Connecticut
‘Suspicious’ Connecticut house fire kills 3, including baby
A house fire in Wallingford, Conn. labeled suspicious claimed the lives of two young parents and their baby, police said Friday.
Authorities identified the victims as 24-year-old Justin Varnado, 19-year-old Karizmah Johnson, and their 9-month-old child Kylenn (Jasir) Varnado.
The deadly fire occurred Wednesday, around 6 p.m. at 25 Geneva Avenue, roughly 14 miles north of New Haven.
When law enforcement arrived on the scene, they reportedly found Varnado outside the residence with severe burns, and airlifted him to a nearby hospital, where he later died, the Wallingford police department said Friday.
Johnson and the baby were found in a second-floor apartment, with one being declared dead at the scene and another succumbing to their injuries later at the hospital.
Police on Thursday labeled the incident ”suspicious” and said it appeared to be a criminal act.
But no arrests have been made at this point and no additional details released.
Varnado had a pending court case against him after a woman reported that he had hit her in the head in front of their child, reported CT Insider.
The woman was not identified in the case because she was a victim of domestic abuse, but she told police she had been living with Varnado in Wallingford for about five months before the incident.
With News Wire Services
Connecticut
Man killed in Glastonbury crash
A man is dead after a crash in Glastonbury on Tuesday afternoon, police said.
The crash happened around 2:45 p.m. in the area of Hebron Avenue and Glenwood Road. First responders were called in response to the report of a crash with injuries.
When police arrived at the scene, they found an 84-year-old man driving one of the vehicles. He was unconscious and was rushed to an area hospital. A passenger in the same vehicle was also taken to the hospital for evaluation.
Police said that, according to an investigation, the 84-year-old driver was traveling east on Hebron Avenue when he turned left onto Glenwood Road. As he turned, he drove into the path of an oncoming vehicle.
The crash redirected the 84-year-old’s vehicle into a third vehicle.
Police said the man later died at the hospital. He hasn’t been identified at this time.
Connecticut
‘Changed everything:’ Double knee replacement transforms quality of life for Connecticut woman
MILFORD, Conn. (WTNH) — A Connecticut woman dealt with debilitating knee pain for years before she said she found a surgeon who listened to her needs and successfully replaced both of her joints.
“I was totally incapacitated,” Gail Rogers Hopkins told News 8.
Going up and down stairs was impossible for her just a couple of years ago.
“I could hardly move because the pain was just that excruciating,” she explained.
Before the pain consumed her, however, she shared her knees just weren’t her top priority.
“You just push it away because there’s kids to take care of and husbands to take care of and houses and work,” she said.
Rogers Hopkins tried all sorts of remedies like cortisone and CBD before exploring surgery.
“Finding the right doctor was key. I fired four orthopedists before I got to Dr. Lahav, because they, because of my weight, they did not want to do the surgery, and they dismissed me.”
The “right” doctor, she said, is orthopedic surgeon Dr. Amit Lahav at Bridgeport Hospital’s Milford Campus.
“Somebody was actually listening to me and that’s, you know, that was the start of it and so I did everything I was told,” Rogers Hopkins explained while fighting back tears.
Lahav helped her develop a weight loss plan in preparation for surgery. Her first knee was replaced in April and the second in June of last year.
Just about a year later, she said, “I didn’t feel like I had a life prior to this, you know, having the surgery done was just incredible, it just has changed everything.”
Lahav is familiar with Rogers Hopkins’ path to surgery, saying, “functional impairments or mechanical symptoms such as arthritis sometimes takes a backseat.”
While he doesn’t discount a hip or knee replacement being major surgery, he added, “a lot of the total joint replacement you do now are same day, you go home, same day, you’re walking just a couple of hours after surgery, full weight-bearing.”
Lahav also emphasizes that recovery isn’t one size fits all.
“It’s a new joint, it does take some work on there, but if you get that work done earlier on and you maximize where you can get, especially over the first few weeks, you can be walking into my office at two weeks saying, I already feel a difference,” Lahav said.
To those struggling with pain like Rogers Hopkins’, she said, “don’t give up.”
She wants others to know, “it was worth the wait.”
Lahav said consider all your options for joint pain, both surgical and non-surgical. If surgery is the option you choose, make sure you understand the process from prep to post-surgery and prioritize quality communication with your medical team.
Connecticut
Body recovered from Connecticut River identified as missing Massachusetts man
LYME, Conn. (WTNH) — A body found in the Connecticut River earlier this month has been positively identified as a missing Massachusetts man, according to the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP).
Somebody had reported seeing a body in the Connecticut River near the Chester-Lyme Ferry on May 9 around 12:23 p.m., according to DEEP.
Fire crews and police were able to recover the body, where the man was pronounced dead.
Environmental Conservation Police (EnCon) investigators were able to match known records to 63-year-old Donald Plasse, of Holyoke, Massachusetts, who was reported missing on Jan. 13.
According to DEEP, his disappearance followed an incident near the Connecticut River in South Hadley, Massachusetts.
-
Connecticut1 minute agoMan killed in Glastonbury crash
-
Delaware7 minutes agoFormer Wilmington Mayor Mike Purzycki dies at 80
-
Florida13 minutes agoRoger Goodell says NFL is cooperating with Florida AG after receiving subpoena
-
Georgia19 minutes agoIn Georgia, Republican primary for governor goes to a runoff between Trump backers
-
Hawaii25 minutes agoSpotlight Now: Exploring Hawaii’s economy from strain to solutions
-
Illinois37 minutes ago2026 Illinois (IHSA) High School Softball Playoffs: Brackets, Schedules – May 19
-
Indiana43 minutes agoEPA announces $13 million in grants to tackle PFAS in Indiana drinking water
-
Iowa49 minutes ago
Gov. Kim Reynolds signs Iowa law restricting mail-order abortion pills
