Delaware
FBI charges online group Purgatory with ‘swatting’ crimes in Delaware, other states
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One guy went by the moniker “Reaper.” Another used the name “Synthetics.” A third’s alias was “bit coin.”
The trio of young men lived in Virginia, Maryland and Ohio but formed the backbone of an online network that called itself “Purgatory.”
They used Instagram, Telegram, and other social media platforms to post messages of mayhem, with their rants attracting some 200 followers, including one teenager in Massachusetts whose username was “clinicallyinsaneog.”
The FBI charges that Purgatory’s purpose was to cause criminal chaos — at a Delaware high school, an Ohio casino, a New York airport, and elsewhere in the United States — by engaging in the federal crime of “swatting,” according to a recently unsealed indictment in Maryland.
Swatting is the act of calling law enforcement agencies and falsely reporting an emergency that’s either in progress or will occur. So-called swatters use computer-based phone lines to conceal their identities.
The aim is to get armed officers or even a police force’s special weapons and tactics unit (SWAT) to respond to the reported bomb threat, active shooter, or other violent crime. Far from a harmless crime, in a handful of cases, swatting has led to the death of the hoax target.
Court papers in a related case against the man who uses the online name “Reaper” say members of Purgatory have committed a variety of other crimes — “hacking, blackmail, extorting individuals for money, extorting females for explicit photos or videos of themselves, and extorting females to commit acts of self-harm.”
Alleged swatter said active shooter was inside Newark High
The alleged swatting incident in Delaware occurred about 1 p.m. on Jan. 4. The victims were the several hundred students and staff at Newark High School.
The call to Newark police was placed from 300 miles away in rural Moneta, Va., from a Google Voice number, according to the indictment filed in U.S. District Court in Maryland.
The caller was 26-year-old Evan Strauss, who uses the names “Reaper” and “ex_nightmare” in Purgatory messages, the indictment said.
During the call, Strauss identified himself as Richard Wilson and said he was inside Newark High, where he “heard a man firing shots in the hallway,” the indictment said. The caller said he was hiding “inside a classroom with 10 other people.’’
At about the same time, authorities charge that Purgatory member 18-year-old Owen Jarboe used a TextNow number to call Newark police from Hagerstown, Md., 130 miles away.
Jarboe, who uses the names “Synthetics” and “yoboyqzippy” online, threatened to shoot an unidentified teacher and kill several students he did not name, the indictment said.
The alarming calls led Newark police to dispatch several officers to the school, located a few blocks from the University of Delaware campus. School resource and security officers already inside the school were also alerted.
Christina School District board member Doug Manley said school administrators immediately initiated a “secure hold” that involved restricting access in and out of the building. Authorities soon realized the call was a hoax and dismissed students on time, but after-school activities were postponed, and police remained there for hours, Manley said.
Meanwhile, Purgatory members reveled in the hoax’s success on a group chat, the indictment said.
According to the indictment, Jarboe messaged 18-year-old Brayden Grace, who used the online name “bit coin” and lives in Columbus, Ohio. “You saw what me and nightmare did to the school. Post it in telegram chat,’’ Jarboe wrote.
Later, an identified member posted links to news reports about the Delaware incident on Telegram. “Purgatory is on the roll again,’’ and added: “This was a school that was evacuated seems to [have] some issues with it being on lockdown and not functioning properly.”
Strauss later posted that Newark High was “still on lockdown,’’ leading one unidentified member to exclaim, “LMAO … What was the script LOL.”
The alleged attack against Newark High was one of several crimes the FBI says Purgatory members committed in December and January. The indictment did not say how the defendants selected their alleged targets.
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Delaware
Woman Sues Delaware Catholic Institution Alleging Rape in 1960
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Delaware
State may get an official cocktail: The Orange Crush
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![A new bill would make the Orange Crush the official cocktail of Delaware. (photo by Another Cocktail Blog)](https://milfordlive.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Screen-Shot-2024-06-20-at-3.03.25-PM-1.png)
![A new bill would make the Orange Crush the official cocktail of Delaware. (photo by Another Cocktail Blog)](https://milfordlive.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Screen-Shot-2024-06-20-at-3.03.25-PM-1.png)
A new bill would make the Orange Crush the official cocktail of Delaware. (photo by Another Cocktail Blog)
The community could soon raise a glass with the First State’s official drink of Delaware.
House Bill 444, sponsored by Rep. Pete Schwartzkopf, D-Rehoboth Beach, designates the Orange Crush as the state cocktail.
The Orange Crush cocktail is claimed to have been originated by bartenders in Ocean City, Maryland in 1955.
The drink has been a staple of the Starboard restaurant in Dewey Beach.
HB 444 says the Orange Crush “has been made famous and become synonymous with Dewey Beach, Delaware and the Starboard in Dewey Beach, Delaware perfected the Orange Crush and serves the most Orange Crush cocktails of any bar in Delaware every beach season.”
It’s a refreshing summer drink, traditionally made with an orange-flavored vodka, triple sec and orange juice (preferably freshly-squeezed).
![](https://milfordlive.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Copy-of-Summer-Reading-24-4.8-x-5.6-in-5.17-x-9.65-in-128-x-180-px-720-x-180-px.png)
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Orange Crush is often served in pint glasses or a mason jar over ice and topped with lemon-lime soda.
If the bill passes the House, it will move to the Senate, where it will need to be heard in a committee and pass the full Senate before being signed into law before the session ends June 30.
The drink already is associated with the state on many culinary sites.
On thedailymeal.com, a list of state drinks includes this disclaimer about the Orange Crush:
“Many locals believe it’s not a true orange crush if it’s made with bottled orange juice — fresh is always the way to go.”
![Jarek](https://milfordlive.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Screen-Shot-2022-03-02-at-7.07.59-AM-266x300-1.png)
![Jarek](https://milfordlive.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Screen-Shot-2022-03-02-at-7.07.59-AM-266x300-1.png)
Raised in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, Jarek earned a B.A. in journalism and a B.A. in political science from Temple University in 2021. After running CNN’s Michael Smerconish’s YouTube channel, Jarek became a reporter for the Bucks County Herald before joining Delaware LIVE News.
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Delaware
Busy or Stressed? Protect your health
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Dr. Angela Debo of Bayhealth offers tips to deal with summer stress
Although the summer months are a time for many to slow down, for others it can seem like an endless cycle of things to do. Preparing for vacations, shuttling kids who are not on school from one activity to another, summer barbecues or family gatherings can all lead to stress. Managing stress levels is critical to health, according to Angela Debo, DO, a Bayhealth family medicine practitioner.
“Prolonged stress can contribute to a myriad of health problems including high blood pressure, headaches, diabetes, skin problems, asthma depression and anxiety,” Dr. Debo said. “That is why it is so important for us to do what we can to manage stress levels.”
When we are stressed or busy, we tend not to get enough sleep, Dr. Debo explained, but good sleep is critical for mental health. When your to-do list is long, it is difficult to check things off if you are exhausted. One suggestion is to avoid screentime just before bed. If you find you are having difficulty sleeping on a regular basis, talk to your doctor to see if there may be something else causing the insomnia.
“When we are busy, the first thing we usually give up is our workout or daily walk,” Dr. Debo said. “We feel like that is something we can skip to fit in the other things we need to get done. However, this is counterproductive as working out increases energy levels which can help you accomplish more. Even a two or three minute walk can help reduce stress rather than increase it.”
Lists are another way to deal with a busy or stressful time. Writing things down that you need to do will prevent you from forgetting critical things and, checking things off the list can give you a feeling of accomplishment which may also reduce stress. When you have to go back and do something you forgot, that adds to your anxiety and stress levels. Today, there are many apps available that will allow you to create lists on your phone or tablet to keep you organized as well.
“Ask for help, something that can be difficult especially if you are used to doing things on your own,” Dr. Debo said. “If you are very busy and stressed about what needs to be done, sometimes you just need the task accomplished even if it is not perfect. Delegate small tasks or review your budget to see if you can hire a teenaged neighbor to mow the lawn or have a cleaning service come in, even if it is just once.”
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One of the best stress relievers is actually doing things you enjoy, so it is important not to leave out the “fun” stuff. The dust bunnies can wait a day and it is okay not to unload the dishwasher as soon as it stops running.
“Take time to enjoy life and the important people in it,” Dr. Debo said. “When you are with them, be completely present. No worrying about what you need to get done when you get home. Also, if you have creative outlets and hobbies, make sure you are taking time for them as well.”
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