TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) – A Tucson family is holding one of their own a little closer tonight.
Marcus Tessier, 13, went missing from his home near Grant and Fairview on Monday night or Tuesday morning. The teen, who is non-verbal and autistic, was found at a Walmart in Deming, New Mexico, late Tuesday.
How the teen made it more than 200 miles away is still a mystery. For now, all Marcus’ family cares about is that he is back home and safe.
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Renee Desmond, Marcus’ mother, said the hours her son was missing were the worst in her life. According to Renee, when she woke up on Tuesday Marcus was nowhere to be found.
“He took off walking and it was just really scary,” Renee said.
Renee said having a child disappear is something no mother should ever wake up to.
“When I couldn’t find him, I realized that he had gone out,” Renee said. “I was looking in the backyard and I couldn’t find him. I went to be a security camera and I was trying to find footage to see which way he went.”
Renee immediately called the police and began the search.
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“Police got the bloodhound and they were able to track him down Alturas, down to Fairview, and down to Grant to the train tracks,” Renee said. “It just stopped there.”
While it’s a mystery how Marcus got to Deming, his aunt Helene Desmond has some theories.
“There is a possibility that he hopped on a train,” she said. “There is also a possibility that a semi or a driver was stopping to get Dunkin Donuts and saw a vulnerable person.”
The Deming Police Department told 13 News that its School Resource Officer was summonsed to the Mimbres Memorial Hospital to help identify a patient.
When the SRO was unable to identify the teenager, officials quickly reached out to the New Mexico State Police for help issuing an alert.
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Through investigation, Marcus was identified. His mother was notified and drove to Deming to pick him up.
“We’re so lucky and blessed that he came back to us given the circumstances and the odds,” Renee said.
According to Helene, posting on social media helped in the search.
“We were all just so shocked and being able to take pictures and hug him and hold him,” she said. “It was just a very special moment.”
According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, if you happen to see a child who appears to be lost there are important tips to keep in mind.
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Experts said to avoid any physical contact with the child.
If you can, ask the child questions like if they know if they are lost or the location of their parents, but remember that many children are taught not to give out too much personal information to strangers.
It’s also important to never put a child in a car, and try to seek help. If it’s safe to do so, remain at the immediate location and wait for law enforcement.
Both Helene and Renee said that as hard as it is not to blame themselves, it’s important for people not to assume or judge why or how any child vanishes.
“Children with special needs have those innate natures to want to be independent and wants to do things,” Helene said. “We have to do it in a controlled environment but not always get to it right then and there. When those things happen we have to remember, that we are human.”
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The family wants to thank law enforcement and the community for their support and quick response in locating Marcus.
Be sure to subscribe to the 13 News YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@13newskold
There will be a father and son in the Big East, and they’re both named Pitino!
Richard Pitino, the son of St. John’s head coach and Hall of Famer Rick Pitino, is leaving New Mexico to take the same position at Xavier, sources confirmed to Fox Sports on Tuesday night.
After the 42-year-old took New Mexico to back-to-back NCAA Tournaments, beating Marquette this year in the first round after a 26-7 regular season, Pitino increased his stock significantly and was in the mix for both the Villanova and Xavier positions.
Musketeers athletic director Greg Christopher was enamored by the upside of Pitino, who tried the high-major route at Minnesota but was let go in 2021 after eight seasons on the job. Going to Albuquerque led Pitino to reignite his career, going 88-49 over the last four seasons, winning the Mountain West Tournament in 2024 and charging the program to a regular-season title this year.
This move only adds to the family atmosphere and tradition of the Big East. The fact that we will see at least two (and perhaps three) showdowns between Rick and Richard Pitino is phenomenal for the league and its storylines. Father has outdone son in their four meetings, with Rick owning a 3-1 record, including St. John’s beating the Lobos this past November.
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But Richard was well in position for a high-major job in this cycle. After Villanova did not extend an offer to him despite being very much in the mix – with Maryland’s Kevin Willard and a mystery candidate out there for the Wildcats – Christopher extended the offer to Pitino. And now he’s heading to the state of Ohio to take over a Xavier program that has been a staple in the NCAA Tournament the majority of the last two decades.
John Fanta is a national college basketball broadcaster and writer for FOX Sports. He covers the sport in a variety of capacities, from calling games on FS1 to serving as lead host on the BIG EAST Digital Network to providing commentary on The Field of 68 Media Network. Follow him at @John_Fanta.
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A sign reading “measles testing” is seen as an outbreak in Gaines County, Texas, has raised concerns over its spread to other parts of the state, in Seminole, Texas, on Feb. 25. Measles cases in Texas and New Mexico rose to 370 today, the states’ health departments said, an increase of 19 infections since their previous reports four days ago, as the United States deals with one of the largest measles outbreaks in the past decade.
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Measles cases in Texas and New Mexico rose to 370 today, the states’ health departments said, an increase of 19 infections since their previous reports four days ago, as the United States deals with one of the largest measles outbreaks in the past decade.
Cases in Gaines County, the center of the current measles outbreak in the U.S. that started in late January, rose to 226 from 211 cases, the Texas Department of State Health Services said.
The total from the two states has surpassed last year’s nationwide count of 285 infections, according to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Since March 21, New Mexico has reported one additional case, bringing its total to 43, while Texas reported 18 more cases, totaling 327 in the state.
Most of New Mexico’s cases were reported in Lea County, which is adjacent to Gaines County in Texas.
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In Texas, 325 cases were among people who were unvaccinated or their vaccination status was unknown, up from 307 reported previously. The latest New Mexico case is among the 31 infected individuals from the state who were not vaccinated.
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“It’s going to take time (to control this outbreak), unfortunately, because there are still people who are resistant to receiving a vaccine,” said Tammy Camp, a pediatrician in Texas.
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In a health advisory on March 7, the CDC said that the risk for widespread measles in the U.S. remained low.
Diego Hijano, infectious disease specialist at St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, said he agrees with the CDC’s assessment as a lot of areas still have a high vaccination rate.
U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has for years sown doubts about the safety and efficacy of immunization, said last month he recognizes the serious impact of the current measles outbreak in Texas and that the government is providing resources, including vaccines.
FARGO — Put whatever initials you want on the tournament, it looked like women’s postseason basketball Monday night at Scheels Center. It sounded like it, too.
North Dakota State, like it’s done so often this season, grinded out a second round win over New Mexico State in the Women’s National Invitation Tournament, a 68-65 victory that will have them hosting another one.
It will be almost April and the Bison are still playing.
“Honesty, super grateful for it,” said forward Avery Koenen, who led the way with 17 points and 12 rebounds. “Any chance we get to play together and spend time together every day is something to be thankful for. It’s something not a lot of teams get to experience at this point in the season.”
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North Dakota State’s Avery Koenen goes for a two-pointer against New Mexico State’s Fanta Gazzama during the Bison’s opening game in the Women’s National Invitation Tournament on Monday, March 24, 2025, at Scheels Center at the Sanford Health Athletic Complex in Fargo.
Anna Paige / The Forum
The Bison will host Washington State at 7 p.m. Thursday in the round of 16 at Scheels Center.
“I’m really happy for our players that they got to experience that tonight,” said NDSU head coach Jory Collins. “Hopefully we get to experience it again. That’s what college basketball is all about. This time of the year you get to watch a game on TV and you want that.”
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Koenen’s two free throws with 38 seconds left gave the Bison a 64-61 lead. With NDSU’s fans that sounded like more than the 1,016 that were there, the Aggies’ Fanta Gassama paid no attention driving to the hoop and it was 64-63 with 15 seconds left.
Abby Krzewinski followed with two free throws, but Gassama responded with a jumper just inside the 3-point arc at 5.1 seconds and it was still a one-point game. Two more free throws from Krzewinski made it a three-point game, but the Aggies, out of time outs and looking confused, opted to go the length of the floor for a layup instead of trying a 3-pointer to tie. That didn’t work either.
“They were super loud,” Koenen said of the Bison crowd. “When you hear that on defense especially, it gives you more momentum.”
North Dakota State’s Abby Krzewinski goes up against New Mexico State’s Molly Kaiser during the Bison’s opening game in the Women’s National Invitation Tournament on Monday, March 24, 2025, at Scheels Center at the Sanford Health Athletic Complex in Fargo.
Anna Paige / The Forum
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NDSU will take win No. 20 into the next round, the second straight season it’s reached that goal.
“Yeah, it’s a big deal,” Collins said. “I think that’s the benchmark that a lot of teams talk about. I was nervous a few weeks ago that it was going to be hard to get there. It’s what we want to become, a normal thing and not a special team. That needs to become the norm here.”
The Bison were off for a week for spring break after the early Summit League tournament exit and then practiced for several days — and it was evident in the first quarter the speed of the game was something they weren’t used to. The Aggies brought quicker players and a full court press to the arena than the Bison practiced against.
“We hadn’t played a basketball game in a hot minute,” Krzewinski said. “I think us picking it back up in the second half showed who we are as a team.”
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Still, NDSU withstood 12 first half turnovers to take a 34-31 halftime lead, getting six players to score between four and seven points. The balance continued in the second half and the Bison maintained their advantage, getting a 9-2 run to take an eight-point lead.
North Dakota State’s Claire Stern goes up against New Mexico State’s Imani Warren (left) and Fanta Gassama during the Bison’s opening game in the Women’s National Invitation Tournament on Monday, March 24, 2025, at Scheels Center at the Sanford Health Athletic Complex in Fargo.
Anna Paige / The Forum
Like several Bison games this season, where extending leads wasn’t easy, this was no exception.
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“It wasn’t our cleanest game,” Collins said.
It was 55-51 heading to the final 10 minutes. At that point, the Aggies led for only 4:35 of the game and that was in the first half. That four-point lead remained heading to the final two minutes in a dogfight that never let up.
NMSU leading scorer Molly Kaiser, who came in averaging 20.5 points, fouled out with 1:19 remaining after missing a shot that would have tied it. Abbie Draper hit 1 of 2 free throws and it was 62-59.
It was a lead they would not give up.
“Yeah, my good teams, you start when it’s warm out and you finish when it’s warm out,” Collins said. “That means you had a good year in basketball.”
North Dakota State’s Marisa Frost takes the shot as New Mexico State’s Imani Warren tries to block during the Bison’s opening game in the Women’s National Invitation Tournament on Monday, March 24, 2025, at Scheels Center at the Sanford Health Athletic Complex in Fargo.
Anna Paige / The Forum
North Dakota State’s Avery Koenen wrestles for the ball against New Mexico State’s Lucia Yenes (left) and Fanta Gassama during the Bison’s opening game in the Women’s National Invitation Tournament on Monday, March 24, 2025, at Scheels Center at the Sanford Health Athletic Complex in Fargo.
Anna Paige / The Forum
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North Dakota State’s Molly Lentz tries to get away from New Mexico State’s Loes Rozing during the Bison’s opening game in the Women’s National Invitation Tournament on Monday, March 24, 2025, at Scheels Center at the Sanford Health Athletic Complex in Fargo.
Anna Paige / The Forum
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North Dakota State’s Abby Schulte sends the ball soaring for a basket as New Mexico State’s Molly Kaiser looks on during the Bison’s opening game in the Women’s National Invitation Tournament on Monday, March 24, 2025, at Scheels Center at the Sanford Health Athletic Complex in Fargo.
Anna Paige / The Forum
North Dakota State’s Abby Schulte makes the shot against New Mexico State during the Bison’s opening game in the Women’s National Invitation Tournament on Monday, March 24, 2025, at Scheels Center at the Sanford Health Athletic Complex in Fargo.
Anna Paige / The Forum
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North Dakota State’s Marisa Frost goes up against New Mexico State’s Sianny Sanchez-Oliver during the Bison’s opening game in the Women’s National Invitation Tournament on Monday, March 24, 2025, at Scheels Center at the Sanford Health Athletic Complex in Fargo.
Anna Paige / The Forum
North Dakota State’s Abby Schulte makes the shot against New Mexico State during the Bison’s opening game in the Women’s National Invitation Tournament on Monday, March 24, 2025, at Scheels Center at the Sanford Health Athletic Complex in Fargo.
Anna Paige / The Forum
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North Dakota State players exit the court smiling after defeating New Mexico State 68 to 65 during the Bison’s opening game in the Women’s National Invitation Tournament on Monday, March 24, 2025, at Scheels Center at the Sanford Health Athletic Complex in Fargo.
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Jeff would like to dispel the notion he was around when Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press, but he is on his third decade of reporting with Forum Communications. The son of a reporter and an English teacher, and the brother of a reporter, Jeff has worked at the Jamestown Sun, Bismarck Tribune and since 1990 The Forum, where he’s covered North Dakota State athletics since 1995. Jeff has covered all nine of NDSU’s Division I FCS national football titles and has written three books: “Horns Up,” “North Dakota Tough” and “Covid Kids.” He is the radio host of “The Golf Show with Jeff Kolpack” April through August.
