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  • Lunch with Larry: Tom Waddle

    Lunch with Larry: Tom Waddle

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    Larry Mayer

    Welcome to the third installment of my weekly reimagined “Lunch with Larry,” which now features wide-ranging conversations with Bears-related guests about their lives and careers.

    This week my special guest is former receiver Tom Waddle, a fan favorite who played his entire six-year NFL career with the Bears from 1989-94. The Boston College product has been a longtime fixture on local radio, co-hosting the Waddle & Silvy Show weekday afternoons on ESPN 1000 in Chicago.

    Every week I will select the best “Lunch with Larry” fan question, with the winner receiving a Connie’s Pizza gift card. The question of the week can be found at the bottom of this article.

    It became a yearly ritual that Tom Waddle dreaded.

    Right before the start of the NFL season, he would be summoned to Mike Ditka’s office on the second floor of the original Halas Hall. At the top of the staircase, the 6-foot, 185-pound receiver would be greeted by the coach’s secretary, Mary Albright, who would invite him to sit on a leather couch in Ditka’s office.

    Year after year, the words Ditka delivered to Waddle were always the same: “You performed well in training camp, you did everything we asked of you, but we’re going to have to let you go.” It happened in 1989. And in 1990. And in 1991.

    Yet despite the inability to survive final cuts three years in a row, Waddle never doubted that he could compete at the NFL level.

    “As unimpressive as I looked and as unimpressive as my physical testing skills may have come out, I really was confident I could play,” he said. “I knew I was never going to be Jerry Rice, but I did think that [I had] my skill set, being quick and kind of a smart player and having the capacity to catch the ball and maybe most importantly the skill of not really giving a rat’s rear end if somebody hit you really hard … I was inspired to play because I loved the sport, and I wanted to continue to play the sport. There was nothing that was going to stop me.”

    Lunch with Larry: Tom Thayer Lunch with Larry: Rashied Davis

    After failing to survive final cuts in each of his first two seasons, Waddle was signed to the practice squad and eventually promoted to the active roster. But he played sparingly, appearing in three games in 1989 and five contests in 1990, catching a total of three passes for 40 yards.

    Waddle was cut again a week before the start of the 1991 season. But this time injuries at the receiver position forced the Bears to not only sign him a few days later but to play him against the Vikings in the opener.

    “I think they felt they could trust me because I had practiced well, and I had proved in practice and the preseason that I could play at this level and I had the confidence in myself,” Waddle said. “I do remember walking into the huddle the first time in that opening game and there were some big eyes looking back at me like, ‘What the hell are you doing in here?’ And I was kind of like, ‘Well, guys, I’m here because they don’t have anybody else.’”

    Waddle made the most of his opportunity, catching two passes for 48 yards and scoring the game’s only touchdown on a 37-yard reception from Jim Harbaugh in a 10-6 victory over Minnesota.

    “That kind of propelled me, and I proudly would tell you that I started for the next two-and-a-half, three years,” Waddle said. “I’m pretty proud of what I was able to accomplish considering the physical limitations that I had.”

    Waddle became a regular contributor in 1991, catching at least two passes in all 16 games while making 13 starts. In Week 4, he helped the Bears rally for a thrilling 19-13 Monday night overtime win over the Jets at Soldier Field, catching eight passes for 102 yards.

    Waddle gained national recognition for his courageous performance in a 1991 playoff loss to the Cowboys. Knocked out of the game by big hits three times, he kept returning and caught nine passes for 104 yards and one TD.

    “I just can’t put into words just how cool it is to be able to live your dream,” Waddle said. “And to be on a field in the postseason playing the Dallas Cowboys at Soldier Field, the crowd chanting your name and everybody working together trying to get to the top of the mountain. I get kind of misty-eyed thinking about it now … I lived a dream and every now and again I have to pinch myself.”

    Waddle ultimately appeared in 60 games with 41 starts with the Bears, catching 173 passes for 2,109 yards and nine touchdowns before retiring following the 1994 season.

    The Cincinnati, Ohio, native especially enjoyed playing for Ditka and with several teammates who had been part of the famed 1985 Super Bowl XX championship squad.

    “I thought I was in football heaven,” Waddle said. “I loved playing for Mike. He was hard on you because he expected a lot out of you, and he expected you to expect a lot out of yourself … He was great to play for … I knew how great a player he was when I got there. I knew how great a coach he was. He was a guy I’ll forever be indebted to because he saw something in me and stayed with me and appreciated how hard I worked and ultimately gave me a chance to prove myself. I don’t play in the National Football League without Mike Ditka, for sure.”

    Waddle made a smooth transition into broadcasting, working in both radio and television. He served as an analyst and fill-in anchor for FOX 32 and later joined WLS ABC 7 and NFL Network. He has been with ESPN 1000 in Chicago since 2007.

    While he knows it’s impossible to replicate what it’s like to play in the NFL, Waddle feels like he’s found the next closest thing.

    “There’s a void that exists that is enormous and it’s really difficult to fill because if you were a player, from the time you were eight years old, this is what you did,” he said. “You get to the end of the line at the age of 26 or 27 or 28 or 30 and now you have to find something to fill that void, and there is nothing on this planet that can mimic the adrenaline rush that you get as the PA announcer announces your name as a starting player as we run out underneath the goal post at Soldier Field to play the Minnesota Vikings or the Green Bay Packers. You don’t run, you just float all the way out.

    “There’s no way to re-create that. There’s no way to actually compare that to anything else you can do in the civilized world. So there is an enormous transition that takes place … And what I found is that, whether it’s radio or television, when the light goes on and the TV camera in the studio in Los Angeles for the NFL Network, you better have something to say. So I came to the realization that this was the closest thing that I could find to the adrenaline rush that you would get.”

    The winner of the fan question and a Connie’s Pizza gift card is @Sgt_savage11 on Twitter, who asks Tom: Who is your favorite guest to have on your radio show?

    Waddle: “We had the Ditka show for years. I mean that was a joy to do once a week throughout the season. Charles Barkley has not only become a guest, but he’s become a friend. I love talking to Mike Tirico. Mike Tirico’s one of my favorites of all time. We had Dwyane Wade on who’s been great. Being able to do ‘Lunch with a Legend’ we did with ESPN with Pete Rose was great. We’ve had Jerry Rice on, we’ve had Joe Montana on. I’m a blessed guy, I’m a very blessed human being.”

    In closing, I’d like to thank Tom for speaking to me about his two successful careers. I enjoyed covering him when he played for the Bears, and you won’t meet a better guy!

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  • Jury says they can’t agree on whether Karen Read was a murderer; judge tells them to keep trying

    Jury says they can’t agree on whether Karen Read was a murderer; judge tells them to keep trying

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    DEDHAM, Mass. — Jurors in the Karen Read trial told the judge on Friday that they’ve been unable to reach a unanimous verdict. The judge sent them back for more deliberations.

    The jury must decide whose story they believe: that of prosecutors who say she drunkenly and angrily slammed into her Boston police officer boyfriend with her Lexus SUV and left him to die, or defense attorneys who claim one or more colleagues killed John O’Keefe and framed Read to cover it up.

    SEE ALSO | Is she a murderer or was she framed? Things to know about the Boston-area trial of Karen Read

    The Massachusetts jury of six men and six women is deliberating behind closed doors in Norfolk County Superior Court, while a “sidewalk jury” of true crime bloggers and pink-shirted Read supporters gathers outside. The unofficial adjudicators, many of them waving Stars and Stripes, have been present every day since the trial began nearly two months ago.

    Who’s who?

    Read, 44, had worked as an equity analyst and was an adjunct lecturer in finance at her alma mater, Bentley University. O’Keefe, 46, was a 16-year veteran of the Boston Police Department who was raising his niece and nephew.

    Jurors are deliberating events that unfolded at the Canton home of Brian Albert, a Boston police detective, after a night of bar-hopping in January 2022. Brian Higgins, a federal agent who was among those gathered inside, had exchanged flirty texts with Read earlier that month. The lead investigator was State Trooper Michael Proctor, who was friends with several witnesses and sent offensive texts about Read to friends, family and fellow troopers during the investigation.

    The charges

    Read was charged with second-degree murder, punishable in Massachusetts by life in prison with the possibility of parole. She also faces lesser charges of manslaughter while operating a vehicle under the influence, punishable by five to 20 years; and leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death, punishable by up to 10 years.

    The evidence

    Pieces of Read’s broken taillight were found at the scene and a single hair from O’Keefe was found on the rear bumper of Read’s SUV. Prosecutors say that Read repeatedly said, “I hit him. I hit him. Oh my God, I hit him” to first responders and others. Prosecutors replayed angry voicemails Read left for O’Keefe, painting a picture of a failing relationship. They also questioned her behavior, saying she never cried after O’Keefe’s body was found.

    Read’s defense

    Read contends that the prosecution’s case is based on lies by officers trying to protect themselves. Her lawyers say the pieces of taillight and the hair were planted at the crime scene, which was left unsecured. They also suggested O’Keefe might have been beaten up by Higgins, who had flirted with Read through texts, and that the men panicked, dumping his body outside before trying to cover up the crime.

    Sloppy detective work

    Regardless of any verdict, the case revealed questionable techniques and actions on the part of law enforcement. Proctor, who had personal relationships with several of the people involved, called Read a “wack job” and texted his sister saying he wished Read would “kill herself.” He said that was a figure of speech and that his emotions had gotten the better of him.

    The defense also pointed to sloppy policing: The crime scene was left unsecured for hours; the house wasn’t searched; blood-stained snow was scooped up with red plastic drinking cups; and a leaf blower was used to clear snow. The defense also claims that a prosecution witness conducted an incriminating internet search hours before O’Keefe’s body was discovered and then deleted it, and that others linked with the case destroyed phones and manipulated videos.

    Growing attention

    As more evidence emerged about what might have seemed an open-and-shut case, interest picked up among true crime fans and others with suspicions about law enforcement. For more than a year, dozens of Read supporters have gathered outside the courthouse, calling for the charges to be dropped.

    As jurors deliberate, members of this self-proclaimed “sidewalk jury” – wearing pink and waving American flags to symbolize what they call a fight for truth and justice – intently watch their phones for word of a verdict. Some take it further, including a man who dresses as the trial judge and a woman who wears plastic cups as earrings. Their mood has been jubilant, encouraged by passing motorists who honk their horns.

    READ MORE | Judge scolds Karen Read as jurors close out 2nd day of deliberations without verdict in Boston trial

    Many were drawn to the case by Aidan Timothy Kearney, aka Turtleboy, whose website has relentlessly questioned the prosecution. He and other supporters have also been accused of harassing witnesses: Kearney was charged with witness intimidation and conspiracy, which he denies.

    The demonstrators, as many as 100 people, have been ordered to remain 200 feet (60 meters) away. At one point on Wednesday, some said a verdict had come, prompting a mad dash toward the courthouse.

    The video in the player above is from a previous report.

    Copyright © 2024 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

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  • Jury says they can’t agree on whether Karen Read was a murderer; judge tells them to keep trying

    Jury says they can’t agree on whether Karen Read was a murderer; judge tells them to keep trying

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    DEDHAM, Mass. — Jurors in the Karen Read trial told the judge on Friday that they’ve been unable to reach a unanimous verdict. The judge sent them back for more deliberations.

    The jury must decide whose story they believe: that of prosecutors who say she drunkenly and angrily slammed into her Boston police officer boyfriend with her Lexus SUV and left him to die, or defense attorneys who claim one or more colleagues killed John O’Keefe and framed Read to cover it up.

    SEE ALSO | Is she a murderer or was she framed? Things to know about the Boston-area trial of Karen Read

    The Massachusetts jury of six men and six women is deliberating behind closed doors in Norfolk County Superior Court, while a “sidewalk jury” of true crime bloggers and pink-shirted Read supporters gathers outside. The unofficial adjudicators, many of them waving Stars and Stripes, have been present every day since the trial began nearly two months ago.

    Who’s who?

    Read, 44, had worked as an equity analyst and was an adjunct lecturer in finance at her alma mater, Bentley University. O’Keefe, 46, was a 16-year veteran of the Boston Police Department who was raising his niece and nephew.

    Jurors are deliberating events that unfolded at the Canton home of Brian Albert, a Boston police detective, after a night of bar-hopping in January 2022. Brian Higgins, a federal agent who was among those gathered inside, had exchanged flirty texts with Read earlier that month. The lead investigator was State Trooper Michael Proctor, who was friends with several witnesses and sent offensive texts about Read to friends, family and fellow troopers during the investigation.

    The charges

    Read was charged with second-degree murder, punishable in Massachusetts by life in prison with the possibility of parole. She also faces lesser charges of manslaughter while operating a vehicle under the influence, punishable by five to 20 years; and leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death, punishable by up to 10 years.

    The evidence

    Pieces of Read’s broken taillight were found at the scene and a single hair from O’Keefe was found on the rear bumper of Read’s SUV. Prosecutors say that Read repeatedly said, “I hit him. I hit him. Oh my God, I hit him” to first responders and others. Prosecutors replayed angry voicemails Read left for O’Keefe, painting a picture of a failing relationship. They also questioned her behavior, saying she never cried after O’Keefe’s body was found.

    Read’s defense

    Read contends that the prosecution’s case is based on lies by officers trying to protect themselves. Her lawyers say the pieces of taillight and the hair were planted at the crime scene, which was left unsecured. They also suggested O’Keefe might have been beaten up by Higgins, who had flirted with Read through texts, and that the men panicked, dumping his body outside before trying to cover up the crime.

    Sloppy detective work

    Regardless of any verdict, the case revealed questionable techniques and actions on the part of law enforcement. Proctor, who had personal relationships with several of the people involved, called Read a “wack job” and texted his sister saying he wished Read would “kill herself.” He said that was a figure of speech and that his emotions had gotten the better of him.

    The defense also pointed to sloppy policing: The crime scene was left unsecured for hours; the house wasn’t searched; blood-stained snow was scooped up with red plastic drinking cups; and a leaf blower was used to clear snow. The defense also claims that a prosecution witness conducted an incriminating internet search hours before O’Keefe’s body was discovered and then deleted it, and that others linked with the case destroyed phones and manipulated videos.

    Growing attention

    As more evidence emerged about what might have seemed an open-and-shut case, interest picked up among true crime fans and others with suspicions about law enforcement. For more than a year, dozens of Read supporters have gathered outside the courthouse, calling for the charges to be dropped.

    As jurors deliberate, members of this self-proclaimed “sidewalk jury” – wearing pink and waving American flags to symbolize what they call a fight for truth and justice – intently watch their phones for word of a verdict. Some take it further, including a man who dresses as the trial judge and a woman who wears plastic cups as earrings. Their mood has been jubilant, encouraged by passing motorists who honk their horns.

    READ MORE | Judge scolds Karen Read as jurors close out 2nd day of deliberations without verdict in Boston trial

    Many were drawn to the case by Aidan Timothy Kearney, aka Turtleboy, whose website has relentlessly questioned the prosecution. He and other supporters have also been accused of harassing witnesses: Kearney was charged with witness intimidation and conspiracy, which he denies.

    The demonstrators, as many as 100 people, have been ordered to remain 200 feet (60 meters) away. At one point on Wednesday, some said a verdict had come, prompting a mad dash toward the courthouse.

    The video in the player above is from a previous report.

    Copyright © 2024 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

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    AP

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  • Woman loses $12,000 in ‘sleight of hand’ scam at ATM

    Woman loses $12,000 in ‘sleight of hand’ scam at ATM

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    A Boston woman says she was scammed out of thousands of dollars by a man who claimed to be helping her at an automated teller machine.Megan Bates said Friday afternoon she decided to take out cash for lunch from a walk-up Bank of America ATM.Bates said that about ten seconds after she started walking away from the ATM following her withdrawal, a man called her over to the machine. According to Bates, the man said there was still money in the ATM’s cash dispenser slot and she saw a $10 bill sticking out of it. She also said the man stated there was something wrong with the ATM and pointed out a blinking red light on the machine.”He said: ‘Give me your card,’ and he took my card out of my hand and put it in the machine. He’s like: ‘Put your PIN number in.’ He’s like: ‘You have to close the transaction because it’s still open,’” Bates said. “It happened so fast, I didn’t even really think about it.”Bates thought the man was being very nice by trying to help her out until the next day when she looked at her bank statement and saw three withdrawals of $4,000 each had been made from her account.According to Bates, one withdrawal was made from the Bank of America at 60 State St., which is across from City Hall, and the other two were made from a Hanover Street location in the North End.Bates later realized that the debit card she had in her pocket was not her own, but a card that belonged to someone named Victor.”Somehow, between when the card came out (of the ATM) again, he switched the cards,” Bates said. “I don’t even know how he did it. Sleight of hand? I mean, the guy was a magician.”Bates reported what happened to the Boston Police Department and Bank of America, but she said she is left wondering how this could have happened because she said she has safeguards in place that prevent ATM withdrawals of more than $500 being made from her account at one time.”It’s frustrating to me that they can’t tell me why this happened, like why someone was able to withdraw that much money out of my account in one day,” Bates said.Bank of America told sister station NewsCenter 5 that this is a possible case of identity theft because the scammer made the withdrawals through a teller.Bates said the scam has left her in disbelief.”You feel really violated, right? That someone can suck you in,” she said. “I fell for it. I don’t know why I fell for it.”Bates said she is very embarrassed about what happened to her, but she spoke with sister station NewsCenter 5 in hopes of raising awareness of ATM scams so that something like this does not happen to anyone else.

    A Boston woman says she was scammed out of thousands of dollars by a man who claimed to be helping her at an automated teller machine.

    Megan Bates said Friday afternoon she decided to take out cash for lunch from a walk-up Bank of America ATM.

    Bates said that about ten seconds after she started walking away from the ATM following her withdrawal, a man called her over to the machine. According to Bates, the man said there was still money in the ATM’s cash dispenser slot and she saw a $10 bill sticking out of it. She also said the man stated there was something wrong with the ATM and pointed out a blinking red light on the machine.

    “He said: ‘Give me your card,’ and he took my card out of my hand and put it in the machine. He’s like: ‘Put your PIN number in.’ He’s like: ‘You have to close the transaction because it’s still open,’” Bates said. “It happened so fast, I didn’t even really think about it.”

    Bates thought the man was being very nice by trying to help her out until the next day when she looked at her bank statement and saw three withdrawals of $4,000 each had been made from her account.

    According to Bates, one withdrawal was made from the Bank of America at 60 State St., which is across from City Hall, and the other two were made from a Hanover Street location in the North End.

    Bates later realized that the debit card she had in her pocket was not her own, but a card that belonged to someone named Victor.

    “Somehow, between when the card came out (of the ATM) again, he switched the cards,” Bates said. “I don’t even know how he did it. Sleight of hand? I mean, the guy was a magician.”

    Bates reported what happened to the Boston Police Department and Bank of America, but she said she is left wondering how this could have happened because she said she has safeguards in place that prevent ATM withdrawals of more than $500 being made from her account at one time.

    “It’s frustrating to me that they can’t tell me why this happened, like why someone was able to withdraw that much money out of my account in one day,” Bates said.

    Bank of America told sister station NewsCenter 5 that this is a possible case of identity theft because the scammer made the withdrawals through a teller.

    Bates said the scam has left her in disbelief.

    “You feel really violated, right? That someone can suck you in,” she said. “I fell for it. I don’t know why I fell for it.”

    Bates said she is very embarrassed about what happened to her, but she spoke with sister station NewsCenter 5 in hopes of raising awareness of ATM scams so that something like this does not happen to anyone else.

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  • Woman loses hundreds of dollars trying to get Savannah Bananas tickets

    Woman loses hundreds of dollars trying to get Savannah Bananas tickets

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    GAME. TED. WELL, MARIA THIS WEEKEND, NO DOUBT BOSTON POLICE ARE WARNING PEOPLE TO STEER CLEAR OF FAKE 2020 FOR GAME TWO. TICKETS AROUND TOWN. BUT THERE WAS ANOTHER GAME THIS WEEKEND AND A SOLD OUT EVENT. IT’S A SOLD OUT FENWAY PARK SATURDAY NIGHT. NOT FOR THE RED SOX, BUT FOR THE SAVANNAH BANANAS WORLD TOUR THIS TRAVELING BASEBALL SHOW IS HUGE WITH KIDS AND ADULTS. HOW AM I THE IDIOT THAT GETS SCAMMED? I SHOULD KNOW BETTER. CHERYL FROM WEYMOUTH SHARED HER STORY WITH US IN JANUARY. SHE WENT ONLINE LOOKING FOR BANANA TICKETS FOR JUNE 8TH AT FENWAY, ASKING A WOMAN ON FACEBOOK, HOW MUCH ARE YOU ASKING FOR THEM? THE SELLER SAYS $50 EACH. EVEN SHOWS THE SECTION, ROW AND SEATS SHE’S WILLING TO SELL. CHERYL WANTS UP TO EIGHT SEATS IN THE ONLINE SCAMMER SAYS MY UNCLE WORKS IN THE BANANAS OFFICE, SO IT WAS SUPER EASY TO GET THE TICKETS. WE WERE LOOKING FORWARD TO A FUN NIGHT. WE WERE GOING OUT, YOU KNOW, HAVING DINNER. CHERYL AND THE SCAMMER AGREE TO USE VENMO AS A PAYMENT OPTION. EIGHT TICKETS FOR $500. CHERYL THINKS SHE HAS THE ONLINE TICKETS IN HAND WITH A BARCODE. THEY LOOK LEGIT, RIGHT? UNTIL SHE TRIES TO GET INTO FENWAY TO SEE THE WORLD FAMOUS SAVANNAH BANANAS. AND CUSTOMER SERVICE HAS BAD NEWS FOR HER. JUST BEFORE GAME TIME, SHE’S TOLD ME THAT THEY’RE NOT REAL, LEGITIMATE SECONDARY TICKET BROKERS LIKE JOHN HIGGINS FROM HIGGS TICKETS HAS THIS ADVICE FOR ALL TICKET BUYERS, ESPECIALLY THE NBA FINALS. GET YOUR TICKETS FROM A REPUTABLE COMPANY. DON’T BE GOING TO CRAIGSLIST. THERE’S A LOT OF SCAMMERS OUT THERE. WHEN THE NBA FINALS COME IN TOWN. UH, DEFINITELY USE YOUR CREDIT CARD AND, UM, BUY FROM A REPUTABLE COMPANY. GO BACK LIVE. NOW YOU ARE LOOKING AT THE DIGITAL TICKET THAT CHERYL GOT IN THE STORY WE’RE TALKING ABOUT. BUT YOU SE

    Woman scammed out of $500 trying to get Savannah Bananas tickets

    The fun-loving, barnstorming baseball team played in front of a sold-out crowd at Fenway Park

    A Massachusetts woman says she spent hundreds of dollars on tickets to Saturday’s sold-out Savannah Bananas game at Fenway Park in Boston that wound up being counterfeits.A Weymouth, Massachusetts, resident named Cheryl said that when she was searching for tickets, she encountered a woman on Facebook who was initially offering tickets at $50 each.When Cheryl indicated she wanted up to eight seats, the Facebook user wrote: “My uncle works in the Bananas office, so it was super easy to get the tickets.””We were looking forward to a fun night and going out, having dinner,” Cheryl said.Cheryl said she agreed to use Venmo as a payment option and wound up getting the eight tickets for $500.The digital tickets Cheryl received had a QR code that looked legitimate, but she and her guests were unable to get into the Bananas game. The customer service team at Fenway Park then informed her that the QR codes on her tickets were bogus.”She’s the one that told me they’re not real,” Cheryl said. “How am I the idiot that gets scammed? I should know better.”Cheryl said she is now working with her bank and Venmo to get the $500 she spent on the fake tickets back.Legitimate secondary ticket brokers like John Higgins, of Higs Tickets, suggest that fans get their tickets from a reputable company, especially during big events like the Bananas game at Fenway Park and NBA Finals games at TD Garden.”Don’t be going to Craigslist. There’s a lot of scammers out there when the NBA Finals come in town,” Higgins said. “Definitely use your credit card and buy from a reputable company.”Before the Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks faced off in the NBA Finals, the Boston Police Department issued a warning to fans about counterfeit tickets in the secondary market. They issued a similar warning before the Celtics and Boston Bruins started their playoff runs this spring.

    A Massachusetts woman says she spent hundreds of dollars on tickets to Saturday’s sold-out Savannah Bananas game at Fenway Park in Boston that wound up being counterfeits.

    A Weymouth, Massachusetts, resident named Cheryl said that when she was searching for tickets, she encountered a woman on Facebook who was initially offering tickets at $50 each.

    When Cheryl indicated she wanted up to eight seats, the Facebook user wrote: “My uncle works in the Bananas office, so it was super easy to get the tickets.”

    “We were looking forward to a fun night and going out, having dinner,” Cheryl said.

    Cheryl said she agreed to use Venmo as a payment option and wound up getting the eight tickets for $500.

    The digital tickets Cheryl received had a QR code that looked legitimate, but she and her guests were unable to get into the Bananas game. The customer service team at Fenway Park then informed her that the QR codes on her tickets were bogus.

    “She’s the one that told me they’re not real,” Cheryl said. “How am I the idiot that gets scammed? I should know better.”

    Cheryl said she is now working with her bank and Venmo to get the $500 she spent on the fake tickets back.

    Legitimate secondary ticket brokers like John Higgins, of Higs Tickets, suggest that fans get their tickets from a reputable company, especially during big events like the Bananas game at Fenway Park and NBA Finals games at TD Garden.

    “Don’t be going to Craigslist. There’s a lot of scammers out there when the NBA Finals come in town,” Higgins said. “Definitely use your credit card and buy from a reputable company.”

    Before the Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks faced off in the NBA Finals, the Boston Police Department issued a warning to fans about counterfeit tickets in the secondary market. They issued a similar warning before the Celtics and Boston Bruins started their playoff runs this spring.

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  • Man stabs 4 girls inside Mass. movie theater, police say

    Man stabs 4 girls inside Mass. movie theater, police say

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    Four girls between the ages of 9 and 17 years old were stabbed inside a Braintree, Massachusetts, movie theater on Saturday evening, police said.The suspect, who state police in Connecticut say was wanted in connection with the death of a person, was taken into custody after a police chase and crash on Cape Cod. Police said the man came into AMC Braintree 10 at 121 Grandview Ave. around 6 p.m. on Saturday. According to police, the man proceeded past the ticket counter without paying and entered one of the theaters. Police said he encountered four young females inside one of the theaters. “Without saying anything and without any warning, he suddenly attacked and stabbed the four young females,” police said. “The attack appeared to be unprovoked. After the attack, the man ran out of the theater and left in a vehicle. Police said the young women all sustained non-life-threatening injuries and were transported to Boston area hospitals for treatment.A source told NewsCenter 5 that one of the victims suffered a serious arm laceration, but it appears all four are expected to survive their injuries.Police said the man left the area in what appeared to be a black SUV, and investigators determined he was no longer in the area. Braintree police said the license plate of the video was shared with police across other parts of Massachusetts.Braintree police said a vehicle matching the description was reportedly involved in a similar assault in Plymouth. Braintree police said the vehicle was pursued by Massachusetts State Police which ended in a crash in Sandwich.Braintree police said the driver, who was not immediately identified, was taken into custody. “It appears as though the crimes are related,” Braintree police said. Stabbing inside Plymouth Park & Ride McDonaldsMassachusetts State Police said it received 911 calls about a stabbing inside the McDonalds inside the Plymouth Park & Ride just after 7 p.m. on Saturday. Inside, state troopers found a 21-year-old woman and a 29-year-old man with apparent stab wounds. Police said both were transported to area hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries.Police said a description of the suspect’s vehicle was given, which helped troopers locate the vehicle in Sandwich. State police said troopers attempted to pull the vehicle over, but it failed to stop. Police said the suspect crashed the vehicle and was taken into custody shortly thereafter by Sandwich and state police. Police said the man, whose name was not released, was being treated at an area hospital.Connection to Connecticut homicideConnecticut State Police said the man is connected to a deceased individual who was discovered at an address in Deep River, a small town about six miles north of the Connecticut coastline. “A suspect in this investigation has been taken into custody in the state of Massachusetts, and there is no active threat to the public,” Connecticut State Police said in a news release. The AMC Braintree 10 was closed after the stabbing incident. Witnesses who were inside the AMC said the movies they were watching suddenly stopped, and they were told to leave the theater.

    Four girls between the ages of 9 and 17 years old were stabbed inside a Braintree, Massachusetts, movie theater on Saturday evening, police said.

    The suspect, who state police in Connecticut say was wanted in connection with the death of a person, was taken into custody after a police chase and crash on Cape Cod.

    Police said the man came into AMC Braintree 10 at 121 Grandview Ave. around 6 p.m. on Saturday.

    According to police, the man proceeded past the ticket counter without paying and entered one of the theaters. Police said he encountered four young females inside one of the theaters.

    “Without saying anything and without any warning, he suddenly attacked and stabbed the four young females,” police said. “The attack appeared to be unprovoked. After the attack, the man ran out of the theater and left in a vehicle.

    Police said the young women all sustained non-life-threatening injuries and were transported to Boston area hospitals for treatment.

    A source told NewsCenter 5 that one of the victims suffered a serious arm laceration, but it appears all four are expected to survive their injuries.

    Police said the man left the area in what appeared to be a black SUV, and investigators determined he was no longer in the area.

    Braintree police said the license plate of the video was shared with police across other parts of Massachusetts.

    Braintree police said a vehicle matching the description was reportedly involved in a similar assault in Plymouth.

    Braintree police said the vehicle was pursued by Massachusetts State Police which ended in a crash in Sandwich.

    Braintree police said the driver, who was not immediately identified, was taken into custody. “It appears as though the crimes are related,” Braintree police said.

    Stabbing inside Plymouth Park & Ride McDonalds

    Massachusetts State Police said it received 911 calls about a stabbing inside the McDonalds inside the Plymouth Park & Ride just after 7 p.m. on Saturday.

    Inside, state troopers found a 21-year-old woman and a 29-year-old man with apparent stab wounds. Police said both were transported to area hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries.

    Police said a description of the suspect’s vehicle was given, which helped troopers locate the vehicle in Sandwich.

    State police said troopers attempted to pull the vehicle over, but it failed to stop.

    Police said the suspect crashed the vehicle and was taken into custody shortly thereafter by Sandwich and state police.

    Police said the man, whose name was not released, was being treated at an area hospital.

    deep river ct homicide

    Connection to Connecticut homicide

    Connecticut State Police said the man is connected to a deceased individual who was discovered at an address in Deep River, a small town about six miles north of the Connecticut coastline.

    “A suspect in this investigation has been taken into custody in the state of Massachusetts, and there is no active threat to the public,” Connecticut State Police said in a news release.

    The AMC Braintree 10 was closed after the stabbing incident.

    Witnesses who were inside the AMC said the movies they were watching suddenly stopped, and they were told to leave the theater.

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  • 16-year-old girl overcomes adversity, earns Eagle Scout badge

    16-year-old girl overcomes adversity, earns Eagle Scout badge

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    ACHIEVE THE HIGHEST RANK IN SCOUTING AT THE MASS AUDUBON CENTER IN SANCTUARY IN BELMONT, A RAINY DAY DELIVERS A WELCOME DRINK TO PROMISING BLOOMS. IT’S A LITTLE BARREN AFTER A LONG WINTER, BUT CLEAR, GREAT CARE WAS TAKEN IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THESE COMMUNITY GARDENS. I HAD TO DO A LOT OF FUNDRAISING, 16 YEAR OLD EMILY GREEN SAYS. THE RAISED BEDS WERE IN DISREPAIR BEFORE SHE LED A TEAM IN REBUILDING THEM. WE PLANTED SOME SOME BULBS WITH THEM TO THE BIG SERVICE EFFORT WAS THE PINNACLE PROJECT THAT EARNED EMILY THE RANK OF EAGLE SCOUT, THE HIGHEST ACHIEVEMENT IN SCOUTING. IT’S LESS THAN 5% OF SCOUTS THAT ACTUALLY ATTAIN THE EAGLE BADGE, AND RIGHT NOW IT’S ABOUT 14% OF THOSE EAGLE SCOUTS NATION WIDE ARE WOMEN. THE SCOUTS WENT COED IN 2019. EMILY SAYS SHE WAS INSPIRED BY HER OLDER BROTHER, JEFFREY, WHO’S ALSO AN EAGLE SCOUT MOM. LIZBETH, WHO MOVED TO THE U.S. FROM COSTA RICA, GOT HER KIDS INVOLVED WITH THE SCOUTS EARLY ON. WE STARTED. GOING TO CUB SCOUTS AND SHE ALWAYS JOINED THE TRIPS AND SHE STARTED LIKING IT, YOU KNOW, PUMPKIN FEST AND LITTLE CAMPING OVERNIGHT TRIPS. SCOUTING BUILDS CONFIDENCE IN THEM AND LEADERSHIP SKILLS TRAITS THE FAMILY WOULD COME TO RELY ON. WHEN EMILY WAS ABOUT TEN AND JEFFREY, 15, THERE WAS A PERIOD OF TIME THAT WE WERE LIVING IN A SHELTER AND WE WERE HAVING A REALLY HARD TIME. THE SCOUTS STEPPED IN, OFFERING THE FAMILY A BASE CAMP LIKE THIS TO STAY IN WHILE GETTING BACK ON THEIR FEET. DEFINITELY DEPRESSION WAS SETTING IN AND IT WAS A REALLY DIFFICULT, TRAUMATIC TIME. SO BEING ABLE TO BE IN A SUMMER CAMP AND ENJOYING IT AND AT LEAST NOT FEELING THAT LIFE WAS SO HARD AT THAT MOMENT. FAST FORWARD SIX YEARS, JEFFREY IS IN COLLEGE AND LIZBETH, WHO WORKS AS A TRANSLATOR, IS PROUD TO LIST EMILY’S MANY ACHIEVEMENTS AS ONE OF THE VERY FIRST FEW EAGLE SCOUTS FEMALE IN THE COUNTRY. SHE’S ALSO A CAPTAIN FOR THE CHEERLEADING TEAM. SHE’S ALSO A YOUTH UMPIRE. SHE ALSO JUST BECAME INDUCTED INTO THE NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY AND DON’T FORGET MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN HER COMMUNITY. I KNEW I WANTED TO HELP GIVE BACK IN SOME SORT OF WAY WITH NATURE. EAGLE IS 21 MERIT BADGES, A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF LEADERSHIP LIKE EMILY HAD A NUMBER OF LEADERSHIP ROLES. IT’S REALLY A WONDERFUL STORY ABOUT HOW A FAMILY SAID, OKAY, WE’RE GOING TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN. OH, HOW AMAZING IS SHE? INCREDIBLE. THE WHOLE FAMILY TO KIND OF RISE ABOVE, WRITE A WONDERFUL STORY ABOUT THE SCOUTS HELPING EMILY’S FAMILY EMILY THEN HELPING WRITE BACK. AS FOR THE BASE CAMP WHERE THEY STAYED FOR A TIME, THAT’S NOT TYPICAL, BUT IT DOES SER

    16-year-old girl overcomes adversity, earns Eagle Scout badge

    Emily Green, 16, leads rebuilding effort of community gardens with help of Scouts BSA

    At the Mass Audubon Center’s Habitat Education Center and Wildlife Sanctuary in Belmont, Massachusetts, new raised garden beds are ready for spring planting, thanks in large part to 16-year-old Emily Green.”I had to do a lot of fundraising,” Green said.She said the beds, part of the property’s community gardens, were in disrepair before she led a team in rebuilding them.The big service effort was the pinnacle project that earned Green the rank of Eagle Scout, the highest achievement in Scouts BSA.John Judge, CEO of the regional Spirit of Adventure Council — which oversees Massachusetts scouting programs, said less than 5% of scouts attain the Eagle badge.“Right now, about 14% of those Eagle Scouts nationwide are women,” he said.The Scouts BSA went co-ed in 2019. Green said she was inspired by her older brother to start scouting. He is also an Eagle Scout. Green’s mother, Lizbeth Valerio, who moved to the U.S. from Costa Rica, said she got her kids involved early on.”We started going to Cub Scouts, and (Emily) always joined the trips, and she started liking it,” Valerio said. “Scouting builds confidence in them and leadership skills.”Traits the family would come to rely on when, about six years ago, they had to resort to living in a shelter.The Scouts stepped in, offering the family a base camp in Blue Hills Reservation to stay in while getting back on their feet.”Definitely depression was setting in, and it was a really difficult traumatic time,” Valerio said.She said being at the base camp helped. Fast forward to today, and Valerio, who works as a translator, said she is proud to list her daughter’s many achievements that extend beyond the community work she’s done with the Mass Audubon Society, which, according to its website, protects over 41,000 acres of land throughout Massachusetts.”(She’s) one of the very first few Eagle Scout females in the country,” Valerio said. “She’s also a captain for the cheerleading team … a youth umpire … (and) also just became inducted into the National Honor Society.””It’s really a wonderful story about how a family said, ‘Okay, we’re going to make this happen’,” Judge said.

    At the Mass Audubon Center’s Habitat Education Center and Wildlife Sanctuary in Belmont, Massachusetts, new raised garden beds are ready for spring planting, thanks in large part to 16-year-old Emily Green.

    “I had to do a lot of fundraising,” Green said.

    She said the beds, part of the property’s community gardens, were in disrepair before she led a team in rebuilding them.

    The big service effort was the pinnacle project that earned Green the rank of Eagle Scout, the highest achievement in Scouts BSA.

    John Judge, CEO of the regional Spirit of Adventure Council — which oversees Massachusetts scouting programs, said less than 5% of scouts attain the Eagle badge.

    “Right now, about 14% of those Eagle Scouts nationwide are women,” he said.

    The Scouts BSA went co-ed in 2019. Green said she was inspired by her older brother to start scouting. He is also an Eagle Scout. Green’s mother, Lizbeth Valerio, who moved to the U.S. from Costa Rica, said she got her kids involved early on.

    “We started going to Cub Scouts, and (Emily) always joined the trips, and she started liking it,” Valerio said. “Scouting builds confidence in them and leadership skills.”

    Traits the family would come to rely on when, about six years ago, they had to resort to living in a shelter.

    The Scouts stepped in, offering the family a base camp in Blue Hills Reservation to stay in while getting back on their feet.

    “Definitely depression was setting in, and it was a really difficult traumatic time,” Valerio said.

    She said being at the base camp helped. Fast forward to today, and Valerio, who works as a translator, said she is proud to list her daughter’s many achievements that extend beyond the community work she’s done with the Mass Audubon Society, which, according to its website, protects over 41,000 acres of land throughout Massachusetts.

    “(She’s) one of the very first few Eagle Scout females in the country,” Valerio said. “She’s also a captain for the cheerleading team … a youth umpire … (and) also just became inducted into the National Honor Society.”

    “It’s really a wonderful story about how a family said, ‘Okay, we’re going to make this happen’,” Judge said.

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  • Puppy spotted along interstate on-ramp in Boston quickly finds new home

    Puppy spotted along interstate on-ramp in Boston quickly finds new home

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    A young puppy that was recently found along an on-ramp heading toward Interstate 93 in Boston, Massachusetts, did not take long to find a new place to call home.Mike DeFina, media relations manager for the Animal Rescue League of Boston, said Sunday that the 10-week-old Chihuahua named Sparkle was first spotted about a week and a half ago.DeFina said a person who lives at the Pine Street Inn saw Sparkle wandering the Neponset Circle area for a couple of days before they spotted the dog wandering up an on-ramp for the part of I-93. The road is known as the Southeast Expressway.Given that Sparkle weighs just 3 pounds and is an all-black dog, it would have been very hard for drivers to spot her on the highway. The good Samaritan was able to scoop her up and brought her back to the Pine Street Inn, where the staff then took her to the ARL’s Boston Animal Care and Adoption Center.”With Sparkle, I think it’s always a wonderful thing to see people stopping what they’re doing and have the consideration and the compassion when they see an animal in need to take action and do something about it,” DeFina said. “That’s why Sparkle is here today. I think if she would have found her way onto the Expressway, the outcome for her probably would not have been good. So we really, really want to thank both the resident of Pine Street Inn and their staff for taking her off the street and bringing her to us.”DeFina said the ARL does not know exactly how Sparkle ended up near the highway or how long she had been living on the streets, but they believe she was likely abandoned.Sparkle was a bit frightened when she was brought to the ARL facility, had a bit of an abnormal gait, and was on a seven-day stray weight, but she was determined to be in good overall health for her age, according to DeFina.DeFina said the ARL then contacted Boston Animal Control and other outlets that deal with lost animals, but no one stepped up to claim Sparkle as their dog. After doing the due diligence, the ARL put Sparkle up for adoption on Sunday — and that’s where Joe and Tesla Chafins come in.Joe Chafins works for the Pine Street Inn, which is a nonprofit organization that provides services for people experiencing homelessness. One of Joe’s co-workers and friends had told him and his wife about how Sparkle was found by one of the center’s residents and that the dog would need a new home.”My birthday was Friday and we were just kind of celebrating my birthday and she started telling my wife and I the story, showing us some photos she had of her,” Chafins said. “We just heard the story and we’re like: ‘We’ve got to go meet her.’ So we’ve been trying to call since and they said she was here today, so we’re here to meet her and take her home.”The couple already has three cats, including one that they adopted from the ARL of Boston seven years ago, as well as a few lizards.”Our friends kind of make fun of us because we are huge animal lovers,” Tesla Chafins said.”We have a little bit of everything. We’ve got a zoo at home,” Joe Chafins said. “This will be our first dog, though, but we’re excited to take her and to give her the best life that we can possibly give her.”So thanks to the Pine Street Inn, ARL of Boston and Chafins family, Sparkle now has a new forever home. Meet Sparkle and her family in the video player above.

    BOSTON —

    A young puppy that was recently found along an on-ramp heading toward Interstate 93 in Boston, Massachusetts, did not take long to find a new place to call home.

    Mike DeFina, media relations manager for the Animal Rescue League of Boston, said Sunday that the 10-week-old Chihuahua named Sparkle was first spotted about a week and a half ago.

    DeFina said a person who lives at the Pine Street Inn saw Sparkle wandering the Neponset Circle area for a couple of days before they spotted the dog wandering up an on-ramp for the part of I-93. The road is known as the Southeast Expressway.

    Given that Sparkle weighs just 3 pounds and is an all-black dog, it would have been very hard for drivers to spot her on the highway. The good Samaritan was able to scoop her up and brought her back to the Pine Street Inn, where the staff then took her to the ARL’s Boston Animal Care and Adoption Center.

    “With Sparkle, I think it’s always a wonderful thing to see people stopping what they’re doing and have the consideration and the compassion when they see an animal in need to take action and do something about it,” DeFina said. “That’s why Sparkle is here today. I think if she would have found her way onto the Expressway, the outcome for her probably would not have been good. So we really, really want to thank both the resident of Pine Street Inn and their staff for taking her off the street and bringing her to us.”

    DeFina said the ARL does not know exactly how Sparkle ended up near the highway or how long she had been living on the streets, but they believe she was likely abandoned.

    Sparkle was a bit frightened when she was brought to the ARL facility, had a bit of an abnormal gait, and was on a seven-day stray weight, but she was determined to be in good overall health for her age, according to DeFina.

    DeFina said the ARL then contacted Boston Animal Control and other outlets that deal with lost animals, but no one stepped up to claim Sparkle as their dog. After doing the due diligence, the ARL put Sparkle up for adoption on Sunday — and that’s where Joe and Tesla Chafins come in.

    Joe Chafins works for the Pine Street Inn, which is a nonprofit organization that provides services for people experiencing homelessness. One of Joe’s co-workers and friends had told him and his wife about how Sparkle was found by one of the center’s residents and that the dog would need a new home.

    “My birthday was Friday and we were just kind of celebrating my birthday and she started telling my wife and I the story, showing us some photos she had of her,” Chafins said. “We just heard the story and we’re like: ‘We’ve got to go meet her.’ So we’ve been trying to call since and they said she was here today, so we’re here to meet her and take her home.”

    Hearst Owned

    Tesla and Joe Chafins, of Brighton, Massachusetts, adopted Sparkle, a 10-week-old Chihuahua, on Feb. 25, 2024, the same day the Animal Rescue League of Boston had put her up for adoption.

    The couple already has three cats, including one that they adopted from the ARL of Boston seven years ago, as well as a few lizards.

    “Our friends kind of make fun of us because we are huge animal lovers,” Tesla Chafins said.

    “We have a little bit of everything. We’ve got a zoo at home,” Joe Chafins said. “This will be our first dog, though, but we’re excited to take her and to give her the best life that we can possibly give her.”

    So thanks to the Pine Street Inn, ARL of Boston and Chafins family, Sparkle now has a new forever home.

    Meet Sparkle and her family in the video player above.

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  • Who are they? Unanswered questions after remains of 4 infants found in Boston home

    Who are they? Unanswered questions after remains of 4 infants found in Boston home

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    The Boston Police Department says the remains that were recently discovered inside a South Boston apartment are those of four infant children.On Nov. 17, officers were called to investigate a large brick building at 838 East Broadway that is separated into several apartments.Boston police said those officers found what appeared to be a human fetus or the remains of an infant. The following day, homicide detectives found what appeared to be additional human remains, which were removed by personnel from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for further investigation.On Monday, Boston police said further examination revealed that the remains are those of two infant boys and two infant girls. The results of the autopsies are still pending, according to police.Neighbors are left unsettled by the discovery. “Finding child remains in the freezer is something that keeps you up at night. You think about it when you’re coming home,” said neighbor Brandon Bowers. “I hope we can uncover more information about it because with all the questions, it just doesn’t feel quite right,” said neighbor Kimberly Mallozzi.BPD homicide detectives and members of the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office continue to investigate the incident.Anyone with information is asked to call 617-343-4470. Those who wish to remain anonymous can call the Crime Stoppers Tip Line at 1-800-494-8477 or by texting the word “TIP” to 27463.At the time the remains were discovered, 5 Investigates learned police located four boxes as part of their investigation. All of those boxes were roughly the size of a shoebox wrapped in foil.Sources told 5 Investigates that one of those boxes had been opened and that’s when the remains were discovered.A neighbor said the building where the remains were discovered has several condominium units with different owners.

    BOSTON —

    The Boston Police Department says the remains that were recently discovered inside a South Boston apartment are those of four infant children.

    On Nov. 17, officers were called to investigate a large brick building at 838 East Broadway that is separated into several apartments.

    Boston police said those officers found what appeared to be a human fetus or the remains of an infant. The following day, homicide detectives found what appeared to be additional human remains, which were removed by personnel from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for further investigation.

    On Monday, Boston police said further examination revealed that the remains are those of two infant boys and two infant girls. The results of the autopsies are still pending, according to police.

    Neighbors are left unsettled by the discovery.

    “Finding child remains in the freezer is something that keeps you up at night. You think about it when you’re coming home,” said neighbor Brandon Bowers.

    “I hope we can uncover more information about it because with all the questions, it just doesn’t feel quite right,” said neighbor Kimberly Mallozzi.

    BPD homicide detectives and members of the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office continue to investigate the incident.

    Anyone with information is asked to call 617-343-4470. Those who wish to remain anonymous can call the Crime Stoppers Tip Line at 1-800-494-8477 or by texting the word “TIP” to 27463.

    At the time the remains were discovered, 5 Investigates learned police located four boxes as part of their investigation. All of those boxes were roughly the size of a shoebox wrapped in foil.

    Sources told 5 Investigates that one of those boxes had been opened and that’s when the remains were discovered.

    A neighbor said the building where the remains were discovered has several condominium units with different owners.

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