A U.S. Marine veteran is recovering from a Craigslist transaction gone bad in which he was shot and then forced to plug the wounds with this fingers, benefiting from a military background that police say possibly saved his life.
"Thank God that I'm here," Lt. Col. Karl Trenker told ABC News' Miami affiliate WPLG-TV from his hospital bed in Florida. "I could very easily not have survived this."
Trenker, 48, had arranged to meet with a Craigslist buyer in Miramar under the name "Galven" who he believed was interested in buying a men's chain necklace his fiancee had posted on the online marketplace.
Trenker thought he was meeting the man in a well-populated plaza, but it turned out to be an apartment complex. He met two men outside on Dec. 21 and showed them the necklace.
"He just picked it up, looked at it and then just started running. I said, 'Listen, we can just drop this now. You set that thing on the ground, walk away, we're done. Police are going to be on their way in a minute,'" Trenker said.
Instead of dropping the necklace, the two men took off running and Trenker pursued them for several blocks before one of the suspects, Jeff Steele, "turned and fired several shots at him," according to a Broward County Sheriff's Office police report.
"I got shot. I didn't know I was shot as many times as I was shot," Trenker said. "I felt the one go into my chest and then one through my abdomen."
Trenker was hit three or four times and shot at four or five times, Broward County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Dani Moschella said.
"I put my finger in the bullet holes, the big ones, and then I ran back to the car and I made sure the kids were OK and I told them, 'Listen, Dad's been shot. There's an ambulance already on the way,'" Trenker said.
Police said four of Trenker's seven children were in the car and witnessed the alleged robbery and the chase, but not the alleged shooting.
"He called me and said, 'Honey, I've been shot,'" Trenker's fiancee, Tanya Saiz, told WPLG. "I nearly fainted. He saved my life. That would have been me."
Saiz had originally been the one who was planning to meet the purported customer.
Trenker is amazed that after recently returning from a tour of duty in Iraq, he would be injured in his own hometown. "I can't believe this. I go to Iraq, I go to Afghanistan and here I am at home, shot," Trenker said. "It's inconceivable. I don't know how that they can put so little value on life."
Fiancee Saiz told WPLG, "He's been shelled with artillery and survived that, so for this scrawny, skinny little kid to come in and take his necklace, he didn't know the guy was armed.
"If there ever was a time to believe in miracles, this was it, because this was our miracle."
Moschella emphasized that authorities discourage people involved in robberies to pursue thieves. She said that is best left up to law enforcement.
"He could have been killed and that gold chain, of course, isn't worth your life," Moschella said. "This isn't your average victim. His good physical condition and military training may have helped save his life."
Within hours, police had arrested three suspects. Steele, 20, and James Flounory, 20, were each charged with one count of attempted murder and two counts of robbery with a firearm. The third suspect, Andre Gayle, 20, was charged with carrying a concealed weapon and possession of marijuana.
Flounory and Steele are in jail without bond and Gayle is out of custody.
Authorities in Indianapolis have charged two local women with filing false claims in a scheme to collect money intended for victims of the stage collapse prior to Sugarland's August 13th performance at the Indiana State Fair. The Indianapolis Star reports 25-year-old Stephanie Murry and 38-year-old Sandra Hurn sought to collect money from the Indiana State Fair Remembrance Fund and the Indiana Tort Claim Fund. Neither woman is believed to have attended the concert. Seven people died and more than 50 others were injured after high winds hit the midway area and caused the stage scaffolding to collapse. Citing injuries sustained, Murry and Hurn submitted claims for total compensation of $22,500. Hurn initially collected a $7,500 check from the remembrance fund, but Murry’s claim was denied by the State Fair Commission. Hurn was arrested on felony charges of forgery, perjury, theft and attempted theft. If convicted, she could receive a maximum of 36 years in prison. Murry faces a maximum of 14 years in prison.
Last Wednesday, 21-year-old Aaron Hostetler of Manatee County, Florida was arguing with his girlfriend. She told him she was breaking up with him. And he went with the most overdramatic response possible. He decided he was going to OVERDOSE ON DRUGS and KILL HIMSELF. He grabbed a bottle of pills out of the cabinet and started trying to swallow as many as he could. Apparently, he thought they were sleeping pills and his girlfriend did too. So she tried to stop him. But there's one thing neither of them knew. Aaron wasn't overdosing on sleeping pills . . . he was actually force-feeding himself FLINTSTONES VITAMINS.Anyway, as his girlfriend tried to intervene, he shoved her away . . . then SLAMMED HER to the ground. She called the cops. When they got there, Aaron was arrested for domestic battery.
As for overdosing on vitamins, it IS possible . . . but the results shouldn't be FATAL like overdosing on sleeping pills. Hypervitaminosis can be toxic in extreme cases, but generally it just makes you feel sick or flushed.
Think that your aunt will adore the nifty pant suit you picked out for her? Think again. Clothes and shoes are the gifts that are taken back most often after the holiday season.
According to a recent market study apparel accounted for 62 percent of returned gifts last Christmas. Other presents that customers also brought back (but far less frequently) were:
Toys and games (16 percent)
Electronics (14 percent)
Kitchen and bath products (13 percent)
Cosmetics and beauty products (10 percent)
Jewelry and watches (10 percent)
All of those returns wreak havoc on retailers' bottom lines. Data from the National Retail Federation shows that, thanks to returned merchandise, stores will lose about 9.9 cents for every dollar's worth of stuff they sell -- up from about 7 cents per dollar in years past. Stores are expected to take in about $469 billion during the holiday season, which means that they'll be losing about $46.4 billion when customers want their money back.
And this year is shaping up to be even worse than before.
"This is going to be a record year for returns," Bill Angrick, CEO of auction house Liquidity Services. "People are still reluctant to spend." He said that his four U.S. warehouses are filled with returned electronics that they're waiting to auction off, and that return rates are about double what they were when the economy was good a few years ago.
This all actually happened in August, when "The Smurfs" was in theaters, but the details are just coming out now.
41-year-old Sarah Boushey of San Francisco, California agreed to take her four-year-old daughter to see "The Smurfs" . . . and Sarah knew it was gonna be ROUGH. So she smuggled a BOTTLE OF VODKA into the theater with her.
The movie was even worse than expected, and she ended up putting down HALF the bottle of vodka.
Unfortunately, after the movie, she was dumb enough to get behind the wheel with her four-year-old in the car. And after she sideswiped TWO cars and hit a median, police pulled her over and the daughter told them her mom was drunk.
Sarah couldn't even remember her own name and blew a .35 on the breathalyzer . . . that's more than FOUR TIMES the legal limit and getting up into the "hospitalization" range.
Sarah was due in court last week but didn't show up. There's a warrant out for her arrest. Idiot.
It was a very Merry Christmas in the McConaughey-Alves household! Matthew McConaughey had an extra special present for his girlfriend of five years, Camila Alves, on Sunday -- an engagement ring!"Just asked Camila to marry me, #MerryChristmas," the Lincoln Lawyer actor posted to his Twitter along with this pic of the happy couple kissing on his WhoSay account.The proposel comes as no surprise being that back in March, the 42-year-old told Esquire that he's known the 29-year-old model and host of Bravo's Sheer Genius is The One. "I found the woman... I wanna make a family with, hopefully live our life out together," he declared to the magazine.The couple met at an L.A. bar in 2006 and have two children: a three-year-old son Levi and a daughter, Vida, 23 months.
Congratulations, Danny Gokey! During a recent interview with FOX News — on which the ‘American Idol’ alum appeared to discuss his charity efforts through his organization Sophia’s Heart — Gokey was overjoyed while talking about his engagement to girlfriend Leyicet Peralta.
Just like her husband-to-be, Peralta is dedicated to helping individuals and families in need. In lieu of silverware, kitchenware, and other gifts that you’d normally see at a wedding, Peralta told her husband she wanted guests to gift them with a charitable donation to Sophia’s Heart.
“It was the most beautiful thing. [Leyicet] came up to me after we got engaged and took me aside and said, ‘I don’t want any gifts for my wedding.’ I said, ‘Really?’ and my ears kind of perked up,” Gokey said on FOX News. “I want on the invitation for [our guests] to give towards the organization in honor of us.”
Gokey continued, “It’s her desire too to see homeless families being helped and for kids who don’t have a lot of opportunities to be given the opportunity. My heart was touched when she did that because you have to have someone strong with you and in partnership with you to make an organization like this flourish.”
The couple posted a message about their engagement on the official website for Gokey’s charity, Sophia’s Heart, which helps struggling people in honor of Gokey’s late wife. “We are thankful for so many of the blessings God has given us,” the happy couple wrote. “It is our desire to see homeless children and families be kept together and lifted back on their feet through the help of Sophia’s Heart. We love and appreciate you all.”
The couple plan to marry in January 2012. Congratulations again to Danny Gokey on his engagement!
You're not a real American unless you appreciate a good box of wine. Drinking wine out of fancy things like bottles is for the French. So it PAINS me to see a box of wine treated like this.
Last week, 44-year-old Karen Rowand of East Naples, Florida was arrested for assaulting her live-in boyfriend with a box of wine.Apparently, Rowand was mad at her boyfriend because she believed he'd charged $2,000 on her credit card. He denied it. She was drunk . . . and ANGRY.So . . . she grabbed the box of wine she'd been drinking out of and threw it at him. It hit him in the FACE. Then she took a half-full beer can and threw it at him. That ALSO hit him in the face.There's no word on what type of box wine or beer she threw.But I'm going to speculate it's that generic Costco brand of wine, and Miller Genuine Draft.When the police got there, the boyfriend had a cut under his eye and blood dripping down his face. Rowand was arrested for battery.
It's almost like this guy could see into his own idiotic future. On Wednesday night, 22-year-old Kevin Daly of Coram, New York was out wearing a T-shirt that's not as clever as he thinks it is. The shirt reads, quote, "I'm not an alcoholic, I'm a drunk. Alcoholics go to meetings." So naturally, at 1:45 A.M., he was arrested . . . for drunk driving.After crashing his 2000 Saturn into a police car. Neither Kevin nor the officer in the car were seriously injured, but Kevin was quickly arrested for a DUI.
Believe it or not, he's NOT the first moron to be arrested in this T-shirt. In 2007, 41-year-old Amanda Lynn Bailey of Tampa, Florida was busted for DUI in the same T-shirt.
If you haven't finished your shopping, let's face facts: You are late.
If you're shopping for your wife or girlfriend and you still haven't purchased the gift, you're in especially big trouble.
It's true that when giving a gift, it is the thought that counts -- but a lame present can make your wife or girlfriend feel like you just don't understand them -- which may be worse than getting them nothing at all.
And, you better believe you'll hear it from them, which is not how you want to start the New Year.
Here are the top gifts to avoid giving this holiday season... or ever:
Needs vs. Wants -- Don't get her anything she needs. Instead, you've got to figure out what she wants. Women are good at taking care of details, and when their desire for a whatever-it-is gets dire, they'll replace it, pronto. It's sweet to show you were listening, but that said, women never swoon over practical gifts.
Bad Flowers -- Here's a tip ... When in doubt, ask a female florist to suggest something appropriate. She will not do you wrong.
Sports Gear -- Sure, your girl may love watching the finals with you or root for her alma mater, but that doesn't mean she wants to look like one of the team.
Jewelry -- Surprisingly, you should stay away from getting her bling unless you've been dating for at least a year and she's pointed out a specific item she likes. (You'd be surprised how many women won't wear, say, gold.)
A Card That You've Signed in Front of Her -- You'll do more harm than good if you sign a card right in front of her and then hand it to her. Find time when you're not together -- even if it's in the car a few seconds before you meet her -- to write something sweet.
Americans love a winner and that's not the Dallas Cowboys these days. The team from deep in the Republic of Texas has been replaced as the nation's most popular team.
Aaron Rodgers' Super Bowl-winning Green Bay Packers were picked by 22 percent of voters as their favorite team in the NFL, according to Public Policy Polling's newest national survey. The Cowboys finished second, with 11 percent of the vote, followed by the Bears, Giants and Steelers.
NFL Films famously gave the Cowboys the title of "America's Team" in a 1978 highlight film. The program opened up with this intro: "They appear on television so often that their faces are as familiar to the public as presidents and movie stars. They are the Dallas Cowboys, America's Team."
This was a bi-partisan pigskin vote: Republicans (60 percent), Democrats (44 percent) and independents (44 percent) all picked the Packers over the Cowboys.
An Indiana man demonstrated a rather unique grasp of the Christmas spirit earlier this week, when he drove up the steps of the war memorial in Indianapolis, set a fire and began waving around a gun -- to remind everyone to think of Jesus.
Daniel Whitaker, who was wrapped in an American flag through most of the outburst, pulled a handgun from his waistband and told police, "If you come and join us in Christ, I'll lay my weapon on the ground." He kept his promise when three officers agreed -- but he also mooned them as they approached.
Whitaker has been charged with arson and criminal recklessness.
Jason Aldean had a big week during the Buck Commander's hunt at the Double Dime in Texas this week. He got two nice-sized bucks while hunting with pal Luke Bryan. And this isn't Jason's first trophy at Buck Commander's. He got another 10-pointer when he went in November.
Gerard Butler wiped out on the set of his upcoming surfer movie Of Men and Mavericks Sunday and it landed him in the hospital.
The actor, who is playing a surfer who died in a free-diving accident, was dragged over rocks and held underwater by two waves while filming in Northern California.
Coastal patrolmen had to rescue the 300 star, who was then taken to the hospital. Gerard was reportedly shaken up but not seriously injured.
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The holiday season is definitely stressful -- but can be even more stressful if it's your first go-round with a new batch of in-laws.
Here are some things to keep in mind if you hope to survive Christmas with the in-laws:
Get Educated -- Take some time to get educated on their "way of doing things." There are no rights and wrongs, but every family and household has their own way of working. So, instead of worrying about doing something "weird," ask your significan other questions beforehand.
Announce Eating Restrictions Early -- Food is always a big deal at this time of year, so if you have eating restrictions, make sure they're discussed early. This way, arrangements can be made and awkward mealtimes can be avoided.
Get on the Same Page About Gifts -- Before you start shopping, ask what sorts of gifts are given. And, figure out exactly who you are really buying for and if there are kids involved.
Fix Your Face -- This is sometimes difficult, but fix your face before you open a present or eat something you've never tried before. Even if you don't like what's happening, try not to show it on this first holiday.
A California man really gave a ruff time to two police officers who responded to a noise complaint at his home -- by pelting one of the responding deputies with a puppy!
Tyler Torres's neighbors had called San Diego cops to complain about loud music coming from his place, and when they arrived, they found the man drunk and belligerent. He punched both officers in the head, and when that didn't deter them, he picked up the pooch and tossed it at one of them.
Neither the cop nor the pup was seriously injured.....But as for Tyler, he'll be heading to the.....dog-house....
Rodney Atkins has been arrested for trying to smother his wife with a pillow. According to TMZ, Rodney Atkins and his wife Tammy Atkins had been arguing when Rodney turned violent. Tammy called 911 at 7:47am on November 21. Tammy told police Rodney had been drinking and tried to smother her with a pillow and also grabbed her by the face and threw her down the hallway. She claims the entire thing happened in front of their 10 year old son.
The police did arrest Rodney where he was booked in the Williamson County jail and then released on $2,500 bail.Rodney insists his wife made the entire story up. Rodney’s lawyer made an exclusive statement to TMZ about the incident calling it an "unfortunate verbal dispute."
Written By Joe Kindregan
To Benefit A-T Children’s Project
Brad Paisley has just recorded a new song, “Hard Life,” available for purchase here and on all digital music outlets. The song is written by Paisley’s friend, 23-year-old Joe Kindregan from Springfield, VA, who has A-T (ataxia-telangiectasia), a rare, fatal genetic disease that combines symptoms of cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy, immune deficiencies and cancer. The release of the new song marks a special initiative on behalf of the non-profit A-T Children’s Project, the yearlong beneficiary of Brad’s artist royalties from U.S. digital single sales of “Hard Life.”
“I’ve known Joe for several years and he is one of my favorite people. His disease is physically debilitating but obviously creatively and mentally Joe has such tremendous depth. It’s an honor for me to be the person to give voice to his creativity and cause,” says Brad.
About the A-T Children's Project
The A-T Children's Project is a nonprofit organization that supports and coordinates biomedical research, scientific conferences and a clinical center aimed at finding life-improving therapies and a cure for ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T). A-T is a progressive, degenerative disease that affects a startling variety of body symptoms. Children with A-T appear normal at birth, but the early signs of the disease usually appear durng the second year of life. A-T causes the relentless loss of muscle control, usually making children dependent on wheelchairs by the age of 10 and making it difficult for them to read, speak, and eat. Children with A-T also have a strikingly high risk of cancer. Although considered a rare "orphan" disease, A-T may actually be more common than we know, since many children with A-T, particularly those who die at a young age, are never properly diagnosed. There currently is no cure for A-T and no way to slow the progression of the disease. Research on A-T may help many more common diseases, such as cancer, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease. To learn more about the A-T Children's Project, visit www.atcp.org.
For many kids, there is nothing better than lining up at the mall, heart full of anticipation, waiting to jump on Santa's lap and read their list of toys they hope to get for Christmas.
But some little ones aren't quite as thrilled about the concept -- and their displeasure definitely shows in the pictures.
Our friends at The Ellen DeGeneres Show recently had viewers send in their kids' less-than-perfect pics with Santa.
And even though the kids in these pictures are having a miserable time, you really can't help but laugh.
Regulators in Oklahoma City have cleared the way for the OK Kids Korral, a facility for pediatric cancer patients and their families being built by the Toby Keith Foundation.
Work on the $8.5 million facility is expected to begin this spring, News OK reports, and continue through 2013. The 25,000-square-foot building will host patients receiving treatment at numerous nearby medical centers.
"Over the past few years, all these state-of-the-art cancer facilities have been coming to Oklahoma City," said Juliet Nees-Bright, director of the Oklahoma City Urban Renewal Authority. "More kids are coming for treatment than ever before. We realized we needed to create a place, one that specializes in helping kids. They have special needs -- they have immune systems that are very weak."
Toby, who was recently honored for his work on behalf of America's troops, has been an advocate for kids with cancer since a close friend of his lost a child to the disease.
With its wood siding and stone, the OK Kids Korral will resemble a Western lodge. In addition to 12 overnight suites, the building will feature four for families that travel to Oklahoma City in the morning but don't have medical appointments until the afternoon.
"So instead of having to stay at the hospital during that time, the families can come back where they can use the library, play area -- where parents can get on a computer and check email -- or they can simply relax," Nees-Bright said.
Singer Wade Hayes, whose hits include his chart-topping 1994 debut single, 'Old Enough to Know Better,' has been diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer. Roughstock.com reported late last week that the Oklahoma native "recently made it through surgery and is resting comfortably."
Sources reported that the cancer had spread from his colon to his liver. "His prognosis is very good," the website reports. "And after healing from surgery, he will undergo six months of chemotherapy. While he is doing well, he still has a long road ahead."
The 42-year-old, who scored four consecutive Top 10 hits in 1994 and '95, went on to become one half of the short-lived duo, McHayes and also played guitar in former Alabama lead singer Randy Owen's touring band. In 2009, he released his most recent album, 'A Place to Turn Around.'
While no other details are being shared at this time, a tweet from Saturday (Dec. 10) on the singer's Twitter page reads: "I've talked with Wade's mother and she wants you to know how much she appreciates your prayers and support."
So here's one for all of you Chris Young fans out in Bull Country. If you'd like to have A Chris Young theme Christmas then head over to HallOfTrees.com and bid on the tree that Chris is sponsoring. The Neontree comes with an array of goodies, including an autographed guitar, a Chris Young snow globe, CDs and a little black dress ornament hand-made by his 83-year-old grandmother. Money raised benefits St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. In more Chris Young news head over to "Bull-TV" today to check out Chris showing off some mad break dancing skills..
