.
. >>> LOCAL 4 NEWS AT 5:00 STARTS
RIGHT NOW.
RIGHT NOW. >>> THE FIRST HOMICIDE OF THIS
YEAR RIGHT HERE IN HIGHLAND PARK
PARK.
PARK. I’LL SHOW YOU HOW THE TERRIBLE
DISCOVERY WAS MADE.
>>> WE’RE MONITORING A SEVERE
STORM TONIGHT.
STORM TONIGHT. >>> PROSECUTORS SAY SHE GOT
DRUNK AND DIDN’T NOTICE ANYTHING
UNTIL HER 18 DAY OLD INFANT WAS
DAY.
DAY. >> Anchor: 22-YEAR-OLD JAYLAH
THOMAS IS STARING DOWN 15 YEARS
IN PRISON IF CONVICTED OF
KILLING HER DAUGHTER.
>> Anchor: CAMERAS WERE THERE
AS SHE WAS CHARGED WITH
INVOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER AND
ALSO CHILD ABUSE.
ROB SPOKE TO HER FAMILY TODAY,
AND, ROB, THEY ARE COMING TO HER
DOEFS.
DOEFS. >> Reporter: THEY ARE.
BUT LET’S START WITH KIM WORTHY
AND WHAT SHE HAD TO SAY.
IT’S NOTEWORTHY.
IT’S NOTEWORTHY. IT’S APPALLING THAT AN 18 DAY
OLD BABY DIED LIKE THIS.
I DON’T KNOW WHY I HAD TO SAY
IT.
IT. TAKING CARE OF AN INFANT WHILE
INTOXICATED IS NOT A GOOD IDEA
AND DON’T DO IT.
ON THE FLIP SIDE OF THAT, THE
FAMILY REACHED OUT TO US TO GIVE
US SOME PERSPECTIVE ON THE
MOTHER.
MOTHER. THIS IS 22-YEAR-OLD JAYLAH
THOMAS OF DETROIT.
PROSECUTORS CLAIM SHE WAS DRUNK
WHILE TAKING CARE OF HER INFANT
DAUGHTER LAUREN WILLIAMS OVER
NIGHT SUNDAY INTO MONDAY
MORNING.
MORNING. THIS WAS THE SCENE EARLY MONDAY
MORNING.
MORNING. 5:30 A.M. JAYLAH CALLED 911
SAYING SHE FOUND HER BABY
UNRESPONSIVE FLOATING FACE DOWN
IN THE BATHTUB.
WHEN PARAMEDICS ARRIVED, THEY
PRONOUNCED THE CHILD DEAD AT THE
SCENE.
SCENE. DETROIT POLICE TOOK THOMAS INTO
CUSTODY AND AFTER AN AUTOPSY
SHOWED LAUREN DROWN.
THE PROSECUTOR CHARGED HER WITH
INVOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER AND
SECOND DEGREE CHILD ABUSE.
THIS MORNING THE MAGISTRATE
ENTERED A NOT GUILTY PLEA, GAVE
HER $150,000 CASH BOND.
THIS AFTERNOON HER FAMILY CAME
TO HER DEFENSE.
>> SHE’S A GOOD PERSON.
SHE’S FAMILY ORIENTED.
SHE LOVED HER FAMILY.
>> Reporter: HER OTHER SISTER
TELLS LOCAL 4 NEWS THE NEWS OF
WHAT HAPPENED SHOCKED HER.
>> VERY SURPRISED.
I NEVER THOUGHT SOMETHING WOULD
HAPPEN LIKE THAT.
IF SHE NEEDED SOMEBODY THERE
WITH HER, I WOULD THINK SHE
WOULD TELL ME.
BUT SHE FELT THAT SHE HAD IT.
>> Reporter: SHE ADMITS HER
SISTER, A FIRST TIME MOM, WAS
NOT ANXIOUS TO REACH OUT FOR
HELP AND SHOULD HAVE.
>> NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.
I WOULD HAVE LEFT EVERYTHING TO
HELP MY SISTER.
I LOVE HER.
>> Reporter: FAMILY SAYS THAT
THEY WILL BE THERE FOR HER NO
MATTER WHAT HAPPENS TO HER IN
THIS INSTANCE.
THIS INSTANCE. THEY’VE STARTED A GO FUND ME
PAGE TO TAKE CARE OF THE FUNERAL
OF LAUREN WILLIAMS.
RIGHT NOW THEY HAVE A FEW
HUNDRED DOLLARS IN THAT ACCOUNT.
IN THE MEANTIME, THE MOM, JAYLAH
THOMAS, WILL BE BACK IN COURT
FOR A PRELIMINARY HEARING IN THE
MIDDLE OF SEPTEMBER.
REPORTING LIVE IN DETROIT.
>> Anchor: JUST TERRIBLY SAD.
ALL RIGHT, ROD.
>>> OUR OTHER TOP STORY AT THIS
HOUR.
HOUR. HIGHLAND PARK POLICE
INVESTIGATING THE FIRST HOMICIDE
OF THE YEAR AFTER A MAN IS FOUND
SHOT DEAD IN A CAR.
>> Anchor: THIS HAPPENED ON
GEORGE STREET.
GEORGE STREET. AND THAT’S RIGHT OFF OF PURITAN.
IT’S A DESOLATE AREA WITH ONE
VACANT HOME.
VACANT HOME. LET’S BRING IN SHAWN LAY.
SHAWN, I UNDERSTAND YOU JUST
SPOKE TO THE VICTIM’S FAMILY.
WHAT ARE THEY SAYING?
>> Reporter: THEY’RE HEARTBROKEN
RIGHT NOW.
RIGHT NOW. THEY’RE ALSO OUTRAGED.
TAKE A LOOK AROUND ME.
THIS IS GEORGE STREET RIGHT HERE
IN HIGHLAND PARK.
JUST THAT HOUSE HERE NOTHING
THAT WAY AT ALL.
THE VICTIM HERE IS NATALIA
RINGO.
RINGO. HE’S ONLY 23 YEARS OLD.
THE FAMILY SAID HE WAS PARKED
HERE THIS MORNING AND THERE WAS
NO REASON AT ALL FOR THIS GUY
FROM DETROIT IT BE PARKED HERE.
TONIGHT THEY’RE CALLING THIS
HOMICIDE A SETUP.
>> A LARGE COMMUNITY PROJECT.
>> Reporter: HE’S TRYING TO
MAKE THE BEST OF HIS HIGHLAND
PARK NEIGHBORHOOD.
PARK NEIGHBORHOOD. HE PUT SIGNS UP ON VACANT HOUSES
TO TRY TO DETER CRIMES.
HE FILLS POTHOLES ON HIS OWN
STREET.
STREET. >> YOU HAVE TO.
I’M TIRED OF CLEANING UP.
>> Reporter: NOW SOMEONE USED
HIS TREAT TO COMMIT A MURDER.
GEORGE STREET IS A DUMPING
GROUND OF STOLEN CARS.
A DRIVER FOR DETROIT’S
NATIONWIDE TOWING THOUGHT HE
FOUND ONE THIS MORNING.
WHEN HE ROLLED UP, HE FOUND A
23-YEAR-OLD MAN FROM DETROIT
SHOT DEAD BEHIND THE WHEEL.
THE ENGINE OF THE CAR STILL
RUNNING.
RUNNING. . THIS WAS AN EXECUTION.
>> Reporter: THERE ARE NO
CAMERAS ANYWHERE HERE.
THERE ARE NO NEIGHBORS WHERE
THIS TOOK PLACE.
THIS IS HIGHLAND PARK’S FIRST
HOMICIDE OF 2019.
A MARK CITY LEADERS WERE CLOSELY
TRACKING.
TRACKING. >> WE’RE VERY PROUD OF THE FACT
THAT WE HAD NO HOMICIDES FOR THE
YEAR OF 2019.
THAT WAS VERY, VERY GOOD.
>> Reporter: THE MAN WHO BECAME
THAT FIRST HOMICIDE OF THIS YEAR
IN HIGHLAND PARK, 23-YEAR-OLD NA
TALIA RINGO.
TALIA RINGO. WE JUST CAUGHT UP WITH HIS
FAMILY AND TONIGHT THEY ARE
DEVASTATED.
DEVASTATED. WHAT’S THE FAMILY GOING THROUGH
RIGHT NOW?
RIGHT NOW? >> HELL.
>> HELL. HELL.
HELL. I CAN’T IMAGINE BEING TAMMY OR
NATE HAVING TO GO AND IDENTIFY
THEIR BABY.
THEIR BABY. >> Reporter: BACK HERE LIVE,
FAMILY MEMBERS HAVE BEEN
STOPPING BY ALL DAY LEAVING
THEE BALLOONS.
THEE BALLOONS. JUST 23 YEARS OLD.
FAMILY SAYS THERE IS NO REASON
FOR HIM TO BE ON THIS STREET
WHATSOEVER.
WHATSOEVER. JUST CHECKED WITH HOMICIDE
INVESTIGATORS RIGHT HERE IN
HIGHLAND PARK.
HIGHLAND PARK. NO SUSPECTS RIGHT NOW.
THEY CONTINUE TO WORK THIS VERY,
VERY HARD AT THIS MOMENT.
BACK TO YOU GUYS.
>> Anchor: SHAWN, IT DOES SEEM
MISS TEERS -- MISS TEERS --
MYSTERIOUS BECAUSE THAT STREET
IS SO REMOTE.
>> Reporter: TAKE A LOOK.
LOOK PAST.
LOOK PAST. THERE IS NOTHING HERE.
IN FACT, A MEMBER OF THE CITY WE
WERE TALKING TO HERE, SOMEONE
THAT WORKS FOR THE CITY AND
ANOTHER POLICE OFFICER SAID THEY
HAD NEVER BEEN TO THIS STREET IN
ALL OF THE YEARS WORKING HERE.
SO THERE’S A LOT OF
INVESTIGATION TO DO THERE.
NO CAMERAS AND NO NEIGHBORS THAT
SAW ANYTHING HERE.
>> Anchor: I HOPE SOMEONE COMES
FORWARD IF THEY HAPPEN TO KNOW
SOMETHING.
SOMETHING. ALL RIGHT.
ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU, SHAWN.
>>> ON THE LEFT IS YOU’RE GOING
TO SEE HERE RIGHT NOW IT’S 88
DEGREES.
DEGREES. PARTLY CLOUDY IN LAUDERDALE BY
THE SEA.
THE SEA. FLORIDA.
FLORIDA. PERFECT DAY FOR THE BEACH.
BUT ON THE RIGHT, HURRICANE
DORIAN CHAINING IN THE --
CHURNING IN THE ATLANTIC AND
GAINING STRENGTH, SAD TO SAY.
>> Anchor: RIGHT NOW A MASSIVE
CHUNK OF THE FLORIDA COAST SITS
IN THE PATH.
BRAND NEW DATA ON ITS TRACK
WHILE WE ALSO HAVE TO START WITH
LOCAL WEATHER BECAUSE WE HAVE
WORRIES HERE, BEN.
>> Anchor: YES.
IT’S FIRST ON THE PLATE.
IT’S THIS LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS
HERE ACROSS THE WESTERN AND
CENTRAL PORTIONS OF THE STATE.
THEY’RE DEFINITELY SOME
LIGHTNING STRIKES AND DOWNPOURS
HERE.
HERE. NO SEVERE WEATHER AS OF ROOT
NOW.
NOW. BUT WE’RE MONITORING ESPECIALLY
THE WESTERN END OF IT COMING OFF
THE LAKE.
THE LAKE. THERE’S A LITTLE MORE
DEVELOPMENT STARTING TO FORM
SOUTH OF THAT LINE.
EVEN THAT IS STILL ABOUT 60
MILES AWAY FROM OUR WEST ZONE.
IT’S GOING TO BE AWHILE BEFORE
IT GETS HERE.
WE’RE STILL LOOKING AT THE 8:00
OR 9:00 HOUR TONIGHT WHEN WE
COULD HAVE THE THREAT OF AT
LEAST STRONG STORMS.
WE’LL TALK ABOUT THE TIMING IN A
MINUTE.
MINUTE. LET’S GO DOWN TO THE ATLANTIC.
THIS IS DORIAN.
IT’S GOING TO BE OVER OPEN WATER
FOR SEVERAL DAYS.
THE LATEST FORECAST TRACK HAS
THIS BECOMING A MAJOR HURRICANE
EVEN FASTER.
EVEN FASTER. THIS IS FRIDAY AT 2:00 P.M.
SUSTAINED WINDS OF 115 MILES PER
HOUR.
HOUR. THEN IT TAKES IT OVER THE
BAHAMAS.
BAHAMAS. THIS IS A VERY SIMILAR PATH.
STILL AT A CATEGORY 4 STRENGTH.
BUT IT’S SLOWING IT DOWN
SOMEWHAT.
SOMEWHAT. THIS IS SUNDAY AT 2:00.
AND LIKELY MAKING LANDFALL
PROBABLY LATE ON MONDAY NOW
BEFORE IT MOVES INLAND AND
STARTS TO WEAKEN.
POSSIBLY REEMERGING ON THE OTHER
SIDE OF THE GULF.
IN FLORIDA THE TIME TO PREPARE
IS NOW.
IS NOW. GROCERY STORES PACKED.
EVEN THE NAVY SCRAMBLING FIGHTER
JETS OUT OF THE REGION WITH SOME
OF THEM HEADED HERE TO MICHIGAN.
>> Reporter: AFTER BATTERING
THE CARIBBEAN, DORIAN IS NOW
TAKING AIM AT THE ATLANTIC COAST
AND GROWING.
AND GROWING. THE STORM HAS DOUBLED IN SIZE
OVER THE LAST 48 HOURS AND IT
COULD BE A MAJOR CATEGORY 4
STORM OVER 130 MILES
PER HOUR BEFOREHAND FALL.
>> I DON’T SEE THERE’S ANY
PORTION OF FLORIDA THAT COULD
TAKE A STRIKE.
>> YOU HAVE TO PREPARE FOR WATER
AND YOU HAVE TO PREPARE TO LOSE
POWER AND HAVE A PLAN THAT YOU
EXECUTE.
EXECUTE. >> Reporter: THE ENTIRE FLORIDA
PENINSULA IS IN THE STRIKE ZONE.
BUT CONCERN STRETCHES FROM THE
KEYS THROUGH THE CAROLINAS.
MILLIONS TOPPING OFF GAS TANKS,
FILLING SANDBAGS AND MAKING SURE
GENERATORS ARE RUNNING.
THERE’S BEEN A RUSH ON FOOD,
WATER AND SUPPLIES.
>> BATTERIES, FLASHLIGHTS,
GENERATORS, EXTENSION CORDS.
ANYTHING THAT THEY CAN USE THAT
IS GOING TO GIVE THEM THE
SURVIVAL.
SURVIVAL. >> Anchor: AND, YOU KNOW, IT’S
BEEN A SLOW START TO THE SEASON.
SO A LOT OF FOLKS KIND OF OUT OF
PRACTICE DOWN THERE.
>> Anchor: YES, RIGHT.
>> Anchor: THEY HAVE TO RAMP UP
QUICK.
QUICK. >> Anchor: FALSE SENSE OF
SECURITY.
SECURITY. >>> A TV JUDGE AND A DETROIT
NATIVE BUT TONIGHT CELEBRITY
HEADLINES ARE CIRCLING AROUND
JUDGE MATHIS AND CLAIMS THAT HE
SPIT IN THE FACE OF A VALET
OUTSIDE OF A BAR.
MATHIS VEHEMENTLY DENY IT
HAPPENS BUT THE VALET DRIVER
SAID HE’S HEADING TO A LAB TO
PROVE IT.
PROVE IT. >> Reporter: IT HAPPENED
OUTSIDE OF GREEKTOWN.
BOTH SIDES AGREE THERE WAS AN
ARGUMENT.
ARGUMENT. BUT AFTER THE VERBAL TONGUE
LASHING, THE VALET SAYS THE
JUDGE TOOK IT WAY TOO FAR AND
SPIT ON HIM.
THE JUDGE DENIES THAT.
BUT TODAY COMES ANOTHER
BOMBSHELL ACCUSATION.
BOMBSHELL ACCUSATION. >> I’M NOT A LIAR.
WHAT HAPPENED TO ME HAPPENED TO
ME.
ME. >> Reporter: A CLEAR MESSAGE
FROM CHARLES SMITH WHO AT THE
LAST MINUTE CANCELLED AN
INTERVIEW WITH US AND WENT TO
THE HOSPITAL.
THE HOSPITAL. BECAUSE IN HIS WORDS, THIS IS
ALL OVERWHELMING AND HIS NERVES
ARE SHOT.
ARE SHOT. >> HE GOT SPIT IN THE FACE.
AND PART OF IT WAS ON HIS SHIRT.
>> Reporter: HIS ATTORNEY SAYS
SMITH HAS KNOWN THE JUDGE FOR
YEARS AND PARKED HIS CAR MANY
TIMES.
TIMES. . .
. . >> THIS IS WHY IT’S TROUBLING
HIM FOR AN INDIVIDUAL OF HIS
STATURE TO DEMEAN, DEGRADE, CUSS
AT AND SPIT ON HIM.
>> Reporter: WITH CAMERAS
SURROUNDING THAT INTERSECTION,
MITCHELL HAS BEEN ASSURED THERE
IS VIDEO EVIDENCE BACKING UP HIS
CLIENT.
CLIENT. >> WE HAD A LITTLE VERBAL BACK
AND FORTH AND THAT WAS THE
EXTENT OF IT.
>> Reporter: JUDGE MATHIS TOLD
HIS STORY TO TMZ LIVE SAYING HE
ONLY YELLED AT SMITH AND THINKS
THERE IS ANOTHER MOTIVE HERE.
>> I DON’T KNOW IF THIS IS A
MONEY GRAB, WHICH I SUSPECT IT
IS.
IS. BUT, YOU KNOW, THIS HAPPEN ALL
OF THE TIME.
HE DIDN’T ASK TO GET SPIT ON.
SO THESE PEOPLE ARE TALKING
ABOUT MONEY GRAB.
WAT WAS HIS RECOURSE?
TO CALL UP A COUPLE OF HOMEYS.
HE FILED A POLICE REPORT.
HE CONTACTED LEGAL COUNSEL.
WHAT SHOULD I DO.
>> Reporter: THE LATEST
DEVELOPMENT CAME TUESDAY NIGHT
WHEN MITCHELL ACTING ON MATHIS’S
BEHALF APPROACHED SMITH AT THE
RESTAURANT AND OFFERED HIM SOME
SORT OF PAYOUT TO MAKE ALL OF
THIS GO AWAY.
NEXT MITCHELL PLANS TO SEND
SMITH’S SHIRT OUT FOR DNA
TESTING AND THEN FILE THE
LAWSUIT.
LAWSUIT. IN DETROIT, LOCAL 4.
>> Anchor: GOODNESS.
>> Anchor: STORY DOESN’T END
THERE.
THERE. >> Anchor: NO DOUBT.
>>> WE ARE OFF AND RUNNING ON
THURSDAY.
THURSDAY. HERE IS NICK.
>> Reporter: NEW NUMBERS OUT
ACROSS THE STATE MEASURING OUR
STUDENT’S PERFORMANCE IN
SCHOOLS.
SCHOOLS. HOW ARE THEY DOING AND HOW IS
THE DETROIT SCHOOL SYSTEM
WORKING OUT?
WORKING OUT? >>> NEW AND EXPECTING MOMS AND
DADS GATHER IN DETROIT FOR A
COMMUNITY BABY SHOWER.
AND THEY WERE IN FOR QUITE THE
SURPRISE.
SURPRISE. WE’LL TELL YOU MORE ABOUT THIS
EVENT AT 5:00.
>>> BUT FIRST, A MICHIGAN FEERJ
TEENAGER FIGHTING TO SURVIVE ALL
BECAUSE OF A BUG BITE.