Southwest
Family hosts ‘FUNeral’ for 500 guests after dad dies suddenly, featuring paints, music and more to honor him
A family grieved the loss of an important member by hosting a party in his honor — named a “FUNeral.”
Katie Young, a mom of three from Mesa, Arizona, recently lost her 39-year-old husband, Brandon Young.
He had a hemorrhagic stroke on his brain stem on May 3, 2024, as a result of high blood pressure — something Katie Young told Fox News Digital that her husband had struggled with since he was a teenager.
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“Doctors were never able to help him get it [his blood pressure] under control,” she said — which resulted in additional strokes and Brandon Young’s passing on May 17, 2024.
A dad to the couple’s three children — Eleanor Young, 12, Clyde Young, 10, and Ingrid Young, 8 — Brandon Young was known as “the kindest person,” Katie Young told Fox News Digital.
The Young family, pictured here, are from Mesa, Arizona. (Katie Young)
“He was the most happy, positive, easygoing person who always brought a sense of community,” she said — which made planning a traditional funeral difficult for her.
“Every time I thought about planning a funeral for Brandon, I felt sick to my stomach. When I thought about how traumatic and torturous it would have been for my children to sit through, I just could not do it,” she said.
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Instead, the Young family planned what they deemed a “FUNeral” — with all things that Brandon Young loved and adored.
The dad of three was a natural artist, so Katie Young said the idea started with having art supplies for guests to use.
One part of the “FUNeral” was a drawing area. Guests could draw fun and silly new hairstyles on photos of Brandon Young. (Katie Young)
She added, “He was always changing his hair and facial hair to be something crazy, so we had pictures of Brandon without hair and dry-erase markers for people to draw on their favorite Brandon ‘look.’”
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Katie Young also noted that her husband loved popsicles — often eating six or seven at a time — so those were a must at the “FUNeral.”
“Each time I saw my kids throughout the night, they were smiling and laughing. I couldn’t have been more thrilled.”
The couple first bonded over their love of music, so Katie Young brought out her husband’s “massive record collection” for those in attendance to look through and take home with them.
Katie Young said her husband had a large record collection; she invited guests to browse through his albums and take a “piece” of Brandon Young home with them. (Katie Young)
For the kids, Katie Young said someone offered to bring a bounce house — so a “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle” bounce house was also present at the event.
“Each time I saw my kids throughout the night, they were smiling and laughing. I couldn’t have been more thrilled,” she shared.
Over 500 people showed up to the event at the Youngs’ home.
Clyde Young, Ingrid Young and Eleanor Young, left to right, attended their father’s “FUNeral” with mom Katie Young. (Katie Young)
Katie Young said this made her feel as if her husband was right there with all of them.
“One of the reasons why the ‘FUNeral’ seemed so right is because I believe that I will see Brandon again,” she said.
The family has set up a GoFundMe page to help with additional family costs.
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A former Riverside County man was found guilty of sex trafficking a female victim and forcing her to engage in commercial sex acts along L.A.’s notorious Figueroa Corridor.
Elias Abdul Shabazz, 34, formerly of Perris, was found guilty by a jury following a five-day trial, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.
Prosecutors said Shabazz had led the victim to believe they were in a romantic relationship before he turned physically and sexually violent. He began demanding that the victim engage in commercial sex acts from May to October of 2021, court documents said.
He carried a handgun with him and, on occasion, was accused of using it to pistol-whip the victim. He also fired the gun at her feet while threatening to kill her, prosecutors said.
At trial, the victim said Shabazz demanded that she meet a daily quota of commercial sex proceeds and that she was terrified of the consequences of not meeting that quota.
She testified that Shabazz compelled her to work in the notorious Figueroa Corridor in South L.A., a dangerous area known for human trafficking and prostitution.
Shabazz had confiscated her identification card, Social Security card and birth certificate. He constantly monitored her cell phone to stop her from communicating with any friends or family.
“He also introduced her to addictive narcotics and controlled every aspect of her life, including when she ate, slept and showered,” prosecutors said.
In May 2025, Shabazz was arrested and has remained in federal custody. His last known address at the time was in Washington, D.C.
On June 26, 2026, Shabazz was found guilty of one count of coercing or enticing interstate transportation for purposes of prostitution.
A sentencing hearing is scheduled for Oct. 6, where he faces 15 years to life in prison.
“Sex trafficking matters rank among the most tragic cases our office prosecutes,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli. “This defendant will now face many years in a federal prison cell for his sick, disgusting, and disturbing behavior.”
“Elias Shabazz preyed on a vulnerable victim using physical and sexual violence and cruel psychological coercion to compel commercial sex acts for his own profit,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “There is no place for this type of conduct in civilized society. We deeply respect the victim’s courage to face her trafficker in court. The Criminal Division will continue to bring these cases and try them.”
Anyone with information about human trafficking can report tips to the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 888-373-7888
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