Indiana
3 Indiana brothers diagnosed with rare crippling condition after suffering frequent headaches
Three young Indiana brothers have all been diagnosed with the same rare crippling condition after the trio experienced frequent headaches, according to the boys’ parents who recently opened up about the health battle.
Lincoln, Norrin and Remley Niece have matching scars on the back of their heads after undergoing surgeries for Chiari malformation, which affects slightly less than one in 1,000 people across the globe, according to experts.
The condition occurs when the brain at the back of the skull presses through a normal opening and extends to the spinal cord, according to John Hopkins Medicine.
The symptoms include neck pain, unsteady walking, poor hand-eye coordination and dizziness among other side effects, according to the Mayo Clinic.
The boys, who live in Greenfield, each suffered frequent headaches and vomiting before being diagnosed.
“It’s pretty scary,” the kids’ father, Ron Niece told WRTV on Friday. “There is no doubt about it.”
All three brothers underwent surgeries, leaving the family emotionally drained each time.
“You just kind of become numb and go into autopilot,” mother Whitney Niece explained to the station.
“But it doesn’t make it anymore emotionally easy. Sending your kid off into surgery.”
Remley was the first Niece boy diagnosed with the condition in June 2022, but at the time didn’t need surgery, according to the Greenfield Daily Reporter, which interviewed the family in March 2024 when Lincoln was 10, Norrin was 5 and Remley was 2.
Lincoln reportedly started having headaches at 5 but they were initially thought to be tied to a congenital heart defect. A CAT scan later revealed in Feb. 2023 that he also had Chiari malformation and underwent a procedure the following month.
Remley was still struggling, including randomly falling, and went under the knife in August 2023 – the same month Norrin began having headaches before he had surgery in January, the news outlet reported.
Dr. Laurie Ackerman, of the Riley Hospital for Children, performed each of the surgeries in what is called Chiari Malformation Decompression where a little piece of the back part of the skull and a three-by-three centimeter piece of bone were removed.
“The goal of all of these things is to sort of disimpact the area,” Ackerman told the Greenfield Daily Reporter. “To allow fluid to move around there normally.”
Norrin and Remley went through complications afterward, leading to a shunt being placed so extra brain fluid can be distributed to the belly.
She noted it’s unusual for all three kids from the same family to have the condition. Doctors and scientists have been conducting research to determine if Chiarai malformations are heredity.
The youngsters have vastly improved and can mostly be “typical kids,” but with some key exceptions, so they don’t bump their heads, Whitney said.
“Just like the other day when it was really nice outside, and everybody else could go outside and ride something, Norrin is standing in the garage in tears because he can’t,” she reportedly said.
Many people with the neurological issue never experience any symptoms and medical treatment is always not required, according to the Mayo Clinic.
The parents are speaking out to raise awareness and have worked to help other families in their shoes.
“So if we can help one other kid that maybe is struggling with headaches and they’ve been passed off several times, that’s a win in my book,” Whitney told the newspaper.
Indiana
Indiana EMT charged with sexually assaulting 14-year-old in the back of an ambulance during transport
(WXIN/WTTV) — An EMT working for an Indiana ambulance service has been arrested after accusations that he sexually assaulted a 14-year-old while transporting them to the hospital.
Ronald D. Elliott Jr., 37, was officially charged Wednesday with a slew of child sex crimes. Online jail records show Elliott, who lives in Dunreith, was arrested Thursday and booked into Delaware County Jail without bond.
The arrest stems from accusations made by a 14-year-old who told police that Elliott sexually assaulted her in the back of an ambulance during a February transport from Muncie to Monroe County.
The alleged victim came forward on March 16 and told Indiana State Police investigators that an EMT had forced her into sexual contact while taking her to a medical facility in Bloomington.
The juvenile said that Elliott, who is listed as an EMT for Quest Ambulance Service, began showing her pictures and videos on his cell phone during the transport. The files reportedly included photos of Elliott’s genitals and videos of him engaged in sexual activities.
Elliott is then alleged to have groped the teenager under her clothes and exposed himself to her. The girl said this led to Elliott sexually assaulting her in the back of the ambulance while en route to Bloomington.
The 14-year-old said that, after the assault, Elliott provided her with his “Mr. Fogger” nicotine vape as well as his phone. The girl told officers she signed into her Instagram account on Elliott’s phone, and court documents state she failed to log off after leaving the ambulance.
It was through the girl’s Instagram account that Elliott allegedly found a second juvenile victim. Identified as Victim 2 in court documents, Elliott reportedly began messaging the 13-year-old girl on Instagram. Throughout his conversations, the 37-year-old EMT is alleged to have:
- Called the juvenile a “young sl-t”
- Lied about his age, claiming he was 18 years old
- Sent a picture of himself only wearing a towel
- Made “sexually suggestive” comments about “good naughty girls”
- Told the 13-year-old girl she “looks cute”
During an interview with Elliott conducted on March 25, the EMT reportedly admitted to letting the 14-year-old use his phone and nicotine vape. However, he denied any sexual contact with the girl and said that any nude images she may have seen on his phone were an accident.
After uncovering “corroborating evidence” from both Elliott’s cell phone and the victim’s Instagram account, police requested that a warrant be filed for his arrest. Online court records show that the warrant was granted on Thursday.
Indiana State Police said that Elliott was taken into custody without incident during a traffic stop. Delaware County Jail records show Elliott was booked around 2:30 p.m. Thursday. He now faces the following several Level 4 felony charges including child seduction, child solicitation, and sexual conduct with a minor.
No other information was included in the probable cause affidavit filed against Elliott.
Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever continued their 2026 WNBA regular season with a 100-84 loss against the Portland Fire on Saturday, May 30.
Clark, a former Iowa women’s basketball star, and the Fever are 4-4 after the first eight games of the regular season.
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Here’s a look at how Clark fared in Saturday’s game in Portland:
Caitlin Clark stats today in Indiana Fever vs Portland Fire
Former Iowa Hawkeyes star Megan Gustafson scored a game-high 22 points for Portland in the Saturday victory.
Former Iowa State Cyclones star Bridget Carleton scored 14 points for the Fire.
Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever upcoming games
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Caitlin Clark’s stats in Indiana Fever vs Portland Fire today
MOORESVILLE, Ind. (WISH) — A Mooresville police officer was involved in a “serious crash,” Saturday afternoon, officials say.
According to a Facebook post made by the Mooresville Fire Department, officers are advising the public to avoid the area of the 200 block of East Main Street due to a “serious crash” involving a Mooresville Metropolitan Police officer.
East Main Street is currently closed between Maple Lane and Franklin Street.
Police say the roads will remain closed while a crash investigation is being conducted.
Police did not provide details on the officer’s condition.
This is a developing story.
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