3-year-old child found dead after going missing from resort near Walt Disney World

The boy, Rakim Akbari, was believed to have wandered away from an Orlando resort Thursday morning. (Orange County Sheriff's Office, Florida)

Orlando, Fla.

A child is dead after he went missing from a resort near Walt Disney World in Florida on Thursday.

According to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, Florida, Rakim Akbari, 3, was reported missing from the Sheraton Vistana Resort Villas at Lake Buena Vista earlier in the day.

Authorities said Rakim had autism and had wandered away from the resort that morning.

The Orange County Sheriff’s Office sent out a missing child alert for Rakim before deputies located his body in the water at the resort Thursday afternoon.

“It is with heavy hearts that we must share that our deputies have found Rakim Akbari deceased in a body of water at the resort where he was reported missing this morning. Our detectives are still looking into how this tragedy occurred,” the sheriff’s office shared.

No further details were immediately provided.

The boy was said to have gone missing while wearing pajama pants and a shirt but was without socks or shoes.

“We are grieving his loss, and our prayers are with his family,” the department said.

‘The final straw’: Elon Musk moving SpaceX, X headquarters from California to Texas

Billionaire Elon Musk says he’s moving the headquarters of SpaceX and social media company X to Texas from California. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File | AP Photo/Eric Gay)

San Francisco

Elon Musk is moving his companies out of California.

The tech billionaire said on Tuesday he is moving the headquarters of SpaceX and social media company X to Texas.

Musk shared that he has reached his decision after California became the first U.S. state to bar school districts from requiring staff to notify parents of their child’s gender identification change.

The new law was signed Monday by Gov. Gavin Newsom.

Musk has clashed with California leaders in the past over regulations, and on Tuesday he said this was “the final straw.”

The Associated Press reports the law bans school rules requiring teachers and other staff to disclose a student’s gender identity or sexual orientation to any other person without the child’s permission.

Those in favor of the legislation said it will help protect LGBTQ+ students who live in unwelcoming households. But those against it said it will hinder schools’ ability to be more transparent with parents.

“Because of this law and the many others that preceded it, attacking both families and companies, SpaceX will now move its HQ from Hawthorne, California, to Starbase, Texas.”

According to the tech mogul, X’s headquarters will also be moving from San Francisco to Austin, Texas.

“I did make it clear to Governor Newsom about a year ago that laws of this nature would force families and companies to leave California to protect their children,” Musk shared.

Musk has already moved Tesla’s corporate headquarters to the Austin area from Palo Alto, California, in 2021.

Additionally, the 53-year-old said that he has also moved his residence from California to Texas, where there is no state personal income tax.

Fitness icon Richard Simmons dies at 76, reports say

FILE - In this Aug. 25, 2013 file photo, Richard Simmons arrives at the MTV Video Music Awards in the Brooklyn borough of New York. (Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)

Los Angeles

Richard Simmons, the legendary fitness instructor, has died at the age of 76, multiple outlets are reporting.

Simmons was reportedly found by his housekeeper just before 10 a.m. Saturday at his Los Angeles-area home.

He was pronounced dead at the scene by first responders, ABC News reported.

Authorities shared that the 76-year-old appeared to have died of natural causes with no foul play expected.

Simmons was known for his uplifting personality and aerobic exercise videos, including 1988’s “Sweatin’ to the Oldies.”

He just celebrated his 76th birthday on Friday -- thanking his fans for the well wishes he received on social media.

5-year-old declared brain dead after suspected DUI driver hits family on bike ride

Jacob Ramirez, 5, suffered critical injuries when he was hit by a vehicle while he was riding his bike with his family, (GoFundMe)

Garden Grove, Calif.

A 5-year-old California boy has been reportedly declared brain dead after he and his family were hit by a suspected drunken driver while they were riding bikes last weekend.

KABC reports Jacob Ramirez was rushed to a hospital along with his two siblings and his parents after a driver of a 2003 Toyota Camry hit them Sunday night.

Jacob was with his father Angel Ramirez, 27, his mother Angela Hernandez Mejia, 25, and his 7-year-old and 7-month-old sisters when the reported collision occurred.

Garden Grove police said Angel Ramirez, Jacob and the 7-year-old child were taken to the hospital with critical injuries.

Mejia and her 7-month-old daughter were hospitalized with stable vital signs before the mother was released.

“We were struck by a drunk driver, my 3 kids, their dad, and me. We were rushed to the hospital. My daughter Gianna is doing better and breathing on ventilation,” Mejia shared through a GoFundMe account. “Please pray and keep my kids (Gianna, Jacob, Lydia, and Angel) in your prayers!!! My son Jacob Ramirez has been in 2 surgeries and has a really bad brain injury and is not responding.”

Ceferino Ramos, 29, of Santa Ana was arrested in connection with the crash, KNBC reports.

According to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, Ramos’ blood alcohol content was nearly triple the legal limit and two of the victims in the crash were comatose due to brain injuries.

Ramos is facing charges that include driving under the influence causing bodily injury and hit-and-run with permanent injury or death.

The 27-year-old was reportedly arrested thanks to a good Samaritan following him as he attempted to leave the scene after the crash.

Ramos is scheduled to be arraigned July 25 in the West Justice Center.

Video shows moment police find boy in stolen SUV after mother killed in carjacking

Police shared body-camera video when officers found a boy inside his mother's SUV after it was stolen. (Columbus police)

Columbus, Ohio

Columbus police released body camera video showing the moment they found a boy inside his mother’s SUV after it was stolen.

WSYX reports it obtained the video on Friday, a day after the 6-year-old’s mother died in the carjacking.

Authorities said the situation started when the child’s mother, 29-year-old Alexa Stakely, was picking him up from his babysitter’s apartment early Thursday morning.

Police said she put her son, who was sleeping, into her Honda CR-V and returned to the apartment to retrieve something from the sitter.

But that’s when a thief reportedly jumped into the vehicle, which was running, and began to drive away.

Columbus police said Stakely tried to stop the carjacker by jumping onto the hood of the vehicle and yelling for that person to stop.

However, she ended up falling off the hood and suffered critical injuries.

The 29-year-old mother suffered a serious head injury and was rushed to an area hospital where she later died, WSYX reported.

The car thief ultimately ditched the vehicle nearby and took off before police located it.

When police arrived, they found the vehicle with the child unharmed and still sleeping inside the car.

An officer can be heard talking to the boy in the bodycam video and asking him if he is OK while the child appears to just be waking up.

In a tribute on Facebook, Canal Winchester Schools said Stakely was a dedicated speech-language therapist in the preschool program at Winchester Trail Elementary.

She had been with the district for five years and was affectionately known to her students as “Ms. Alexa.”

“Alexa was passionate about children and speech-language therapy. She was smart and compassionate, and she cared so much about helping children develop their ability to communicate,” the district shared. “She was a great mom who was incredibly dedicated to her son. Ms. Stakely made a difference in the lives of the students and families she worked with and will be missed by so many in our community and beyond.”

Stakely was reportedly picking up her son that early morning after working her second job.

Police said they have not yet made any arrests in the case and are urging anyone with information or surveillance video to come forward as they continue to look for the suspect.

Anyone with further information is asked to contact Detective Lemmon at 614-645-2558 or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at 614- 461-8477.