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Couple Has Baby From Embryo Frozen 24 Years Ago

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A baby conceived in 1992 has finally been born a generation later, NBC News reported.

Emma Gibson was frozen as an embryo and donated to a faith-based clinic in Knoxville that specializes in embryo donation and adoption, according to doctors and the parents of the girl born Nov. 25.

"I think she looks pretty perfect to have been frozen all those years ago," said her dad, Benjamin Gibson, in a statement.

While there are no official, public databases on the ages of embryos that are transferred into the womb, experts told NBC News it's certainly possible she's the oldest embryo to result in a live birth.



Photo Credit: Getty Images, Photo-illustration

Va. Pastor, Wife Convicted of Defrauding Congregation in $2M Scheme

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A former pastor and his wife were convicted of a $2 million fraud scheme that stole from members of their congregation and investors.

Terry Wayne Millender, 53, and Brenda Millender, 57, were convicted by a federal jury Monday and could face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, according to the United States Attorney’s office for the Eastern District of Virginia.

Terry Millender is the former senior pastor of Victorious Life Church in Alexandria.

Prosecutors said the couple operated a company called Micro-Enterprise Management Group, a Virginia company that alleged to help poor people in developing countries by providing small, short-term loans by working with a network of established micro-finance institutions.

They recruited investors by emphasizing its Christian mission while promising guaranteed returns.

However, the jury found the Millenders used the money to make risky trades on the foreign exchange currency market, options trading, and payments toward the purchase of a $1.75 million home and other personal expenses.

When investors sought their returns, the Millenders blamed delays in repayment, in part, on the 2008 financial crisis, according to the complaint.

After the first scheme failed, prosecutors said they created another company Kingdom Commodities Unlimited, which they alleged specialized in the brokering of Nigerian oil deals. They were able to get more than $600,000 from investors and used the money to pay for rent, golf trips, a birthday party and other personal expenses.

The two will be sentenced on March 30, 2018.

A co-conspirator, Grenetta Wells, 56, of Alexandria, who served as chief operating officer at MEMG, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and is scheduled for sentencing on Jan. 12, 2018.



Photo Credit: NBC Washington

Glastonbury Car Fire Related to Fatal Fire in Griswold: CSP

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State police are investigating a car fire in Glastonbury, and officials say it is connected to a fatal fire in Griswold.

Glastonbury police said officers responded to 40 Nanel Drive to investigate the car fire and have asked the State Police Fire and Explosion Investigation Unit to investigate. 

The car was abandoned and no injuries were reported, police said.

Police did not elaborate on how the car fire was related to the Griswold fire.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.




Photo Credit: Tom Smith

Plans for Milford Brewery Moving Forward

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The Milford Planning and Zoning board has approved a measure paving the way for the Tribus Beer Company to open a brewery, complete with a pub tasting room.

The friends who are opening the space say they want to bring the experience of craft beer to Milford.

"We just want to come to work every day and make people happy in Milford a place where people can come and enjoy some of the best craft beer in CT if not New England," said Sean O’Neill, co-founder of Tribus Beer Co.

The facility would be located at 100 Raton Drive.

"We’re gonna have food trucks, we’re gonna have the outdoor seating," confirmed Sebastian D’Agostino, co-founder of Tribus Beer Co.

But the project has previously come under significant criticism from some in the community over its plans for the tasting room and 100-square foot patio, saying allowing people to not just buy, but drink beer on site at the tasting room will lead to traffic, drunk driving and other concerns.

Board member Carl S. Moore voted against the plan.

"It’s not going to be a tasting type of environment. People are going to have more than one then they’re going to drive around the neighborhood," Moore said.

But to Moore and residents worried about the brewery, the team at Tribus says their plan does include measures to avoid quality of life concerns for nearby residents. They’ll be closed two days a week, and last call will be at 8:45 p.m. every day.

"We’re not going to be open late. We don’t have booze. We want the experience more low key. Come in try beers hang out," D’Agostino said.

The team from Tribus says that if all goes according to plan, they’ll have the place up and running by April.

MISSING: Naugatuck Teen Has Been Missing for a Month

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A 17-year-old Naugatuck girl has been missing for a month and police are asking for help to find her. 

Cassidy Leonetti was last seen around 2 p.m. on Nov. 14 on Paddock Road in Meriden, when she was dropped off to attend the Rushford Program. 

Police think she might be living out of state, possibly in Pennsylvania. Because of ties she has in the Naugatuck area, police are hoping to develop leads that will help to locate her and confirm she is safe. 

Cassidy is 5-feet-4, weighs 125 pounds and has blue eyes and brown hair. 

She was last seen wearing black leggings with “PINK” written down one leg, a gray hooded sweatshirt and a black backpack with white polka dots. 

Anyone with information on where Cassidy is is asked to call Naugatuck Police at (203) 729-5221.




Photo Credit: Naugatuck Police

'It Was Lit': NY Teen Battles Teacher in Epic Dance-Off

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A New York teenager's epic dance battle with his teacher is going viral.

Amir Wilson, 13, had a dance-off against his teacher Mr. Cohen at a talent show at Hyde Leadership Charter School in the Bronx.

Cohen and Wilson were seen popping, locking and Harlem Shaking on stage to raucous applause from the watching crowd.

But the audience for the teacher and his student grew even larger after Wilson posted the clip to Instagram. Within four days the video had garnered tens of thousands of views.

In his post, Wilson praised Cohen, saying "battled my dance teacher at my school talent show. He killed it. It was lit."

Despite giving his dance teacher some tough competition, Wilson said he believed Cohen won the battle.

"I had to give it to him at the end, he bodied," he said.

Pentagon: Transgender People Can Join Military Based on 'Preferred' Sex

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For the first time, the Pentagon has outlined details on how transgender people will be processed into the military, saying individuals can join according to their "preferred" gender.

A Department of Defense memo dated Dec. 8, explains that if an applicant's preferred gender is different than their birth sex, they may present a birth certificate, court order or passport indicating their preferred sex and will be processed into the military under that gender, NBC News reported.

Room assignments, height and weight standards, medical exams, underwear requirements, and bathroom assignments will be determined based on the "preferred" gender, even when the individual retains "the anatomical characteristics of their birth sex," the memo says.

Both male and female applicants who have undergone sex reassignment surgery or genital reconstruction will be disqualified from joining the military unless they have been physically and emotionally stable for at least 18 months.

The Department of Defense will process transgender applicants for military service on Jan. 1, 2018, as mandated by recent court orders. 



Photo Credit: AP

State to Close Housing Unit at Manson Youth Institution

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The governor’s office announced Wednesday that the state is closing a housing unit at the Manson Youth Institution in Cheshire due to a decline in the prison population.

The closure will save the state over $600,000 in annual costs.

The governor’s office cited a decline in crime rate and prison population in part due to juvenile justice reforms in recent years. Since 2009, the prison population of inmates between 18 and 21 has dropped 62 percent.

"In Connecticut, we’ve taken a reform-focused and data-driven approach that has brought our prison population to its lowest point in 23 years, while bringing our crime rate down to a remarkable 50-year low. In this same time span, we’ve reduced juvenile arrests by more than 5,000, allowing us to offer our young people classrooms instead of prison cells and opportunity instead of incarceration," Gov. Dannel Malloy said in a statement.

The Manson Youth Institution currently houses 490 inmates under the age of 22, including juveniles age 15 to 17 that were transferred to adult court. At its peak, the facility housed 700 inmates. There are currently 10 housing units that can each hold 72 inmates. The closure will reduce that number to nine.

The upcoming closure is one of several recent closures in the state prison system. The Enfield Corrections Institution is the next slated to close, which will save the state $6.5 million a year.

For more information, click here. 



Photo Credit: NBC Connecticut

Olympian Maroney: USA Gymnastics Wanted Silence on Abuse

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Olympic gymnast McKayla Maroney, who this fall claimed a USA Gymnastics doctor repeatedly molested her, filed a lawsuit Wednesday alleging that the company made her sign a non-disclosure agreement as part of a financial settlement a year earlier, NBC News reported. 

Maroney said she needed the settlement to pay for psychological treatment after being abused by Dr. Larry Nassar, and her attorney called the confidentiality agreement "an immoral and illegal attempt to silence a victim of child sexual abuse."

USA Gymnastics had a two-decade relationship with Nassar until it quietly fired him after getting complaints from athletes in June 2015. Nassar has since pleaded guilty to molesting girls under his treatment. Fellow Olympians Aly Raisman and Gabby Douglas also accused him of abuse.

Maroney's lawyer is seeking to have her released from the non-disclosure, alleging that USA Gymnastics insisted on the agreement so "it could further conceal and shield from public scrutiny, outside investigation, and law enforcement, the true nature of Nassar's horrific sexual abuse of minors."



Photo Credit: AP Photo/Julie Jacobson, File

Woman Accused of Stealing Over $100K From Relative

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A Stafford woman is accused of stealing money while acting under power of attorney for a relative.

Windsor Locks police arrested 27-year-old Jenna Pilette on Dec. 14. Pilette is accused of stealing over $100,000 from a relative who was living in a Windsor Locks healthcare facility. Investigators claim Pilette used money meant for the victim’s healthcare expenses and made ATM withdrawals and wires to personal bank accounts. The thefts took place from September 2016 through December 2016.

Pilette was charged with first-degree larceny. She is due in court on Dec. 26.



Photo Credit: Windsor Locks Police Department

New London Police ID Suspect in Deadly Grand Street Stabbing

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New London police have identified a suspect in a fatal stabbing over the weekend.

Police said Wednesday that they have secured an arrest warrant for 28-year-old Jerome Hudson charging him with murder in the death of 27-year-old Travon Brown.

New London police confirmed officers were called to a home in the area of Grand and Elm Streets around 2:30 p.m. When crews arrived they found a man, later identified as Brown, suffering stab wounds inside the home. He was rushed to L&M Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Hudson is already in the custody of the state Department of Correction on unrelated narcotics charges. The arrest warrant will be served in court at a later date.

The New London County State’s Attorney’s Office, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, and the DESPP Division of Scientific Services all assisted in the investigation.

New London police encourage anyone with information on criminal activity in the city to call police at 860-447-1481 or contact the New London Tips 411 system by texting NLPDTip plus the information to Tip411 (847411).



Photo Credit: NBC Connecticut

Police Investigating Attempted Abduction in Milford

Aaron Hernandez Top Google Search of 2017 in the Hartford Area

FIRST ALERT: Icy Mix Friday, Heavy Rain Saturday

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The NBC Connecticut team of meteorologists has issued a First Alert for wintry weather expected to move in Friday, and for heavy rain and gusty winds on Saturday.

As an area of low pressure moves through our area on Friday, an icy mix will cause slick conditions on the roadways. Light wintry precipitation will develop during the midday hours, and may start as a brief period of snow, before transistioning over to sleet and freezing rain during the afternoon and evening hours.


With a northerly flow and cold air being held into the valleys, a prolonged period of icing is possible through the night on Friday into early Saturday morning, especially in interior portions of the state.

Warmer air then moves in on Saturday, and will change any ice over to plain rain. We are expecting periods of rain, heavy at times during the entire day along with gusty winds. Temperatures will be slow to rise on Saturday, starting in the lower 30s and only making it into the mid 40s closer to midnight.

The NBC Connecticut meteorologists are tracking these sytems and will have updates on-air and online.



Photo Credit: NBC Connecticut
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Murder of Real Estate Mogul Remains Unsolved 4 Years Later

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A multi-millionaire real estate mogul was shot to death inside his Windsor home four years ago on Wednesday.

Exactly four years later, the murder investigation into the death of John Chakalos remains unsolved, however, a couple years after his death, his daughter was never found after being lost at sea in September 2016.

The Chakalos sisters- Elaine, Charlene and Valerie- told NBC Connecticut through their Attorney Dan Small how trying the holidays are for them, especially as time goes on without any resolution to their father’s murder.

“Holidays are a difficult time for our family, particularly as the years go by without any resolution to our father’s murder. We draw our strength from the joy we know this time of the year brought to our father. Holidays were always filled with family, friends and happy celebrations. The joy it gave our father to decorate his home for Christmas and share with family, friends, neighbors, and others wanting to see the Christmas displays at his residence in West Chesterfield was the true spirit of the holiday. Giving to others was a way of life for John Chakalos. He felt blessed for all that he had and from the time he moved in to his home in New Hampshire he gave generously, especially at Christmas when he gave to nearby families in need. Our joyful memories of family holidays remain vivid. Christmas meant so much to our father, especially having the family together and sharing the spirit of the season. As time goes by we struggle with the fact there has been no resolution. Our hope is that the agencies involved in solving our father’s murder are able to one day give us answers,” the Chakalos sisters said in a statement.

Windsor police said they are working hard to obtain justice for the Chakalos family.

“It’s a bother to us. It was a very heinous crime that went unsolved and there’s a family that hasn’t had justice yet and we work hard to obtain that for them,” Windsor Police Captain Thomas LePore said.

Christmas decorations hang at the Overlook Drive home in Windsor where the wealthy businessman was shot to death in his sleep four years ago on December 20, 2013, but holiday celebrations without the 87-year-old weigh heavily on his heartbroken family.

The investigation is ongoing.

“We have no comment other than to say that this is a continuing investigation being conducted by the Cold Case Unit in the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney in conjunction with the FBI, the Windsor Police Department and the Office of the State’s Attorney for the Judicial District of Hartford, “Mark Dupuis, communications and legislative specialist at the Office of the Chief State's Attorney, told NBC Connecticut.

Chakalos’ grandson, Nathan Carman, is being investigated for the crime.

“He was considered a suspect. We would still consider him a suspect and as I said the investigation continues,” LePore said.

LePore said he could not comment when he was asked if there were any other suspects in Chakalos’ murder.

The Chakalos sisters filed a civil lawsuit in his native New Hampshire last summer to stop their nephew Carman from inheriting millions of dollars from his grandfather’s estate. According to paperwork, they believe Carman intentionally shot Chakalos three times out of malice and greed, and they want him declared the murderer.

The fourth Chakalos sister, Carman’s mother Linda, is feared dead after disappearing from Carman’s boat off the coast of Rhode Island in September 2016.

The same lawsuit points a finger at Carman in regards to his missing mom because his aunts feel he had something to do with her disappearance.

Without legal action, the lawsuit says, the portion of Chakalos’ estate due to be paid to Linda Carman would pass to her son.

That lawsuit is still working its way through the New Hampshire courts and Carman has not been charged with his grandfather’s murder or his mother’s disappearance.

For now, Chakalos’ three daughters hold on to memories of the fantastic holiday light display at their father’s mansion in New Hampshire. The gates are opened to the public every year in exchange for food donations to support a local pantry.

The attorneys for Carman did not have a comment for the NBC Connecticut Troubleshooters.

There is still a $250,000.00 reward for answers in the unsolved murder of Chakalos.



Photo Credit: NBC Connecticut

Priest Tells Parishioners He's Gay, Gets Standing Ovation

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A Roman Catholic priest in Milwaukee has come out as gay, writing that he will no longer live in the shadows of secrecy and plans to be authentic to his gay self.

The Rev. Gregory Greiten disclosed his sexual orientation on Sunday to the St. Bernadette Parish and was greeted with a standing ovation from his parishioners, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported. He also wrote a column that was published Monday in the National Catholic Reporter.

It's rare for a priest to come out. Greiten said he revealed his sexual orientation because he wants to be a role model for others. He said he's helping to break the silence of gay men in the clergy so he could reclaim his own voice.

"I will embrace the person that God created me to be," Greiten wrote. "In my priestly life and ministry, I, too, will help you, whether you are gay or straight, bisexual or transgendered, to be your authentic self — to be fully alive living in your image and likeness of God.

Greiten wrote that has decided to stand with the "few courageous priests who have taken the risk to come out of the shadows and have chosen to live in truth and authenticity."

The church's silent stance on gay priests perpetuates toxic shaming and systematic secrecy, Greiten wrote. The church needs healthy role models for priests who are struggling to come to terms with their sexual orientation, he said.

Greiten met with Milwaukee Archbishop Jerome Listecki before coming out, according to an archdiocese spokeswoman.

"We support Father Greiten in his own personal journey and telling his story of coming to understand and live with his sexual orientation," Listecki said in a statement Monday. "As the Church teaches, those with same-sex attraction must be treated with understanding and compassion."




Photo Credit: AP/St. Bernadette Parish

Manchester High to Reopen Friday After Water Main Break

Water in New London Apartment Building Restored

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A water main break at a New London high rise left the low-income senior and disabled residents inside without water for until 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday. 

Around 8 a.m. the underground pipe burst at the Williams Park Apartments at 127 Hempstead Street. The building is federally funded and run by the New London Housing Authority.

Fire Marshal Vernon Skau said all the water to the building was out, including the sprinkler system that activates if a fire breaks out. As a safety precaution, the New London Fire Department had one of their firefighters patrolling the hallways.

The cause of the break is still under investigation.

“Anytime there’s a freezing and a thawing, we see this. So it’s not unusual,” Skau said.

The break also caused some flooding in the office and common room on the first floor.

“Our maintenance staff went in and they squeegeed and mopped up the water on the first floor and put some fans in to dry things up,” Housing Authority Interim Executive Director Lee Erdmann said.

There’s one water line to the building the covers both the domestic and fire service needs, Erdmann said.

“I believe that water line is the original water line going back to 1969. So, something that’s 50 years old, it’s not surprising that it broke,” Erdmann added.

Those who live in the building were able to sign up for meals, Erdmann said, and the Red Cross delivered 500 water bottles to the approximately 120 residents. The Housing Authority supplied another four cases.

"I can’t do anything without water. I can’t even cook," resident Vonda Johnson said. "I can’t mop the floor. I can’t take a shower."

"I feel uncomfortable. Very uncomfortable. I missed a job interview," said David Adams about not being able to shower this morning.

The bathroom situation is one thing the Housing Authority was still working on Wednesday afternoon. They opened up the bathrooms on the first floor if residents didn’t want to use their own.

"If I had to use the bathroom so badly, I would use a restaurant’s," Adams said.

Although it was an inconvenient situation, some who live at the high-rise said they were being taken care of.

"Our manager’s right on top of it," Ivelisse Pluss said.

Around 5 p.m. a new pipe was being installed and the water was back on by 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday. 

Customer Struggles Disputing Rental Car Damage Claim

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Dealing with the effects of a car accident are tough enough, but one Bloomfield woman was also blamed for damaging her replacement rental car after the crash, even though she said it wasn’t her fault.

Carol got her Enterprise rental car to help bridge the gap between the vehicle she lost in her crash and the loaner provided by her dealership.

Her adjuster called Enterprise to let the company know she returned the car, then, Carol put it in park, handed the keys to the sales rep and thought she was good to go.

The next day, Carol got a call from Enterprise saying she damaged the rental’s front fender. She didn’t believe she caused that damage and tried appealing the claim on her own but said she either got the runaround or didn’t get an answer at all.

With a $709 charge at stake, Carol’s next call went to NBC Connecticut Responds.

An Enterprise representative cleared things up right away:

"After investigating the incident, we learned that there was break in the initial communication process as part of our standard protocol for handling and investigating any type of damage claim, or claims investigation dispute. Because of this, the claim has been dropped."

According to Enterprise’s policy, an employee is supposed to inspect the vehicle upon return.

When an employee isn’t present, like Carol’s situation, Enterprise said it may follow up with the renter to determine how any damage might have occurred and the company will use any evidence to decide if the renter was at fault.

UGG Cancels Orders Made With Unauthorized Promo Code

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The maker of UGG boots said a promo code for 60 percent off an online order was intended only for internal use.

UGG posted a statement on its website explaining that the CAMPUSFREEFORALL code was released at an internal employee event and circulated to the public without authorization.

As a result, UGG said it cannot honor the deal, upsetting many customers.

A Stamford woman reached out to NBC Connecticut after her order was canceled.

Jackie placed two separate orders with ugg.com on Tuesday morning.

The first order totaled $335. After applying the code, it came to $134 before tax. Jackie saved even more on the second order, which came to $690 at full price. After the discount, her total was $276 plus tax.

A few hours after receiving emails confirming the orders, Jackie received two identical cancellation emails.

They read, “Unfortunately, when reviewing your UGG® order… we were unable to fulfill it due to problems with the payment or billing information provided.”

A few hours later, another email from UGG appeared in Jackie’s inbox, explaining what happened and offering 15 percent off her next order.

Jackie said she’d like to see UGG honor the deal, even though it has no obligation to do so.

According to the terms and conditions on its website, UGG reserves the right to correct any pricing errors, "Even after an order has been placed. We may change or update information without prior notice at any time. Consequently, we apologize for any inconvenience that such errors may produce."

NBC Connecticut reached out to UGG to find out how many orders were placed using the unauthorized code, and if any of those orders were processed before the leak was discovered. 

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