A small brush fire early Tuesday led to the discovery of human remains.
UAB police responded at 2:15 a.m. to reports of the brush fire in the 1300 block of 13th Street South, according to the Jefferson County Coroner’s Office.
Officers extinguished the fire and then found skeletonized human remains within the brush, said Chief Deputy Coroner Bill Yates.
No additional details have yet been released.
The Birmingham Police Department is investigating the circumstances surrounding the death.
Got a birthday coming up? We’ve got a restaurant (or 12) we think would be the perfect spot to celebrate.
This is Alabama recently asked its Facebook followers what their go-to restaurant for a birthday meal is. From long-standing restaurants to fine dining spots, casual eateries and more, the responses did not disappoint.
Of course, what’s a birthday meal without a little, or a lot, of dessert? So in addition to sharing some of the suggestions below, we also shared some of the sweet treats up for grabs at each one too.
Here’s a look at 12 Alabama restaurants perfect for your next birthday.
Cobalt Restaurant. (Courtesy of Cobalt Restaurant)(Courtesy of Cobalt)
Cobalt
28099 Perdido Beach Blvd., Orange Beach
If you’re lucky enough to be spending your birthday at the beach, Cobalt, the Restaurant in Orange Beach is the perfect spot to grab a celebratory meal. While there, not only will you be able to take in gorgeous waterfront views, but all a diverse menu full of fresh, coastal cuisine. Among its offerings are the popular firecracker shrimp appetizer, pecan fried catfish, crab and scallop gnocchi and much more. Just don’t forget to save room for dessert. That triple layer chocolate cake isn’t going to eat itself.
If you want to try something a little out of the ordinary for your birthday this year, head to Ol Heidelberg Cafe in Huntsville, which has been serving authentic German fare for more than 50 years. No matter what you order– whether you go for a Bavarian Pork Schnitzel, a Bratwurst sausage platter, potato encrusted tilapia or something else from its eclectic menu — it’ll be a birthday meal unlike any other. Oh, and it probably doesn’t need to be said, but a big slice of German chocolate cake is also a must.
Chuck’s Fish is located at 508 Greensboro Avenue in Tuscaloosa. (Ben Flanagan / AL.com)
Chuck’s Fish
Locations throughout the state
Chuck’s Fish is a great option for your next birthday no matter what part of Alabama you live in. The restaurant got its start in Birmingham in 2009, but thanks to its menu of fresh seafood, steak, sushi and more, its popularity has grown, leading to locations all over the state. With so much to choose from — including crab cakes, red snapper throats and every kind of sushi you could want — the hard part will be deciding what to order. Well, until dessert comes around that is. Chocolate creme brulee seems like an easy choice.
If you’re not looking for anything too fancy, but still want a meal that feels special, head to Top O’ the River. In business since 1982, you can fill up on catfish, steak and all the country fixings while there. We vote go all out and get “largest seafood platter in the world,” which comes with golden fried catfish fillet, fried gulf shrimp, Creole boiled shrimp, crab meat and popcorn shrimp because if you can’t go all out on your birthday, when can you? Just be sure to save room for some of their chocolate beyond reason pie.
Shrimp tacos from Rosie’s Mexican Cantina. (Matt Wake/mwake@al,com)Matt Wake
Rosie’s Cantina
Locations in Florence and Huntsville
If you’re in the mood for handmade Tex-Mex on your birthday, Rosie’s Cantina is a wonderful option that has you covered. Its menu includes nachos, quesadillas, grande burritos, fajitas, enchiladas and more classic fare as well as Mahi-Mahi fish tacos, Mexican lasagna, pollo Verde, raspberry chipotle salmon and other specialty dishes. Not to mention, its dessert menu, with Tres leches, fried ice cream, cinnamon nachos and more up for grabs, is worth a visit on its own.
Located in the heart of downtown Montgomery, Central has become a popular fine dining spot in the capital city for locals and visitors alike thanks to its diverse menu featuring regionally-sourced ingredients and warm, but elegant atmosphere. While there, you can enjoy started like she crab bisque and beef tartare alongside entrees like Chilean sea bass, slow cooked beef short ribs and more. Afterward, you can skip having to pick just one sweet treat and get the dessert flight featuring the crème brulee, jakes mile high pie and a chef beignet.
Bama Bucks Steakhouse and Wild Game Restaurant is located in Boaz, Ala. (Photo courtesy of Terry Turk)(Photo courtesy of Terry Turk)
Bama Bucks Restaurant
292 Bryant Road in Boaz
Want to get a little wild on your birthday this year? Head to Bama Bucks Steakhouse and Wild Game Restaurant in Boaz. In addition to trying dishes you won’t find anywhere else, like bison lasagna, elk steaks and gator bites, you can also take a tour of the grounds while you wait to get up-close and personal with the kangaroos, ostriches, lemurs, camel, deer, alligators and more that call the exotic animal park home. As for dessert, you can never go wrong with peanut butter pie.
If you want to go a little bit fancy for your birthday this year without going too far out of your comfort zone, be sure to make a reservation at Connors Steak and Seafood. The Huntsville location of the Knoxville-based eatery opened in 2009 and offers an upscale dining experience with a touch of Southern flare, serving dishes like truffled deviled eggs, Cajun red grouper as well as shrimp and grits and more. As for dessert, some a slice of warm carrot cake, drizzled with caramel and served with homemade ice cream should do.
The Bright Star restaurant is at 304 19th St. North in Bessemer, Ala. The restaurant opened in 1907, and has been recognized by the Alabama Tourism Department as the oldest restaurant in Alabama.(Bob Carlton/[email protected])
The Bright Star
304 19th Street North in Bessemer
No matter what the occasion is — be it a birthday, anniversary, family get-together or just another Thursday — it seems The Bright Star in Bessemer is always a good idea. With more than 100 years in business, The Bright Star has had plenty of time to perfect its diverse menu, which offers seafood, steaks and other Greek-style cuisine. (The fried snapper throats are also a favorite.) Another area they’ve perfected? The dessert menu, which offers everything from Bananas Foster to Baklava cheesecake, chocolate almond pie and more.
At Taste at The Fain in Wetumpka, you can have a unique meal in an even more unique setting — the former Fain Theater that is nearly a century old. While there, you can spend your birthday sampling a variety of tapas, like roasted Brussel sprouts and Spanish meatballs, as well as small plates, including steak sliders and crab cake po’ boys, as well as entrees like garlic shrimp, bone-in pork chops and more. Whatever you decide to order, be sure to pair it with your favorite wine flight and the pecan praline bread pudding.
Eggplant Parmigiana at Gambino’s Italian Grill in Fairhope.
Gambino’s Italian Grill
18 Laurel Avenue in Fairhope
If you’re in the mood for Italian food, go to Gambino’s Italian Grill in Fairhope. They’ve got a full menu of all the hearty classics, from spaghetti and lasagna, manicotti, chicken tortellini and more, as well as seafood dishes and steaks. If you’re not sure what to order, why not all out and get the Taste of Italy, which includes oven-baked chicken parmesan, lasagna, chicken and veal cannelloni with sauce and more? Plus, hot fudge lava cake sounds like a birthday-appropriate dessert if there ever was one.
EastWest Kitchen and Bar in Birmingham offers Asian fusion food you’d be hard-pressed to find elsewhere, and it’s this break from the ordinary that makes it an ideal birthday dinner spot. Among its offerings are small plates like Chinese duck nachos and Korean-fried cauliflower, to staples like char-grilled short rib bao buns, tempura fried shrimp rice bowls and Mongolian ribeye. For dessert, have your pick of either a chocolate torte or white chocolate bread pudding. (Or both! Birthdays are a judgement-free zone.)
Human remains brought home four months apart by a dog in east Birmingham are from the same person, authorities said Tuesday.
The Jefferson County Coroner’s Office used DNA analysis to the link the skull and the left tibia, but the identity of the victim is still unknown.
Multiple missing person cases have been ruled out by DNA.
Chief Deputy Coroner Bill Yates said investigators placed GPS trackers on the dog and have determined its roaming area and patterns but searches of those aread have not yielded additional remains.
It was believed the skull was moved to where it was found by the homeowner’s dog.
Yates said a search of the area around the residence found no other human remains.
Police later said the medical examination of the skull showed the victim had been shot and the case was deemed a homicide.
A full DNA profile has been compiled however Yates said the DNA profile did not match anyone listed CODIS, or the Combined DNA Index System, which is a national DNA database that allows law enforcement to compare DNA profiles from crime scenes, convicted offenders, arrestees, detainees, and missing persons.
Yates said investigators checked nearby properties and woods behind the home at that time. Investigators also checked with area residents and asked them to look at their Ring cameras to see if they could determine where the dog was going to or coming from.
One neighbor, Yates said, did report seeing the dog walking up the street. Another reported seeing the dog “gnawing” on a bone.
Yates said he even stopped a mailman to question him.
Yates said the skull belongs to a male. There are features that lead authorities to believe the skull belonged to a Black male, but Yates said the race is not 100 percent confirmed.
Anyone with information is asked to call the coroner’s office at 205-930-3603 or Birmingham police.
The National Weather Service expects Alabama to be hit by severe storms starting later this afternoon.
The key points as of Tuesday morning:
Forecasters expect a fast-moving squall line of storms to move into Alabama from Mississippi and Tennessee later today. They could reach west Alabama by 4-5 p.m. and move quickly eastward through Tuesday night and into early Wednesday morning.
The strongest storms could bring wind gusts as high as hurricane force (70-80 mph), according to the weather service. Winds like that could bring down lots of trees and power lines. A few tornadoes will also be possible, especially in southwest Alabama.
Expect non-thunderstorm winds to increase through the day, and it could get very windy before the storms arrive. Wind advisories have been issued for the entire state from today and into part of Wednesday. Non-thunderstorm winds could gust as high as 40-50 mph. Take time now to secure any outdoor objects (ex. trampolines) that could become airborne in strong winds.
There is a Level 3 out of 5 (enhanced) risk for severe weather for southwest Alabama today, which means numerous severe storms are possible.
Most of the rest of Alabama has a Level 2 (slight) risk and could see scattered severe storms. A small area in northeast Alabama has a Level 1 risk as well. Isolated severe storms will be possible there.
The details:
Forecasters expect a squall line of storms to develop today and track eastward toward Alabama. The could reach Alabama’s western border by 4 to 5 p.m., but keep an eye out for changes in timing.
Since the storms could affect parts of the state late tonight, the weather service urged Alabamians to ensure they have multiple ways to receive warnings, including ones that will wake them up in the middle of the night.
Those can be in the form of a NOAA weather radio or phone app — but make sure not to turn phones on “silent” mode tonight.
The line of storms should be moving fast, which can increase the potential for high winds with storms.
Winds will be the main concern with tonight’s storms. However a few tornadoes can’t be ruled out either, according to the weather service.
The western part of Alabama could see the strongest storms. They are expected to slowly weaken as they head eastward during the nighttime hours, but severe storms can’t be ruled out statewide.
Southwest Alabama has the highest probability in the state of seeing severe weather, with a Level 3 out of 5 risk. Most of the rest of the state has a Level 2 risk.
And keep an eye out for gusty winds during the day today. Wind advisories will be in effect statewide starting around lunchtime, and some will last into Wednesday as well. The weather service said winds could gust from 35 mph to as high as 50 mph in some areas before the storms even arrive.
The storms are expected to move out of the state early Wednesday, and cooler and calmer weather is expected for the rest of the work week.
The next chance for rain could arrive by Saturday. So far no severe weather is in the forecast for the weekend but that’s not a sure thing just yet so keep an eye on the forecast later this week.
More from the weather service:
NORTH ALABAMA
CENTRAL ALABAMA
Storms could reach the western part of central Alabama by 5 p.m. today.NWS
The U.S. Postal Service said “refined services standards” will be put in place for certain types of mail. The changes will take effect in a little more than a month and covers first-class mail, periodicals, marketing mail, and package service, including bound printed matter, media and library mail.
“The changes will maintain service at existing levels for most volumes, will upgrade standards for more mark-dominant volume than is downgraded,” USPS said in a statement. “All mail will benefit from more reliable service.”
What’s changing?
Starting April 1, USPS will deliver 75% of first-class mail at the same rate, 14% at a faster standard and 11% at a slower rate, Newsweek reported. All mail will stay within the delivery standard of one to five business days. Delivery times for marketing material, periodicals and packages will be cut.
USPS will also transition to using the five-digit ZIP codes rather than the current 3-digit ZIP code add-on and will set standards for each leg of the mail delivery journey, making tracking and processing more transparent and quicker.
USPS customers will be provided with “multiple, user-friendly tools” for additional tracking.
Cutomers in rural areas will also likely benefit as postal workers will be able to leave facilities earlier and travel greater distances, speeding up deliveries for things such as medicine or packages.
Retail operations at USPS locations won’t be changing.
The refined service standards are expected to save at least $36 billion over the next decade from transportation, mail processing and real estate cost reductions.
David Paton wasn’t born in America, but he knows American exceptionalism.
His mother Aileen was traumatized by WWII. But she taught him from birth what America meant to her, and he brought that idea across the Atlantic as a young man. He went to college here, toured the land with a band, and married “a redheaded Southern bewitching angel” who brought him to Alabama. He found love there, and built a business, and still pursued his music.
He has performed at Honor Flight events, at gatherings held to show a country’s gratitude to those who fought for it, to those who risked their lives for freedom and America’s name across the world. He has looked them in the eye and told them what his mother told him.
“I got choked up,” he said. As I did when he told the story to me.
This is that story:
I’m from England. My mother spoke occasionally about the horrors of living in London during the Blitz.
The Heinkels and Messerschmitts buzzing overhead, then later the screaming V1s and V2s. She tells of moving to a house with her kids away from London, looking out the window at a Stuka dive bomber aimed at her house at the end of the cul-de-sac and dropping a bomb. It, luckily for all, hit the asphalt on its side and caromed over the house and exploded in the woods in back.
She named friends who died in the bombings, fathers, brothers and sons who never made it back home from France, or Belgium, or Germany.
But she always ended up saying: ‘and then the Americans came…’
The U.S. really didn’t have a dog in the fight in Europe, but came anyway. The thousands who died, tens of thousands broken and damaged, the millions in armaments and support were freely given. That is American exceptionalism, the generosity of plenty.
America’s greatness is not in its power and wealth, but in its fundamental goodness and kindness.”
Paton said it wasn’t the story that made him emotional when he told it at Honor Flight events. It was those men before him, those Americans, and the weight of their sacrifice.
“I looked at those men, sitting there,” he said. “America didn’t come into this war. Americans did. They came with a happy-go-lucky attitude, landed all around London, set off in those rickety old ships, and got their heads blown off on the beaches. All Americans came … they said this is what we’ll do.”
“I looked those guys in the eye and I said, ‘You were the ones my mother was talking about.’”
Paton said his mom suffered from PTSD for decades after the war. Like many others who endured the Blitz, she froze at high-pitched sounds, for the memories of those Nazi weapons lived forever.
Aileen Paton died in 2013. She was 102 years old.
I don’t want to overstate, to equate daily events to war, but it sure feels like a battle right now, and it ought not be a partisan one.
It feels like America is in its own Blitz, when the ping of a news alert causes many to freeze as if in war. And maybe it is a war for the soul of this country and the memories of those who fought to make America great.
Not with greed and power and dictates on high, but goodness and kindness and bravery and sacrifice.
Pope Francis stabilized enough Tuesday after two respiratory crises to resume using a nasal tube for oxygen, rather than a ventilation mask, as he continued to fight pneumonia, the Vatican said.
The 88-year-old pope, who has chronic lung disease and had part of one lung removed as a young man, woke up after sleeping through the night, the Vatican said.
The fact that Francis no longer needed the mask by Tuesday morning was a sign of some improvement after crises that required doctors to extract “copious” amounts of mucus from his lungs.
But the doctors’ prognosis remained guarded, meaning he was not out of danger.
The Vatican said as of Tuesday morning, Francis no longer needed to wear the noninvasive mechanical ventilation mask that covers his nose and mouth to pump oxygen into his lungs and was just receiving supplemental oxygen through a nasal tube.
Francis suffered two respiratory crises a day earlier. Doctors performed two bronchoscopies, in which a camera-tipped tube was sent into his airways with a sucker at the tip to suction out fluid. The pope remained alert, oriented and cooperated with medical personnel during the crises, the Vatican said.
His medical team has not provided an in-person update on his condition since Feb. 21, a sign of the up-and-down nature of his hospitalization, the longest of his 12-year papacy.
Francis’ treatment comes as the Vatican prepares for Lent, the solemn period leading up to Easter on April 20. As it is, a cardinal has been designated to take Francis’ place this week on Ash Wednesday, which opens Lent with a traditional service and procession in Rome. The pope was also supposed to attend a spiritual retreat this coming weekend with the rest of the Holy See hierarchy.
On Tuesday, the Vatican said the retreat would go ahead without Francis but in “spiritual communion” with him. The theme, selected weeks ago and well before Francis got sick, was “Hope in eternal life.”
Dr. John Coleman, a pulmonary critical care doctor at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago, said Monday’s respiratory episodes were more concerning than the last one on Friday, in which Francis had a coughing fit, inhaled some vomit and was put on the noninvasive mechanical ventilation for a day.
The use of bronchoscopies reflects a worrying level of mucus and phlegm in the lungs, Coleman said. “The fact that they had to go in there and remove it manually is concerning, because it means that he is not clearing the secretions on his own,” he said.
“He’s taking little steps forward and then steps back,” said Coleman, who is not involved in Francis’ care.
Francis, who is not physically active, uses a wheelchair and is overweight, had been undergoing respiratory physiotherapy to try to improve his lung function. The accumulation of secretions in his lungs was a sign that he doesn’t have the muscle tone to cough vigorously enough to expel the fluid.
Doctors often use noninvasive ventilation to stave off intubation or the use of more invasive mechanical ventilation. Francis has not been intubated during this hospitalization. It’s not clear if he has provided any instructions on the limits of his care if he declines seriously or loses consciousness.
Catholic teaching holds that life must be defended from conception until natural death. It insists that chronically ill patients, including those in vegetative states, must receive “ordinary” care such as hydration and nutrition, but “extraordinary” or disproportionate care can be suspended if it is no longer beneficial or is only prolonging a precarious and painful life.
Francis articulated that in a 2017 speech to a meeting of the Vatican’s bioethics think tank, the Pontifical Academy for Life. He said there was “no obligation to have recourse in all circumstances to every possible remedy.” He added: “It thus makes possible a decision that is morally qualified as withdrawal of ‘overzealous treatment.’”
Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, who heads the academy which helps articulate the Catholic Church’s position on end-of-life care, said Francis is like any other Catholic and would follow church teaching if it came to that.
“Today the pope is giving us an extraordinary teaching on fragility,” he told reporters Monday. “Today the pope, not through words but with his body, is reminding all of us, we elderly people to begin with, that we are all fragile and therefore we need to take care of each other.”
Today is Fat Tuesday, so laissez les bons temps rouler one more time in the home of America’s Family Mardi Gras. And we’ll see whether the Comic Cowboys can stretch the “family” part of that today. Thanks for reading,
That’s the ocean liner that’s been aging in Philadelphia since the 1990s.
During its prime in the 1950s and 60s it was the largest ocean liner constructed entirely in the U.S. and was the fastest to cross the Atlantic Ocean. It carried four American presidents and stars such as Marilyn Monroe, Bob Hope and John Wayne.
Okaloosa County, Florida, has bought the ship and is paying to have it towed to Mobile and later sank as an artificial reef about 20 miles into the Gulf of Mexico from Destin.
For about the next six months it’ll be part of the Mobile skyline. It’s sitting at Modern American Recycling & Repair Services while it’s being prepared for sinking. The prep work includes cutting holes in the ship so that it sinks upright.
Where there’s smoke
If you smell smoke, you’re not the only one.
AL.com’s Ramsey Archibald reports that 162 fires were burning across Alabama this past weekend. The fires involved 54 of our 67 counties and 4,600 acres.
The Alabama Forestry Commission has warned people against burning outside with the state seeing gusty winds and dry conditions.
Randolph had the most wildfires among counties with 10.
Some areas should get some relief this evening in the form of rain — although we could see high winds before the rain arrives.
Tough times for satellite campuses
Troy University’s Board of Trustees has voted to close the school’s Phenix City campus after about a half century’s presence in the area, reports AL.com’s Williesha Morris.
There is a trend at play that extends beyond the state and Troy’s many satellite campuses. With online courses and remote options, fewer students are planting it in those real-life plastic classroom seats on campuses. According to the 2022 Hechinger Report, 861 U.S. college campuses had closed since 2004.
Shark alert?
A bill is being revised in the state Legislature that would set up a shark-alert system along the Gulf Coast, reports AL.com’s John Sharp.
This is inspired by the violent shark attack that critically injured Mountain Brook teenager Lulu Gribbin. It was introduced by state Rep. David Faulkner, a Mountain Brook Republican. U.S. Sen. Katie Britt is leading a similar effort on the federal level.
A complication here involves something we’ve covered before: If you’re in the Gulf, you’re not in a shark-free environment. How can you avoid having an alarm always going off and serving mostly to just scare the tourists?
Gulf Shores Fire Rescue Chief of Staff Melvin Shepherd said you can often spot dozens of sharks while flying down the beach in a helicopter.
So what would trigger an alarm?
The first version of the bill called for an alert to be activated when there was a report of a shark being spotted close to shore that is believed to be “an imminent danger” to people.
Faulkner is now working with the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources on a revised version that could be released in a couple weeks. Localized cell-phone alerts and tweaks to the beach-flag system are on the table.
According to stats kept by the Florida Museum of Natural History, there have been 10 confirmed shark attacks in Alabama over the past 187 years.
Alabama News Quiz answers/results
A woman who spent time in a federal prison in Alabama has joined Trumps team as his …
Pardon czar (CORRECT) 73.4%
Drug czar 12.1%
Recidivism czar 9.0%
Trade war czar 5.5%
This person has NOT announced he or she is running for Mobile mayor:
Abbie Stockard (CORRECT) 41.7%
Spiro Cheriogotis 31.7%
Barbara Drummond 15.6%
Connie Hudson 11.1%
Some of these professionals staged a “walkout” on Tuesday to bring attention to state legislation they say is vital to their industry.
Pharmacists (CORRECT) 89.9%
Social workers 5.0%
Nurses 4.0%
Confectioners 1.0%
As unlikely as its passage may be, a bill that would repeal a law that prevents local governments from setting their own minimum wages has been introduced in the State House of Representatives. What city’s leaders and representatives are behind both this bill and a previous minimum-wage effort that prompted the state’s current law?
Birmingham (CORRECT) 53.8%
Huntsville 17.1%
Montgomery 15.6%
Mobile 13.6%
This Alabamian who tends to steer clear of politics decided to make a statement about possible cuts to this government agency.
James Spann; National Weather Service (CORRECT) 80.4%
It will likely take weeks to sort out the death of actor Gene Hackman and his wife as authorities revealed new details about the case.
The Oscar winner and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, were found dead with one of the family’s three dogs in their New Mexico home by maintenance workers on Wednesday. Authorities said there were no obvious signs of foul play, but that the circumstances of their deaths warranted further investigation.
Where does the investigation go from here?
Besides work from the medical examiner, investigators are looking at pills found at the scene and the couple’s cellphones to piece together the last days of their lives.
“We’ll be analyzing cellphone data, phone calls, text messages, events, photos in the cellphone, to try to piece a timeline together,” Santa Fe Sheriff County Adan Mendoza said Friday.
Investigators removed two phones, blood pressure and thyroid medications, Tylenol, medical records and a 2025 monthly planner from the home, according to a search warrant summary.
In the coming days, investigators will build a timeline for when the two were last seen alive and try to evaluate who spoke to them last. Mendoza described Hackman and Arakawa as “private individuals” who kept to themselves. There are no security cameras inside or outside the home for the investigators to draw upon, Mendoza said Friday.
Maintenance workers told investigators that they last spoke to the couple about two weeks before their bodies were found. Arakawa mainly communicated with the workers via text message or in phone calls.
How was the couple found?
Hackman, 95, and Arakawa, 65, were found by a pair of maintenance workers in their housing community shortly before 2 p.m. on Wednesday.
The workers then notified a community caretaker, who went to the home and then called 911.
The caretaker didn’t have all the information when he called but knew he was looking through a window at two bodies lying on the floor inside.
The caller can be heard on audio telling the dispatcher that he can see what appears to be two motionless bodies inside the house. Shaken, he repeatedly says “damn” and urges authorities to rapidly respond.
“No, they are not moving. Please send someone out here quick,” the caller says.
Hackman’s body was found on the floor near the kitchen with a walking cane and a pair of sunglasses nearby, according to a court affidavit. Arakawa’s body was found in a bathroom by the home’s main entrance, and prescription pills were scattered on a nearby countertop. Mendoza said he could not release details about the prescriptions due to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.
The positioning of the couple’s bodies indicated that they may have suddenly fallen, according to the affidavit.
A German shepherd was found dead inside the home while two other dogs were alive on the property and able to enter the residence through a door at the back. The dog’s cause of death is unknown.
How did they die?
The cause of the deaths is still under investigation.
Initial autopsy results ruled out carbon monoxide poisoning and found no signs of blunt force trauma on the couple’s bodies, he said.
The medical examiner will make a ruling on the official cause of death after receiving full toxicology and autopsy results — a process that Mendoza said could take months. Mendoza said at a news conference Friday that Feb. 17 was the last day Hackman’s pacemaker showed activity and that it is “a very good assumption that it was his last day of life.
Dear Eric: I’m in my 70s and have a friend who’s been part of our group of friends for many years. I’ve always had an issue with how she treats my husband and me when we visit. When we enter her home, we are instantly inundated with her stories and complaints without even so much as a “Hey, how are you guys?” We feel ignored because of her need to constantly talk about herself.
I decided to tell her how I felt. I admit I’d had a couple glasses of courage, and my timing probably wasn’t that great. I “let her have it,” expressing my belief that she needs to work on her hosting skills and the tendency of being narcissistic and ignoring her guests. I did this all the while inserting, “we love you guys” to hopefully let her understand my comments were coming from a place of genuine affection and concern.
She turned on me, calling me pompous and arrogant. Needless to say, we are not friendly right now. It’s very awkward since we live across the street from each other and have a common group of people we socialize with. I never wanted to have this end like it has, but what’s done is done. I know I’m most likely the primary reason this is happening. I could have chosen a neutral location and talked with her about why I needed to have this conversation. My bad.
I’m hoping you might have recommendations on what I should do now that I’ve said my peace, and she is highly resentful.
– Friendship Faux Pas
Dear Friendship: If you would prefer to have things smoothed over – at least to the point of pleasantries – you can tell her what you told me. “I chose the wrong time and the wrong words. I know that I hurt your feelings and I’m sorry.”
A lot of your complaints were gripes about who she is as a person. Even if you’re right, it’s easy to see why she’d be resentful. It also seems that your opinion still stands – which doesn’t bode well for reconciliation.
Still, I think you should reach out to acknowledge what you felt was wrong about your reaction. What’s done may well be done, but you have the opportunity to clean up your side of the street before parting for good.
Send questions to R. Eric Thomas at [email protected] or P.O. Box 22474, Philadelphia, PA 19110. Follow him on Instagram and sign up for his weekly newsletter at rericthomas.com.
