Russian girl, 15, films farewell to family before she and her sister, 12, jump to their deaths in suspected Blue Whale suicide 'game' tragedy

Two Russian half-sisters were found dead on the pavement beneath their apartment block and police are investigating whether the tragic deaths are linked to the notorious so-called Blue Whale suicide "game".

Maria Vinogradova, 12, and her sister Anastasia Svetozarova, 15, were found dead on a snowy pavement beneath their apartment block in Izhevsk, Russia. They are believed to have jumped from the ten-storey rooftop. 

Maria is known to have been "upset and depressed" when their mother took her to a gynaecologist after she allegedly began a relationship with an underage boy called Dmitry. Her mother was reportedly "furious" about her boyfriend. 

Seconds before she died, Maria posted a picture of her boyfriend and a message to him with smiles and hearts saying: "Forgive me, please. I love you so much. I know you will find somebody better than me."

Anastasia also recorded a video in which she said: "Goodbye to everyone! I love you all! This is true. Love you very very much."

Hundreds of Russian children and teenagers have taken their lives in recent years after being brainwashed online to complete the 50 steps Blue Whale suicide game which culminates in suicide. Blue Whale and other similar online death groups are said by police to prey on depressed young people. 

Police are to study the girls' phones and computers for any traces that such suicide groups had exploited their emotions and led them to take their own lives.

Below is one of the videos posted by one of the sisters before they jumped.

Six children dead after train crashes into school bus in Millas, France

The death toll from a crash involving a school bus and a train has risen to six, French investigators have said.

They were killed when their bus was split in half in the ‘terrible accident’ in southern France.

Four teenagers were confirmed dead last night but two 11-year-old girls have since succumbed to their injuries. Another 18 were injured, 14 of them children.

Officials have described it as one of the worst accidents involving a school bus in France for 30 years.

They are now looking into whether human error or a technical fault was to blame for the collision in the town of Millas, close to the border with Spain.

The wreckage of the bus that somehow became trapped between the barriers at a crossing (Picture: Getty)
Nobody on the train was injured in the collision (Picture: Getty)
All the children on the bus were between the ages of 11 and 17 (Picture: Getty)

Investigators only finished identifying the dead overnight due to the severity of their injuries, with the mayor of the neighbouring village describing the scene as ‘a vision of horror’.

The female driver of the bus was among the injured and has not yet been questioned, but Perpignan prosecutor Jean-Jacques Fagni said investigators had spoken to the train driver.

It is unclear whether the automatic barriers at the crossing were open at the time of the crash, though national rail operator SNCF said that ‘according to witnesses, the level crossing was functioning normally’.

All the children on the bus were between the ages of 11 and 17, it was revealed today.


Children at the Christian Bourquin school in Millas were being supported this morning following the crash (Picture: Getty)
Police have spoken to the driver of the train but the driver of the bus was injured so they are still waiting to talk to her (Picture: Getty)

It is not yet known how the bus came to be stuck between the barriers of the crossing and an investigation has been launched. 

The train is believed to have been travelling at around 60mph when it crashed into the bus, causing it to split in half.

It also led to the train coming off the tracks, but none of the 25 passengers were injured.

President Emmanuel Macron said: ‘All my thoughts for the victims of this terrible accident involving a school bus, as well as their families. The state is fully mobilised to help them.’
Many other children were injured in the collision last night (Picture: Twitter)
Investigations are taking place to find out how the bus became trapped between the barriers (Picture: France Bleu Roussillon)

Las Vegas Mass Shooting Survivor Has Been Killed in hit-and-run

A man who survived the Oct. 1 mass shooting at a country music festival in Las Vegas was killed last week in a hit-and-run in southern Nevada.

Roy McClellan died Nov. 17 while hitchhiking on State Route 160 in Pahrump, about 50 miles west of Las Vegas.

"I don't understand why he wasn't taken at the shooting, but a month later he was taken this way," McClellan's wife, Denise, told KSNV. "I hope my husband found peace and he's safe now."

The McClellans were attending the Route 91 Harvest Festival on the Las Vegas Strip when Stephen Paddock began shooting from his 32nd-floor suite at the nearby Mandalay Bay hotel-casino. In all, 58 people were killed and more than 500 were injured in the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history.

Denise McClellan told KSNV that the shooting "was really messing with [Roy's] head and he was going to therapy."

On Friday, Denise posted on Facebook that Roy had "stormed off" after a fight with a friend the night before he died.

KSNV reported that investigators had located the car believed to be involved in the accident and charges were pending.

A GoFundMe to support McClellan's family had raised $1,640 as of Saturday evening.

Man Who killed wife Claiming It Was Cause By cough medicine-induced stupor was an aspiring preacher

The North Carolina man accused of killing his wife in a cough syrup-induced stupor was an aspiring preacher and Star Wars devotee who had a lightsaber fight at his wedding.

More information emerged Tuesday about Matthew Phelps, 29, who is accused of stabbing his wife Lauren Hugelmaier, also 29, several times after taking Coricidin, a cough and cold medicine. He admitted to authorities he took the medicine because it made him “feel good” and it would help him sleep.

According to their wedding page, the couple went to middle school together and reconnected years later thanks to Instagram. They started dating around 2014 and married in November 2016.

2 years ago I started dating this girl I found on Instagram.. And now look at us ❤️ @hugelmaierla, you are my density, I love you more than anything, and you make me the happiest I believe I could ever be 💏

A post shared by Matty Phelps (@uncanny_matty) on Nov 14, 2016 at 11:49am PST

Their Facebook pages show a shared loved for all things Star Wars, with several photos showing them dressed up as characters, going to see the most recent film installments -- and even having a lightsaber fight during their wedding reception.

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Matt Phelps and Lauren Hugelmaier had a lightsaber fight at their wedding in November 2016.  (Facebook)

Phelps worked at a landscaping company and studied missions and evangelism at Clear Creek Baptist Bible College in Pineville, Ky., his Facebook page said.

According to her obituary, Hugelmaier was an active member of Hope Lutheran Church “where she loved working with the Children’s and Youth Ministries.”

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Matt Phelps, right, is accused of killing Lauren Hugelmaier.  (Facebook)

Ryker Hampton, who worked at the North Carolina church, said in a Facebook post that Hugelmaier was a “superstar volunteer.”

“You showed up every youth night and every event ready to turn whatever dumb idea I had into a reality. I’m thankful for that,” he wrote. “I get to see you again one day and that’s keeping me going. You finished your race and you finished well. I promise I’ll do the same. And hopefully, I’ll figure out a few more escape games along the way.”

According to her obituary, Hugelmaier was also an auditor with Quintiles, however, her biggest passion appeared to be her personal side business with Scentsy. Just hours before her death, Lauren posted a video on Facebook promoting the business.

A memorial page was set up on Youcaring.com to help her family.

“Lauren Hugelmaier’s life tragically ended on September 1, 2017. She was only 29 years old. As we grieve Lauren’s loss, there are financial challenges that lie ahead,” the fund’s creator, Valerie Hoy, wrote. “This fund will be used to help ease the financial burden for her grieving family. Any amount big or small will be greatly appreciated.”

Phelps, who does not have a criminal record, has been charged in his wife’s murder. He is currently held at Wake County Jail without bail.

TRAGEDY! 2 killed, 9 injured in a gas explosion that rips through US school

MINNEAPOLIS (Reuters) - Two people were killed and nine injured on Wednesday (Aug 2) after a gas explosion ripped through a Christian private school in Minneapolis, starting a fire and causing a building to collapse, authorities said.

The body of a school employee who had been missing for most of the day after the 10.20am blast at Minnehaha Academy was recovered at about 8pm, Minneapolis Fire Chief John Fruetel told a news conference.




Chief Fruetel declined to identify either victim pending notification of next of kin.

The Minneapolis Star-Tribune reported that the remains removed earlier in the day belonged to Ms Ruth Berg, a 47-year-old receptionist at the school who was engaged to be married.

Family members earlier told local news channel KARE that Mr John Carlson, an 81-year-old custodian, was missing and that no one had been able to reach him.

The nine people who were injured were taken to local hospitals, and one was in critical condition, Chief Fruetel said.

Authorities said there were early indications that a ruptured gas line may have led to the explosion and that it was caused by contractors working at the school.

The academy confirmed on Facebook that there had been a gas leak and explosion at its Upper School.

"This is a day of extraordinary heartbreak in Minneapolis," Mayor Betsy Hodges told the news conference.

The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said on Twitter its agents, fire investigators and trained canines were at the site of the explosion.

Mr Phillip Day, 41, said he, his wife and their 17-year-old daughter, Chimali, had been at the school meeting with a counsellor to discuss college options when the explosion occurred.

Mr Day said that, as they left a conference room, his daughter was blown back through the door by the force of the blast and his wife was scraped.

Mr Tramon Van Leer, 33, was in the gym at the Minnehaha Academy playing basketball with his stepdaughter and four other girls when they heard the blast.

After they ran outside to safety, Mr Van Leer said he looked back and said: "Wow, the whole section of the school is gone."

According to its website, Minnehaha Academy was founded in 1913 and teaches more than 800 students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade on two campuses.