Tennessee

Tennessee woman on road trip with boyfriend goes missing in case with Gabby Petito similarities

Published

1 year ago

May 29, 2023

Tennessee woman on road trip with boyfriend goes missing in case with Gabby Petito similarities

A Tennessee woman has gone missing after heading out on a cross-country road trip with her boyfriend several weeks ago — in a case that shares some eerie similarities with the high profile 2021 disappearance of Long Island native Gabby Petito.

Nikki Alcaraz, 33, who is also known as Nikki Cunningham, set off from Nashville with her boyfriend Tyler Stratton and their dog in her Jeep, in early May to visit family in Orange County, California, her sister Toni Alcaraz told local outlet KNRN-TV Sunday.

Nikki last communicated with Toni over text on May 8, telling her she was in Arizona and planned to complete the trip, according to the report.

“Then I didn’t hear anything else after that Monday morning,” Toni told the outlet. “I talk to her almost every day, so I am scared something happened to them.”

The couple had a run-in with cops on May 4 in Torrance County, New Mexico.

A witness saw Stratton punch Alcaraz in the face, a Torrance County Sheriff’s Office police report said, according to the article.

But Stratton, who had blood coming from his mouth and nose, told officers he had been attacked by her, the report said.

Nikki Alcaraz, also known as Nikki Cunningham, and her boyfriend Tyler Stratton have been missing for three weeks.

Neither wanted to press charges and authorities said they were each given rides to different places, according to the outlet.

Stratton had a warrant out for his arrest for allegedly violating his probation in connection with an unrelated theft charge at the time, but was not busted, the report said.

Alcaraz then called her sister, “crying and upset,” Toni told the outlet.

“Her eye was already turning black and you could tell she was beat up pretty bad,” Toni told the station of the phone call the two shared after the incident.

A family friend drove to New Mexico to bring Alcaraz to California but, “That morning when they were supposed to leave, she told him that she had to go back and find Tyler because she had a bad feeling, and so he left without her,” her sister said.

her bruised arm — Alcaraz shows off bruises from the encounter while sitting in the Jeep the couple were traveling in.

her black eye — The attack also left her with a black eye. Stratton claimed he was also hit, with blood coming from his mouth and nose, a police report said.

She believes that friend was the last person to see Alcaraz on May 6.

The sisters communicated by text two days later, which is when Alcaraz, a mom of two, said she was in Arizona and intended to complete the trip.

Alcaraz and Stratton’s phones have been turned off, leaving Toni to fear the worst for her sister.

“I am scared something happened to them, whether they got in another fight or if they crashed her Jeep somewhere,” she told the outlet.

The couple’s mid-trip run-in with law enforcement is one resemblances to the case of Petito, the 22-year-old travel blogger who went missing in August 2021 while on a cross-country trek with her boyfriend Brian Laundrie.

Petitio and Laundrie were also stopped by police after a domestic incident in Utah, where cops concluded the pair had attacked each other and let them go without charges.

The couple’s dog, pictured in her Jeep, which has not been seen since May 9.

the jeep — The 2013 Jeep Wrangler has a Tennessee license plate number of BGL3539, a “Mama Tried” sticker, and camo seats.

Two months later, Petito’s strangled body was found at a Wyoming campground.

Laundrie then drove to his parent’s Florida home as public scrutiny mounted. He eventually committed suicide amid a manhunt.

Petitio’s family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the Moab Police Department, claiming cops should have detained Laundrie and not let the couple go on their way.

Toni Alcaraz said she is “praying” that her sister is alive and well.

“I don’t think she is dead out there somewhere, but it’s all a possibility at this point, and I am really scared of that, but I’m praying that’s not the case,” she told the outlet.

still image of petito an — The case has several disturbing parallels with the murder of Gabby Petito on a cross-country trip with her boyfriend Brian Laundrie.

brian on cam — The couple was captured on police bodycam footage during an August 12, 2021, domestic violence incident in Moab, Utah.

A missing persons report was filed in New Mexico where Nikki Alcaraz was last seen, according to the article.

Her 2013 Jeep Wrangler with Tennessee license plate number BGL3539, a “Mama Tried” sticker and camo seats was last picked up by a license plate reader near Flagstaff, AZ on May 9, the report said.

Alcaraz is 5-foot, 6-inches tall and heavily tattooed with brown eyes and dark colored hair.

Anyone with information is asked to call Moriarty, NM police at 505-832-6060 or 505-834-2705.

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Tennessee

Titans Predicted for Another Loss vs. Texans

Published

4 hours ago

November 23, 2024

Press Room

Titans Predicted for Another Loss vs. Texans

The Tennessee Titans are just one day away from their next matchup against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium.

The Titans are looking for their first win since Week 9, when they beat the New England Patriots at home. In the last two weeks, Tennessee has lost by double digits to strong playoff-contending teams, and this week might not be much different against the first-place Texans.

CBS Sports writer Pete Prisco believes the Titans’ struggles will continue, falling 31-21 to the Texans.

“The Texans are playing on a short week, but they looked better on offense against Dallas with Nico Collins back. The Titans will have trouble stopping them this week, so look for the Texans and C.J. Stroud to play well. Will Levis won’t keep up,” Prisco writes.

The Titans will have to stop Houston’s multi-dimensional offense with Joe Mixon on the ground and Collins and Tank Dell through the air. Tennessee has the No. 2 overall defense this season, so it should provide a good test for C.J. Stroud and the Texans offense, but it still doesn’t make them a favorite.

If the Titans want to win against the Texans, they will have to pressure Stroud and take advantage of their offensive line, which has proven to be suspect at times during the season.

When it comes to the Titans’ offense, it needs to take care of the ball. Giving the Texans shorter fields will be the easiest way to lose the game, so if the Titans can prevent the Texans from scoring up close on short drives, they will have a chance to be competitive against their division rival.

Kickoff between the Titans and Texans is set for 12 noon CT tomorrow. The game can be watched on CBS or streamed on Paramount+.

Make sure you bookmark Tennessee Titans on SI for the latest news, exclusive interviews, film breakdowns and so much more!

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Tennessee

Tennessee football commit Ethan Utley not looking ahead after Ensworth’s season ends vs McCallie

Published

13 hours ago

November 23, 2024

Press Room

Tennessee football commit Ethan Utley not looking ahead after Ensworth’s season ends vs McCallie

There was a reason Tennessee football commit Ethan Utley didn’t make any trips to Knoxville during the home stretch of Ensworth’s season.

Utley wanted to be fully locked into the Tigers’ TSSAA football playoffs run.

That’s one reason why Friday’s tearful postgame was so difficult. McCallie ended Ensworth’s season, defeating the Tigers 31-7 to advance to the Division II-AAA state final on Dec. 5 in Chattanooga against Baylor.

Utley, a 6-foot-4, 265-pound four-star defensive lineman, doesn’t know if he’ll enroll early at Tennessee yet. He hasn’t been thinking that far ahead. Everything lately, he said, was about the Tigers trying to reach their first TSSAA football state championship game since 2014.

“It hurts and it will hurt for a while. My mind was set on going to the state championship,” Utley said. “All the personal stuff, it doesn’t really matter. I knew Ensworth was going to be my home and where I would graduate from. I never wanted to transfer. My seniors and I gave it everything we could and just fell short.”

Ensworth (11-1) trailed just 7-0 at halftime. McCallie (10-2) began to put the game out of reach when Vanderbilt commitment Carson Lawrence returned an interception 44 yards for a touchdown to go up 21-7 with 10:46 left.

Utley, who appeared in all 45 of Ensworth’s games since the beginning of his freshman season, played through an injury most of the second half until the pain became too much. He said he was kneed in one of his nerves in his right shin. He was helped to the bench by Ensworth staffers late in the fourth quarter.

“I told myself if it has to end this way, I’m going to have to get dragged off this field,” Utley said. “And that’s what happened.”

Utley is the No. 3 prospect from Tennessee in the 2025 class and No. 21 defensive lineman nationally, according to the 247Sports Composite. He intends to sign with the Volunteers when the early period begins Dec. 4.

“He’s super athletic for his size, very smart,” Ensworth coach Tim Hasselbeck said. “Depending on how he wants to change his body in the weight room, how he eats, he’ll figure out what position he’ll play. I think he could play on either side of the ball. He’s got a very bright future.”

Utley was an easy teammate to get along with, Hasselbeck said. That’s where Utley’s focus was Friday as he hugged players on the field one last time.

But he knows a big stage awaits in Knoxville.

“I’m excited for the competition. I’m grateful to be able to go play Division I football in the SEC. Most kids can’t say they can go do that,” Utley said. “I’ve been through some hard times. For that to be my next step, I’m more than blessed. When I get healthy and get my body right, get back in that weight room, get back on the field and start attacking it more, I’ll start getting ready for the bigger things ahead.”

Get the latest news and insight on High School football recruiting and local high school sports with The Bootleg newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox.

Reach sports writer George Robinson at georgerobinsontheleafchronicle.com and on the X platform (formerly Twitter) @Cville_Sports.

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Tennessee

Titans RB Out vs. Texans

Published

21 hours ago

November 22, 2024

Press Room

The Tennessee Titans are finishing up their practice runs before facing the Houston Texans in Week 12, but there is a key player on the offense who won’t be making the trip to the Lone Star State.

According to team reporter Jim Wyatt, running back Tyjae Spears has been ruled out for the team’s game against the Texans as he has yet to clear the league’s concussion protocol.

Spears, a second-year pro out of Tulane, has been bit many times by the injury bug this season. The Week 12 contest will mark Spears’ fourth game missed this season.

So far this season, Spears has ran the ball 43 times for 161 yards and a touchdown.

With Spears out, starting running back Tony Pollard will continue to have a bulk of the carries while Julius Chestnut and Josh Kelley handle backup duties.

Also out for the Titans is offensive tackle Leroy Watson IV. Linebacker Jack Gibbens and cornerback L’Jarius Sneed are also ruled out on the injury report, but both of them will be placed on injured reserve.

Kickoff between the Titans and Texans is set for 12 noon CT on Sunday inside NRG Stadium.

Make sure you bookmark Tennessee Titans on SI for the latest news, exclusive interviews, film breakdowns and so much more!

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