Free Republic

HAWK POINT • The prime suspect in the abduction of a Louisiana, Mo., girl is dead, the Missouri Highway Patrol said Thursday morning. The suspect shot himself in the head when authorities closed in Wednesday afternoon, a day after the little girl was found alive in a St. Louis County strip mall parking lot. Cpl. Jeff Wilson of the Missouri Highway Patrol said the man died at 10:30 p.m. Wednesday at St. Joseph's Hospital in St. Charles. The patrol didn't confirm the man's death until Thursday morning. Police sources say the suspect is Paul S. Smith, a sex offender who...

The rescue operation at the Beaconsfield Gold mine in northern Tasmania is now focussed on getting food and water to the two men trapped underground since last Tuesday. Rescue workers are continuing to edge towards Brant Webb and Todd Russell. The miners are close to receiving water and food via a hole drilled through 12 metres of rock. They have survived on supplies in their drink bottles, and water seeping through the mine, since their ordeal started six days ago. Family members have arrived at the mine to get more information about the rescue. The aunt of Brant Webb, Karina...

PORTSMOUTH, N.H. - A congressional hopeful wrecked his car and wandered a mile in a daze, swimming across a river and then huddling under leaves for warmth until he was found alive a day later, officials and relatives said. Gary Dodds, 41, was taken to a hospital to be treated for hypothermia late Thursday. His wife, Cynthia, said Friday that he was doing well but has only foggy memories of his ordeal and "definitely had a good bump to the head." Dodds crashed on the Spaulding Turnpike on Wednesday evening, but emergency workers who arrived a few minutes later found...