Kentucky
Nurse who treated Kentucky moms after alleged Bahamas drugging, rape describes how she helped them: ‘Worst scene I had ever had to work’
The veteran nurse practitioner who treated the two Kentucky moms who claimed two Bahamas resort staffers drugged and raped them during their vacation said “it was the worst scene” she had ever worked.
Ladonna Batty, a family nurse from Arkansas, was a passenger on the same Carnival cruise that Amber Shearer and Dongayla Dobson were on when the ship docked at the Grand Bahama island earlier this month.
“Out of my 20-odd years of practicing, it was the worst scene that I had ever had to work. It was a horrible situation for both girls,” Batty told LEX 18. “Worst thing I’ve ever seen. They were in horrible shambles.”
The moms, who wanted to spend the day at the beach and take some pictures, visited the Pirates Cove Resort when a male staffer allegedly offered them a two-for-one tropical drink deal
The drinks, however, were reportedly stronger than expected, and both women became highly intoxicated 15 minutes after their first sips, Dobson told NewsNation’s “Cuomo.”
A second resort employee had allegedly lured the women to a secluded area and led them to where they were eventually assaulted while in their impaired state.
Batty had been in the area when another staffer found Shearer and Dobson unconscious inside a bathroom, and she went into nurse mode.
“I got my phone out and immediately started charting everything, documenting everything I’d seen,” Batty told the outlet.
The nurse practitioner knew something wasn’t right with the women, claiming the pair had a “hard time forming sentences.”
“It was a horrible scene,” Batty told Inside Edition. “I was thinking as a practitioner, ‘Let me get all this documented, let me get all these details for the girls because they’re not gonna remember some of it if they were drugged.”
Batty believes Shearer and Dobson had been assaulted and under the influence of more than just alcohol.
“Seeing those girls in that state, it was awful,” Batty said. “Something happened to them that they will carry for the rest of their lives.”
The women claim the police did not properly handle their allegations but were thankful Batty arrived when she did.
“Had it not been for Ladonna advocating for us, I don’t know what would have happened,” Shearer said.
Once they were back on board, the moms received the results of their toxicology tests — which showed they had a plethora of drugs in their systems, including benzodiazepines.
“Anybody should be able to go on vacation and have a drink or have a Coca-Cola and take some pictures and not get brutally assaulted,” Batty added.
The resort said the two staffers accused of the assaults have been fired for violating a zero-tolerance policy by “fraternizing with guests or behaving in a manner that is unsafe,” according to a statement obtained by WLEX.
The Royal Bahamas Police had arrested the two men in connection to the sexual assault.
While Dobson and Shearer were aboard the cruise, the US embassy in the Bahamas released a level 2 travel advisory after rising crime on the island nation included 18 murders that occurred throughout January.
The moms were angry with the cruise line for not sharing the advisory with them before they got off the ship for the resort.
Kentucky
Northern Kentucky claims 4 titles at Class 3A indoor track state meet
The Kentucky High School Athletic Association indoor state track meet rolled on on Wednesday, March 4. One day after Beechwood claimed the Class 1A boys team title, three Northern Kentucky big schools combined for four individual state titles in Class 3A.
Cooper’s Paul Van Laningham won the 3,200-meter run in 9:09.49 and took second place in the 1,600-meter run in 4:07.88. It was a reversal of his results at the 2025 indoor state meet and earned him his fifth overall state title. He scored all of Cooper’s points, good for ninth place in the team standings with 18 points.
Van Laningham’s teammate, Ava Dunn, got the day started with a shot put title, throwing the 8.82-pound ball 39 feet, 3.25 inches.
Simon Kenton’s Alexis Howard won the long jump with an attempt of 18 feet, 7.25 inches, then claimed the triple jump title with a distance of 37 feet, 4.25 inches. It is her second straight indoor long jump title and third overall as she also claimed the 2024 outdoor title. Taking fifth place in the 55-meter dash, she scored all 24 points for SK, finishing in a tie for eighth place. Cooper was right behind with 22 points.
Finally, Conner’s Avery Vanlandingham win the 800-meter run in 2:17.55, out-leaning North Oldham’s Millie Huang at the line.
Kentucky
Arkansas women’s basketball blown out by Kentucky in season-ending loss at SEC Tournament | Whole Hog Sports
Kentucky
Hardley Gilmore returns to Kentucky Football
A wide receiver from Belle Glade, Florida, Gilmore totaled 28 receptions for 313 yards and one touchdown for the Wildcats during the 2025 season. The 6-foot-1 sophomore has had a very interesting offseason as he entered the portal, flipped a commitment, and is now back in Lexington.
After the 2025 season, Gilmore committed to Louisville when he entered the transfer portal, then flipped his commitment to Baylor, and ultimately signed with the Bears. To end Gilmore’s portal saga, he’s now back in a familiar place with the Wildcats.
When the 2026 season begins, Gilmore will have two years of eligibility remaining.
Gilmore had a solid sophomore campaign with the Wildcats, appearing in all 12 games. His best game of the season came in the late-season loss against Vanderbilt. He tallied six catches for 55 yards in the game.
With Kentucky losing most of its wide receiver production from last season, this is a significant pickup, and it won’t be surprising if Gilmore is back in the starting lineup this fall.
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