The Richmond Police Department is searching for a missing 19-year-old female.

Shawna Reese was last seen at the Northside YMCA at 4207 Old Brook Road in Richmond on Sunday.

Reese is autistic and may need medical attention. Her family and friends are concerned for her well-being.

If you have any information on her whereabouts, contact the Richmond Police Department at 804-646-6764. Case #202311260271.

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Virginia tailback Perris Jones, in the moments after taking a helmet-to-helmet hit from Louisville defensive back Cam’ron Kelly in a Nov. 9 game, couldn’t feel anything, his body numb.

On Tuesday, less than three weeks later, Jones walked out of UofL Health’s Frazier Rehabilitation Institute, to head back to Charlottesville to continue his rehab.

“If you can make it through the night, there’s a brighter day. I stand by that,” Jones said Tuesday, an emotional day for a lot of people associated with this story.

Jones was on the turf, motionless, for several minutes after the hit.

As he came to grips with what had happened, Jones said he “closed my eyes and said a quick prayer.”

In the immediate aftermath, the prayer was answered in the form of a quick response from the training and medical staffs on both sidelines.

Jones was stabilized on the field and taken to UofL Health, where the next day, he underwent spinal surgery.

He was kept in intensive care for a week before being transferred to the Frazier Rehabilitation Institute on Nov. 17.

It was expected at the outset that he may be at UofL Health for several weeks, but Jones – a former walk-on who worked his way into a scholarship and then a two-year stint as Virginia’s starting tailback – is accustomed to exceeding others’ expectations.

“Every injury is unique, and even patients with the identical injury to Perris with the same level of severity might have a different outcome. However, this is a young man who doesn’t stop. He’s a young athlete that we actually had to stop him because he kept going, going and going,” said Dr. Camilo Castillo, the director of spinal cord injuries at the Frazier Rehabilitation Institute.

There’s still a lot of work to do for Jones. The injury, per Castillo, resulted in his upper body being weaker than his legs, and his right side to be weaker than the left.

Rehab from a serious injury doesn’t come with linear progress.

It’s a lot of fits and starts.

“It’s been a bit challenging for me, because with football, it’s such a merit-based system. You work so hard, and you get rewarded for your efforts and actions,” Jones said. “Dr. Castillo reminded me that this is not like that, because you can work as hard as you want, but there’s no guarantee that everything will come back as you want it to. So, just being patient throughout the process and making sure to take it a day at a time.”

What has helped him through is his faith, which is obviously unshakable.

“Since being here and since everything happened, it’s not something that you plan for, it’s not something that you ever expect to happen, it’s not something you want to happen, but it did. I’m a firm believer in Jesus Christ. That’s something I stand on, so I firmly believe everything happens for a reason,” Jones said.

He also has his roommate, Mike Hollins, who was left with life-threatening injuries in the Nov. 13, 2022, mass shooting that killed three of their UVA Football teammates – Devin Chandler, Lavel Davis Jr. and D’Sean Perry – to serve as inspiration.

“That’s my warrior right there,” Jones said. “If he can do it, I can do it, too.”

Tuesday was a good day for Jones and the Virginia Football family, a celebration of perseverance from a group that has had to endure a lot over the past year.

But Jones isn’t out of the woods yet.

“It really does come down to grit,” UofL Chief Medical Officer Jason Smith said. “I remind folks that sometimes, we have the easy part, and then it relies on the patient’s grit and determination to get the outcome they have.”

Jones is going to need more grit and determination to get to the endgame with rehab.

Grit comes with the territory with Perris Jones, who overcame the odds just getting on the football field at Virginia.

“That’s one thing I’ve held on to throughout the process, because you’re going to have good and bad days because coming from being a walk-on,” Jones said. “Man, that’s a rough lifestyle, but I’m grateful for it, and it built me into who I am today, because you can work so hard and not get anything, but it’s about the vision you have for yourself, your outlook and goals, and if you stay committed to that, then there’s no such thing as a bad day.”

Perris’ Road to Recovery

Message from Andrea Shine, Perris Jones’ mother:

My son Perris Jones, a University of Virginia running back, was recently involved in a spinal injury during his football game against Louisville. Currently, he is starting his journey of recovery at a rehabilitation center working on regaining the function of his hands after the life-altering injury.

Although he is unable to step on the field to play again, his future is still bright. This GoFundMe is intended to support Perris as he figures out the next steps in his journey of recovery and independence.

Thank you for being a source of strength, hope, and support during this critical time in Perris’s life.

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A Virginia Beach woman now faces a second-degree murder charge in the Oct. 7 shooting death of 59-year-old Eldon Valery.

Kristin Barber, 34, was originally charged with reckless handling of a firearm, use of a firearm in commission of a felony and child neglect in the shooting, which was reported at the intersection of Indian River Road and Lynnhaven Parkway.

Valery was found at the scene with a life-threatening gunshot wound to the upper body and was subsequently transported to a local hospital in critical condition.

The charges were upgraded on Oct. 14 to include additional charges of aggravated malicious wounding and shooting in a vehicle.

Valery died from his injuries on Oct. 30, and following his death, the Virginia Beach Commonwealth Attorney’s Office authorized second-degree murder charges against Barber, who was formally charged on Nov. 25 and remains in custody, according to a release from the Virginia Beach Police Department.

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The incident management team for the Matts Creek fire reported full containment late Monday. They have handed command of the fire to a smaller team.

The fire began on Nov. 12 and burned more than 11,000 acres in the James River Face Wilderness and Blue Ridge Parkway. The cause is undetermined.

Heavy equipment operators are completing repairs on the Glenwood Horse Trail near Belfast Creek, and firefighters are still working on repairs within the burned area.

All roads and trails within the fire area are now open to the public, and firefighters are replacing closure signs with warning signs.

Cold, blustery winds and snow flurries are being observed over the fire area today, and hikers are cautioned about entering recently burned areas under windy or wet conditions.

Due to persistent drought, Stage 1 fire restrictions remain in effect.

A team of U.S. Forest Service specialists is on site assessing conditions of the burned area.

A preliminary burned area vegetation map compiled from satellite imagery suggests that most of the fire burned with low severity, and that some moderate burning occurred on steep south-to-southwest-facing slopes. Field validation and additional data collection will improve mapping accuracy this week.

All roads are now open.

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Researchers have found an unlikely source to help the body manage stress, and it also may help prevent depression and anxiety.

University of Virginia School of Medicine researchers have discovered Lactobacillus, a bacterium found in fermented foods and yogurt, may improve our health.

The findings open the door to new therapies to treat anxiety, depression and other mental-health conditions.

The UVA scientists have published their findings in the journal Brain Behavior and Immunity.

The new research from UVA’s Alban Gaultier, PhD, and collaborators is notable because it pinpoints the role of Lactobacillus, separating it out from all the other microorganisms that naturally live in and on our bodies.

“Our discovery illuminates how gut-resident Lactobacillus influences mood disorders, by tuning the immune system,” said Gaultier, of UVA’s Department of Neuroscience, the Center for Brain Immunology and Glia and the TransUniversity Microbiome Initiative. “Our research could pave the way towards discovering much-needed therapeutics for anxiety and depression.”

Early attempts to manipulate the gut flora with beneficial bacteria, called probiotics, have produced mixed results.

Gaultier and his team took an innovative approach to hone in on Lactobacilli. Prior research from Gaultier’s lab suggested that the bacteria could reverse depression in lab mice, but the researchers needed to understand how.

“We were aware from our prior research that Lactobacillus was beneficial in improving mood disorders and was lost following psychological stress, but the underlying reasons remained unclear, primarily due to the technical challenges associated with studying the microbiome.”

Gaultier and his colleagues were able to explain exactly how Lactobacilli influence behavior, and how a lack of the bacteria can worsen depression and anxiety.

Lactobacilli in the family Lactobaccillacea, they found, maintain the levels of an immune mediator called interferon gamma that regulates the body’s response to stress and helps stave off depression.

Armed with this information, researchers may develop new ways to prevent and treat depression and other mental-health conditions in which Lactobacillus plays an important role.

For example, patients struggling with depression might take specially formulated probiotic supplements that will optimize their levels of helpful Lactobacillus.

“With these results in hand, we have new tools to optimize the development of probiotics, which should speed up discoveries for novel therapies,” said researcher Andrea R. Merchak, PhD. “Most importantly, we can now explore how maintaining a healthy level of Lactobacillus and/or interferon gamma could be investigated to prevent and treat anxiety and depression.”

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God’s Pit Crew, a nonprofit, faith-based crisis response organization serving victims of natural disasters and communities lacking essential resources, has received a Spirit of Virginia Award.

Gov. Glenn Youngkin and First Lady Suzanne S. Youngkin presented the Danville organization with the award on November 17.

“Through an unwavering commitment to communities affected by poverty and natural disasters, God’s Pit Crew volunteers exemplify what it means to have a servant’s heart,” First Lady Suzanne S. Youngkin said. “Glenn and I celebrate a labor of love that originated in Virginia and now assists communities across the country.”

Randy and Terry Johnson established God’s Pit Crew with a motivation to serve communities devastated by tornadoes in Oklahoma. The nonprofit has expanded across the United States as a volunteer-backed operation combatting humanitarian crisis caused by wildfires, hurricanes and other natural disasters. God’s Pit Crew distributed more than 3.4 million pounds of food, water and essential products to individuals and families in the U.S. in 2022, and more than 30,000 survival kits known as “Blessing Buckets.”

“God’s Pit Crew is extremely grateful to receive the First Lady’s Spirit of Virginia Award. Our ministry is truly blessed to be able to provide hope, healing and restoration to people in times of need all throughout the Commonwealth and around the world,” God’s Pit Crew President Randy Johnson said. “This award truly highlights the generosity and servitude of all the volunteers and donors that make our mission a possibility. We greatly appreciate Gov. Youngkin and the First Lady for this honor.”

The Spirit of Virginia Award recognizes unique qualities and standout achievements across the Commonwealth and salutes Virginians for uncommon contributions in private industries, education, culture, the arts and philanthropy.

The Youngkins will present six more awards in 2024. All award recipients are recognized during a holiday reception at the Virginia Executive Mansion at the end of the year.

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Waynesboro Public Library is hosting a Community Food Drive through December 30, 2023.

Donated food items will be used immediately in the Little Free Pantry onsite.

The Little Free Pantry is a partnership between The Neighbor Bridge and Waynesboro Public Library to provide food items and books available to the community 24/7. Since the pantry’s installation on September 1, 727 pounds of food have been distributed to the local community.

Donations ensure each of our neighbors has access to quality food this season. All donated food items must be shelf-stable/non-perishable, sealed and able to withstand high temperatures. Glass containers are accepted. Suggested items include canned meats, protein bars, baby food, canned fruits and vegetables, crackers, pasta, rice, water bottles, powdered or condensed milk and juice boxes.

For more information, visit www.theneighborbridge.org or contact neighborbridge@gmail.com.

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A 60-year-old man has been convicted in Norfolk Circuit Court for taking indecent liberties with a 5-year-old child this summer.

Keith Marquette Todd will be sentenced on Jan. 26.

According to court records, on Aug. 11, Norfolk Police special crimes detectives responded to a sexual assault report at an apartment in the Lamberts Point area.

The mother of the young victim told investigators that while she stepped outside for a phone call, Todd led the child to a hallway bathroom, undressed, told the child to touch him and tried to sit the victim on his lap. The child later told the mother that they tried to scream, but no one was within earshot.

When Todd and the child returned to the apartment, the mother had already returned from outside and asked where Todd took the child. Todd told the mother that he and the child had been inside the bathroom and told the child in front of the mother, “This is why you don’t go to the bathroom with strangers.”

On Nov. 27, Todd pleaded no contest, pursuant to the rule in North Carolina v. Alford, to taking indecent liberties with a child under age 15. Judge Everett A. Martin Jr. found him guilty.

In an Alford plea, a defendant maintains his innocence but admits that the evidence would be sufficient to convict if the case had gone to trial.

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The number of reported syphilis cases is on the rise in Virginia, and the Virginia Department of Health has launched a new webpage to educate the public.

Reported total early syphilis cases in Virginia increased 14 percent from 2018 to 2022. To date in 2023, syphilis case reports are 21 percent higher than for the equivalent period in 2022.

Most TES cases are diagnosed among men (84 percent in 2022). However, cases among women are on the rise (70 percent increase from 2018-2022).

Syphilis diagnoses among persons who misuse substances such as opioids, methamphetamine and cocaine are also increasing.

Cases of congenital syphilis, which occurs when a mother with syphilis passes the infection on to her baby during pregnancy, have similarly increased dramatically in the last decade.

National data show comparable trends.

The new syphilis webpage summarizes important information about syphilis infections, including:

• Common symptoms
• Risk factors
• Testing and treatment recommendations.

Virginians can use this information to better protect themselves and their communities from syphilis.

A syphilis data dashboard includes up-to-date information on annual and monthly TES case counts by patient residence and demographics.

Cases are reported by the local health district of the patient’s residence at diagnosis with standard VDH data suppression rules in place to protect patient privacy.

Data on congenital syphilis diagnoses are also presented by year and health region. The dashboard data is updated weekly on Tuesdays.

Additional resources specifically for healthcare providers are also available. Provider resources are designed to assist with identifying, staging, treating, reporting and preventing syphilis.

For more information on sexually transmitted disease testing, visit the VDH testing page.

For more information on syphilis and other sexually transmitted diseases, visit the VDH STDs page.

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A former Federal Bureau of Prisons Lieutenant was sentenced today to 36 months in prison for violating the civil rights of an inmate in Virginia by showing deliberate indifference to the inmate’s serious medical needs, resulting in the inmate’s death.

“This inmate’s death was not the result of inadvertence or a lapse in judgment.” said Jessica D. Aber, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. “His death was the completely preventable result of the deliberate choices made by the defendant who knew he had the constitutional duty to provide medical care. Inmates are entitled to basic human dignity.”

According to court documents, Michael Anderson, 52, admitted that on Jan. 9-10, 2021, he was working in his official capacity as a BOP lieutenant at the Federal Correctional Institution at Petersburg.

In that capacity, Anderson was the second-highest ranking officer at the prison and was responsible for the care of inmates.

On Jan. 9, 2021, a correctional officer notified Anderson that a 47-year-old inmate was experiencing symptoms of an apparent medical emergency and asked the defendant to help the inmate obtain medical care. Anderson personally observed the inmate’s symptoms and stated that he would get medical help for the inmate.

The defendant nevertheless failed to notify medical staff, obtain a medical assessment, contact the facility’s on-call physician or notify any other staff members of the inmate’s condition.

The next day, a correctional officer notified Anderson that the inmate had fallen to the ground in his cell.

After receiving this information, Anderson failed to obtain any assistance for the inmate.

The inmate laid on the ground, dead or dying, for more than an hour and a half before any correctional or medical staff entered his cell. By the time correctional and medical staff entered the cell, life-saving efforts failed, and the inmate was later pronounced dead.

The Justice Department’s Office of the Inspector General investigated the case.

“Inmates entrusted to the care and custody of a correctional facility rely on correctional officials for basic healthcare, especially in a medical emergency,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s civil rights division. “The Justice Department will continue to hold correctional officials who blatantly disregard inmates’ serious medical needs accountable.”

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