To end the year, REAL News Michiana is breaking down our top stories from 2023. The criteria is solely based on readership. Today, we’re giving you the top five most read stories from the past year. If you believe this outlet and our investigations are important for this community, please consider becoming a subscribing member. Subscriptions are the main way were able to continue to fund these important investigative stories.
#5 State revokes Alford’s funeral license due to naked picture scheme involving dead bodies
PUBLISHED 08/04/23
SOUTH BEND, Ind. — The Indiana State Funeral Licensings Board released full details on the suspension of the license of Alford’s Mortuary owner Donald Alford. According to documents posted to the government website, Alford received an indefinite suspension of his license. And, while he can petition to have his license reinstated in 6 months, there’s no guarantee he will ever be able to legally perform funeral services again.
The Funeral Board suspended Alford’s license at its meeting on August 3rd. The suspension is the result of a partnership Alford had with a local “activist” who was taking and sharing full-body nude photos of corpses that were in Alford’s care. Multiple families sued Alford’s and the activist, Vernado Malone, for the nude picture scheme. Alford’s settled the case with the families. However, the case is still pending against Malone and his non-profit Justice for Michiana. The case is currently scheduled for a jury trial in May of next year. You can read the full story here.
#4 High school dismisses sex crime allegations involving disabled student victim — suspect now in custody for a different rape
PUBLISHED 09/13/23
FISHERS, Ind. — REAL News Michiana has discovered Hamilton Southeastern High School administrators and staff appeared to dismiss sexual abuse allegations brought by the parents of a child with special needs earlier this year. Now, police have arrested the suspected abuser for an alleged rape of a different girl that occurred just a couple of months later. You can read the full story here.
#3 WATCH: Mish. Mayor’s son yells “n*****” while pretending to kill black people
PUBLISHED 11/10/23
MISHAWAKA, Ind. — REAL News Michiana has obtained video showing Mishawaka Mayor Dave Wood’s son, Joe Wood, yelling “n*****” 7 times while pretending to shoot black people.
In the video, Joe Wood is in a garage where two other white men are sitting in a Mustang convertible. Joe Wood pretends to be a police officer approaching the vehicle, calling the driver a “n*****” multiple times before he draws a gun and pretends to kill the occupants of the vehicle. The two men in the vehicle appear to be wearing Dave Wood for Mayor visors. According to sources, the video which was posted to Snapchat in July of 2022, was taken at Mayor Wood’s house, using Mayor Wood’s car. Read the full story and watch the video here.
#2 PHM Principal resigns after student punches her in face and district covers it up
PUBLISHED 07/10/23
MISHAWAKA, Ind. — REAL News Michiana has learned the Principal of Schmucker Middle School resigned at the end of the school year following a vicious attack by a student. According to sources within PHM schools, Principal Kristyn Martin was punched in the face by the student resulting in severe bruising to the face. No police report was taken and the student was not arrested, according to sources. Within weeks, Martin announced she was resigning from her position to take an administration job in another district. However, RNM has not been able to confirm if Martin’s decision to leave the PHM district is directly related to the incident. Read the full story here.
#1 Thousands of patient files abandoned at old LaPorte Hospital in mass HIPAA violation
PUBLISHED 03/15/23
LAPORTE, Ind. — REAL News Michiana has been provided photos and videos showing thousands of patient files simply abandoned at the old LaPorte Hospital in Downtown LaPorte. The files contain social security numbers, birth dates, healthcare information, even pictures of surgeries and naked bodies. In response to our investigation and inquiries into the HIPAA violations, Northwest Health requested RNM destroy the evidence we obtained. (Following our report, the hospital system CEO resigned and the hospital system filed a lawsuit against the whistleblower). You can read more about the incident here.
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