Connect with us

Miami, FL

Woman says social media model ‘destroyed’ family by killing brother in Miami crash

Published

on

Woman says social media model ‘destroyed’ family by killing brother in Miami crash


MIAMI – You could feel the pain through the screen Friday as Silvia Molina Cruz spoke to Local 10 News from Nicaragua.

She never got to say goodbye to her brother, Abraham Ismael. He and his friend were killed in a crash on Aug. 10 that Miami police said was the result of a speeding social media model who said she was a time-traveler, high on a party drug known as “pink cocaine.”

“My heart is break(ing) because I couldn’t say goodbye,” Molina Cruz said.

Ismael was on his way to work that morning with his fiancee, Juanita Hernandez, and his friend, Jesus Rubio.

Advertisement

Police said Maecee Marie Lathers, 24, of Miami Gardens, put her foot on the gas at “100% acceleration,” driving nearly 80 mph on North Miami Avenue when she blew the red light at Eighth Street and slammed into a black Range Rover, which then slammed into Ismael’s car.

Ismael and Rubio would later die, while Hernandez would come out alive, but badly hurt. Ismael leaves behind a 16-year-old.

Police said Lathers had to be kept from walking away from the scene by bystanders and later told officers she was high on “tusi,” a party drug also known as “pink cocaine.”

Tusi, or 2C, is described in a 2023 medical journal article as “a new ketamine concoction” also known as “pink cocaine.” That same year, Local 10 News produced a special report on the “nightclub narcotic,” said at the time to be the number one drug seized at Miami International Airport.

Authorities said Lathers also claimed to have a “crystal ball” and that she was “from the future.”

Advertisement

Molina Cruz had a pointed message for the model, who faces a multitude of charges, including two counts of reckless vehicular homicide.

“It took part of our life. You broke (our) family,” Molina Cruz said. “You (took) the only love we have. You destroyed (our) family.”

Ismael’s family is trying to raise money for his funeral. They have set up a GoFundMe page to help with final expenses.

Lathers is set to be arraigned Sept. 3. Prosecutors have said the upstate New York native will likely face DUI manslaughter charges pending the results of a toxicology test.

Copyright 2024 by WPLG Local10.com – All rights reserved.

Advertisement



Source link

Miami, FL

Can Jason Marshall push for a starting spot – The Splash Zone 7/10/26

Published

on

Can Jason Marshall push for a starting spot – The Splash Zone 7/10/26


The Miami Dolphins will have new starters at their cornerback positions since both Jack Jones and Rasul Douglas are not back with the team. The team drafted Chris Johnson in the first round and it’s pretty likely he’ll have a large role and should claim the one starting spot. The other starting spot should be up for grabs among the rest of the group. Jason Marshall is one of those players who has a better chance of claiming that starting spot after showing some flashes his rookie season. Jeff Hafley has already said he envision Marshall playing on the outside and the second-year corner should get plenty of chances to prove himself during the preseason.

You can check out that story here, and the rest of the day’s round-up below.

Phinsider News You May Have Missed



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Miami, FL

Miami-Dade Schools names six semifinalists for superintendent

Published

on

Miami-Dade Schools names six semifinalists for superintendent


With Miami-Dade Superintendent Jose Dotres’ contract ending in February 2027, school board members are now looking to have his replacement by August.

Dotres has served as the superintendent for the third-largest school district since 2022. The school board started the search for his replacement in April.

More than 20 people applied for the position, but now only six have secured spots as semifinalists.

Here’s a closer look at who Miami-Dade’s superintendent might be:

Advertisement

Jose Bueno

With roughly 33 years of experience within Miami-Dade County Public Schools, Bueno currently serves as Dotres’ Chief of Staff.

According to his LinkedIn profile, Bueno’s tasks include coordinating and implementing major projects “that have significant district-wide impact on the goals of the district and involve coordination of other divisions and offices.”

He started as a teacher within the country back in 1993 and is a Florida International University and Nova Southeastern University graduate.

Ernie Lozano

Lozano is currently Broward County’s Public Schools Chief Human Resources Officer.

His passion is creating a safe and secure environment for both students and staff.

Advertisement

“He has been recognized for his contributions to the District’s safety and security initiatives, receiving accolades for his exceptional leadership and commitment to student and staff well-being,” according to a bio on the site for the National Student Safety and Security Conference & Workshop.

Before his career in human resources, Lozano served within education as a teacher, assistant principal and more.

Sylvia Mitchell

Hope builder, executive leadership coach and seasoned superintendent are all descriptions Mitchell has on her LinkedIn.

Living in Houston, Texas, Mitchell is familiar with the Sunshine State since she was a principal at Charter Schools USA in Fort Lauderdale back in 2012.

She has also served as superintendent twice in Texas and is currently Executive Vice President, Curriculum, Design & Development for Per Scholars.

Advertisement

Carlos Perez

Perez is a charter school principal in West Palm Beach and the former executive director of the Education Reform Project, a nonprofit organization based in Miami Beach.

According to the nonprofit, Perez has over 25 years of experience within education, mainly in New York, but now in Florida.

Perez has also been an assistant superintendent in the past, as well as taking part as an Executive Board Member for the New York State Association of School Personnel Administrators.

Christopher Ruszkowski

Currently based in South Carolina as CEO of South Carolina’s Children’s Fund, Ruszkowski has moved all over the country, and Florida will be no exception.

According to his LinkedIn, he served as New Mexico’s Secretary of Education back in 2019. Before living in South Carolina, he was a conservator for the Texas Education Agency. A conservator oversees the state’s takeovers of large school districts and charter school networks.

Advertisement

Getting his master’s at Stanford, Ruszkowski was a Distinguished Policy Fellow at the Hoover Institute located within the university.

Rafael Villalobos

Since 2022, Villalobos has been the South Region Superintendent of Miami-Dade County Public Schools. Before that, he was a principal for over ten years.

The Nova Southeastern alum has been in Miami for most of his life, even graduating from South Miami Senior High School in 1990.



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Miami, FL

I went to 2 famous Miami restaurants, a flashy steakhouse and a Cuban hot spot. Here’s how they compared.

Published

on

I went to 2 famous Miami restaurants, a flashy steakhouse and a Cuban hot spot. Here’s how they compared.


Café La Trova celebrated the city’s Cuban heritage through live music, warm hospitality, and dishes that felt deeply rooted in local culture.

Papi Steak, meanwhile, embraced Miami’s flashy, see-and-be-seen reputation with theatrical presentations, celebrity appeal, and an atmosphere that often felt more like a nightclub than a standard steakhouse.

Despite Papi Steak’s over-the-top reputation, nearly every dish I tried — from the wagyu pastrami to the hamachi crudo — was thoughtfully prepared and tasted just as good as it looked. If you’re looking for an indulgent, special-occasion dinner where the spectacle is part of the fun, it’s easy to understand why the restaurant has become such a phenomenon.

Still, if I could only recommend one restaurant to a first-time visitor, I’d choose Café La Trova.

Advertisement

While Papi Steak offered the more decadent, once-in-a-lifetime meal, Café La Trova delivered a more authentic Miami experience, pairing outstanding food and cocktails with a genuine sense of the city’s history and culture.





Source link

Continue Reading
Advertisement

Trending