, reportedly balked at submitting to a breathalyzer test and obstructed police …

Tragic Weekend on Hawaii Island: Three Lives Lost in Separate Vehicle Incidents

Volcano, HI — A tragic weekend on Hawaii Island resulted in the deaths of three individuals following two separate vehicular incidents, sparking investigations into the circumstances surrounding each event. The initial fatal collision transpired early Saturday around 1:15 a.m. in Volcano, where a head-on accident claimed two lives. Authorities state that a 2019 Jeep Renegade, driven by a 39-year-old woman from Kona, veered across the centerline on Highway 11 and collided with a 1996 Toyota …

Tragic Collapse at Sapelo Island Ferry Dock Claims Seven Lives During Cultural Festival

SAPELO ISLAND, Ga. — A tragic incident occurred on Sapelo Island on Saturday when a ferry dock collapsed, resulting in the deaths of at least seven people and leaving several injured. The collapse happened amidst a gathering celebrating the island’s unique Gullah-Geechee heritage. The dock gave way as a crowd had assembled, plunging at least 20 individuals into the water below shortly before 4 p.m., according to Georgia Department of Natural Resources officials. Initial reports …

Tragic Dock Collapse During Cultural Heritage Event on Sapelo Island Claims Seven Lives

Sapelo Island, GA — A devastating tragedy unfolded on Sapelo Island, Georgia, where a ferry dock collapse during a cultural event resulted in the deaths of at least seven people and injuries to many others, officials confirmed. The incident occurred around 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, casting a solemn shadow over a gathering meant to celebrate the rich heritage of the island’s Gullah-Geechee community. The dock, part of the infrastructure managed by the Georgia Department of …

Tragic Collapse: Multiple Fatalities Reported as Gangway Gives Way on Sapelo Island

Sapelo Island, GA – A tragic incident unfolded on this serene barrier island off the coast of Georgia when a gangway at the local docking point suddenly collapsed, leading to multiple fatalities and several injuries, authorities confirmed. The exact number of casualties remains unclear as rescue operations continue. The disaster occurred early Friday morning as a group of tourists was boarding a ferry, one of the primary modes of transportation to and from the mainland. …

Tragic Outcome: Long Island Mother Fatally Stabbed by Child’s Father Day After Protection Order Expires

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. — A tragic incident unfolded on Long Island where a 29-year-old woman, Brenda Guadalupe Alfaro-Alcantara, was fatally stabbed allegedly by the father of her child, officials reported. The attack occurred in the basement of a Hempstead residence, a sobering scene witnessed by the couple’s 2-year-old son. Alfaro-Alcantara suffered 34 stab wounds during an altercation that began when Jose W. Funes-Zabala, 43, visited the home. The dispute reportedly escalated after Funes-Zabala learned that Alfaro-Alcantara …

Rhode Island Man Confesses to Strangling Mother in Tragic Domestic Incident

Narragansett, RI — A Rhode Island man is in custody after allegedly killing his mother and subsequently calling 911 to report the crime. Authorities responded to a call Monday afternoon at the home of Hawazoe Robinson for a wellness check, during which her son, Bryan Wilson, dialed emergency services to confess to the murder. Wilson, 27, reportedly admitted over the phone that he had strangled his mother following an altercation. He appeared in Washington County …

Oak Island Man Sentenced 16-20 Years for the 2022 Murder of Girlfriend

Oak Island, NC – A local man was sentenced on Monday for the second-degree murder of his girlfriend last year in a case that has shocked the small coastal community. Kevin Vaughan, a resident of Oak Island, was handed a sentence of 16 to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to the brutal killing of Tina Carlton. The sentence was delivered by Superior Court Judge Jason C. Disbrow in Brunswick County Superior Court, following …