Current Events

Elena Katherine Moore's died from complications of cardiac dysrhythmia and premature ventricular contractions ... the officials announced.

The Lexington County Coroner, Margaret Fisher, announced the cause and manner of the personal trainer's death during a press conference Friday. You may remember, Elena was found dead in June, about a week after she went missing.

Elena had a blood alcohol content of .089 during the autopsy -- though Fisher said it's unclear how body decomposition may have affected that number. She did not test positive for heart medication she was supposed to be using. Fisher said Elana was previously diagnosed with several mental health issues, including ADHD & anxiety.

Jane Doe was in investigation mode in the days and weeks after the alleged sexual assault, working with one of the men she would later accuse of rape to find out who was spreading rumors about the sexual encounter.

TMZ obtained a text chain between Matthew Ingalls and Jane Doe. On October 23 -- four days after the frat party -- she tells him, "bro everyone knows✌️i'm incredibly stressed out."

Matthew responds ... "Dude I have no f***ing idea, this s*** is incredibly frustrating and I know how fast nonsense spreads at this school. It's fan behavior from everyone talking about it. Boring people who have nothing to do with their time."

Chad Lowe seems to be diving into advice about grief in the aftermath of his 13-year-old daughter's tragic death ... sharing an emotional post about loss on social media.

The younger brother of Rob Lowe shared a clip from Olivia Hunt's podcast "On Healing" ... in which Irish author Gerry Hussey says people possess both the human and the divine -- and we're connected to everything and everyone around us.

In the clip, Hussey says ... "So when we die, where do we go? We return to a state of peace and love.”

A plane in Ecuador skidded off a runway, fell over the side of a hill, and crashed onto the road below ... and the shocking moment was caught on video.

Wild footage out of Cuenca -- a city in the southern part of the country -- shows the plane crest over a hill and land on the busy highway below.

The aircraft bounces onto the unforgiving terrain before coming to a stop across the roadway ... and closer inspection of the plane appears to show the nose totally smashed in.

The Cornell Jane Doe is getting a groundswell of support from across the nation as demonstrators protesting sexual assault are taking to the streets in major cities from sea to shining sea.

Washington, D.C., New York City, Los Angeles, and Tucson saw large protests Thursday ... with demonstrators railing against the alleged October 2024 gang rape of Jane Doe by 7 Chi Phi fraternity brothers.

During Thursday's demonstrations in Tucson, people chanted "no more silence, no more crimes."

They marched in the streets with signs reading, "Unite Against Sexism and Racism."

10/9 10:27 AM PT -- The Cornell University disciplinary committee expelled Jonathan Newell because he had sex with her without her consent ... Jane Doe's lawyer tells TMZ.

Newell was the Chi Phi fraternity brother who sent the "free p***y" Snapchat message in the frat's group chat.

Someone who reviewed the hearing panel's decision told us the panel found Newell did NOT have "affirmative consent," meaning there was NOT express consent to engage in sex with Doe. Title IX says "silence or lack of resistance in and of itself does not demonstrate consent."

Jane Doe was in serious text mode 2 days after the alleged sexual assault, almost consoling one of the men she would later accuse of rape, saying there was nothing to be ashamed of.

TMZ obtained a text chain between Jonathan Newell and Jane Doe. On the evening of October 21, 2024, Jonathan apologizes to Jane and says, "You're an amazing person and I genuinely hope ur not catching as much heat from this as we r. We've been shutting down any stories we've heard but again I'm so so sorry."

Jane responds, "aw jonathan i really appreciate this text. my memories super clouded too. I think we were all way to f***ing drunk and high."

Christa Pike is going through some major psychological trauma after surviving her botched execution ... this according to her legal team.

TMZ obtained a statement from Pike's lawyers -- Randy Spivey, Kelly Gleason, Stephen Ferrell and Luke Ihnen -- who say her physical health is improving ... but the ordeal has taken a psychological toll.

The lawyers say she's eating a regular diet and her lungs are clear, but added ... "While her physical recovery has been remarkable, significant questions remain about the long-term effects of what she endured."

10/9 10:25 AM PT -- The Cornell University disciplinary committee expelled Jonathan Newell because he had sex with her without her consent ... Jane Doe's lawyer tells TMZ.

Newell was the Chi Phi fraternity brother who sent the infamous "free p***y" message in the frat's group chat.

Someone who reviewed the hearing panel's decision told us the panel found Newell did not have "affirmative consent," meaning there was not express consent to engage in sex. Title IX says "silence or lack of resistance in and of itself does not demonstrate consent."

Jane Doe's memory wasn't super cloudy when it came to snorting ketamine off a Chi Phi fraternity brother's penis during the alleged sexual assault ... because two days later, she told him it was "one of the most insane/jaw dropping moments of the night."

TMZ obtained a text chain between Jonathan Newell and Jane Doe ... and on the evening of October 21, 2024, Jane tells him, "ps. i'm not sure if u remember but i did ket off your d*** at some point❓and i honestly think that was one of the most insane/jaw dropping moments of the night."

Jonathan -- a defendant in Jane Doe's lawsuit -- responds ... "I have no memory of that last part 😭"

10/9 10:28 AM PT -- The Cornell University disciplinary committee expelled Jonathan Newell because he had sex with her without her consent ... Jane Doe's lawyer tells TMZ.

Someone who reviewed the hearing panel's decision told us the panel found Newell did not have "affirmative consent," meaning there was not express consent to engage in sex. Title IX says "silence or lack of resistance in and of itself does not demonstrate consent."

Jonathan Newell, the Cornell fraternity brother who sent the infamous "free p****y" Snapchat message, was reportedly designated by his frat house as a sober event monitor for the party where Jane Doe claims she was drugged and gang raped.

The October 2024 Chi Phi party was officially registered under Cornell rules aimed at promoting safer partying ... and paperwork submitted by the frat lists Jonathan as a "trained event monitor" ... according to confidential records obtained by The New York Times.

Jonathan's designation as a "trained event monitor" meant he was supposed to remain sober throughout the party and wear distinctive clothing ... so he could stand out to cops, paramedics, or other partygoers in case of an emergency.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass' office is outraged over the infamous "trash house" ... after the property once again became buried in garbage and debris.

A spokesperson for the Mayor tells TMZ ... "It is outrageous that the owner of this private property has once again allowed the conditions to disintegrate and neighbors are forced to live near this mess. The Mayor's Office, in coordination with the Council Office and multiple City Departments, has cleaned up this health and safety hazard on more than one occasion."

The spokesperson says the criminal case against the property owner remains ongoing as the court considers appointing a conservator. The Mayor is urging the L.A. County Department of Mental Health to support the appointment, which would create a responsible party to ensure the property does not deteriorate again.

Christa Pike's aunt says her niece is still alive because it's what God wants ... she believes the Almighty is in control now -- not officials in Tennessee.

Carrie Ross -- Christa's aunt who helped raise her -- told the Daily Mail she believes Christa surviving execution by lethal injection last week proves God wants her to live.

Christa's aunt says, "When God puts his hand on someone, God is in control. Not the Department of Correction, not us, but God."

Nolan Wells' family may get their wish for the feds to step in and investigate their son's untimely death ... thanks to President Trump.

The commander-in-chief indicated that he might have the FBI probe Wells' death while taking questions from the press outside the White House on Wednesday.

A reporter asked Trump if he plans to push the FBI to launch an independent investigation into Wells' death, and Trump responded, "We're looking at that. Yes, we are."  

A 5-year-old boy lost his life Wednesday after a large video display board reportedly came crashing down on him at a Florida school.

Cops say the tragic incident occurred around noon at Riviera Elementary School in Palm Bay, FL, which is nearly 175 miles north of Miami.

Palm Bay PD Deputy Chief Nick Szczepanski told reporters that school staff quickly called 911 and administered first aid to the severely injured boy as police and paramedics raced to the scene.

The boy, identified by his family as Bellamy Dawkins-Morris, was rushed to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Texas has carried out an execution days after Tennessee inmate Christa Pike survived two doses of lethal injection ... with the condemned killer's final words directed at his victim's family.

Jamaal Howard was pronounced dead Wednesday night at a Texas prison after receiving a dose of pentobarbital ... the same drug used during Pike's botched execution last week.

Howard was convicted of fatally shooting convenience store clerk Vickie Swartout during a 2000 robbery in Texas. Surveillance video showed Howard shooting Swartout in the chest before stealing $114 and a carton of cigarettes.

Before the execution, Howard apologized to Swartout's family, who watched from a viewing room near the death chamber.

An attorney for one of the men accused in the Cornell 7 rape case is asking a judge to officially block New York Attorney General Letitia James from running the criminal investigation ... claiming her public comments create an appearance of bias.

Gillio Lopes' attorneys filed a petition Wednesday, asking the court to void Governor Kathy Hochul's appointment of James as special prosecutor or limit her personal involvement in the case.

According to court docs obtained by TMZ, James posted on the New York Attorney General's official social media September 28 ... just a few days before her appointment saying the alleged victim's experience was "horrific and unacceptable" and that she stood with her and "all survivors."

The former Cornell student who says seven Chi Phi fraternity brothers drugged and raped her claims folks are pressuring her to drop her civil lawsuit ... and they're threatening violence and even death.

According to the New York Post, Jane Doe has been hit with a barrage of threatening calls and texts since filing suit last month ... including gun violence threats against her family.

One alleged message reads, "Can't guarantee you'll be safe."

Another warns her to "withdraw the case" if she cares about her family ... and threatens, "Would you like to see [redacted]'s brains in front of [redacted]?"