Amy Robach & T.J. Holmes Present

The Supreme Court of the United States denied the state of Alabama’s request to execute 49-year-old Jeffrey Lee using nitrogen gas, agreeing with two lower courts that said it was cruel and unusual and therefore, unconstitutional. The late night decision, effectively halted Lee’s scheduled execution, but only temporarily. While Lee’s legal team declared it a victory, the state’s attorney general called it a miscarriage of justice and said Alabama is “prepared to do whatever is necessary to see Mr. Lee’s lawful sentence carried out.” 

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An incredible story out of Maryland this week! A young woman located her mother’s killer 12 years after her brutal murder. 24-year-old Kiany DeJesus was just 11 when her mother’s ex boyfriend lured her to a restaurant and stabbed her 27 times, then fled the country.  DeJesus finally found him through social media and this week, she faced him at sentencing where the judge gave him the maximum sentence.

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The parents of 19-year-old Karmelo Anthony have given several, emotional interviews following their son’s murder conviction for stabbing fellow teen Austin Metcalf last year. The Anthony’s believe everyone lied on the stand and their son was never innocent until proven guilty.  While Anthony’s legal team has already filed an appeal, his parents are concerned for their safety, saying people want their family dead even after “they got what they wanted” with Anthony’s conviction. 

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Actor Shane Meier opens up about the emotional and physical toll of portraying Matthew Shepard, one of America's most infamous hate-crime victims.

He revisits the murder that shocked the world and shares memories of the brutal assault scenes that still haunt him, the responsibility of telling a real family's story, and why he remains deeply connected to Matthew's legacy.

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A shocking and confusing story is emerging out of Chicago’s Grant Park. There is video everywhere of the large cross engulfed in flames, in broad daylight, along a busy street. Surveillance video captured a young man running from the scene wearing no shirt, dark pants and white sneakers. While police search for the mystery man, many have taken to social media claiming the cross burning is either a hoax or perpetrated by the Southern Poverty Law Center.

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It’s a question the Supreme Court may answer at some point today, as Alabama maintains it will move forward with the planned execution of double murderer Jeffrey Lee despite lower court decisions.  Late last night, an appeals court upheld a judge’s ruling this week that Alabama’s nitrogen gas method of execution is unconstitutional because it is cruel and unusual. Alabama may legally follow through with tonight’s planned execution, with one of its other methods: lethal injection or electrocution, unless the Supreme Court steps in and allows the state to use nitrogen gas.

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It was a stunning scene on Capitol Hill, one of the most powerful men in the world testifying before the House Oversight Committee for six hours. Billionaire Bill Gates voluntarily appeared before lawmakers and read his opening statement which acknowledged his poor judgment and described how Jeffrey Epstein attempted to blackmail him regarding his extramarital affairs. Lawmakers had different reactions to Gates’ testimony, some calling it intense and combative, others said he was “not forthcoming or candid.”

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Within hours of Karmelo Anthony’s first degree murder verdict, Texas congresswoman Jasmine Crockett defended Anthony’s use of a deadly weapon, saying if she had someone on top of her, she wouldn’t be limited to fists either. The problem, Crockett was comparing a much different scenario than what happened at that Texas high school stadium. Earlier, Crockett explained the fear black mothers have for their black sons, but seemingly dismissed the pain of the Austin Metcalf’s mother, creating a wave of negative, racially charged comments online. 

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A federal judge has ruled that nitrogen gas executions are unconstitutional, now just one day before Alabama is set to execute Jeffrey Lee by that very method. Lee was convicted for the 1998 double murder of two pawn shop employees. Alabama is now barred from using nitrogen gas, so it’s unclear how or if they plan to move forward with the state’s two other options: electrocution or lethal injection. 

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A Texas jury deliberated for 2 and a half hours, quickly returning a guilty verdict for 19-year-old Karmelo Anthony who was visibly shaking in court. Anthony, who is black, was convicted of first degree murder of fellow teen Austin Matcalf, who is white. A jury with no black members  then rejected a “sudden passion” option that would’ve reduced Anthony’s sentence, instead, the jury came back with a 35 year sentence for the tearful teen. 

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