UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO MURDERS Police Say 19,000 Tips Led to Arrest Police Chief Indicates Suspect Acted Alone

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Moscow cops say after combing through 19,000 tips and interviewing 300 witnesses, they have their man in the quadruple murders in Idaho.

Police Chief James Fry made it clear ... they are confident 28-year-old Bryan Kohberger is the killer, and he will be extradited from Pennsylvania -- where he was arrested Friday -- to Idaho.

Chief Fry indicated he believes Kohberger acted alone, saying the community is now safe.

The police chief made it clear ... they were holding some of their cards close to the vest in their investigation. The PD came under scrutiny for not revealing any progress, but clearly they were hot on the trail.

As we reported, Moscow PD got an arrest warrant for first-degree murder, after locating Kohberger's white Hyundai Elantra. They also reportedly found his DNA at the murder house. The chief apparently believes the Elantra seized was the same car seen speeding away from the house shortly after the murders.

The police chief said they have not recovered the murder weapon.

The chief prosecutor, Bill Thompson, said there is a probable cause document that lays out the evidence, but for now it's sealed. It should be unsealed fairly soon.

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Cops Search Kohberger's Apt.

Kohberger lives and goes to school around 9 miles from Moscow, Idaho.

He's scheduled to appear in court Tuesday and is being held without bond. The prosecutor said they don't know if he'll voluntarily waive extradition or fight it.

The prosecutor is asking the public for tips on Kohberger and his history. Authorities want tips on "anything and everything" related to him.

Kohberger reportedly had a blank stare after his bust ... and he's said to have asked cops if anyone else had been arrested.

As you know, Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Kaylee Goncalves and Madison Mogen were brutally stabbed to death November 13 in the middle of the night as they slept in their home.

Britney Spears Sam Says He's Not Controlling Her

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Britney Spears is totally in control of her own life, social media, and especially her meals ... so says husband Sam Asghari.

The singer's husband was running errands in Los Angeles on Friday when photogs asked him if he was controlling Britney.

Sam flat out says "no" ... going even further to say he doesn't even control what the recently married couple eats for dinner.

There are various conspiracy theories being floated on social media in regard to Britney's social media presence ... with some of her fans under the belief Sam is pulling the strings on her posts.

But, Sam says that's just not true. He says he understands why those notions are out there, given all of what went on during Britney's conservatorship, but he says concerns about Britney just illustrate how she has "good fans."

As we first told you ... Britney's fans think she may be missing, in trouble or even dead, but sources close to her tell us she's safe and sound.

Now, Sam's saying the same thing here.

Gervonta Davis Accuser Walks Back DV Claims ... Tank 'Did Not Harm Me'

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The woman who accused Gervonta Davis of assault is doing an about-face ... now claiming the star boxer "did not harm me or our daughter," saying the frantic 911 call she made was "unnecessary."

Vanessa Posso, mom to Tank's daughter, took to social media on Friday and seemingly did a complete 180, writing ... "These past days have been hurtful and extremely exhausting for all parties involved."

"I pride myself on being extremely private; this situation was the last thing I wanted to be made public. The state of our relationship has been in a fragile space, and Gervonta and I were both at fault for the argument."

Posso continued ... "Today, we have sought the help necessary to move forward with our lives. I am confident that we will succeed within our co-parenting dynamic with the counseling provided to us."

As we previously reported, 28-year-old Davis was arrested and booked in Broward County (Florida) on Tuesday on a battery domestic violence charge.

According to court docs, police say Davis "did actually and intentionally touch and strike" the woman "against her will" and "did intentionally cause bodily harm to her."

Law enforcement authorities also said Gervonta struck his accuser on the right side of her head with "a closed hand type of slap," causing the woman to suffer a facial injury and an abrasion on the inside of her upper lip.

However, the 27-0 (25 KO) boxer adamantly denied the accusations against him from the start, saying ... "I NEVER PUT MY HANDS ON MY CHILD MOTHER NOR MY F***ING DAUGHTER ARE YOU F***ING CRAZY!!" -- while insisting the whole ordeal was nothing more than a money grab by his accuser.

In fact, Davis contends the only reason the woman -- who claimed she was in fear for her life -- called the police in the first place was because she was pissed he wouldn't let her use his truck.

Gervonta was released from jail on Wednesday ... and is still (at least as of now) scheduled to fight Hector Luis Garcia on Jan. 7 in Washington, D.C.

University of Idaho Murders 28-Year-Old Suspect Arrested ... Moscow PD Issues 1st-Degree Murder Warrant

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UPDATE

12:14 PM PT -- In addition to tracking a white Hyundai to Kohberger, authorities found his DNA at the murder scene ... this according to law enforcement sources who spoke with CNN.

UPDATE

This is the booking photo of the suspect who was arrested -- 28-year-old Bryan Kohberger. There is an arrest warrant for first-degree murder issued by the Moscow Police Dept.

UPDATE

9:47 AM PT -- Police seized a white Hyundai Elantra at Kohberger's home Friday. As you know, Moscow PD has been on the hunt for a white Hyundai Elantra that was seen speeding by a gas station near the murder house on November 13th. There was a nationwide hunt for this vehicle.

UPDATE

A judge has ordered Kohberger's extradition back to Idaho at Friday's court hearing.

UPDATE

9:51 AM PT -- Kohberger is reportedly a PhD student at Washington State University, studying criminal justice and criminology. The University is 9 miles west of the city of Moscow.

UPDATE
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Cops Search Kohberger's Apt.
UPDATE

9:14 AM PT -- Kohberger spoke to cops after his arrest, according to Brian Entin from NewNation, asking if anyone else was arrested. Entin said his sources told him Kohberger had a "quiet, blank stare."

Police say they have cracked the case of the quadruple murder at the University of Idaho -- because a suspect is now in custody ... this according to multiple reports.

A 28-year-old man was taken into custody by the FBI and police outside Scranton, Pennsylvania at 3 AM ET Friday. The suspect is a college student but does not attend the University of Idaho ... this according to FOX news sources.

ABC News in Philadelphia says a SWAT team entered the place where the suspect was staying and took him into custody. Bryan Kohberger, according to the AP, is the suspect and he's being held for extradition in a "homicide investigation for first degree murder." The arrest warrant was issued by the Moscow PD, which has jurisdiction over the murder case.

The suspect appeared in court Friday morning according to court docs ... law enforcement sources tell TMZ the man was arraigned on charges of being fugitive from justice.

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BRYAN AT GRADUATION

We found this video of Kohberger shot earlier this year, when he got his masters degree in criminal justice at DeSales University.  As we reported, he's currently enrolled in a PhD program at Washington State University.

As you know, Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Kaylee Goncalves and Madison Mogen were stabbed to death November 13th in the middle of the night as they slept.

Moscow PD is holding a news conference Friday at 4 PM ET. We will live stream it.

Originally Published -- 8:46 AM PT

'DOG'S MOST WANTED' STAR David Robinson Died From Heart Disease

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David Robinson, one of Dog the Bounty Hunter's partners for years and the star of "Dog's Most Wanted," died from heart issues.

David's wife, Brooke Robinson, tells TMZ ... the family just got the autopsy report back and it says the 50-year-old died from critical coronary artery disease.

TMZ broke the story ... David collapsed Nov. 30 during a Zoom call and he died in his wife's arms despite lifesaving maneuvers being performed.

David's wife tells us his death has left a void and hole in her life that can never be repaired ... and she says only God knows why David died so abruptly.

David worked closely with Dog on "Dog's Most Wanted" ... tracking down fugitives of Dog's choosing.

Brooke is remembering David for "his smile that would light up the world, his amazing laugh, and just how generous and caring he was."

She adds ... "David was the most genuine and authentic man. We had a once in a lifetime love, and that will continue to live forever."

Tory Lanez Remorseful Jail Call To Meg's Friend Kelsey ... 'I Was Just So F****** Drunk'

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Tory Lanez told Megan Thee Stallion's friend Kelsey Harris he was wasted the night of the shooting and sounds incredibly remorseful ... according to leaked audio of the rapper's jail phone call from when he was arrested.

In the audio, which is now surfacing online, Tory tells Kelsey ... "I was just so f*****g drunk that I ain't even know what the f*** was going on."

Tory adds ... "I ain't never done some s*** like that ... I didn't even understand what the f*** was going on. Regardless, though, that's not gonna make anything right, and it's not gonna make my actions right."

The Canadian rapper apologizes to Kelsey, telling her he was "sorry" for what happened.

As for why Tory claims he was so drunk, later on in the jail call he explains ... "When I got to the house, I assure you, off the top n*****, they gave me like five shots off the door. I was outta there." He also says he forgot what the argument was about before the shooting.

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SURROUNDED BY POLICE

Tory made the call after his initial arrest for the July 2020 incident ... and during the conversation, he asks Megan's ex-friend to bail him out of jail.

While the audio is just now leaking, Tory's jail phone call to Kelsey was played to the jury during the recent trial.

Tory never took the stand, but it appears the jail call likely played a role in his conviction.

As we reported ... the jury decided Tory was guilty of shooting Meg in the foot, finding him guilty on all three charges against him.

Tory is awaiting sentencing -- he's facing more than 22 years in prison -- and we're told the Canadian may be deported.

YouTube Star Keenan Cahill Dead at 27

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YouTube powerhouse Keenan Cahill, famous for his lip-synch videos with celebrities, has died.

Keenan's manager, David Graham, tells TMZ ... Keenan had open heart surgery on Dec. 15 but there were complications from the procedure and he was put on life support. We're told Keenan died Thursday afternoon in a Chicago hospital after being taken off life support.

Keenan had a huge following on social media ... we're told he was one of the first YouTube influencers to rack up over 500 million views on his channel.

50 Cent actually helped take Keenan's career to the next level ... they did a surprise collab on the rapper's "Down On Me" song, opening the door for Keenan to work with other celebs.

Keenan's Rolodex was pretty impressive ... he also worked with Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande, Katy Perry, David Guetta, Britney Spears, Jason Derulo, LMFAO and Tyra Banks, just to name a few.

Keenan was diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder when he was a baby, Maroteaux–Lamy syndrome, a progressive condition that causes organs and tissues to enlarge, become scarred or inflamed. Some people who have Maroteaux-Lamy syndrome can also have heart issues, which appears to be the case here.

He was 27.

RIP

'GMA3' Amy Robach & T.J. Holmes Lock Lips in Miami

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Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes' relationship is getting VERY serious on the heels of T.J. filing for divorce from his wife ... and TMZ has the evidence to prove it.

The lovebirds recently flew down to Miami from NYC for a romantic getaway and were caught locking lips with their hands all over each other.

Check out these photos snapped Wednesday, showing the GMA3 cohosts in the throes of passion under the hot Florida sun.

The couple later had some food and drinks at a seaside restaurant, where they were clearly enjoying each other's company, but were less affectionate. They also spent Christmas together in the cooler climate of Atlanta, but we're sure they kept one another warm.

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MIAMI MAKEOUT

As we reported ... the couple's affair leaked out in late November while both were still married, but separated from their spouses. ABC execs, who produce GMA 3, were blindsided by the news and removed the two from their cohosting duties, pending an internal investigation into whether they broke any company rules.

TJ filed for divorce Wednesday from his wife Marilee Fiebig, whom he married in 2010. Robach has also reportedly started the process of divorcing actor Andrew Shue.

Disgraced 'Crypto King' Sam Bankman-Fried Met With Senior White House Aides ... Before His Arrest On Federal Fraud Charges

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Sam Bankman-Fried reportedly held 4 meetings with members of President Joe Biden's cabinet in 2022 before his FTX empire collapsed, leading to his arrest on federal fraud charges.

The disgraced "Crypto King," who is at the center of one of the largest financial frauds in U.S. history, sat down with senior White House advisor Steve Ricchetti on September 8, according to a new report by Bloomberg.

Sam allegedly had 2 follow-up meetings with Ricchetti on April 22 and May 12. He also reportedly met with Biden's deputy chief of staff, Bruce Reed. It's not clear what was discussed in any of the get-togethers.

As we reported ... Bankman-Fried was arrested in the Bahamas on Dec. 12. He was federally charged in New York with eight counts of wire fraud, securities fraud, money laundering and a campaign finance violation. He faces up to 115 years in prison if convicted.

The Bloomberg report is but another example of Bankman-Fried's deep ties with the Washington D.C. establishment before Sam was accused of stealing $1.8 billion from investors in his cryptocurrency scheme. And it's no secret that Sam has donated millions to the campaigns of prominent politicians, including Biden.

But the White House has declined to say whether Biden will return the $5.2 million he received from the FTX founder for his 2020 presidential run.

Aerosmith's Steven Tyler Sued For Allegedly Sexually Assaulting Minor ... And Insisting She Get An Abortion

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Steven Tyler sexually assaulted a 16-year-old girl decades ago and carried on an illicit affair with her, which ended with him insisting she abort their child, this according to a new lawsuit.

The legendary Aerosmith frontman is not named in the suit, but he's one of 50 defendants identified as a “Doe.” The plaintiff/accuser, Julia Holcomb, has previously gone on record about their relationship and she quotes directly from the singer's 2011 memoir in the suit. Tyler's memoir made a cryptic reference to his time spent with an underage girl, but he maintained they had a "romantic, loving relationship."

According to the docs obtained by Rolling Stone, Holcomb first met Tyler just after her 16th birthday at a 1973 Aerosmith concert in Portland, Oregon. Tyler, who was then around 25, allegedly brought Holcomb back to his hotel room, where they chatted about her age and troubled home life.

Holcomb says Tyler then “performed various acts of criminal sexual conduct upon.” She claims he continued to have sex with her after illegally flying her as a minor across state lines -- a possible federal crime under the Mann Act -- to Seattle for Aerosmith's next show.

The docs also state Tyler tried to coax Holcomb's mom into turning over guardianship of her daughter to him so he could fully provide for her. But, Holcomb says, Tyler did not follow through with his plans “and instead continued to travel with, assault and provide alcohol and drugs" to her.

By 1975, Holcomb says she was 17 and pregnant with Tyler’s son ... Tyler allegedly ordered her to get an abortion after an apartment fire, insisting the unborn baby was suffering from a lack of oxygen -- an allegation dismissed by a medical professional.

Holcomb says she was torn about terminating the pregnancy ... but ultimately went through with it after Tyler threatened to totally cut her off. After that, she reportedly left Tyler and went back home to Portland to pick up the pieces of her life.

Holcomb's suit accuses Tyler of sexual assault, sexual battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

We reached out to Steven's rep ... so far no word back.

Pele Paid $120K To Tie Shoes Before Match ... Intensified Feud W/ Adidas, Puma

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Pele was paid $120K by a major sneaker company to bend down at midfield and tie his shoe before a 1970 World Cup match ... giving birth to a bitter feud between Puma and Adidas!

Pele's death has unearthed all kinds of stories about the soccer legend, who died Thursday at the age of 82, following a lengthy battle with colon cancer ... including when the greatest player ever was paid the equivalent of $1 million (in 2022 w/ inflation) to tie a Puma soccer cleat, according to Joe Pompliano, who told the story.

It all started in 1924 when Adolf and Rudolf Dassler started a shoe company, Dassler Brothers Shoe Factory. The shoemaker was successful, and Jesse Owens even wore their brand during the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, where Owens dominated in front of Hitler, winning 4 gold medals.

But, by 1948, the brothers had a falling out and decided to go their own way ... each starting a sneaker company of their own. Adolf created Adidas and Rudolf, Puma. The brothers swore to never do business with one another.

Things changed in the late 60s when the brothers buried the hatchet and began communicating again, all in the interest of self-preservation. Adolf and Rudolf made a "Pele pact," an agreement that both companies would stay away from Pele, the biggest sports star in the world, fearing a sponsorship negotiation could bankrupt both companies.

Unfortunately for Adidas, Puma didn't exactly abide by the pact. Prior to a World Cup quarterfinal match in 1970 between Peru and Pele's Brazil, Puma paid the soccer superstar $120K to walk toward midfield just before the start of the game, bend down, and tie his Puma shoe.

Of course, Puma wanted to capture the moment on video ... so to ensure they didn't miss the moment, the shoewear company reportedly went as far as to pay the cameraman!

Brazil beat Peru ... and ended up winning the entire World Cup. It was Pele's record third.

The Pele-Puma partnership didn't come to an end with the '70 WC ... the deal was a smash success for everyone involved.

In the end, Adidas and Puma became two of the biggest shoe sellers in the world, and Pele, arguably, the greatest soccer player to ever step foot on a pitch.

'Forrest Gump' Actor Bob Penny Dead at 87 In Alabama

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Actor Bob Penny, who scored minor roles in the films "Forrest Gump" and "Sweet Home Alabama," has died.

Bob passed away in Huntsville, Alabama on Christmas Day, according to an online obit from Laughlin Service Funeral Home. His cause of death was not disclosed.

Penny was a bit part actor in dozens of films and TV shows during his long career stretching back to the '80s. Some of his movie credits include, “Mississippi Burning,” “My Cousin Vinny” and “The Legend of Bagger Vance." He played a “crony” in “Forrest Gump,” and a bumbling, small-town lawyer in “Sweet Home Alabama." He also landed a role in the TV series “In the Heat of the Night.”

He began his acting career doing TV commercials for a local department store and ad campaigns for The United Way.

Bob was 87.

RIP

'GENERAL HOSPITAL'S SONYA EDDY Account Posting Cryptic Horoscope Tweets ... Problem is, She's Dead

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Sonya Eddy's dead, but her Twitter account is still very much alive ... her page is posting cryptic tweets every day, and the company behind it says its hands are tied.

The late "General Hospital" actress has an app linked to her Twitter account that automatically posts her horoscope every day ... and it's still churning out tweets despite her recent death, with confused fans replying to her tweets in droves.

Some of the horoscopes are pretty creepy, like this one from three days after her death ... "Today could reveal some unexpected rewards."

The app Sonya's official Twitter account is using is called Twittascope ... and honchos at the company that owns Twittascope say they can't do anything to stop the tweets.

For Sonya's account to stop posting daily horoscopes, we're told someone with access to her page will have to manually go in and disable the Twittascope app in her account settings.

As we reported ... Sonya died Dec. 19 after being hospitalized with a serious infection.

We reached out to Sonya's reps ... so far no word back.

Celebrity Deaths In 2022 Bob Saget, Aaron Carter, Takeoff ... Shootings, Crashes & Cancer Kills Others

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The past year will be remembered for many shocking events ... but this time, we remember celebrities who tragically died in the year 2022.

The Hip Hop world took a huge hit when Takeoff was shot dead ... same with PnB Rock, who was gunned down earlier this year. Coolio's death also came as shock to many.

Aaron Carter left the world too soon, when he was found dead in his bathtub ... and the death of actress Anne Heche rocked all of Hollywood and beyond, when she crashed her car into a home, causing a massive fire and trapping her inside.

Leslie Jordan also died behind the wheel, after investigators believe he suffered some sort of medical emergency ... leaving a huge hole in all of comedy. As did Louie Anderson and Bob Saget, who was found dead in his hotel room.

The list, unfortunately, continues with Olivia Newton-John, who died after losing her battle with cancer ... ditto for Kirstie Alley and Tom Parker.

Hollywood also suffered a huge loss when Stephen "tWitch" Boss died by suicide.

Others who are gone but not forgotten include ... Naomi Judd, Ray Liotta, "Friends" actor Mike Hagerty, "Toddlers & Tiaras" star Kailia Posey, Ivana Trump, André Leon Talley and Jerry Lee Lewis.

Of course, the longest-serving monarch in British history, Queen Elizabeth II, left her legacy behind when she died, this year, at the age of 96.

RIP

Rulon Gardner, Wrestling Legend Gunning To Return To Olympics ... At 51 Years Old

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Rulon Gardner won gold in wrestling in arguably the biggest upset in Olympics history ... and now the American hero, who's 51 years old, tells TMZ Sports he's making a comeback, and the goal is the Summer Games!

"I still wanna give more back to the sport, the sport that I love and that's wrestling. When you have a goal like wrestling it makes you get into shape so I've lost a substantial amount of weight, getting healthy again, getting back after it, and now it's getting on the mat," Gardner said.

"Every day it hurts like heck but it's so fun to be able to get out there and throw with these young kids. It's crazy 'cause I'm wrestling kids half my age."

If you don't know Rulon's story ... he won a gold medal in Greco-Roman wrestling during the 2000 Games in Sydney. But, that doesn't even begin to tell the story ... 'cause Gardner beat the most dominant and feared wrestler of all time, 6'3", 286 lb. Aleksandr Karelin.

"The Russian Bear" was thought to be unbeatable. He'd won the previous 3 gold medals. He hadn't lost a match since entering the international competition in 1988. For crying out loud, he hadn't given up a single point in 6 years. To this day he's regarded by most as the greatest amateur wrestler ever.

But, somehow, someway ... David slayed Goliath. And now, Rulon wants to do something perhaps equally hard -- compete at a world-class level in his 50s.

The journey started as a way for Rulon to lose weight ... and he tells us he's down about 150 lbs. An incredible achievement, but not his goal.

"Our goal is to go out there and show we can still compete with the top-level wrestlers of the world. I know I can compete with the guys in the U.S., the question is do I have what it takes in my 50s to get back to the Olympic games?"

If he can complete the comeback, we asked Rulon where the achievement would rank in the history of Olympic competition.

"Dara Torres, she did it a few years ago as a swimmer in her 40s and nobody has ever thought about doing it in your 50s and especially a combat sport. It's not easy on the body. Your talking about getting hit in the head, you're talking about getting hit in the body, shoulder, and knees. There's just so many body parts."

"Last year, I started throwing people and I'm like oh my gosh, I was throwing guys and my body is saying, 'what are you doing?' It still says that but it's like getting back on the bike and it feels normal again."

The next Summer Olympics go down in Paris in 2024. Will Rulon Gardner be part of the team? It's a lofty goal, but are you gonna bet against the guy who slayed The Russian Bear?!

Michael Lohan Estranged Wife Busted for 3rd DWI ... New State, Same Charge

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Kate Major just hit a trifecta no one wants to hit -- Michael Lohan's estranged wife has been arrested and charged with her third DWI.

TMZ has learned Kate was busted in Shenandoah, TX -- law enforcement sources tell us cops spotted her behind the wheel of her parked car last month. She stood out like a sore thumb because it was 2 AM, and her car was in the parking lot of a shopping center where all the stores were closed.

We're told the officers said Kate reeked of booze as she sat alone in her idling car -- and she told them she was driving around to find a friend with whom she'd had an argument.

Our sources say she went through field sobriety testing, failed and was arrested for felony DWI. This one was a felony due to 2 prior convictions for driving while intoxicated.

As we've reported, Kate's other arrests happened in 2020 in New York and in 2014 in Florida.

Michael and Kate are still married despite tons of bumps in the road ... but they've been estranged for a couple of years, and she's been battling alcohol issues for a while.