Silver Spring Navy Lieutenant Commander Who Cyberstalked Ex-Wife, Kids Learns Prison Fate
A US Navy lieutenant commander will spend years behind bars after being convicted of a years-long cyberstalking campaign that targeted his ex-wife and their children, prosecutors announced in Maryland.
A federal jury convicted Jason Michael Leidel, 45, of Silver Spring, on one count of cyberstalking following a two-week trial in December 2025, according to the US Attorney's Office.
On Thursday, March 12, Leidel was sentenced to 41 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.
According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Leidel repeatedly sent …
'School Failed Him': Family Of 15-Year-Old Struck, Killed On Southern State Demands Answers
The family of a 15-year-old boy fatally struck on the Southern State Parkway says his Long Island school is to blame.
Christopher Williams, of St. Albans, Queens, was hit around 1:15 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 4, on the eastbound side of the parkway near Exit 13, according to New York State Police.
The boy was rushed to Franklin General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Williams, who had autism, was a student at The Martin De Porres School for Exceptional Children, a special education school in Elmont. He was somehow left unsupervised and walked away from the school shortly before th…
Cranford First Aid Squad Mourns Loss Of Member Meredith Pisaeno, 44
Meredith Lynn Pisaeno, a beloved special education and elementary school teacher in the Sayreville School District, died Friday, July 25, at St. Peter’s University Hospital in New Brunswick, surrounded by her family, according to her obituary on the Carmen Spezzi Funeral Home website. She was 44.
Pisaeno, who earned two master’s degrees in education, dedicated more than 22 years to students at Arleth and Truman Schools, leaving a lasting impact on the community.
A Cranford native, Pisaeno was a lifelong Girl Scout who earned the Gold Award and served as a volunteer EMT. She was a…
Miami Man Beheads, Murders Mom, Retired New Milford Teacher Who Came To Check On Him: Police
A 40-year-old Miami Beach man was arrested and charged with murder after an eight-hour SWAT standoff over the weekend after his New Jersey mother's body was found nearly decapitated in a dumpster, police said.
Anthony Caruso, 40, was arrested on Sunday, July 20, following the standoff at his apartment on Washington Avenue, according to a criminal complaint filed by Miami Beach Police.
Police were dispatched to 800 Washington Ave.,, for a welfare check after Elizabeth Caruso’s son-in-law reported not hearing from her for over six hours, the affidavit says.
Elizabeth had arrived mid-day Satu…
Exclusive: ‘This Can’t Stand’ Husband Demands Justice After Wife Killed In Crosswalk
A Pennsylvania man is demanding criminal charges be filed after his wife, Diane Kopena, a beloved community volunteer and New Jersey native, was fatally struck in a Lansdale crosswalk. The driver who hit her has only been cited for traffic violations.
“You can’t take the life of a human being and it’s just OK. Just wipe the blood off your pickup and live on as if nothing ever happened,” said her husband, George Kopena, in an exclusive statement to Daily Voice.
Diane, 71, died on Thursday, May 1, 2025—days after being hit at Columbia Avenue and Richardson Avenue on April 24. On Friday, J…
NJ Native Killed In Crosswalk; Driver Cited, But Not Charged In Lansdale Crash: Police
A Pennsylvania woman was fatally struck while crossing the street in Lansdale, but the driver behind the wheel won’t face criminal charges, police announced on Friday, June 13, 2025.
Diane Kopena, 71, died days after being hit by a vehicle at Columbia Avenue and Richardson Avenue on April 24, according to the Lansdale Police Department. She succumbed to her injuries on Thursday, May 1.
The driver remained on scene, rendered aid, and called for help, the police explained. Following a joint investigation with the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office, investigators found no signs of re…
Haldane School District Suspends DEI Policy To Protect $450K In Federal Funding
A Putnam County school district has voted to temporarily suspend its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion policy following last-minute legal guidance to protect hundreds of thousands of dollars in critical federal funding, officials announced.
In a letter sent to families on Saturday, April 26, the Board explained that its decision came just hours before its Tuesday, April 22 meeting, after the district’s legal counsel advised immediate action to maintain compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Failure to do so, according to the Board, could have put $450,000…
Former Mahopac Special Ed PTO President Dies: 'Was Pillar Of Strength'
The Putnam County community is mourning the sudden loss of Jennifer Cusumano, a longtime advocate for special education and former president of a Special Education Parent Teacher Organization.
Cusumano, remembered by friends and colleagues as a tireless advocate, dedicated educator, and fierce champion of inclusion, died on Wednesday, March 26, and left behind a legacy of compassion, service, and impact that touched countless lives across Putnam County, according to her friends in the Mahopac SEPTO.
"Those who knew Jenn were the lucky ones," Mahopac SEPTO wrote in a statem…
Hackensack BOE Pres Resigns, Cites Board Drama, Wasted Resources As Challenges (Watch)
Hackensack Public Schools Board of Education President Scott James-Vickery announced his resignation during his final board meeting Wednesday, Dec. 18, using the occasion to highlight persistent challenges he believes are holding the district back from reaching its full potential.
James-Vickery, who served six years on the board and held the role of president since 2019, listed several issues he said have hindered Hackensack Public Schools, including internal politics, wasted resources, and a lack of focus on students’ needs.
“The students’ resources are being drained by the board,” h…
Death Of Death Of 'Ultimate Hockey Mom,' Teacher In Baldwin Sparks Flood Of Support For 3 Kids
Students, colleagues, and loved ones are mourning the unexpected loss of a beloved teacher on Long Island.
Michelle Cuccias-Weidenbach, of Massapequa, died at the age of 46 on Tuesday, Oct. 1, according to her obituary.
While an official cause of death was not given, her uncle, Tommy Cuccias, said on Facebook that the special education teacher at the Baldwin School District “did not wake up on Tuesday.”
“Although there is too many to mention that are crushed by this, I can't stop thinking about her 3 beautiful children,” Cuccias said. “There is so much more to say, but too many tears righ…
