RIP

Two dogs have been sprung from death row after allegedly killing a neighbor's cat ... this after a legal battle that lasted more than a year.

A 2-year-old pit bull named Odin, and a 6-year-old Akita mix named Lucy were caught back in January 2021 next to a dead cat named Big Boy. Animal control officers came and took the dogs to a shelter, and began legal proceedings to euthanize the pooches.

The dogs owners, Nola Lowman and her son, William Dillon Jr., hired lawyers ... who argued Odin and Lucy just came upon the cat and the probability was that a coyote killed the feline.

They pointed to not just one but 4 cat attacks in the area ... which suggested a serial animal killer was on the loose.

Authorities didn't see it their way, and ruled the 2 dogs were considered "vicious." That's a critical word, because under Maryland law animals that are labeled "vicious" must be euthanized.

According to The Washington Post, the dogs were impounded for more than a year, as lawyers racked up a $25,000 bill trying to appeal the decision.

A few weeks ago, a judge reversed the death sentence, saying the dogs had no history of aggressiveness. The judge didn't find the dogs innocent ... rather, the label "vicious" was replaced with the label "dangerous."

Jerry Jones' longtime assistant, Marylyn Love, passed away this week ... and the Dallas Cowboys owner said he's devastated over the death, calling her his "best friend."

The team and Jones announced the sad news in a statement Thursday ... with Jerry saying he's flat-out heartbroken over it all.

"Marylyn has been by my side, she has been my rock, my voice, my calm in the storm for more than 40 years," Jones said ... "She was our foundation."

Jones said Love left a law firm in Oklahoma decades ago to become the Cowboys owner's assistant -- and the 79-year-old added that she helped form the Cowboys' org. from the beginning.

"Marylyn helped shape this franchise as one of very few people who have been with me and my family since Day 1," Jones said.

"Marlyn was not only my executive assistant, but she was my advisor, my confidant, my best friend and a cherished member of our family."

Her impact was so great on the team, former Cowboys star Deion Sanders actually shouted her out in his Hall of Fame acceptance speech back in 2011 -- calling her Jones' "greatest cover corner in the NFL."

Jones said he and the team are all mourning her passing "together with her family."

Tragic news in the baseball world ... former MLB pitcher Odalis Perez died on Thursday night after he apparently fell off a ladder in his home.

He was just 44 years old.

Perez's attorney, Walin Batista, confirmed the news to ESPN ... explaining Perez's family believes the former Los Angeles Dodger slipped down a ladder in the Dominican Republic.

"Around 7 p.m., his brother Cristian Perez arrived at the house and found Odalis lying in the patio," Batista told the outlet. "We don't know yet the cause of his death, but everything seems to indicate Odalis slipped down a ladder. This is a tragedy."

The Dodgers and the Nationals -- two of Perez's former teams -- both mourned Perez's passing on social media on Thursday night ... with both organizations sending their condolences to the former left-handed pitcher's family and friends.

Hall of Famer Vladimir Guerrero also expressed sadness over the news in an emotional tweet.

"I keep the memories of the moments we were able to share," Vlad said. "May God take you to a good place."

Perez made his debut in the Big Leagues with the Atlanta Braves in 1998 ... and he went on to play 10 more years in The Show for the Dodgers, Royals and Nationals.

Emilio Delgado -- the actor best known, and beloved, for his role as Luis on "Sesame Street" -- has died ... TMZ has learned.

Delgado's wife, Carol, tells TMZ he passed away Thursday surrounded by family at his home in NYC. We're told Emilio had recently been in hospice care ... he was diagnosed with the blood cancer Multiple myeloma in December 2020.

Carol says Emilio was still a working actor right up until the pandemic -- playing the lead in "Quixote Nuevo" -- a theater production that had a 3-city run before things were shut down. He also recently did some voiceover work in January 2022.

The beloved Mexican-American actor was a pioneer in children's television, playing Luis, the 'Fix-It Shop' owner for a total of 40 years on the 'Street.' He took a brief hiatus from the show in the late 80s, but returned within a year.

He also performed in live theater throughout his career -- including some "Sesame Street" stage productions -- and has appeared at various conventions over the years.

Emilio was 81.

This ghastly image is swirling around the world, bringing home the horrors of Putin's war.

We can now put faces to the innocent civilians who were killed by Russian mortar fire as they tried to escape Irpin, Ukraine.

Tatiana Perebeinis was the chief accountant for SE Ranking ... it's a Silicon Valley startup which has a large presence in Kyiv. The 43-year-old mother of 2 died, alongside her daughter, Alise, 9, and son Nikita, 18.

Tatiana's husband, Sergii Perebeinis, was not with his family when they were killed. He posted on Facebook, "Trying to hold on but it's really hard." He said the family dogs were also killed in the attack.

It's heartbreak heaped on heartbreak ... their funerals are on hold because the morgues in the city are all filled to capacity.

The family's apartment building was bombed the day before Tatiana and her kids were slaughtered on the street by Russian force.

Tatiana's company issued a statement, saying she was "a very friendly, brave, courageous woman with a great sense of humor. She always cheered everyone around her up. She was truly like a big sister to all of us."

Her son was supposed to attend a university this year. He was required to stay in Ukraine ... 18 to 60-year-old men cannot leave the country.

"Bones" actor Heath Freeman died from an overdose of multiple opioids and narcotics, including fentanyl and cocaine ... according to the medical examiner's report.

Heath was found dead in his Austin, TX home last November, and the Travis County Medical Examiner says he had a lethal cocktail of booze and several drugs. Specifically, the report says fentanyl, cocaine, hydrocodone, oxycodone and alprazolam (generic Xanax) were in his system. The manner of death is listed as an accident.

According to the report, he was found unresponsive in his bed ... after apparently partying very hard the night before.

Heath was pronounced dead at the scene, and the report notes cops found oxy and alprazolam pills in his home.

A heart-wrenching, and far too common scene, in Ukraine ... 2 soldiers killed while trying to fend off the Russians were laid to rest, and their friends and family could not hold back their emotions.

The funeral service for the soldiers -- only identified as 44-year-old Victor and 25-year-old Ivan -- commenced Tuesday. The servicemen were buried at the Lychakiv Cemetery, where loved ones gathered to say their final farewells and their grief is evident in these images.

Several mourners were down on their knees next to the gravesites ... sobbing and wiping away tears as they laid flowers atop the caskets.

An estimated 2,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed in less than 2 weeks of war against the Russian invaders -- and nearly 500 civilians are confirmed dead.

A Russian tank absolutely obliterated a civilian vehicle by opening fire -- killing an elderly couple inside who appeared to be trying to flee.

This went down Tuesday in the town of Makariv, just outside of Kyiv. As you know, that area has been under siege for days ... and people are attempting to get out any way they can, but many are still being targeted by Putin.

Tragically, that happened here ... the tank unleashing a blast from a good distance on an open road, with nothing but the car in sight. There was no threat posed, and nothing to indicate Ukrainian soldiers were afoot ... and yet, the tank operator fired on the vehicle.

The man and woman inside died -- a slaughtering that appears to have been captured by a nearby surveillance camera. In the aftermath, somebody filmed the destruction up close ... and you can see the couple's bodies leaning on each other.

It's incredibly graphic, but also crucial ... to witness the sheer brutality that's being inflicted on the Ukrainian people. There are multiple videos like this ... and reports that ordinary folks are being indiscriminately fired upon by Russian forces.

Joshua Tharpe -- a guest star on "Party Down South" -- has died ... TMZ confirms.

His brother, Billy, tells us ... Josh was found dead Monday by his mother on the kitchen floor of his home in Baton Rouge, LA. Billy says Josh's death comes as a surprise, as everything seemed fine just a day or so prior.

We're told Josh had gone to church with his mother on Sunday and then hung out at her house afterward. Later that day, he swung by a friend's place where he had plans to spend the night -- but had to stop by at his own place first to grab some clothes ... and Billy says he never returned.

The friend grew concerned when she didn't hear from him the next day, and contacted his mom ... who went to his house where she found him collapsed. Billy says the coroner has notified them that Josh died as a result of a heart attack. Apparently, he'd experienced something similar a year prior, but much more mild and he'd recovered.

Joshua wasn't a full-time cast member on the CMT reality show, but he was featured in multiple episodes.

He was just 42.

Ukrainian actor Pasha Lee was killed while fighting off Russian forces -- having gone from entertainer to soldier who put himself on the front lines in the battle for his country.

Lee died while serving in the Ukrainian army this weekend, falling at the hands of Russian occupiers who were bombarding the city of Irpin with mortar shells -- this according to the Odesa International Film Festival, which broke the news about his passing.

They memorialized him by listing his film credentials, including roles in "Shtolnya," "Shadows of Unforgotten Ancestors," "Zvychayna Sprava," "The Fight Rules," "Meeting of Classmates" and more.

He's also done commercial and TV work, as well as voice acting -- and not just that ... but the dude was apparently known as a composer and theater actor too.

The OIFF wrote, "We call on the world community to help Ukraine in the fight against Russia and stop the war. We urge you to close the sky over Ukraine immediately and continue to boycott Russian cinema."

Unclear when he joined the Ukrainian armed forces -- but Lee is reported to have served in a territorial defense unit ... which apparently saw action in Irpin, an area that was under siege all weekend long -- as many saw first-hand in brutal fashion.

Ukrainian actress Anastasiya Kasilova -- one of his fellow costars -- mourned his death by taking to social media and writing ... "Pasha Li killed during the shelling in Irpen, defending Ukraine. He is an actor, TV presenter, my colleague and a good acquaintance… Not so long ago we shot together in a teaser for a children's film…Never forgive!"

He was 33.

Johnny Brown, who played housing project superintendent Nathan Bookman on the massively hit show "Good Times," has died.

Johnny's daughter Sharon Catherine Brown tells TMZ, he was at his doctor's office in L.A. Wednesday getting his pacemaker checked out, and shortly after he left he went into cardiac arrest and collapsed. He was taken to a nearby hospital, where he passed. She says the appointment was routine, so his sudden death was a shock.

Sharon said, "Our family is devastated. Devastated. Devastated. Beyond Heartbroken. Barely able to breathe."

Johnny was a protege of Sammy Davis Jr. Sammy scored Johnny a role on Broadway, and from there, his career soared. He starred in "Carry Me Back to Morningside Heights" ... directed by Sidney Poitier.  Neil Simon took notice and put Johnny in "The Out of Towners."

"Good Times," however, was his breakout role. He joined the show in 1975, in the middle of season 2.

Co-star Jimmie Walker tells TMZ he's hurting because he loved his compadre on the show.

Johnny racked up a bunch of credits, including 3 seasons on 'Laugh In,' 'Julia,' 'Maude,' "The Jeffersons," "Archie Bunker's Place," "Family Matters," "Sister, Sister," "Moonlighting," and "Martin."

Johnny is survived by his wife, whom he married 61 years ago, his daughter Sharon and son, John Jr.

Johnny was 84.

DMX's Fiancée Desiree Lindstrom says their son, Exodus, is the apple that doesn't fall far from the tree -- he could follow in his dad's footsteps -- but for now, he's staying strong after X's passing.

Desiree was on "It's Tricky with Raquel Harper," when she opened up about whether her 5-year-old might become a rapper ... and turns out he's flashing some skills. She told Raq, "He loves to sing. I was like, 'Is my son gonna be an R&B singer?'"

She says Exodus can beatbox pretty well too, sooo ... place your bets.

As for the traumatic loss of his father -- Desiree says Exodus has been very strong, even comforting her when she gets down. If she starts tearing up, her little boy reassures her DMX is always watching over from Heaven.

She tells Raq he's eager to learn, too -- choosing to write over playing with toys! She couldn't be prouder of who he's becoming, and knows X would feel the same way.

Tim Considine, famous for his work on TV shows like "The Hardy Boys" and "My Three Sons," has died.

The veteran actor died Thursday at his home in Los Angeles, where he was surrounded by family ... according to his son, Christopher. We're told the cause of death is not immediately known but it was sudden and painless.

Tim had a long career in Hollywood, beginning when he was just 12, and he's also well known for playing Spin Evans on "The Adventures of Spin and Marty," which aired way back in 1955 as part of ABC's "The Mickey Mouse Club."

On the TV version of 'Hardy Boys,' Tim played amateur detective Frank Hardy ... giving life to the character from the widely read book series.

When he was 19, Tim again starred on ABC as Mike Douglas in "My Three Sons" ... an enormous, hit series about 3 brothers being raised by their widowed father. He played the role from 1960 to 1965 before leaving the show to pursue other opportunities.

Tim also acted in movies, most notably in the 1970 best picture film "Patton," where he plays a soldier who gets slapped by the famous army general.

The son of a prominent producer at MGM, Tim also wrote TV episodes for NBC, published books and even had a guest column in The New York Times Magazine.

Tim was 81.

The parents of soccer star Katie Meyer say they fear a possible punishment from Stanford could have led to their daughter's suicide earlier this week.

In an interview with NBC's "Today" show on Friday, Steven and Gina Meyer say their daughter was facing potential discipline over an alleged incident involving her and one of her Cardinal teammates.

The two parents say over the last few weeks Katie had been receiving letters from the school over it all ... and in the past few days, she had gotten "kind of the final letter that there was going to be a trial or some kind of something."

Gina speculated it all might have led to the Stanford goalie's death on Tuesday.

"This is the only thing that we can come up with that triggered something," Gina said.

The school declined to comment on the situation ... telling "Today" in a statement, "We are not able to share information about confidential student disciplinary matters."

Gina and Steven said they've been devastated and heartbroken since Katie was found on Tuesday ... explaining, "the last couple days are a parents' worst nightmare."

Katie was just 22 years old.

Britney Spears thinks there's something not quite right about how Brittany Murphy died a sudden death, and she has good reason to wonder ... because there's a direct connection between them.

The singer just posted about the late actress, saying she finds it "curious" Brittany died at just 32, and doesn't seem to buy the official explanation. Britney admits she's a bit late to the discussion -- she references a People cover story from last October.

As you know ... Brittany was found unresponsive back in 2009 in her Hollywood Hills home, and the coroner ultimately determined she died of drug intoxication and untreated pneumonia.

What's interesting is the fact Murphy bought that house from Spears, who lived there back when she was dating Justin Timberlake.

Even eerier ... Murphy's husband, Simon Monjack, also died in that house 5 months later, and also from drug intoxication and pneumonia.

Along with the People story, there was also an HBO documentary last year about Murphy's death -- which has clearly piqued Britney's interest.

Spears didn't mention her connection to Murphy in her IG post -- but both Britney and Brittany didn't like staying in the house.

Monjack once said Murphy considered the home "unlucky" ... while Spears reportedly thought the place had bad spirits.

The Murphy family sold the mansion in 2011, and in 2013 it was razed and an all-new home was built.

Stanford women's soccer star Katie Meyer died by suicide, officials in California announced on Thursday.

In a statement released by the County of Santa Clara, officials said "Meyer's death was determined to be self-inflicted." They added no signs of foul play were found.

"The Medical Examiner-Coroner extends sincerest condolences to the family, friends, and fans of Katie Meyer," the officials said in a statement.

As we reported, Meyer was tragically found dead on Stanford's campus this week at just 22 years old.

She was the Cardinal's starting goalkeeper and a team captain ... and reps for the university called her "a bright shining light for so many."

Her death rocked her family and friends, Stanford's school and the sports world in general.

"There are no words," Katie's sister, Samantha Meyer, said in a social media post earlier this week. "Thank you for all the kindness extended to my family."

Katie joined the Cardinal in 2018 ... and helped the team win a national championship in 2019. A GoFundMe set up in her honor has already raised nearly $150,000.