'Rust' Armorer Insurance Paid Out $50k Settlement In Friend's Deadly Motorcycle Crash
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Hannah Gutierrez-Reed -- the woman at the center of the "Rust" death investigation -- was also recently tied to the death of a close friend, and her insurance company shelled out big bucks to his family.
According to legal docs, obtained by TMZ, Reed's friend, Tyler Dyer, was killed in an accident back in August 2020 -- a wreck that also involved her boyfriend, Aaron Butcher. Both men were on motorcycles at the time -- Aaron had borrowed Hannah's.
Tyler's dad tells us all 3 of them had been hanging out at a party prior to the accident -- and Hannah admitted to cops she'd seen both Tyler and Aaron drink 4 to 5 beers each before she opted to give Aaron the keys to her ride.
BTW, Aaron was already on probation for a DUI, and only permitted to operate vehicles with a breathalyzer attached to the ignition ... which Hannah's bike did not have.
According to cops, Tyler was going too fast when he made a turn and crashed his bike into a wall ... while Aaron tried to avoid him, and ended up wrecking Hannah's bike.
Tyler died in the crash, Aaron was arrested for aggravated DUI, and because he was on Hannah's bike ... her insurance company paid Dyer's parents, Joe and Sara, $50,000 in exchange for an agreement not to sue Hannah in the future.
The documents state each of Tyler's parents ended up walking away with $15,481.
TMZ broke the story, 24-year-old Reed revealed just last month she only recently wrapped her first project as a head armorer ... a project she says she almost didn't take on because she was afraid she lacked experience.
Many people on the "Rust" crew, including the head electrician, have placed blame on Reed and the assistant director for the death of Halyna Hutchins, who was shot and killed when an actual bullet was fired from a gun Alec Baldwin was holding.
NBA YoungBoy I'm Free!!! For Now, at Least
NBA YoungBoy is finally sprung from jail -- after several months behind bars in his federal gun case -- but he had to drop some serious coin to make it happen.
The rapper's attorneys, Drew Findling and Andre Belanger, tell TMZ ... NBA YB was released on bond Tuesday after forking over $500k in cash. The St. Martin Parish Sheriff's Office, which had the rapper in custody since March, confirms they've handed him his walking papers.
YoungBoy might be rejoicing about regaining his freedom until he stands trial ... but he's on a tight leash. He's gotta keep his nose clean -- or else he'll land right back in a cell.
His legal team tells us a condition of YoungBoy's release includes home confinement in Utah, where his location is being monitored. How exactly they'll keep track of him isn't quite clear -- whether it's electronic or physical surveillance -- but we're told the authorities are keeping tabs.
TMZ broke the story ... cops had to use a K-9 unit here in L.A. to wrangle YoungBoy after he allegedly evaded a traffic stop and spurred a police chase.
He's been indicted by a grand jury on charges of possessing a firearm as a felon and possessing a firearm not registered to him.
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Mac Miller Drug Supplier Pleads Guilty to Fentanyl Charge
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The man prosecutors say supplied the deadly pills that killed Mac Miller has acknowledged wrongdoing -- copping a plea deal that could see him behind bars for a long while.
According to court docs, obtained by TMZ, Stephen Walter entered a guilty plea with the feds on one count of distribution of fentanyl. The other drug-related charge -- conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance -- was dropped.
Prosecutors alleged Walter was the one who indirectly gave Mac's alleged dealer, Cameron James Pettit, deadly Percocet tablets that ended up causing MM to OD. As we reported, Pettit hit up Walter ... who then sent a runner to drop them off that fateful night.
As far as what's on the table for punishment ... the docs note there's a maximum sentence he could face -- more than 20 years in prison -- plus a lifetime of supervised release and a fine of $1 million. Prosecutors are recommending 17 years in prison and 5 years supervised release.
There's also this ... prosecutors make a point to say that Walter pleading guilty here means he was fully aware of what he was pawning off that night -- counterfeit oxycodone pills laced with fentanyl.
And, remember ... Walter was ALREADY on supervised release from a previous drug case in which he was involved.
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'Rust' Actor Says Camera Was Protected But Not the Actors ... Afraid to Voice Concerns
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The gun scenes in the Alec Baldwin movie "Rust" were considered dangerous enough to provide certain protections ... but not protections for people, but rather the expensive camera.
Ian A. Hudson, a New Mexico-based principal cast member who plays an outlaw in the film, tells TMZ ... his last scene in the movie on October 8 was a shootout where he was killed, and he says he was terrified that there were 20 rounds from pistols and rifles that were unloading blanks, and the only protection against a mishap was some sort of shield around the camera.
Hudson describes what he says was something like a 3X2 foot shield, with the only part exposed being the lens. He was standing 6 feet in front of the camera, and wondered why there was a need to protect the camera as he stood there exposed. He adds there were people standing behind the camera, something gun experts say should not have happened.
Hudson says he felt the scene was "life-threatening," because real weapons were being pointed at him and blanks discharged, creating a rush of air that struck him multiple times. He also said he was hit by small pieces of cardboard.
The actor told us he didn't complain because he was new in the business and felt he would be viewed as trouble if he voiced concern.
And, Hudson says, he and his fellow actors were alarmed enough to reference the accidental killing of Brandon Lee back in 1993. He told us they discussed the fact that it didn't seem like much has changed in the last 30 years.
Hudson says the other, more experienced actors checked their weapons 2 or 3 times after they received them from the armorer, and it didn't matter whether they were told the gun was "cold" or "hot." Baldwin did not check the weapon, but rather relied on the assistant director who assured him the gun was "cold."
The armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, is now under the microscope because of her inexperience ... something she talked about in a recent podcast. But, Hudson says director, Joel Souza, praised Hannah when Hudson was on set, telling her she was doing a good job.
As we reported, Souza was shot along with director of photography, Halyna Hutchins, who died from her injures after being hit by a live round.
Ian's character was killed in a shootout with Jensen Ackles' character ... and he says it was extremely unsettling.
Hudson added he never saw anyone using guns recreationally when the cameras weren't rolling.
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Brian Laundrie Family Atty. Says Parents in the Dark On Journal and Why He Ran
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Brian Laundrie fled into the woods looking incredibly upset -- but his parents still don't know why, or what may be written in his recovered journal ... so says their attorney.
Steve Bertolino tells TMZ ... Brian's parents, Chris and Roberta, have no idea why their son fled with such angst the day he went missing in September. he would only say they felt he was "out of sorts."
Obviously, everyone wants to know exactly what the parents knew and when -- but Bertolino insists they were in the dark on what the heck was happening with Brian as he fled from the house and vanished.
10/20/21
He says ditto on what might be in Brian's journal, which authorities found near his remains at the Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park. Bertolino says cops haven't made the Laundries aware of its contents yet -- but says he has heard some of it may not be salvageable.
Of course, that leaves a lot of unanswered questions. Like, for example, how did Brian die, and what involvement, if any, he had in Gabby Petito's disappearance and death.
Bertolino says this is a tragic ending for both families, and claims his clients don't have any more info to help law enforcement solve the outstanding mysteries.
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'Rust' Shooting Fatal Shot Struck Cinematographer in Chest ... Expert Says 3 Errors Caused Tragedy
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Alec Baldwin was practicing a "cross draw" -- pointing his gun at the camera -- when a live round struck the director in the shoulder and the cinematographer fatally in the chest ... this according to new court documents.
Director Joel Souza told Sheriff's investigators he heard someone -- we're told the assistant director -- say "cold gun" while they got ready for the scene ... meaning the gun did not have live rounds in the chambers. Significantly, it appears the gun had been inspected before the lunch break but Souza could not remember if it had been checked when the crew returned.
A cameraman named Reid Russel told authorities, "Alec was trying to explain how he was going to draw out the firearm and where his arm would be when the firearm was pulled from the holster."
Souza explained Baldwin pointed the gun directly at the camera and fired, striking him in the shoulder and Halyna Hutchins in the chest. Souza says he had a vague memory that Hutchins was complaining about her stomach and grabbing her midsection. He says she then began to stumble backward and was assisted to the ground. He says he was bleeding from his shoulder and could see blood on Halyna.
Russel said after the shooting, Halyna said she could not feel her legs. Once on the ground, medics frantically began treating her as she was bleeding on the ground. She was airlifted to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
Steve Wolf, a special effects coordinator and theatrical firearms safety expert, told CNN there were 3 errors committed that resulted in the tragedy -- using a real gun rather than a prop gun, having a live round in the gun and having people stand behind the camera in the "line of fire." He also said the assistant director should not have been the one to clear the gun before the incident ... that should have been the armorist's job.
Souza told authorities ... there should never have been live rounds near or around the scene that's being rehearsed or shot.
Authorities have obtained a search warrant to seize all camera footage and any other computer data that may have recorded the fatal incident.
We talked about the incident on the most recent episode of our podcast.
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Jeremy Piven L.A. Home Burglarized ... $20K Worth of Clothes Lifted!!!
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Jeremy Piven may need a new wardrobe ... because we're told he's the victim of a home burglary that saw crooks get away with five figures worth of his threads.
Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... the "Entourage" star had his Los Angeles area home broken into earlier this week, with thieves smashing a window to get inside Jeremy's crib.
It sounds like JP has expensive taste just like his fictional character Ari Gold ... because we're told the burglars made off with over $20,000 in clothes. Must be quite a haul.
Our sources say police are looking for videos to help them catch the perps ... but so far, we're told no arrests have been made.
It's unclear if Jeremy's place was specifically targeted, but we're told he was NOT home at the time of the burglary.
Jeremy's rep tells TMZ ... "It's unfortunate when high profile celebrities are a target of home robberies when traveling. Jeremy was out of town at the time doing his stand-up comedy shows in the UK."
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Alec Baldwin Gun That Killed DP ... Allegedly Used for Off-Set Target Practice
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The smoking gun that claimed the life of Halyna Hutchins might've been more than just an on-set prop -- it was also being fired recreationally, even when cameras weren't rolling.
Multiple sources directly connected to the 'Rust' production tell TMZ ... the same gun Alec Baldwin accidentally fired -- hitting the DP and director -- was being used by crews members off set as well, for what we're told amounted to target practice.
We're told this off-the-clock shooting -- which was allegedly happening away from the movie lot -- was being done with real bullets ... which is how some who worked on the film believe a live round found its way in one of the chambers that day.
Obviously, authorities would want to speak to anyone who had been using the weapon for target practice, and -- more importantly -- to whoever was putting the gun back among others used for filming.
We've reached out to law enforcement to see if that's happened yet.
There's also this ... one source who was on set and familiar with the goings-on of the crew tells us that when cops showed up, they found live ammo and blanks were being stored in the same area -- another possible explanation for how an actual bullet slipped got in the gun.
Kim Kardashian Trespasser Busted Outside Home ... Despite Restraining Order
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Kim Kardashian's got more problems with the man who allegedly sent her a package containing a diamond ring and Plan B ... we're told he showed up at her home again.
Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... police were called to Kim's home in the San Fernando Valley early Tuesday morning after security at her gated community detained a man for trespassing.
According to new legal docs ... Nicholas Costanza, who Kim claims is the person who shipped Plan B pills and an engagement ring to her home earlier this year, is accused of harassing Kim and threatening her and her family.
We're told he was arrested Tuesday morning and booked ... and now he's been hit with a felony stalking charge because Kim has a restraining order against him.
While the same man has allegedly shown up at Kim's property in the past and tried to jump the gate ... we're told he doesn't appear to have gotten to her house this time and he's being held on $150,000 bail.
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DMX Estate Battle Grows ... As Alleged 15th Child Comes Forward
There is a full-on battle royale over DMX's estate, because another woman has reportedly come forward claiming she's one of X's kids, and wants in on the estate.
Raven Barmer-Simmons has contacted some of the kids of the late rapper, saying she is among them ... this according to Page Six, which broke the story.
If she is indeed on of DMX's kids, she could be #15. A battle is shaping up over who gets what as assets get divvied up.
A judge appointed 3 of X's sons, Xavier, Tacoma and Sean as temporary administrators, but that's clearly not sitting well with everyone.
X's fiancee, Desiree Lindstrom, has been trying to get an acknowledgment she was his common-law wife, but the judge rejected her claim. She wants to become the administrator of his estate, but now that seems like an uphill climb.
There will almost certainly be DNA tests to determine who's entitled to the estimated $1 million estate. Remember, though, there are also future earnings from his music that can replenish the estate.
There will also be lots of discussions over where all the money went. X sold more than 70 million albums and not only had a career in music but movies as well ... so on the surface the remaining assets seem out of whack.
4/25/21
DMX died of an OD which triggered a heart attack back in April. He was 50.
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Brian Laundrie No Cause, Manner of Death Identified Bones Going to Anthropologist
Brian Laundrie's autopsy has been completed without answers, and now his bones will be shipped off to an anthropologist for further evaluation ... TMZ has learned.
Laundrie family attorney, Steven Bertolino, tells us the coroner just wrapped, and no matter or cause of death could be identified through his remains. Bertolino says the next step will be to send his bones to an anthropologist to be examined.
The parents of fugitive Brian Laundrie, ventured into Florida’s Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park today, where Fox News Digital saw an officer apparently tell parents that law enforcement "might have found something." @FoxNews @FoxNewsDigital #gabbypetitio #BrianLaundrie pic.twitter.com/KNo9WZyM5a
— Laura Ingle NOT Ingraham (@lauraingle) October 20, 2021 @lauraingle
Bertolino tells us he's not sure why the anthropologist is getting involved, but online studies say the experts are brought into cases when bodies are too far along in the decomposition process to determine a cause of death using soft tissue.
As we reported, Laundrie's remains were first found off of a Florida trail Wednesday near his backpack and notebook. The FBI positively identified the bones found as Brian thanks to dental records.
Investigators say it appears Brian's body had been decomposing in the area for several weeks, and prior to their discovery, the remains had been in an area that was underwater.
Gabby Petito's family has not made an official comment on the findings.
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NBA YoungBoy Getting Released From Custody
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NBA YoungBoy is about to get out of jail as he awaits trial in his federal weapons case ... TMZ has learned.
The rapper's attorneys, Drew Findling and Andre Belanger, tell us bail has finally been set for YoungBoy, but he has not yet been released. The judge gave him two options -- put up $1.5 million worth of property or $500k cash.
TMZ broke the story ... YoungBoy was busted in Los Angeles back in March on a federal warrant, with the FBI taking him into custody using a K-9 unit after he allegedly attempted to evade a traffic stop.
After the L.A. arrest, YoungBoy was transported to Louisiana and booked into a jail in St. Martin Parish, where he's remained behind bars.
NBA YoungBoy was previously indicted by a grand jury on charges of possessing a firearm as a felon and possessing a firearm not registered to him. The indictment came 12 days before he was busted in Cali.
Story developing ...
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Robert Durst Charged with Wife's 1982 Murder
Robert Durst will finally stand trial for allegedly murdering his wife, Kathie Durst, in 1982 -- that is, if he survives COVID-19 and his already incredibly frail condition.
A grand jury in NY state heard testimony last week, and the murder charge was filed Tuesday in Westchester County. The D.A.'s Office is confirming the charges were filed, but won't comment any further.
It's unclear when he would stand trial, but the former real estate tycoon -- featured in the HBO documentary, "The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst" -- is already at death's door. As you know, an L.A. jury convicted Durst last week for the murder of Susan Berman, and sentenced him to life in prison.
Two days later, 78-year-old Durst was placed on a ventilator after contracting the coronavirus.
Remember, Durst seemingly confessed on an open mic while recording an interview for 'The Jinx' ... saying, "What the hell did I do? Killed them all, of course."
It seems like a longshot he'll make it to trial in New York state, but the murder charge could at least be a moral victory for Kathie Durst's family. She vanished in 1982, and her body was never found.
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Brian Laundrie Remains Found in Florida Are His ... Dental Records Prove It
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The hunt for Gabby Petito's fiance, Brian Laundrie, is officially over ... the FBI says dental records prove the remains found on a Florida hiking trail match those of the 23-year-old.
Brian's remains were found Wednesday at the Carlton Reserve in North Port, FL ... only hours after the FBI uncovered some of Brian's belongings during an initial search at the Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park.
The Laundrie family attorney tells TMZ, "Chris and Roberta Laundrie have been informed that the remains found yesterday in the reserve are indeed Brian’s. We have no further comment at this time and we ask that you respect the Laundrie’s privacy at this time."
As we reported ... Brian's parents led the FBI to the previously unexplored trail, where the feds found some articles of clothing and a backpack they believed might belong to Brian. The Medical Examiner went to the location, as well as the Pasco County Sheriff's Office's Human Remains Detection Team and a K-9.
The parents of fugitive Brian Laundrie, ventured into Florida’s Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park today, where Fox News Digital saw an officer apparently tell parents that law enforcement "might have found something." @FoxNews @FoxNewsDigital #gabbypetitio #BrianLaundrie pic.twitter.com/KNo9WZyM5a
— Laura Ingle NOT Ingraham (@lauraingle) October 20, 2021 @lauraingle
The news comes about a month after authorities said the body they found in Wyoming's Grand Teton National Park was indeed Gabby's body. The Teton County Coroner conducted an autopsy and ruled her death a homicide, with authorities saying she was strangled to death.
8/12/2021
As you know by now ... Laundrie went on the run and had so far eluded the FBI and Dog the Bounty Hunter during a nationwide manhunt.
The Petito case, of course, gained national attention after Brian returned to his Florida home without Gabby on September 1 ... despite the fact they had taken a cross-country trip together and documented the trip on social media.
Adding fuel to the fire ... there had also been an alleged domestic disturbance while on the road in Utah and a public blowout in Wyoming that got so bad they were booted from a restaurant.
Gabby's parents said they had not heard from her since August 25 and they reported her missing on Sept. 11. Laundrie was named a person of interest just 4 days later but then came a huge twist -- he did not cooperate with authorities and his family reported him missing on Sept. 17 ... adding that they had not seen him in days.
Gabby's family called for Laundrie to turn himself in during an emotional news conference in her home state of NY.
Along the way, there were tons of alleged Brian sightings ... all over Florida and even as far as Canada. Someone alerted authorities they spotted a man on their trail camera that fit Brian's description ... albeit around 450 miles away from his North Port home -- which would be quite a journey on foot over 4 days.
The Okaloosa Co. Sheriff later said they searched the area where the image was taken but didn't find anything, or anyone, of interest. The FBI also paid Laundrie's parent's home a visit to collect some of his items for DNA matching.
Then there was this ... Dog joined the manhunt too, and he even alerted cops about a possible lead.
Most recently, we obtained surveillance video of a man who resembled Brian riding a bike on a deserted road surrounded by heavy brush on the outskirts of a property a few miles away from North Port.
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Gabby Petito Last Known Photos With Brian
Here's what Gabby Petito and Brian Laundrie looked like on one of their final road trip stops ... and the pictures might be the last photos of them together.
The images were snapped back on the morning of Aug. 10, when Gabby and Brian were touring the Delicate Arch in Arches National Park.
It's the same scenic outlook where Gabby posted a pic on social media showing her and Brian kissing on the famous arch.
As you can tell from the never-before-seen photos ... Gabby and Brian look to be having a good time as they walk down the base of the arch.
Brian's smiling as Gabby takes a drink from her water jug ... but we now know what happened later during their cross-country road trip.
Gabby posted photos from that day on her Instagram, including one of her and Brian kissing.
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Brian infamously returned home without her and her body was found in another national park 3 weeks later, with authorities saying she was strangled to death.
There's now a manhunt for Brian, who has been on the run for over a month ... though the human remains found off a Florida trail this week might turn out to be his.
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Brian LAundrie Family Attorney Says 'Strong' Chance Remains Found Are His
Brian Laundrie's parents are "heartbroken" after their family attorney says remains found off a Florida trail almost certainly belong to their son.
Steven Bertolino, who has repped the Laundrie family for weeks now, told CNN's Chris Cuomo Wednesday, "the probability is strong, that it is Brian's remains" found by the FBI.
Bertolino says Laundrie's parents contacted authorities Tuesday night to let them know they wanted to search the trail Wednesday, and the finding of his belongings was a total coincidence.
The FBI said in a press conference Wednesday that the area where Brian's backpack and notebook were found near what appeared to be human remains was previously under water. Authorities have not yet identified the remains, and say investigative teams will be in the area for several days gathering evidence.
Bertolino told Cuomo, "It's quite sad, you can imagine as a parent, finding your son's belonging alongside from the remains. That's got to be heartbreaking. And I can tell you that they are heartbroken."
Bertolino says Laundrie's dad, Chris, first found a white bag in the woods about 20 feet off the trail ... and shortly after, law enforcement discovered Brian's backpack.
It all raises the question ... how did Laundrie's dad zero in on something the FBI couldn't find for more than a month?
Law enforcement has said it's expected to take a while to examine the remains and make a positive ID.