West
Inmate says he didn't slash Kristin Smart's killer three years after murdering 'I-5 Strangler'
An infamous inmate, who murdered a serial killer in his prison cell three years ago, pleaded not guilty to a prison ambush of Kristin Smart’s killer.
Jason Budrow, 43, allegedly made a shank and slashed Paul Flores in the neck during an Aug. 23 jailhouse attack a week after Flores was transferred to the Pleasant Valley State Prison in Coalinga, California.
“Yard staff saw Flores fall to the ground between the recreational yard and the medical clinic,” the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) told Fox News Digital after the alleged assault.
On Monday, Budrow pleaded not guilty to four felony charges, including using a prison-made deadly weapon and assault by an inmate serving a life sentence.
KRISTIN SMART’S KILLER NEARLY DIED DURING ALLEGED PRISON ATTACK WHO MURDERED ‘I-5 STRANGLER’
Jason Budrow, who murdered the “I-5” strangler in jail, allegedly attacked Kristin Smart’s killer Paul Flores in prison. (California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation )
Flores was rushed to an outside hospital in serious condition, where he stayed for two days before returning to prison, according to the CDCR.
The CDCR declined to answer Fox News Digital’s questions in November about the incident, including how Budrow got access to Flores or where Budrow and Flores are currently being housed.
KRISTIN SMART KILLER PAUL FLORES SENTENCED TO 25 YEARS TO LIFE FOR CALIFORNIA MURDER
And authorities still haven’t mentioned a possible motive for the alleged attempt on Flores’ life.
Flores is serving a 25-years-to-life sentence for murdering 19-year-old Smart in 1996, when they were both students at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.
He was convicted in the decades-old cold case, even though Smart’s body was never found. She was declared legally dead in 2002.
Kristin Smart’s murderer, Paul Flores, was attacked in prison and hospitalized in serious condition, according to his lawyer. (FBI/San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office via AP)
He crossed paths with Budrow, a self-described Satanist who sports a “666” tattoo above his right eye, a week after being transferred to the California prison.
Budrow was already serving two life sentences without parole for fatally strangling his girlfriend in 2010 and strangling his Mule Creek State Prison cellmate – Roger Reece Kibbe, 81 – in 2021.
Kibbe was known as the “I-5 Strangler” in the 1970s and 1980s because he hunted women along the Interstate 5 corridor between Sacramento and Stockton.
He raped and strangled at least seven women and was known for cutting his victims’ clothing into irregular patterns.
Budrow said in a letter to the San Jose Mercury News that he purposely arranged to get a cell with Kibbe after seeing the TV coverage and killed him because he was on “a mission for avenging” Kibbe’s victims.
If convicted on the new charges, Budrow could receive an additional sentence of 27 years to life in prison.
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West
Married real estate mogul allegedly offered contractor millions to leave husband, lawsuit claims
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A married CEO of a nearly $900 million real estate firm is accused in a lawsuit of offering a female contractor millions in cash and luxury real estate in an alleged effort to lure her away from her husband.
The allegations are laid out in a lawsuit filed by Michael Steckling, who claims Real Brokerage CEO Tamir Poleg repeatedly pursued his wife, Paige Steckling, with financial incentives and promises that ultimately led to the end of their marriage.
According to the complaint, Poleg allegedly offered Paige Steckling, a married mother of two, financial support beginning in January 2025, including cash payments, real estate and travel. The lawsuit characterizes the alleged offer as an “indecent proposal.”
The filing alleges Poleg offered Paige more than $500,000 in cash and a Park City, Utah home valued between $2 million and $3 million. The complaint further alleges Poleg later provided Paige with instructions by email on how to access $1.5 million in two installments, including $800,000 immediately and $700,000 at a later date.
TECH TYCOON HUSBAND ARRESTED AFTER WIFE FOUND DEAD BELOW MOUNTAIN HIGHWAY IN WEALTHY ENCLAVE
People walk along Main Street during the 2026 Sundance Film Festival on January 26, 2026, in Park City, Utah. (Vivien Killilea/Getty Images)
According to the lawsuit, Poleg sold more than $600,000 worth of stock in Real Brokerage in early February 2025, which the complaint alleges was used to fund the proposed financial support.
The lawsuit also alleges Poleg booked a hotel room in Miami for himself and Paige in February 2025 and met with her on multiple occasions in Las Vegas, Park City and California prior to the alleged financial offer.
Michael Steckling alleges in the complaint that his marriage was intact prior to Poleg’s alleged actions and that neither he nor his wife had discussed divorce before the alleged offers were made. Paige Steckling filed for divorce in February 2025, according to court records cited in the lawsuit.
Real Brokerage disputed the allegations and said media reports contain inaccuracies.
In a statement provided to Fox News Digital, the company said Paige Steckling “is not, and was never, an employee of Real,” and said Poleg “never paid Ms. Steckling any money.”
The company said Poleg separated from his spouse last year and later had a brief relationship with an independent contractor who filed for divorce from her husband.
According to the statement, the relationship ended nearly a year ago and the lawsuit brought by the contractor’s former husband is “without merit and filled with inaccuracies.” Poleg also rejected any suggestion of wrongdoing and said the lawsuit was an attempt to exploit his public standing.
VIRGINIA NANNY TESTIFIES AFFAIR, ALIBI PLAN ENDED IN BLOODSHED AFTER LOVE TRIANGLE TORE APART AFFLUENT FAMILY
A scenic view of Park City, Utah, shows vibrant fall colors across the surrounding mountains as the town glows below at sunset. (iStock)
Paige Steckling confirmed her divorce in a statement to the Daily Mail but disputed the lawsuit’s characterization of events.
“My marriage ended for personal reasons, and the claims made in this lawsuit do not reflect the reality of those circumstances,” she told the outlet. “I’m confident the legal process will address any inaccuracies.”
Poleg also acknowledged sending an email referenced in the lawsuit but said it did not reflect the claims made in the complaint.
“No offers, no romance, no interference,” Poleg told the outlet. He said any financial discussion cited in the lawsuit involved support Paige had requested and denied interfering in the Stecklings’ marriage.
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Michael Steckling is suing Poleg for alienation of affection and is seeking at least $5 million in damages.
Real Brokerage, the Utah-based real estate firm Poleg leads, is valued at approximately $886 million.
Editor’s note: Fox News Digital initially described Paige Steckling as an employee of Real Brokerage, but the real estate firm says she was an independent contractor.
Stepheny Price covers crime, including missing persons, homicides and migrant crime. Send story tips to stepheny.price@fox.com.
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San Francisco, CA
Biggest Super Bowl parties will be in San Francisco Dogpatch neighborhood
Denver, CO
Broncos’ Pro Bowlers embrace Davis Webb’s potential play-calling ascent: ‘It’d be awesome’
SAN FRANCISCO, California — A knowing smile flashed across Garett Bolles’ face at the simple mention of the name “Davis,” the offensive wunderkind with a new role but uncertain responsibilities in Denver’s building.
Bolles, the Broncos’ rugged left tackle, is 33 years old. A full two years older than the 31-year-old Davis Webb. Both were drafted in 2017: Bolles, a first-round offensive lineman, Webb, a third-round quarterback. Fast-forward to the present , and Bolles is about to play a 10th NFL season with Webb as his new offensive coordinator in Denver.
So what of the possibility that Sean Payton could hand over the play-calling reins to Webb, too?
“It’d be awesome, man,” Bolles said Monday after the AFC’s Pro Bowl practice, grinning. “DW is the best. We love him. I’m excited to see what he can do for us.”
On Monday, nearly 1,000 miles away from a rapidly-changing facility in Denver, the Broncos’ best and brightest gathered at the Moscone Center in San Francisco for a couple of days of Pro Bowl festivities and basking in football regality. Bolles was having more fun than anyone, palling around with fellow Pro Bowl contemporaries and snapping the ball during the AFC’s walkthrough. Receiver Courtland Sutton caught a few half-speed passes from former Broncos quarterback Joe Flacco, now a veteran with the Cincinnati Bengals. Defensive lineman Zach Allen played in an afternoon Dodgeball game and accidentally beaned another Pro Bowl lineman in the face.
Still, widespread mirth masked an unmistakable melancholy. All of them wished they were in the Bay Area for a few days longer, a week after an AFC title-game loss to New England that ended their season short of a Super Bowl.
“I just try to avoid the Super Bowl ads and everything as much as possible,” Allen told The Denver Post. “Every time (I) see it, I get pretty upset. Maybe after the game, I’ll calm down a little bit.”
Aftershocks from that Patriots loss have rippled through the Broncos’ staff. Denver fired offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi, receivers coach Keary Colbert and cornerbacks coach Addison Lynch. Senior offensive assistant Pete Carmichael and defensive passing-game coordinator Jim Leonhard left for jobs with the Buffalo Bills. But Denver has ensured a couple of key coaching retentions, as Payton officially hired Webb as his OC Monday — in a move that could signal Payton is ready to pass off play-calling duties for the first time in an 18-year head-coaching career.
Broncos lifers are on board.
“Whatever happens, happens,” Sutton told The Post when asked about Webb potentially being his play-caller. “I love Davis, and so if he gets the opportunity to call the plays — I think he has the heartbeat of the offense. And so everybody’s going to enjoy having him, if that is what winds up happening.”
The Broncos, too, will all but surely see Vance Joseph back as defensive coordinator in 2026. After two straight seasons in command of the NFL’s No. 3 defense, the league’s head-coaching carousel spun through 10 jobs without any team hiring Joseph.
“Selfishly, I’m not (upset),” outside linebacker Nik Bonitto told The Post, “because I love VJ. And I love having him be my DC. But, no, his time will come soon, for sure.”
It’s slightly bittersweet. Joseph was one of the NFL’s hottest coaching names at the start of the cycle, and received interview requests from six of seven initial teams with head-coach openings. But interest quickly fizzled, and Joseph was left on the outside looking in again. Not a single Black candidate was hired this cycle.
“He deserves it,” Allen said. “I mean, he would make an incredible head coach. He’s a leader of men. Like, he checks every single box. I don’t know what the teams are looking for.
“But for us, it’s good news,” Allen continued. “So we’ll take it, however it plays out. So, yeah. He definitely deserves a shot. But the fact that we get to steal another year of him, we’ll take it.”
Allen called Joseph “the top assistant coach in football,” and he and Bonitto both lauded the benefit of continuity for Denver’s defense under Joseph in 2026.
“I know all the defensive guys are excited,” Bonitto said of Joseph’s return, “so it’s going to be really good.”
With Webb and Joseph entrenched, Denver will now turn its attention to free agency, needing to make decisions on a slew of key in-house free agents. And just the same as with staff, players continue to advocate for retention in the building, as the Broncos try to build past a No. 1 seed and a sudden end to 2025.
“I think getting Nik signed, getting Zach signed, myself getting signed — I think getting those guys signed was huge,” Sutton said. “And I think we’re going to have another big offseason of signing guys back that helped us, and will continue to help us.”
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