HARRIS COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) — A West Harris County man is under arrest after allegedly setting his neighbors’ houses on fire while armed with a machete.
Phi Le Nguyen, 46, faces two arson charges and two aggravated assault charges in connection with the crime.
Surveillance video obtained exclusively by Eyewitness News shows him walking across the street to a neighbor’s house on Brighton Hollow Lane on Wednesday afternoon.
The homeowners tell ABC13 he poured gasoline on the side of the house and set it on fire, but it was easily put out. Scorch marks were visible on a portion of the brick facade and the lawn.
Moments later, Nguyen can be seen approaching another neighbor’s house. In the video, he’s smoking a cigarette and holding a can of gasoline in one hand and a machete in another.
He then pours the gasoline over the driveway before walking out of frame.
That’s when the homeowner tells Eyewitness News he doused her house in gasoline and lit a fire.
This fire appears to have only burnt a portion of the lawn.
Nguyen retreats to the foot of the driveway, where he can be seen surveying the damage before swinging the machete around.
Court documents accuse him of threatening the second homeowner with the machete as well as a responding Harris County sheriff’s deputy.
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — Houston has now recorded a record-shattering 16 days of 90 heat this October, and we are likely going to tack on two more days to that list this weekend. The old record was 10 days of 90 heat in October, last observed in 2019.
While the heat isn’t going anywhere, we do have increasing chances for rain toward the end of next week.
The record to beat today is 92 degrees, set in 2010, which is right where we have the high temperature forecast set at.
Similar weather is expected on Sunday.
When will rain chances return?
A stray shower is possible near the coast both days this weekend, but we’ll have to wait until closer to Halloween for a pattern change that should bring up moisture levels significantly and eventually bring about some rain chances. Right now we have small rain chances starting next Wednesday at 20% then peaking at 40% on Halloween. This type of pattern usually yields scattered showers rolling in from the Gulf of Mexico, so no widespread rain is anticipated at this time.
Speaking of Halloween, will the weather be a trick or a treat?
That depends on your perspective! We desperately need some rain, and rain chances are back on the final day of October. It will almost certainly be a warm, humid Halloween with a 40% chance for showers and thunderstorms. Low temperatures will start off in the low 70s, then warm into the mid 80s during the afternoon. It is too early to say with any certainty if there will be rain around at Trick-or-Treat time, so stay tuned as we gain more clarity on the timing of the rain.
What are you tracking in the tropics?
The tropics will likely stay quiet until the first week of November when a storm may try to spin up over the Caribbean. Head to our daily Tropical Update page for a complete look at what we’re covering in the tropics.
Los Angeles prosecutors are recommending that Erik and Lyle Menendez be resentenced for the 1989 killings of their parents in their Beverly Hills home, giving the brothers a possible path to freedom after 34 years in prison.
Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón announced his decision in a Thursday news conference. “We are going to recommend to the court that the life without the possibility of parole be removed, and they would be sentenced for murder,” which would be a sentence of 50 years to life, he said. Because both brothers were under 26 at the time of the crime, they would be eligible for parole immediately. “I believe they have paid their debt to society,” Gascón added, although the final decision will rest with the judge.
The case, which began on Aug. 20, 1989, saw Lyle and Erik Menendez fatally shoot their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez, at their Beverly Hills home. The brothers, aged 21 and 18 at the time, used shotguns purchased days before. Prosecutors alleged financial gain as the motive, while the defense argued the brothers acted in self-defense after years of sexual abuse by their father.
The initial trials—broadcast with cameras in the courtroom—ended in mistrials. In a 1996 retrial, in which much of the abuse evidence was excluded, the brothers were convicted of first-degree murder and received consecutive life sentences without parole.
Interest in the case was reignited this fall with the release of the Netflix series “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story” and a documentary on the Menendez brothers. Gascón stated his office has been evaluating new evidence, including allegations from a former Menudo band member who claimed he was molested by Jose Menendez, and an unearthed letter from Erik to a cousin detailing alleged abuse, written eight months before the murders.
Nearly two dozen family members gathered at a news conference last week advocating for the brothers’ resentencing. “Their actions, while tragic, were the desperate response of two boys trying to survive their father’s cruelty,” said Kitty Menendez’s sister, Joan Andersen VanderMolen. Anamaria Baralt, Jose Menendez’s niece, added that their continued incarceration serves no rehabilitative purpose, expressing hope for the family’s healing.
However, not all relatives support their release. Milton Andersen, Kitty Menendez’s brother, maintains that his nephews were not abused and argues they acted out of greed.
The stage is set for the 2024 World Series, and the excitement leading up to Game 1 between the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees is electrifying. This clash of two storied franchises promises a thrilling, edge-of-your-seat series from start to finish.
For the Dodgers, strategic offseason moves have paid off. After conquering the New York Mets, they now prepare for their 13th World Series appearance and fourth since 2017. A key offseason acquisition, Shohei Ohtani, has delivered at the plate and significantly impacted the Dodgers’ success this season.
The Yankees, fresh off their win over the Cleveland Guardians, are determined to secure their 28th championship title, their first since 2009. Leading the charge is Aaron Judge, known for stepping up in high-stakes moments, as shown by his four on-base appearances in the ALCS. With the 2023 AL Cy Young Award winner Gerrit Cole on the mound for Game 1, the Yankees are primed to field their strongest lineup.
As we eagerly await the first pitch on Friday, here’s a look at the bracket for this highly anticipated showdown.
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — Another warm afternoon on the way, we’ll top out in the low 90s, 10 degrees or more above our normal highs for this time of year. We could see a tiny bit of moisture move in Friday afternoon which is why we have in a 10% chance of rain. Most of SE Texas will stay completely dry.
When will rain chances return?
Rain chances look slim through the weekend, but there is a pocket of moisture sliding in south of I-10 on Friday that’s good enough to warrant a 10% chance of a shower. Otherwise, we’ll have to wait until closer to Halloween for a pattern change that should bring up moisture levels significantly and eventually bring about some rain chances. Right now we have small rain chances starting next Wednesday at 20% then peaking at 30% on Halloween. This type of pattern usually yields scattered showers rolling in from the Gulf of Mexico, so no widespread rain is anticipated at this time.
Speaking of Halloween, what is the early outlook for the weather that day?
It will almost certainly be a warm, humid Halloween with a small chance for streamer showers blowing in from the Gulf of Mexico. Low temperatures will start off in the low 70s, then arm into the mid 80s during the afternoon. A quick passing shower is possible at any time of day, including during Trick-or-Treat time.
What are you tracking in the tropics?
The tropics will likely stay quiet until the first week of November when a storm may try to spin up over the Caribbean. Head to our daily Tropical Update page for a complete look at what we’re covering in the tropics.
HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — A highly touted 10-year human trafficking investigation by the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) has so far has only resulted in one felony arrest.
But TABC officials remained bullish on the effectiveness of their efforts during a high-profile news conference on Thursday.
A human trafficking investigation involving nine Houston-area bars led to the arrest of four people and 84 people rescue…Show more
On October 18, ABC13’s cameras were rolling when nine cantinas were busted in a single night. At the time, TABC investigators said 84 people were rescued as part of raids conducted simultaneously. TABC also said all nine cantinas had their liquor licenses suspended for 90 days.
On Thursday, TABC invited the Harris County Sheriff’s Department, the Houston Police Department, and other agencies to stand alongside as they spoke about the raid’s success.
“They look on the outside like a regular bar or a nightclub with a bar, a dance floor, pool tables – but behind them is a labyrinth of hidden rooms, cement floors, closet-sized with soiled mattresses,” TABC Chai Kevin Lilly said. “An actual house of horrors hiding within the trapdoors and secret doors of these establishments.”
At the news conferences, TABC officials could not name any suspected sex trafficking suspects who were arrested. It’s not clear that the operation actually netted any suspected traffickers.
Thursday afternoon, the Harris County District Attorney’s office confirmed that the 10-year investigation yielded just four arrests. Of those arrests, three are misdemeanors, and the DA’s office said those three are likely trafficking victims. That means those charges will probably be dropped at a future date. The fourth arrest is a felony, but that individual may be a crucial witness in the investigation.
Neither the DA’s office nor the TABC could confirm that any suspected traffickers were arrested and charged. When pressed on this, a TABC spokesperson told ABC13 that the operation was still considered a success because there could be additional criminal charges, and that there were no injuries or deaths during any of the raids.
“Imagine nine simultanous operations throughout the city of Houston, at exactly the same time, involved flawless precision,” Chair Lilly said during the news conference. “This really was an extraordinary day for law enforcement in this country.”
Sources within the Houston Police Department say they were merely supporting the TABC investigation.
The nine cantinas raided were:
El Flamingo Club, 3715 Aldine Mail Route
Koko Bongo, 955 Federal Road
Los Escorpiones #2, 1636 Federal Road
Los Escorpiones #5, 2815 Luell St.
El Cruzero Sports Bar, 7715 W. Hardy Road
Bora Bora Sports Bar, 11028 Aldine Westfield Road
El Rinconcito Night Club, 743 Freeport St.
La Condesa, 8810 Jensen Drive
Las Margaritas Night Club, 210 E. Little York Road
The establishments ccould be eligible to get their liquor licenses reinstated after 90 days, though TABC officials say most times, the establishments are effectively shut down permanently.
Texas AG releases autopsy report in controversial death penalty caseKen Paxton says the autopsy report…Show more
There’s yet another twist in the controversial case of Robert Roberson, the Texas man who was set to be executed one week ago.
Roberson was convicted of murder in the death of his 2-year-old daughter Nikki Curtis in 2003 and sentenced to death.
His scheduled Oct. 17 execution was delayed by the Texas Supreme Court, and now, there are cries for his life to be spared, but Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton strongly disagrees.
Paxton came out swinging in a statement released on Wednesday, calling out two state lawmakers for “misleading” the public in Roberson’s case. Paxton’s office also shared Nikki’s original autopsy report.
Paxton says the report proves Roberson was convicted of beating his child and leaving her with extensive head wounds. He says the jury did not convict Roberson on the basis of “shaken baby syndrome.”
Roberson’s supporters say he deserves a new trial under the state’s “junk science” law that says a defendant should get a new trial if faulty science is discovered in a case.
His attorneys argue new medical evidence suggests the child died of pneumonia, not shaken baby syndrome.
Paxton says that claim is not true and pointed to the child’s autopsy report while calling out two state representatives — Joe Moody and Jeff Leach — who have shown support for Roberson and also were part of a hearing held on Monday to discuss Roberson’s case.
Rep. Moody — the chair of the committee spearheading the effort for a new trial — said Paxton’s statement has no new facts, calling it a “collection of exaggerations, misrepresentations and full-on untruths completely divorced from facts and context.”
That bi-partisan committee is expected to release a full statement on Thursday.
Roberson was found guilty based on the testimony from a pediatrician who said the baby died of ‘shaken baby s…Show more
According to Roberson’s attorneys, he woke up to find his 2-year-old daughter Nikki lying on the floor at the foot of the bed one night in 2002. They say Roberson comforted her, put her back to bed and went back to sleep himself. He found Nikki unconscious with blue lips when he woke up the next morning. He took her to an emergency room, where she was ultimately pronounced dead.
Roberson, a 57-year-old man, was then convicted in her death.
Roberson was found guilty based on the testimony from a pediatrician who cited swelling and hemorrhages in Nikki’s brain at the time as a “shaken baby syndrome” diagnosis, even though there is limited evidence to support this as an accurate diagnosis. The hypothesis has come under serious scrutiny in biomechanical studies, as well as lengthening medical and legal literature. The medical examiner also suspected that Nikki sustained multiple head injuries, and considered the death a homicide in the official autopsy.
Roberson is autistic, according to his legal team, which affects how he expresses emotions — a concern that also arose during the trial.
Since his conviction, new evidence found that Nikki had pneumonia at the time of her death and had been prescribed respiratory-suppressing drugs by doctors in the days leading up to her death. These drugs include the narcotic drug codeine and promethazine, both of which are no longer prescribed to children Nikki’s age or those in her condition because it could impair their ability to breathe and be deadly.
Following a post-mortem toxicology report, medical toxicology and emergency room medicine expert Dr. Keenan Bora concluded that high levels of promethazine are likely to have exacerbated Nikki’s issues breathing.
A reexamination of her lung tissue by lung pathology expert Dr. Francis Green also found that chronic interstitial viral pneumonia and acute bacterial pneumonia were damaging her lungs, causing sepsis and then septic shock, leading to vital organ failure.
GALVESTON, Texas (KTRK) — Court documents reveal disturbing new details in the case of a 17-month-old girl who died after being found abandoned along the Seawall in Galveston on Wednesday.
The child’s mother, 30-year-old Channel Yonko, is charged with capital murder. She appeared in court on Thursday morning, where a magistrate judge denied bond.
The memorial next to the Kroger along the Seawall continues to grow. It’s where 17-month-old Hannah Yonko was found — in the middle of 59th Street — on Wednesday morning.
According to new details from charging documents, police say they have surveillance video from the second story at the Beach Front Palms Hotel, where it appears the toddler fell from the third floor balcony and then rolled onto the concrete sidewalk.
The documents also allege the baby had additional severe wounds. Investigators believe her mother killed her.
Yonko was taken into custody shortly after Hannah was discovered on 59th Street. When an officer located her nearby, she was allegedly crying and asking for help and made comments about how her daughter might have been sick.
Handcuffed and wearing a dark green jumpsuit, Yonko appeared before a Galveston County magistrate judge on Thursday morning after spending the night in jail.
She was told to not say anything as she was read her rights, but instead, she asked to call an attorney.
“Can I receive my phone call?” Yonko asked in court.
“Ma’am, you’re here for magistrate court. Please just listen to the words that are told to you. Don’t ask any other questions unless you need to,” the magistrate judge replied.
Across the island, residents mourn for the 17-month-old daughter police say Yonko killed.
“It’s really upsetting news, and then I got to work and everybody was talking about it and it just upset me even more and I’m like – I have to go pay my respects,” UTMB pediatric nurse Jasmine Hernandez said.
Hernandez laid flowers and a doll at the growing memorial for Hannah. She said when she heard Hannah had been rushed to the hospital, she hoped they could save her.
According to court documents, Yonko and Hannah were staying at the hotel with Yonko’s sister.
ABC13 spoke to Brandon Uriba, who said he found Hannah while driving down 59th Street. He said he noticed the girl wrapped in a blanket.
“It was heartbreaking to see that. To see a little precious, beautiful, perfect little girl laying there lifeless,” Uriba said.
Police said they also found a trash bag at the hotel parking garage with Yonko’s room key, a knife, plastic sand toys, unused diapers, and unopened kid snacks.
People on the island are trying to understand how a mother could have killed her little girl, as police say she did.
“Especially somebody who was supposed to protect her from day one and then let her down,” Hernandez said.
HOUSTON, Texas — Beyoncé is expected to appear Friday in her hometown of Houston at a rally for Vice President Kamala Harris, according to three people familiar with the matter.
Harris’ presidential campaign has taken on Beyoncé’s 2016 track “Freedom” as its anthem, and the singer’s planned appearance brings a high-level of star power to what has become a key theme of the Democratic nominee’s bid: freedom.
Harris will head to the reliably Republican state just 10 days before Election Day in an effort to refocus her campaign against former President Donald Trump on reproductive care, which Democrats see as a make-or-break issue this year.
The three people were not authorized to publicly discuss the matter and spoke on condition of anonymity. The Harris campaign did not immediately comment.
Beyoncé’s appearance was expected to draw even more attention to the event – and to Harris’ closing message.
Harris’ Houston trip is set to feature women who have been affected by Texas’ restrictive abortion laws, which took effect after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022. She has campaigned in other states with restrictive abortion laws, including Georgia, among the seven most closely contested states.
Harris has centered her campaign around the idea that Trump is a threat to American freedoms, from reproductive and LGBTQ rights to the freedom to be safe from gun violence.
Beyoncé gave Harris permission early in her campaign to use “Freedom,” a soulful track from her 2016 landmark album “Lemonade,” in her debut ad. Harris has used its thumping chorus as a walk-out song at rallies ever since.
Beyoncé’s alignment with Harris isn’t the first time that the Grammy winner has aligned with a Democratic politician. Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, danced as Beyoncé performed at a presidential inaugural ball in 2009.
In 2013, she sang the national anthem at Obama’s second inauguration. Three years later, she and her husband Jay-Z performed at a pre-election concert for Democrat Hillary Clinton in Cleveland.
“Look how far we’ve come from having no voice to being on the brink of history – again,” Beyoncé said at the time. “But we have to vote.”
A January poll by Ipsos for the anti-polarization nonprofit With Honor found that 64% of Democrats had a favorable view of Beyoncé compared with just 32% of Republicans. Overall, Americans were more likely to have a favorable opinion than an unfavorable one, 48% to 33%.
Speculation over whether the superstar would appear at this summer’s Democratic National Convention in Chicago reached a fever pitch on the gathering’s final night, with online rumors swirling after celebrity news site TMZ posted a story that said: “Beyoncé is in Chicago, and getting ready to pop out for Kamala Harris on the final night of the Democratic convention.” The site attributed it to “multiple sources in the know,” none of them named.
About an hour after Harris ended her speech, TMZ updated its story to say, “To quote the great Beyoncé: We gotta lay our cards down, down, down … we got this one wrong.” In the end, Harris took the stage to star’s song, but that was its only appearance.
Last year, Harris and her husband, Doug Emhoff, attended Beyoncé’s Renaissance World Tour in Maryland after getting tickets from Beyonce herself. “Thanks for a fun date night, @Beyonce,” Harris wrote on Instagram.
Beyoncé is not the only Texan expected to be part of the lineup.
According to democrats.org, Willie Nelson is listed to join as well.
