Man who set Virginia council member on fire over alleged affair gets 40-year sentence

A man who admitted to setting a Virginia city council member on fire over an alleged affair was sentenced to 40 years in prison on Thursday.

Shotsie Buck-Hayes pleaded guilty in April to attempted first-degree murder and aggravated malicious wounding over his attack on Danville City Council Member Lee Vogler.

Witnesses told the court that on July 30, 2025, Buck-Hayes stormed into Vogler's Danville office and doused him with gasoline before chasing him out of the building and setting him on fire, according to Cardinal News.

Commonwealth’s Attorney Michael Newman told reporters that Buck-Hayes spoke at his sentencing hearing and offered "what he claimed to be an apology" while maintaining that he was motivated by an alleged affair between Vogler and Buck-Hayes' wife, Mary Alice.

ARIZONA EXECUTES MAN WHO KILLED VICTIM BY DOUSING HIM IN GASOLINE AND SETTING HIM ON FIRE IN 2002 ATTACK

Mary Alice filed for divorce in mid-July 2025, about two weeks before the attack, according to court records cited by Cardinal News.

In September 2025, during the grand jury phase of the case, Sgt. Gerrit Clay with the Danville Police Department testified that Buck-Hayes intended to kill the married father of two over this alleged affair, an accusation that has never been substantiated.

'HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER' ACTOR NICK PASQUAL SENTENCED TO DECADES IN PRISON FOR STABBING EX-GIRLFRIEND

Blair Vogler, the council member’s wife, testified that the attack left her husband with second- and third-degree burns across 60% of his body.

After the attack, Vogler was immediately airlifted to the burn unit at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and spent months recovering.

"In order to correct those burns, they had to take an additional 35% of his skin, so there was a time when he was 95% open," Blair Vogler testified, according to Cardinal News. "That has led to infections, he’s had burn shock, septic shock… a smoke inhalation injury, and burns to his lungs, so he had pneumonia."

CONVICTED KILLER KARMELO ANTHONY CLAIMS HE IS 'PENNILESS' IN APPEAL DESPITE MAJOR DONOR-FUNDED LEGAL CAMPAIGN

Circuit Judge James Reynolds sentenced Buck-Hayes to life in prison. He gave him 10 years for attempted murder and a life sentence for aggravated malicious wounding, but suspended part of both sentences, giving him a 40-year term.

Attorneys for Buck-Hayes say they are planning on appealing his sentence. They also said he is not a U.S. citizen and that in the future, he will likely return to his home country, the United Kingdom, according to ABC11.

After the attack, doctors believed Vogler would have to stay in the hospital for six months. According to his GoFundMe, he was discharged from the hospital on Oct. 21, 2025, roughly three months earlier than expected.

That same day, Vogler attended his first city council meeting since the attack and was warmly welcomed back by his colleagues.

"Recovery remains a long road—months to years—and will include orthopedic surgeries for a condition called heterotopic ossification, as well as future cosmetic and laser procedures to improve functionality, range of motion, and everyday independence," Blair Vogler wrote in a December 2025 update on the GoFundMe. "One of Lee’s greatest challenges right now is working to regain use of the left hand due to nerve damage."

Vogler was elected to the city council in 2012 at the age of 24, making him the youngest person to ever be ascend to that position.

from Latest & Breaking News on Fox News https://ift.tt/lf0HwiU

Phil Mickelson accused of showing nude photo to pro golfer's ex-wife: 'Come see me'

Another troubling accusation has come out about Phil Mickelson, this time from a fellow professional golfer's ex-wife.

It was revealed earlier this month that Mickelson was booted from a golf club he had long been a member of following alleged inappropriate contact with a female employee before a round of golf this spring at The Farms Golf Club in the San Diego area.

But now, Mickelson is being accused of more sexual harassment.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Pat Perez's ex, Ashley, said that she and Perez were staying at a villa rented by Mickelson near Liberty National Golf Club in Jersey City, where Mickelson is a member, during the 2015 Barclays at nearby Plainfield Country Club when things grew extremely uncomfortable rather quickly.

In an interview with Skratch, Ashley alleged that when she and Mickelson were briefly alone in a room after Pat went to the bathroom, Mickelson showed her a picture of himself nude with an erection and flexing his bicep.

"Phil says to me, ‘I’m going to leave my bedroom door open tonight. When Pat falls asleep I want you to come see me,'" Ashley claimed.

PHIL MICKELSON OBTAINS DEFAMATION COUNSEL TO ABSOLVE 'FALSE RUMORS' THAT GOT HIM BOOTED FROM GOLF CLUB

Ashley said that she did not mention the incident to her then-husband until after the tournament, and Mickelson apologized at a later date.

Skratch noted that Perez discussed his "hate" for Mickelson in a podcast roughly four years ago.

"Phil crossed the line with me that is just uncrossable and unforgivable. He knows that he screwed up. He apologized for the action, but I cannot forgive him for it," Perez said.

Ashley said she now feels she was being "groomed" by Mickelson from when they first met in 2014.

Skratch also interviewed other sources for its story who alleged infidelity by Mickelson amid abrupt endings of memberships at other golf clubs.

Fox News Digital reached out for comments from Mickelson and Perez but did not immediately hear back. A spokesperson for Mickelson gave Skratch the following statement:

"Some of the allegations circulating about Mr. Mickelson are false, and others revisit mistakes he has already acknowledged, publicly or privately. Stacking the disputed claims next to the ones he has owned does not make them credible. It instead contributes to a false and misleading narrative.

"No person, no article, and no book can present an accurate, complete, or personal story of the life Mr. Mickelson and his family have lived. His story, struggles, and recovery belong to him and to the people who have shared it closely alongside him.

"Recovery is not a straight line. Throughout their 35-year relationship, his wife, Amy Mickelson, has supported Mr. Mickelson and their family with extraordinary grace, unwavering love, and the belief that people are measured not only by their failures, but by what they do to make them right.

"Mr. Mickelson's priority is to become the husband, father, and man his family deserves. Right now, that means giving his full attention to a private family health matter. He understands that parts of his life are public, but his family's private matters are not."

Perez told Skratch he was "not talking about Phil."

Both Perez and Mickelson currently play for LIV Golf, but Mickelson has played just one tournament this year due to family issues. He has also missed all three majors.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

from Latest & Breaking News on Fox News https://ift.tt/Uan972R

NFL great shares blunt advice for Caitlin Clark after Alyssa Thomas throat punch: 'Bury these fools'

NFL great Patrick Peterson has some simple advice for Caitlin Clark: Make them pay.

During the Fever’s 111-109 loss to the Phoenix Mercury on Wednesday, Clark was punched in the throat by Alyssa Thomas while lying on the court after a scrum. No foul was called at the time, and Clark left the game due to injury.

Discussing the incident in a recent interview with Fox News Digital, Peterson said he believes Clark needs to respond by burying her opponents on the court.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

"When they play each other, now you got to put (belt to a--). You got to prove it with your play. Now, now you understand that I'm getting cheap-shotted or however she may feel, I'm getting a cheap shot now. I got to go out here and bury these fools," Peterson said. "Every time I see the Mercury show up on my schedule, it’s on from when the schedule comes out."

Peterson, who played in the NFL for 13 seasons and was named to the Pro Bowl eight times, said he would let his play do the talking on the field.

"That's always been my mentality, because we can't fight on the court. We can't fight on the football field. We got helmets on. So what sense does that make? And the best way to silence someone is with your play," Peterson said.

WHO IS ALYSSA THOMAS? WNBA STAR SUSPENDED FOR PUNCHING CAITLIN CLARK IN THE THROAT

The three-time All-Pro said Clark’s teammates can get fired up to defend Clark, but it could ultimately end up being detrimental in the long run.

"At the end of the day, you got to move on from it, you know? I mean, we can come in the locker room, and we can say, ‘Hurrah,’ and say we're going to do this, that, and the other, but you just saw what (Alyssa Thomas) just got, a suspension. And so now money is coming out of your own pocket," Peterson said.

Peterson was one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL during his 13-year career. Peterson was named to the NFL’s All-Decade Team for the 2010s. In 201 career games, Peterson recorded 36 interceptions, 122 pass deflections, 652 total tackles and four sacks.

He spent the first 10 seasons of his career with the Arizona Cardinals, then two with the Minnesota Vikings before spending his final season with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He played from 2011-2023.

ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON'T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!

The Fort Lauderdale, Florida, native will be playing in the American Century Championship from July 10-12 at Edgewood Golf Course in Lake Tahoe. 

Peterson said the event has evolved tremendously over the years and said it’s something that his whole family enjoys.

"My girls look forward to going to Lake Tahoe each and every year to not only walk with dad, but to go out on the lake," Peterson said. "Go on top the mountain and doing the zipline and things like that. So, the memories that they're able to create for the families that are involved are countless."

Peterson is using AI to help improve his golf game and prepare for the American Century Championship.

"I'm using this app called Performance Golf. It's basically an app that you can download on your phone, and you can basically have a AI coach," Peterson said.

"You can video yourself, you can use any club, any swing, putter, wedge, chip, pitch, driver, irons, whatever you need that you need help in or want to see better results in, you can video yourself, submit the video, and then what'll happen is the AI coach will tell you what your flaw is what you need to work on to have better results. And I've been using it for the last four months and it's helped my game tremendously."

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.

from Latest & Breaking News on Fox News https://ift.tt/dvH1YjZ

South Dakota mayoral candidates separated by just two votes in shockingly close race, recount expected

Out of more than 36,000 votes cast in the Sioux Falls, South Dakota, mayoral runoff contest, the candidates are shockingly separated by just two votes.

Christine Erickson, a former South Dakota state representative and former Sioux Falls city council member, is leading state Sen. Jamie Smith, who is also a former state House member, by that razor-thin two-vote margin.

The candidates have 18,280 and 18,278 votes respectively.

WHAT'S NEXT FOR KRISTI NOEM? 2026 SENATE CHATTER GROWS AFTER DHS EXIT

Smith, who plans to request a recount, said during a phone call with Fox News Digital on Thursday that "every vote does count," noting, "This is exactly an election that shows you that."

While the race was nonpartisan, Smith is listed as a Democrat on the South Dakota legislature's website, while Erickson, who served in the state House over a decade ago, is listed as a Republican on the site.

SOUTH DAKOTA GOVERNOR SURVIVES CROWDED PRIMARY -- FOR NOW

"Thank you Sioux Falls! To my family, friends and supporters, I couldn’t have done this without you. This election exemplified that every single vote truly matters. To the people of Sioux Falls, even with a close margin, I am beyond grateful for the opportunity to lead Sioux Falls forward for the next four years," Erickson said in a Wednesday statement.

"Even though the polls have closed, the fight continues. We know there will be a recount and I feel confident going into this next phase. My team and I are prepared to make sure the recount moves forward fairly with accuracy and transparency," she continued.

TRUMP MAKES LATE-NIGHT ENDORSEMENTS IN SIX STATES AHEAD OF TUESDAY PRIMARIES, INCLUDING CALIFORNIA

"Congratulations also to Jamie for a hard fought campaign. Sioux Falls has a bright future, and we will come together to make sure our community thrives today and for generations to come. My promise is the same as it was on day one of this campaign: I will lead with common sense and make sure city government serves you, the people. I’m excited to get to work," she concluded.

from Latest & Breaking News on Fox News https://ift.tt/5x3s0oc

Dana White responds to former UFC fighter Tito Ortiz: 'When somebody shows you who they are, believe them'

In May, former UFC fighter Tito Ortiz appeared on OutKick's "Tomi Lahren is Fearless" and discussed his nonexistent relationship with UFC boss Dana White, mocking his intelligence whenever his name came up.

Now, a month later, White was a guest on the show, and Lahren decided to get his side of the beef between the two MMA icons.

Lahren played the clip from Ortiz's previous appearance for White, and said she wanted to get the full story.

White first addressed the idea that he purchased the company because of Ortiz.

UFC CHAMPION TITO ORTIZ REVEALS HE FLED HOME STATE CALIFORNIA BECAUSE OF NEWSOM'S LEADERSHIP

First of all, we did not buy the company because of Tito Ortiz," he said. "That's how mentally ill this guy is — number one. Number two, yes, we loved Tito when we bought the company. We loved Tito. You know he was one of our guys at the time."

White talked about how he managed Ortiz and fellow UFC great Chuck Liddell at the time of purchasing the company, and said that Ortiz's refusal to fight Liddell sparked a feud.

"It got to a point where Chuck Liddell had beaten everybody... and Tito absolutely refused to fight him," White said. "He would not fight him because Tito knew Chuck was going to beat him. And ironically, the beef between me and Chuck and Tito at the time really helped build the UFC too, because it was, you know, the storyline that the fans loved."

UFC CEO DANA WHITE MOCKS IDEA OF 'TOXIC MASCULINITY' ON '60 MINUTES'

White then talked about how his and Ortiz's relationship deteriorated.

ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON'T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!

"Tito did some really dumb things, like he said, and he destroyed the relationship, right? What if the UFC failed, and it didn't work? Would he want to let bygones be bygones? And no, you try to do some dirty stuff at the time when you thought you had the power to do it, and you destroyed relationships. And anybody that knows anything about me, call me petty, call me whatever you want. We're never gonna be friends again.

"...When somebody shows you who they are, believe them."

That led to Lahren asking if White thought going into business with friends was a bad idea.

"It's a really bad idea in my experience," he said. "...Being in business with your friends is definitely difficult, and it's not a great idea."

from Latest & Breaking News on Fox News https://ift.tt/8X0ZTMu

Viral World Cup fan Freddy gets stranded at airport, airlines start bidding war to fly him to Canada

Freddy, the viral World Cup fan and Germany soccer supporter, has broken the internet once again. He recently shared on X, "Our connecting flight from Dallas to Canada has been canceled due to weather. They rebooked us on a flight tomorrow evening. We‘re gonna miss the Germany match."

Then, private jet owners, major airlines, and even the governor of Utah flooded to Freddy’s replies offering to help.

WATCH THE WORLD CUP FINAL ON FOX ONE

It was like a soap opera, honestly. John Owen, the president and CEO of Airshare, a U.S. private aviation company, offered to help by replying, "What time do you need to get there by? and eventually posting, "your chariot awaits," accompanied by a look at the inside of the luxury private jet. 

American Airlines replied, "Not on our watch, Freddy. Check your DMs."

Air Canada said, "Hi Freddy, let’s get you to Toronto. Can you send us a DM?"

The governor of Utah, Spencer Cox offered his assistance saying, "Hey Freddy, I’m the governor of Utah. I’m assuming someone has reached out to help you make [it] to your match tomorrow. If not, DM me and I’ll help get you there."

FOX ONE’S NEW WORLD CUP VIEWING EXPERIENCE

What made the story especially interesting was not just the fact that there was a bidding war for who would fly Freddy and his buddies to Toronto, but the fact he was radio silent for almost four hours. I, like millions of others, was on the edge of my seat waiting to see how this stranded saga would end. Would he fly in private luxury? Was Air Force One on the way to pick him? (I’m only half joking). 

FREDDY, THE VIRAL WORLD CUP TOURIST, LINKS UP WITH COUNTRY SINGER ELLA LANGLEY AND THE INTERNET LOVES IT

Eventually, Freddy gave the world a much-needed and heartwarming update. He posted on X, "UPDATE: We’re on the plane to Buffalo!!! American Airlines was incredibly helpful and made it possible for us to get on this flight. A special thank you to @JJWatt for organizing it while we were in the air to Dallas. Big thanks as well to everyone else who offered their help."

Notably, J.J. Watt hooked Freddy and his friends up with a suite at a nearby hotel in Houston, a signed jersey, and has struck up a friendship with Freddy that has proven again to be extremely valuable.

This is Freddy’s world, we’re just living in it. He has the world’s biggest airlines, millionaires, country music stars, the whole sports world in the palm of his hands. He’s quite literally a rockstar. I feel like this is the script for a "Most Interesting Man in the World" Dos Equis commercial. He’s the subject of the coolest sports fan story we’ve ever heard. The level of stardom is unmatched right now.

from Latest & Breaking News on Fox News https://ift.tt/4iMS9TF

Dem Senate hopeful under fire for resurfaced comments calling cops 'opportunistic cowards'

Embattled Senate candidate Graham Platner is facing backlash for calling law enforcement "opportunistic cowards" in a since-deleted Reddit post. 

Platner, a far-left populist vying to become Maine’s next senator, made the comments in June 2020 in response to a post criticizing the Hancock County Sheriff's Department for seeking approval to purchase "riot gear." At the time, Black Lives Matter protests were spreading around the state, with some demonstrations turning violent, including vandalized storefronts and looting.

Platner, then 35, dismissed the sheriff’s request as "ridiculous."

"I guess the Sheriffs [sic] Department is so full of overweight pansies that they now need taxpayer dollars to protect themselves from George Stevens Academy sophomores and aging hippies," he wrote.

VETS TORCH DEM SENATE HOPEFUL WHO CALLED ARMY ‘FAT, LAZY TRASH,’ MOCKED SOLDIER SHOT FOUR TIMES

"Cops are opportunistic cowards," he continued. 

The post, which is available in The Maine Monitor’s archive of Platner’s since-deleted messages, but has not been previously reported, was published under Platner’s handle "P-Hustle" on the Reddit forum R/Maine.

The comment is the latest in a string of anti-law enforcement remarks Platner made well into adulthood that have raised questions about his fitness for office as he seeks to unseat Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine. 

"It just shows a complete lack of understanding of the way law enforcement operates," state Rep. Donald Ardell, R-Maine, told Fox News Digital in an interview. "They have to be prepared for eventualities."

Ardell, a retired federal special agent and criminal investigator, said conversations with current law enforcement officers and former colleagues reflected widespread disgust with Platner’s comments disparaging men and women in uniform. 

"It's a series of consistent bad decisions, and it seems to be continuing," Ardell said. 

Also in June 2020, Platner denounced a Maine police chief as "thin blue line trash" for declining to kneel with demonstrators protesting the death of George Floyd. That month, he wrote "all cops are bastards" in remarks first reported by CNN.

In April 2021, Platner questioned whether there is a problem within policing "that extends into the profession as a whole" in a since-deleted post. 

Platner has also faced scrutiny over comments declaring himself a communist, disparaging rural White people as "racist" and "stupid" and mocking a female teenager’s suicide attempt.

FROM #METOO TO MAINE? DEM EXPERTS WEIGH IN ON HOW PLATNER'S RISE TESTS PARTY STANDARDS: 'PULLING THE PLUG'

Platner has said many of his comments were taken out of context and attributed some of them to struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder after multiple overseas deployments.

"You should read the comments in context. It's very clear I'm joking," he previously told Fox News Digital when asked about them. "It's called s---posting. It's when you argue with people on the internet and try to bother them."

Ardell questioned whether Platner, who was largely in his 30s during the nearly decade-long period of online trash-talking, could have "made such a quick turnaround" in the past six years. 

"If Graham Platner is interested in sort of working on himself, he can do it on his own time — not on Mainers' time, and not in the U.S. Senate," Ardell said.

The Platner campaign did not respond to a request for comment.

The newly resurfaced Reddit post comes as Platner is attempting to weather mounting scrutiny over his past treatment of women, including an allegation of abuse from former girlfriend Lyndsey Fifield. In May, the campaign acknowledged a period of infidelity during Platner’s marriage to Amy Gertner — whom he wed in 2023 — which involved sending sexually explicit texts to at least half a dozen women.

Platner also maintained an active account on the private messaging platform Kik, an app widely used for sexual encounters. His campaign said he had long deleted it from his phone.

Adding to Platner’s troubles, he has not provided a clear explanation for why several ex-girlfriends knew about his since covered-up Nazi-linked tattoo prior to the candidate publicly disclosing it last year. 

A former girlfriend who dated Platner in 2021 showed The New York Post text messages she sent in September 2025 that discussed the "Nazi tattoo on his chest."

The Senate hopeful has said he first learned about the black skull-and-crossbones tattoo’s links to Nazi SS units in October 2025. He wore it for nearly two decades after getting it while out drinking with fellow Marines in Croatia.

Asked if more negative information about Platner would come to light before November, Ardell did not hesitate. 

"This is not a guy that has a skeleton in the closet," he said. "This is a guy that has a whole graveyard."

from Latest & Breaking News on Fox News https://ift.tt/1TiJFXh