• Arts and Culture

by Ann Brown

May 26, 2024

Ghanaian Toddler Crowned Guinness World Records’ Youngest-Ever Male Artist, Paintings Selling Rapidly

Since learning to walk and talk, Ace-Liam Nana Sam, who turns two in July, paints at his mini easel.

---

A toddler from Ghana has been named the world’s youngest artist by Guinness World Records. Ace-Liam Nana Sam Ankrah, who was one year and 152 days old when he received the title, began painting when he was just six months old. His mother, Chantelle Kuukua Eghan, also an artist, introduced him to painting as a way to entertain him while she worked on a commissioned piece for Miss Universe 2023.

Eghan, a single mother, was surprised by what her infant son created as he crawled around in the colors on the canvas, aptly naming his first piece “The Crawl.” She noticed her son’s joy and fascination with the bright colors and was particularly impressed by his ability to choose complementary colors.

“His paintings show someone who is intrigued about discovering things,” Eghan told Guinness.

Since learning to walk and talk, Ace-Liam now asks to paint in their home studio, standing at his mini easel with his own apron and paint palette.

“Once he’s done, he says, ‘Mama finish,'” Eghan shared with Guinness. “Every painting is an expression of his curiosity and joy in discovering new things.”

Ace-Liam, who will turn two in July, quickly built a portfolio of colorful creations, and he has been exhibited at the Museum of Science and Technology in Ghana’s capital, Accra—nine of the 10 pieces sold at the exhibit. Ghana’s first lady, Rebecca Akufo-Addo, attended the exhibit and even commissioned a piece from him. Ace-Liam has sold 15 pieces, and an auction of his work is being planned.

After participating in a professional public exhibition and selling his work, Ace-Liam became eligible for the title of the world’s youngest artist, which he officially received on May 20. “When I opened the email, I just broke down and thanked God,” Eghan told the BBC.

She hopes that this recognition will allow her son to find scholarships to nurture his talents, provide opportunities to sell his art internationally and encourage others to foster children’s talents. “Every child is unique, and nurturing their passions can lead to amazing discoveries and achievements,” the proud mother told Guinness.

Despite his young age, Ace-Liam’s work has drawn comparisons to famous artists. His mother likens his abstract, color-rich paintings to those of Jackson Pollock.

RELATED CONTENT: Meet the 2-Year Old Math Genius Who Taught Himself How to Speak Japanese

• Arts and Culture

by Mary Spiller

May 26, 2024

Sunny Hostin Says Book Execs Doubted Her Black Beach Romance Novels

She proved them wrong. And has a third book about to be published.

---

Sunny Hostin, co-host of The View, opened up about some of the challenges she faced while working to release her novels. In a May 22 interview with Entertainment Weekly, the daytime television star recalled when a book executive doubted her ability to succeed.

Hostin, 55, told the outlet ahead of the May 28 release of her third book, “Summer on Highland Beach,” that a publisher she attempted to work with didn’t support her vision for the series set in historically Black “elevated beach settings.” 

Hostin began, “The first two meetings I had were unsuccessful because the people in the room didn’t get it. They just didn’t get it.”

Hostin explained that she was inspired to enter the literary space after noticing that few romance novels center on Black women. She recalled being in an airport looking for some reading and not finding anything featuring Black women. She recalled, “I remember one executive saying, ‘Well, what’s the market for this?’ And I was like, ‘Black women.’ She was like, ‘Really? You think so?’” 

“African-American women are the most educated demographic in this country. We have the most degrees.”

Hostin added, “I was very surprised that not only did these books not exist, executives didn’t even think there was an audience for it. It was surprising and a bit disappointing.”

Hostin praised the woman who took her on as an editor for her summer series. Carrie Feron saw her vision from the start.

“She not only saw the characters, she saw me and the audience. She saw three books,” Hostin said.

The executives who doubted her were wrong in their mistrust of her project. Hostin’s first novel, “Summer on the Bluffs,” sold 25,000 copies in its first week after release. It was so popular that Amazon wants to adapt it into an Amazon Prime Television series with critically acclaimed actress Octavia Spencer to potentially produce the project if it fits her schedule.

Related Content: The View Host Sunny Hostin Rebuked Biden Administration’s Mishandling of Haitian Migrants

by Mary Spiller

May 25, 2024

Alabama Police Overwhelmed With ‘Freaknik’ Parties, Some Have Turned Deadly

One person was fatally shot in Louisville, Alabama, at a Freaknik-inspired party.

---

Sheriff and police authorities have been overwhelmed by the number of people flooding into Louisville, Alabama, for Freaknik-inspired parties. The rural town of just 600 people recently saw nearly 1,000 people flood the streets for one such party, which turned deadly.

The authorities reported being unprepared for the traffic they received in Louisville. 

Barbour County Sheriff’s Office, Lt. Tracy Reese, said, “I talked to the promoter, and she said she sold wristbands, and she knew how many there were. She said it was approximately 900 people, which is a large crowd for us. There aren’t even 900 people who live in Louisville.”

All the buzz and attention surrounding Freaknik started with flyers about a Freaknik-style block party in a Louisville open field. It got further reach when details were put out on social media about the party. The posts gained traction with the release of the new Freaknik documentary, but the sheriff of Barbour County had no idea the event was going to happen. 

Unfortunately, the Louisville Freaknik-style party got out of hand on its opening night for Kenyatta Snell, 25, one of the people invited to attend. 

Kenyatta’s mother, Pamela Snell, said, “She told me she was going to Freaknik. That’s what they called it.”

The young girl’s mother told the outlet that Kenyatta was concerned about all the weapons present when they arrived, so she left. “There were too many guns out here for me,” she said.

Unfortunately, the mother would never hear from her daughter again after 9:30 at night.

When Kenyatta and her friends returned to the party in Louisville, a shooting broke out, and Kenyatta was tragically killed.

“We scanned the whole property and collected 40 to 50 shell casings,” Lt. Reese revealed. “Based on where we picked up the shell casings, there was a group on this side and a group on this side, and they appeared to just be shooting at each other. We still don’t know what started it.”

This is just one in a series of Freaknik-themed parties getting out of hand in Alabama. 

In Selma, the mayor suspended the police chief and placed him on administrative leave after several shootings occurred. Mayor James Perkins Jr. went public with his grievances about police failing to handle the Freaknik parties. He said that the authorities needed a change in leadership after Selma officers didn’t adequately respond to violence breaking out during “Freaknik-style street parties.” 

“People are throwing regular illegal Freaknik-style street parties within feet of the police department. There is video evidence,” Perkins said. “Recently, one such Freaknik party ended with over 100 shots fired.”

RELATED CONTENT: Whoomp, There It Is! Freaknik Documentary Officially Drops On Hulu

• Legal

by Mary Spiller

May 25, 2024

FBI Raids Business Of Mississippi District Attorney

The FBI raided the business of Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens, Downtown Cigar Company.

---

The Federal Bureau of Investigation raided the Jackson, Mississippi, business of Hinds County District Attorney Jody Owens. On May 22, the FBI searched Downtown Cigar Company for an undisclosed reason.

According to a statement released by FBI Jackson Public Affairs Officer Marshay Lawson to the Mississippi Free Press, the FBI raided several different sites on the same day. 

Lawson explained, “The FBI is executing federal search warrants at multiple locations. The affidavit in support (of) the search warrants has been sealed by the court and so I am prohibited from commenting further. There is no threat to public safety.” Lawson did not disclose the other locations or the reason behind the raids.

Owens, however, is still listed as the manager of the parent company that owns the Downtown Cigar Company — the other location that agents searched. The business has a state permit to sell alcohol and opened its doors as a bar. 

Owens is the acting Democratic district attorney. In February 2020, he announced the first arrests made in Mississippi’s publicly unveiled $77 million welfare scandal. Republican State Auditor Shad White was also involved. 

Owens released a statement to the Mississippi Free Press about the FBI raid on his office. 

“This morning, FBI agents came to our offices. We are fully cooperating with their efforts,” the statement read. “The Hinds County District Attorney’s Office is fully functioning and continues to work on behalf of the citizens in Hinds County. That has been and will continue to be our primary focus. Currently, we have no further statements.”

According to WAPT-TV reports, while Owens’ office and his owned business were being searched, several FBI agents paid a visit to Jackson City Hall and had a discussion with the chief of staff for Mayor Chokwe Lumumba. 

RELATED CONTENT: FBI Conducts Home Raids On Fourth NYC Mayor Advisor

• Sports

by Daniel Johnson

May 25, 2024

Shilo Sanders Faces Scrutiny Over Income Disclosure Amid Bankruptcy Filing Linked To $11.8 Million Judgment

Shilo Sanders, a son of University of Colorado head coach Deion Sanders, is under scrutiny surrounding his income.

---

Shilo Sanders, the son of Univerity of Colorado head coach Deion Sanders, is now facing additional scrutiny after questions surrounding his income have surfaced following his filing for bankruptcy in late 2023.

The bankruptcy filing followed an $11.8 million judgment against him tied to an assault. Sanders lost a civil lawsuit in 2022 related to an alleged assault on a security guard at his Dallas high school in 2015. A lawsuit filed in Dallas District Court in 2016 claimed that the security guard, John Darjean, had “sustained severe and permanent injuries, including a broken neck, damage to his cervical spine, permanent neurological injuries, and irreversible incontinence,” according to a 2024 filing in the bankruptcy proceedings. These injuries were allegedly caused when Sanders elbowed and continued to hit Darjean during an altercation.

Sanders seemed to file for bankruptcy to absolve the debt, but now his bankruptcy filing is being called into question.

According to Yahoo, Sanders claimed in December 2023 to only have $323,477, which primarily consisted of a Robinhood account and a Mercedes GLE AMG 63, valued at $75,000. The amount he declared in December was down from the account Sanders claimed in October, which was $477,881. 

Lawyers for John Darjean, a former security guard at Triple A Academy, the school branch of the Focus Academies charter school, which has since closed, have taken umbrage with the lack of disclosure of Shilo Sanders’ NIL portfolio. According to a January 2024 court filing, “Contrary to the schedules, Shilo has admitted acquiring vast amounts of high-end and expensive clothing,” the filing reads. “For example, on his YouTube Channel posted on May 4, 2023, he states, ‘Alright we at the Louis (Vuitton) Store I am trying to spend at least $50,00.00 today.’”

According to Westword, none of the items Sanders routinely displays on his social media accounts were included in his earnings discourse, to which his attorneys replied that Sanders is not obligated to itemize his personal property. 

Darjean’s filing further scrutinizes Sanders’ claim not to know what his role is in ventures referred to as SS21 LLC or Big 21 LLC aside from being the sole owner of them and that they are designed to contract paid appearances for his NIL ventures. 

“On the surface, this omission is as glaring as it is preposterous because it is Shilo’s very NIL value and/or public value that are the source of the non-stop paid engagements and social media appearances,” the filing says. “The entire underpinning of the NIL concept is the value of the individual athlete, but Shilo chose not only to hide the value of the entire NIL endeavor with the ‘unknown’ listings for the two of the entities that were disclosed (Big 21 LLC and/or SS21 LLC), but Shilo intentionally failed to identify and disclose his individual NIL property interest anywhere in the schedules.”

The filing also refers to Sanders’ NIL portfolio as the most lucrative and highly valued of Sanders’ assets; Sanders, meanwhile, asserts in his own filing that Darjean’s filings amount to a violation of the protective order issued by the State of Texas. 

According to USA Today, lawyers for Sanders have also argued that he was unaware of the initial trial and was not made aware of the judgment against him until 2023, claiming that notices for the trial either never reached Sanders or were sent to the incorrect address and that he didn’t have a lawyer at the time of the initial suit. 

In February, Sanders’ lawyers argued that the $11.3 million judgment represented an undue burden on their client, writing in court documents, “Given the size of the judgment and the fact that Shilo was an undergraduate college student looking towards graduate programs, the creation of a post-judgment receivership would have a permanent effect on his ability to start his life after graduation, and would likely result in the Debtor (Sanders) remaining subject to collection efforts from the Plaintiff for the rest of his life.”

The filing added, “As a result, the Debtor filed his voluntary petition for relief pursuant to Chapter 7 of the Bankruptcy Code to allow him to get a fresh start, free from the oppressive burden of his debts.”

RELATED CONTENT: Coach Prime’s Son Shilo Sanders Set Sights On Gridiron Glory At NFL Honors

• Sports

by Daniel Johnson

May 25, 2024

Football Camp Exposes High School Players To HBCU Programs

The Arizona camp was started by a former Howard University volleyball player and her husband, a former Howard University baseball player.

---

The First Annual HBCU High School Football Camp, started by a former Howard University volleyball player and her husband, a former Howard University baseball player, to expose Arizona high school football players to HBCUs, was deemed a success by the most important voices: the kids who participated. 

As Cronkite News reported, the camp, which Brittany and Vince Buckles created following a brainstorming session seven months ago, addresses the needs of all involved. The HBCU programs that attended need to expand their recruiting efforts into the western part of the country, and the high schoolers that attended need attention paid individually to their fundamentals, which often doesn’t happen at bigger camps. 

Alabama A&M Recruiting Coordinator Bobby Turner told the outlet that the camp provided a symbiotic relationship. “It’s important that we scout talent out west because these guys need opportunity just like kids in our wheelhouse,” Turner said. “Unless you’re exposed to something, you sometimes won’t get an opportunity because that’s not the norm. So, us getting out here to the desert gives these students an opportunity but also allows us to build our brand from an HBCU athletic and academic standpoint.”

Buckles told Cronkite News that some of the HBCUs that didn’t make the trip out West told her that finances were a barrier to their ability to attend the camp, so Buckles is aiming to create a nonprofit organization that will help cover some of the costs for the universities for next year’s camp. The camp also did not forget about the coaches. According to Cronkite News, following the camp, there was a networking event for the high school, junior college, and HBCU coaches who helped run the camp.

Elijah Sherbin-Fox, a senior quarterback at Desert Edge High School in Arizona, told the outlet that there is “tremendous value in going to the camp,” even if he is unsure where he will sign at the close of his high school football career. Sherbin-Fox is currently receiving interest from Temple and Marshall universities but has not ruled out attending an HBCU if the opportunity presents itself. 

“Just learning from high-level coaches at this camp on things like my footwork or stepping into my throws was good,” Sherbin-Fox said. “I definitely appreciate these HBCU camps. I’m not opposed to going to an HBCU. I’d go if I had the opportunity to. It’ll definitely be a blessing to be a part of and put on for Black culture.”

At the camp, 35 high school players showcased their skills in warmups, a 40-yard-dash, positional drills, and a seven-on-seven scrimmage in front of representatives from Howard University, Morgan State University, North Carolina A&T University, Alabama A&M University, and Lincoln University. 

Ahead of the camp, Jayden Wooden, a former Morgan State safety, talked to the camp attendees about what it meant to him to attend an HBCU. He summarized his talking points to Cronkite News, saying, “I wanted to let these kids know that there is no experience like an HBCU, from the culture to the community,” Wooden said. “You can’t get those personal experiences at predominantly white institutions. That’s my main thing – the Black cultural experience on the West Coast is lacking, and it’s important to bring that to light. It’s important to preach what an HBCU can offer.”

Xavier Buckles, the son of Brittney and Vince Buckles, is a quarterback at Williams Field High, and he echoed the sentiments of Sherbin-Fox, telling Cronkite News ahead of the camp, “I believe that we are a top-five football state in the country.”

Xavier added, “They need to come out here and see that a little bit more. Once they do step foot, they’re going to notice the talent right away, and then they’re going to hopefully end up recruiting some of us. And then, hopefully, that ends up working out at their universities. Then they come back, and the cycle continues and we can filter Arizona kids through HBCUs, because I feel like that’d be really good.”

RELATED CONTENT: Now That Affirmation Action Is Dead, Black Folks ‘Need HBCUs More Than Ever’

• Legal

by Daniel Johnson

May 25, 2024

Four Years After George Floyd’s Murder, Police Reform Efforts Stall Amidst Ongoing Brutality

The momentum that was generated by Floyd’s murder has disappeared as legislative efforts languish.

---

The murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis Police Department officer Derek Chauvin in 2020 was allegedly a transformative moment in the history of America. However, four years later, the country seems eager to follow its usual pattern as incidents of police brutality against Black individuals continue. The social justice legislation in his name, the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, has yet to move forward.

As Reuters reports, the momentum generated by Floyd’s murder, as well as others that year, like Breonna Taylor and Stephen Clark, has disappeared as legislative efforts have borne no fruit. Community advocates and family survivors of victims of police violence remain frustrated by what they describe as the stilted progress of the summer of 2020. 

Stevante Clark, Stephen Clark’s brother, told Reuters that he does not believe the Biden administration has aggressively pursued justice for his brother or George Floyd. 

“You can’t honor the life and legacy of George Floyd without passing comprehensive policy and legislative change to prevent George Floyds from happening,” Clark said. “I don’t think the Biden administration has been aggressive enough when it comes to this crisis — and this is not just a Black fight — this is for everybody. People have become desensitized by police murder.”

The Biden administration reiterated its desire on May 24 for Congress to take action on the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, which was introduced in 2021 to address aggressive actions from law enforcement officers, misconduct, and racial bias. The bill stalled in 2021, which Biden blamed on the tactics of Republicans, and a day before Biden stated, “I will continue to urge Congress to send the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, which ensures law enforcement accountability, to my desk.” Democratic Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee reintroduced the bill. 

Police reform has taken a backseat to concerns like the economy and outbreaks of violence in Ukraine and Gaza. While not seemingly a concern nationally, police reform remains a central focus of Black voters.

In a piece examining the fall of Baltimore prosecutor Marilyn Mosby, Slate spoke with Phillip Atiba Solomon, a co-founder of the Center for Policing Equality and the chair of African American Studies and professor of psychology at Yale University. Solomon noted that the trajectory of reform follows cycles of backlash, and the current backlash to Floyd’s murder is no exception.

“There was great appetite for the changes of scale and scope of the problem in 2020—that appetite died in 2020,” Solomon said. “If we’re looking for progress on any segment of justice, including reform, it should always be seen through the context of cycles of backlash.”

Another bill focused on police reform, The People’s Response Act, was introduced by Rep. Cori Bush in 2023. That bill is supported by The Movement for Black Lives, a national coalition of over 150 leaders and organizations. According to a one-pager published by Bush’s office, the bill is focused on an “inclusive, holistic, and health-centered approach to public safety.”

That bill, experts warn, is expected to face resistance from both Republicans and more centrist Democrats despite its relatively modest aims.

Though the bill was also supported by Black Lives Matter in 2023, Cicely Gay, the board chairwoman of Black Lives Matter, expressed concern that while legislation aimed at reform stalls, families are left to express their frustration at the slow progress of justice. “Our position is that reform is not enough,” Gay said before adding that incremental reform is insufficient for grieving families. “We hear firsthand from many families about not only what they experienced, but the lack of progress, and in making policy change.”

RELATED CONTENT: Derek Chauvin Accused of Putting Knee Into Woman’s Back Months Before George Floyd Murder

• Health and Wellness

by Daniel Johnson

May 25, 2024

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin Resumes Duties Post-Medical Procedure

Austin underwent a successful medical procedure at Walter Reed Medical Center and returned to duty.

---

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin underwent a successful medical procedure at Walter Reed Medical Center on the evening of April 24. He returned to duty after he temporarily transferred power, according to Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder. In a statement, Ryder confirmed that the procedure was related to issues with Austin’s bladder that have been ongoing following a medical procedure to address Austin’s treatment for prostate cancer. 

As BLACK ENTERPRISE previously reported, Austin’s previous treatment at Walter Reed Medical Center on Jan. 1 created a stir when Austin neglected to inform the White House of his cancer treatment. 

According to Ryder, the latest treatment was successful and minimally invasive and “is not related to his cancer diagnosis and has had no effect on his excellent cancer prognosis.” Ryder anticipates “No changes in his official schedule,” including “his participation in scheduled Memorial Day events.”

As The New York Times reports, Austin briefly ceded power to Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks while in surgery, the same transfer of duties that occurred in February when he underwent a non-surgical procedure to address a bladder issue. 

As ABC News reports, Austin’s transparency about his recent treatments is in stark contrast to the secrecy Austin attempted to employ on New Year’s Day, which they reported resulted in changes regarding who is notified of the Secretary of Defense’s health status, when a transfer of authority occurs, and why such a transfer takes place. 

On April 24, Maj. Gen. Ryder released a full statement: “Tonight, at approximately 6 p.m. ET, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III underwent a successful, elective, and minimally invasive follow-up non-surgical procedure related to his bladder issue at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, which lasted approximately 2.5 hours.”

Ryder continued, “During that period, Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks assumed the functions and duties of the Secretary of Defense and served as the Acting Secretary of Defense. Secretary Austin subsequently resumed his functions and duties as the Secretary of Defense at 8:25 p.m. ET and has returned home. No changes in his official schedule are anticipated at this time, to include his participation in scheduled Memorial Day events.”

According to the Associated Press, Austin is still expected to visit Cambodia, Singapore, and France during the week of June 4. The Cambodia appearance is an attempt by the Biden administration to warm a rather frosty relationship between the two countries, which is attributed to Cambodia’s human rights record and Cambodia’s close ties with China. 

Cambodian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Chum Sounry told the AP that Austin’s visit represents an important step in improving relations between America and Cambodia. 

“We are now working with the U.S. Embassy in Phnom Penh to arrange his meetings with the Cambodian leaders,” Sounry said. “The visit will be another important step to advance the Cambodia-U.S. relations.”

RELATED CONTENT: Lloyd Austin Transfers Duties To His Deputy Following Another Hospital Admission

• News

by Mary Spiller

May 25, 2024

63-Year-Old Bishop Defends Marriage To 19-Year-Old Congregation Member

Bishop Reed told churchgoers to stop stirring up trouble around his relationship.

---

A video of an Iowa bishop explaining his marriage has gone viral. Bishop Dwight Reed of Christ Apostolic Temple in Des Moines recently attempted to defend his marriage to a member of his congregation, who was 19 years old at the time. He was 63.

The clip has been circulated by several outlets and popularized on social media. It shows Reed standing behind a pulpit and giving a statement to those who stirred up trouble in his church that morning due to his marriage to Jordan Goodlett. According to The Des Moines Register, Goodlett was 19 when she married the Bishop.

Reed started, “And I wish some of y’all would mess with my wife, Jordan. Talking about, ‘What you gonna do if you see her?’ Well, you will see me on the news!”

He continued to tell the audience how he expected them to react instead. He said, “You better walk by and say, ‘Praise the lord!’ that’s what you better do because that’s my wife! And she has grown! She didn’t need anybody to sign any paperwork for her. If this was out in the streets, y’all would be saying she made a come-up, but you are a hypocrite.”

Reed recited scripture surrounding the value of marriage and told everyone that he and his wife were happily married and had done nothing wrong.

He added, “And we sleep well at night! Ain’t nobody up all night worried about these crooks.”

As previously reported by The Des Moines Register, Jordan and Reed married in November of 2021. She is the Bishop’s third wife. 

The Bishop knew the teen before they were in a relationship. He described “offering special guidance” to Jordan while she was underage while he was the dean of the church school she attended. 

Despite the 40-year age gap between them and others pointing out the notable power imbalance between them when they met, their relationship is completely legal. The legal age of consent in Iowa is 16 years old.  

RELATED CONTENT: AGAIN? Pastor John Gray Accused of Cheating On His Wife With A Masseuse

by Sharelle B. McNair

May 25, 2024

American Lawmakers Fighting For Black Women Stuck In Turks And Caicos After Ammunition Found In Luggage

Free Sharitta Grier!

---

Sharitta Grier is one of five Americans detained in Turks and Caicos, and lawmakers are fighting for her to come home. 

Several legislators traveled to the tropical island in late May 2024 to plead for Grier’s and the four others’ release. Florida Secretary of State Cord Boyd confirmed he met with government officials to “determine how we can expedite their release and prevent this from happening to other Americans in the future.” 

Grier traveled to the island from Orlando, Florida, with her daughters for a surprise Mother’s Day trip. Using the same duffel bag she uses to store her gun and bullets, Grier says she thought she did a good job cleaning it out. The Transportation Security Authority (TSA) confiscated her lotion and body spray but missed the ammunition. But the Turks and Caicos Islands Civil Aviation Authority claim they found two bullets. 

After her bag was flagged, she was detained and spent three nights in jail. “It was a nightmare. I never experienced something like that in my life,” Grier said.

“I didn’t know. I didn’t see them. I didn’t hear them. I knew nothing about the rounds in that bag.” 

The Florida native was released on bond but is still waiting to appear before a judge, as her court date is July 5. If convicted, firearm and ammunition offenses on the island carry a minimum sentence of 12 years in prison. 

While waiting to learn her fate, Grier said she has days when she is up and down but mostly anxious about her freedom. She said she thinks about the Facebook post she made before the trip. Remembering how she prayed with her family before they left, Grier said her faith gets her through. “Knowing that post and everything ending like this. I just feel God is in the midst of this whole thing,” she said. 

“I don’t know what the end is going to be. What the story will be. God has a plan in the midst of all this.” 

However, she is anxious about her freedom, stating, “I’ve never even been to jail. I’ve never been in any trouble besides a speeding ticket.” 

Grier said she had no clue about the arrests of the other Americans she now shares a home with. According to NBC 10, the other detainees are Pennsylvania native Bryan Hagerich, Tyler Wenrich from Virginia, Ryan Watson of Oklahoma, and his mother and stepfather. Hagerich, Watson, and Wenrich face the same charges as Grier with the same possible sentence. 

Governors of Pennsylvania, Oklahoma, and Virginia sent a joint letter to Turks and Caicos’ Gov. Daniel-Selvaratnam pleading with her to reconsider the charges of their citizens. “We understand and appreciate the critical importance of upholding the laws and regulations of your territory for the protection of your citizens,” the letter reads. 

“We humbly ask that your government — in its wisdom — temper justice with mercy and recognize that these men made mistakes but had no apparent malicious intent.”

However, an island publication responded, saying Daniel-Selvaratnam “cannot comment on or get involved in an ongoing legal case and it is for legal counsel to ensure all relevant information regarding Watson’s case is presented to the court for appropriate consideration.” 

According to the island’s attorney general and the director of public prosecutions, the matter is in the hands of the Supreme Court, which is required to “impose a mandatory minimum sentence and fine for certain firearm offenses, except in circumstances where the court finds that there are exceptional circumstances….”

In the meantime, Grier’s family has started a GoFundMe account in hopes of garnering support for legal moves.