What we’re reading: Tarrant County death sentence, Hurricane Gabrielle ramps up and more

By Katelyn Purdom, Staff Writer

Published Sep 23, 2025

FILE – The state of Texas execution chamber in Huntsville, Texas, is pictured on May 27, 2008. A group of Texas death row inmates filed a federal lawsuit Thursday, Jan. 26, 2023, against the state’s prison system over its policy of permanently holding in solitary confinement all prisoners who are awaiting execution. (AP Photo/Pat Sullivan, File)

A Tarrant County jury sentences a man to death for killing a mother of two

A 28-year-old man was sentenced to death Monday by a Tarrant County jury for the murder of a 26-year-old mother of two, according to WFAA.

Marissa Grimes, 26, was reported missing in February 2022 by her family and was discovered dead days later in a crawl space under the rental home of Valerian O’Steen, 28.

In 2024, six people were sentenced to death in Texas, three of whom came from Tarrant County, according to a report by the Texas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty. Texas, along with eight other states, carried out the most executions that year.

So far in 2025, O’Steen is the only person to be sentenced to death in Tarrant County.

Hurricane Gabrielle strengthens to Category 4

CORRECTED FOR HURRICANE – This Satellite image provided by NOAA Hurricane Gabrielle on Monday, Sept. 22, 2025. (NOAA via AP) (AP)

Hurricane Gabrielle escalated to a Category 4 storm while over the Atlantic Ocean, the National Hurricane Center said.

Gabrielle reached a maximum of 140 mph Monday afternoon and is projected to continue moving east of Bermuda over the next two days, according to AP News.

While the storm is not expected to hit the U.S., forecasters warned of life-threatening swells along the U.S.-Canada eastern coast.

The storm is projected to hit the Azores by the end of this week.

Tiger mauls former ‘Tiger King’ associate

A tiger fatally mauled its 37-year-old handler in Oklahoma during a show at the Growler Pines Tiger Preserve, according to AP News.

Ryan Easley, 37, a former associate of Joseph Maldonado, also known as “Joe Exotic” from Netflix’s “Tiger King,” died while inside the cage Saturday before first responders could get there, according to the Journal Record.

The facility, which hosts private events to showcase tiger caregiving and training, has canceled all upcoming tours until further notice, according to its website.

Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee Chairman Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., left, and Ranking Member Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., react to the appearance of Rebecca Slaughter, Federal Trade Commissioner holding her newborn daughter Hattie, as she testifies via video conference during a Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee hearing to examine the Federal Trade Commission, Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2020, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) (AP)

Supreme Court allows Trump to fire FTC commissioner

The U.S. Supreme Court upheld President Donald Trump’s decision to terminate Federal Trade Commissioner Rebecca Slaughter, according to ABC News.

The decision was in line with recent orders to reinforce presidential authority over independent agencies.

Trump fired Slaughter, who had been appointed by former President Joe Biden, due to policy disagreements. Justices Elena Kagan, Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji Jackson disagreed, arguing the removal lacked cause.