Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. And coming in, he said to her, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” But she was very perplexed at this statement and kept pondering what kind of salutation this was.
The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.”
Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” The angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason, the holy Child shall be called the Son of God. And behold, even your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age; and she who was called barren is now in her sixth month. For nothing will be impossible with God.”
And Mary said, “Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
The Birth of Jesus
In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register.
So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
So, they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.
3rd arrest this year for Larry Neal, Jr. who was also injured and has history of arrests
By Pleasant Hill Police Department
The Pleasant Hill Police Department is investigating a shooting that injured an adult male and a child. Two arrests have been made.
On December 23, 2024, at about 11:49AM, the Pleasant Hill Police received several calls about numerous gunshots in the area of Contra Costa Blvd. and Vivian Drive. Responding officers were quickly able to locate three vehicles that were involved in the incident. The driver of one of the vehicles, Larry Neal, was struck by gunfire in the hand. A 7-year-old child was inside one of the involved vehicles and sustained minor injuries. Both were treated and released from local hospitals.
The investigation shows that this incident began as a custody dispute between the parents of the injured child and was not a random act. The occupants of two of the vehicles exchanged gunfire with one another at close range.
Contra Costa Blvd. was closed to traffic for several hours but was later reopened.
Alexis Janay Sidney (age 38, born June 9, 1986) of Brentwood was arrested for felony violations of PC 273a(a)- Child Endangerment and PC 246- Shooting at an Occupied Vehicle
Larry Darryl Neal, Jr. (age 27, born Dec. 6, 1997) of Antioch was arrested for felony violations of PC 273a(a)- Child Endangerment and PC 246- Shooting at an Occupied Vehicle, and PC 29800(a)(1)- Convicted Felon in Possession of a Firearm.
Both were booked at the Martinez Detention Facility.
Our agency is still actively investigating the shooting and ask that anyone with information contact the Pleasant Hill Police Department Investigations Division at (925) 288-4630
Case Number: 24-3760
According to NBC Bay Area news report, the two are parents of the child and the gunfire was over a custody dispute.
Neal Has History of Arrests
According to the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Department, Neal is five-foot, 11-inches tall, 189 pounds and his being held on $400,000 bail.
According to localcrimenews.com, Neal is Black and was arrested twice this year and twice in 2022. On Jan. 24 he was arrested by Richmond PD for multiple gun charges and on Jan. 25 he was arrested by Contra Costa Sheriff’s Deputies also for multiple gun charges, as well as hit-and-run and evading a police officer with wanton disregard for safety. On Feb. 18, 2022, Neal was arrested by Antioch PD for gun charges including addict in possession of firearm, possession of ammunition and carrying a loaded firearm when not the registered owner. He was arrested later that year on July 23 by Dublin CHP for assault against a peace officer or emergency personnel, driving while under the combined influence of drugs and alcohol and possession of an open container while driving.
As previously reported, in 2017 Neal was wanted by police for fatally shooting a 43-year-old Bethel Island man, Robert Hopkins, Jr., near the Baskin-Robbins in Pittsburg. He later turned himself in. During the trial a video was shown and according to an East Bay Times report, “The shooting, both defense and prosecuting attorneys agreed, was the culmination of a brief, spontaneous argument between Hopkins, Neal, and Neal’s then-pregnant girlfriend, that began with a stare-down between the two men. After Hopkins ran toward the couple, Neal fired five shots at him, striking him four times, according to testimony.” Neal’s public defender argued Neal fatally shot the Hopkins while defending his pregnant girlfriend to get the charges reduced but the judge in the case struck it down. However, the jury convicted Neal of manslaughter. Neal appealed the conviction, and it was later reduced to unlawful firearm activity and his sentence was vacated.
According to the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Office, the five-foot, two-inch tall, 176-pound Sidney is being held in the West County Detention Center on $350,000 bail.
Antioch PD’s DUI/Driver’s License Checkpoint on Auto Center Drive, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024. Photos by Antioch PD
By Antioch Police Department
As part of the National Winter Mobilization Enforcement Campaign, the Antioch Police Department held a DUI/Driver’s License Checkpoint on Auto Center Drive on Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024.
In December 2022, 1,062 lives were tragically lost in alcohol-impaired driving crashes across the U.S., according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
DUI/Driver’s License Checkpoint Results:
• 403 drivers screened
• 19 citations issued for unlicensed or suspended drivers
• 2 arrests made
• 1 firearm recovered
This operation reflects our ongoing commitment to improving roadway safety through education and enforcement.
Funding for this operation was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety.
Among 6 Kaiser Nor Cal hospitals ranked as nation’s Top Hospitals by The Leapfrog Group
By Antonia Ehlers, PR & Media Relations, Kaiser Permanente Northern California
Six Kaiser Permanente Northern California hospitals are among the top hospitals in the nation for providing safe, high-quality patient care, according to the Leapfrog Group’s 2024 Top Hospital award.
The highest-performing hospitals on the Leapfrog Hospital Survey are recognized annually with the prestigious Leapfrog Top Hospital award, considered one of the most elite and competitive honors a hospital can receive. In 2024, only 134 hospitals nationwide, or less than 6% of the nearly 2,400 eligible hospitals, were recognized.
The six Kaiser Permanente Northern California hospitals to receive the award include: Antioch, Manteca, Modesto, San Jose, San Rafael and South San Francisco. The Leapfrog Group also recently recognized 14 Kaiser Permanente Northern California hospitals with an “A” rating for patient safety.
Kaiser Foundation Hospital Antioch was recognized as a Top Teaching Hospital.
“Our hospitals are recognized consistently as among the best in the nation for providing safe, equitable, high-quality patient care, which is a top priority for our care teams and the staff and employees who support them,” said Carrie Owen Plietz, FACHE, president of Kaiser Permanente’s Northern California region. “Focusing on safety and quality enhances clinical outcomes and supports our patients’ journey toward improved health.”
Only 29 California hospitals received the Leapfrog Top Hospital award. Kaiser Permanente Northern California’s 6 hospitals represent more than 20% that were recognized.
The Leapfrog Top Hospital award is based on excellence in upholding quality standards across several areas of patient care including staffing, hand hygiene, infection rates, practices for safer surgery, maternity care, and error prevention. Hospitals must have also received an “A” Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade in the most recent round of scoring to be eligible for the Top Hospital award.
“This recognition reflects the dedication of our highly trained clinical teams who provide exceptional quality care with compassion,” said Maria Ansari, MD, FACC, chief executive officer and executive director of The Permanente Medical Group. “Kaiser Permanente continues to be ranked among the best for providing high-quality care, focusing on the overall health and well-being of those we serve.”
The annual Top Hospital award is given to both teaching and general medical centers. Kaiser Permanente Antioch, San Jose, and South San Francisco are named top teaching hospitals and Kaiser Permanente Manteca, Modesto, and San Rafael are named top general hospitals.
The Leapfrog Group is an independent national nonprofit run by employers and other large purchasers of health care benefits. It is an independent advocacy group working with a broad range of partners, including hospitals and insurers.
William Pree (2015 arrest photo by Antioch PD) and Josephine Daniels (Source: Facebook) were arrested with drugs, guns and ammunition by the Humboldt County Drug Task Force on Dec. 21, 2024.
William Pree, Lucy Daniels apprehended following traffic stop during cross state trip
Alleged prison gang leader, Pree was convicted for 2015 murder of man in Antioch which was overturned on appeal
By Humboldt County Drug Task Force
On Saturday, December 21st, 2024, Agents with the Humboldt County Drug Task Force (HCDTF) and Deputies with the Marijuana Enforcement Team (MET) served a search warrant on William Lavon Pree (43 years old from Antioch). During the month of December, HCDTF received information that Pree was traveling to the Bay Area and purchasing large quantities of narcotics for the purpose of sales, and that he was in possession of firearms. Pree is a convicted felon for numerous violent offenses involving firearms including attempted homicide.
HCDTF Agents observed Pree travel from Humboldt County, to Los Angeles, and then the Bay Area. Upon Pree’s return to Humboldt County, Agents conducted a traffic stop on his vehicle on Hwy 101 at Hookton Road in Loleta. The vehicle had four occupants, Josephine Lucy Daniels (Age 48 from Antioch), Willaim Pree, and two juveniles (ages 5 and 17). All occupants were detained without incident.
Agents searched Pree’s vehicle and located over 450 Xanax bars, a half-pound of cocaine, a loaded 10MM Glock handgun, a loaded 9mm ghost pistol (privately manufactured with no serial number) equipped with a “Glock Switch” enabling the firearm to shoot fully automatic, more ammunition, high-capacity magazines, and a digital scale.
Both juveniles were transported to a safe location by law enforcement and Humboldt Child Welfare Services will receive the criminal report. Pree and Daniels were placed under arrest and transported to the Humboldt County Correctional Facility where they were both booked on the following charges:
11351 HS – Possession of narcotics for the purpose of sales
11352(A) HS – Trafficking narcotics
11352(B) HS – Trafficking narcotics through noncontiguous counties
11370.1 HS – Possession of a loaded firearm/narcotics
32625(A) PC – Possession of a machine gun
30605(A) PC – Possession of an assault weapon
25400(A)(1) PC – Illegally possessing a firearm inside of a vehicle
24610 PC – Possession on a non-detectable firearm
29800(a)(1) PC – Felon in possession of a handgun (Pree only)
30305(a)(1) PC – Felon in possession of ammunition (Pree only)
273A(A) PC – Felony child endangerment
According to localcrimenews.com, Press is Black and was also arrested by Antioch Police in September 2015 for being an accessory after the fact.
As previously reported, Pree was arrested in September 2015 for murder of 23-year-old Antioch resident, Kartiae Ely, who was shot in the driveway of an apartment building in the 1800 block of Cavallo Road and subsequently died from his injuries.
According to a Dec. 2023 Mercury News report, Pree is “An alleged prison gang leader accused of ordering the murder of a man over his gang’s attempts to take over an Antioch ‘money block’ has been released from jail after a judge lowered his bail to $200,000 in a pending murder case, court records show. William…Pree and his co-defendant, 45-year-old Edward Robinson, were convicted of murder in 2017, only to have the case be overthrown by an appeals court” in 2023.
According to the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Department, he is being held in the Humboldt County Correctional Facility in Eureka. Also, according to the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Dept, Daniels is of American Indian/Alaska Native descent and as of Sunday, Dec. 22 had bonded out of custody.
Anyone with information related to this investigation or other narcotics related crimes is encouraged to call the Humboldt County Drug Task Force at 707-267-9976.
For $2 billion in maintenance, preservation and operation of Bay Area’s seven state-owned bridges.
Contra Costa’s representatives voted in favor of 50-cent annual increases beginning Jan. 1, 2026.
By Allen D. Payton
After extending the period for public input, on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024, the Bay Area Toll Authority (BATA) Board of Directors voted 15-0-1 to approve toll increases and other toll policy changes for the Bay Area’s seven state-owned bridges beginning Jan. 1, 2026. Tolls will increase to as much as $11.50 by 2030.
According to BATA spokesman John Goodwin, the vote passed “by all 16 members present save one abstention from a brand-new commissioner, Alameda Mayor Marilyn Ezzy-Ashcraft, who represents the cities of Alameda County.”
The board consists of 21 members, with 18 voting members, he shared. Pleasant Hill Mayor Sue Noack, who represents the cities of Contra Costa, and Contra Costa District 5 Supervisor Federal Glover, who represents the County, both voted in favor of the toll increases.
A phased toll increase starting in 2026 is proposed to fund the Toll Bridge Capital Improvement Plan, which includes almost $2 billion of investment which will be used exclusively for the maintenance, preservation and operation of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge and the Antioch, Benicia-Martinez, Richmond-San Rafael, Carquinez, Dumbarton and San Mateo-Hayward bridges.
The Bay Area’s seven state-owned toll bridges are structurally sound and in good repair. State law requires BATA — working in partnership with Caltrans — to keep them that way.
The toll increases are separate from the $3 increase approved by Bay Area voters in 2018 through Regional Measure 3 to finance a comprehensive suite of highway and transit improvements around the region. The first of the three $1 Regional Measure 3 increases went into effect in 2019, followed by another in 2022. The last of the RM 3 toll hikes will go into effect Jan. 1, 2025, bringing the toll for regular two-axle cars and trucks to $8.
Summary of the 2026 Toll Increase
Toll rates include the last voter-approved Regional Measure 3 (RM 3) toll increase that goes into effect January 1, 2025.
To encourage electronic toll payment with FasTrak® tags, tolls and help recoup the increased costs of collecting tolls via pre-registered license plate accounts or invoices, on Jan. 1, 2027 will also rise by 25 cents for customers who pay with a pre-registered license plate account and on January 1, 2027, will rise by $1 for tolls paid by invoice.
Two-Axle Vehicle Toll increase schedule 2026-30. Source: BATA
Toll Increase: Two-Axle Vehicle Toll
The toll rate update includes an increase of 50 cents a year from 2026 through 2030 for two-axle vehicles. This phased-in approach is similar to the Golden Gate Bridge’s recent multi-year update to its toll schedule.
*HOV rate is 50% of two-axle FasTrak rate.
Three-Axle or More Vehicle Toll increase schedule 2026-30. Source: BATA
Toll Increase: Three-Axle or More Vehicle Toll
Tolls for multi-axle vehicles also will rise by 50 cents per axle per year from 2026 through 2030.
Multi-axle differential pricing:
Invoices: +$1.00 per transaction starting January 1, 2027
License plate account: + $0.25 per transaction starting January 1, 2027
A Precedent for Tiered Pricing
The Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District has used a tiered pricing schedule at the Golden Gate Bridge since 2014.
Golden Gate Bridge tolls by July 2028 will range from $11.25 for FasTrak to $11.50 for license plate accounts to $12.25 for invoice customers.
Summary of the Changes to High-Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) Policies
BATA is also making changes to HOV policies. To provide regional consistency and to support the future deployment of open-road tolling at the state-owned bridges, the changes will establish a uniform three-person occupancy requirement for the discounted toll during weekday commute periods at all seven bridges. It will also allow vehicles with two occupants to use the carpool lanes on the approaches to all bridges except the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge. These two-occupant vehicles will not receive the discounted toll but will be able to use the carpool lanes to save time traveling through the toll plazas.
BATA’s existing toll schedule allows vehicles with three or more occupants (HOV 3+) a discounted toll (half-price), with a two-person (HOV 2+) occupancy requirement for the discounted tolls at the Dumbarton and San Mateo-Hayward bridges. To provide regional consistency and to support the future deployment of open-road tolling at the state-owned bridges, the new policy will establish a uniform three-person occupancy requirement for the discounted toll during weekday commute periods at all seven bridges. The discounted toll rate is available weekdays from 5 to 10 a.m. and from 3 to 7 p.m.
The policy changes will also allow vehicles with two occupants to use the carpool lanes on the approaches to the Antioch, Benicia-Martinez, Carquinez, Dumbarton, Richmond-San Rafael and San Mateo-Hayward bridges. These two-occupant vehicles will not receive the discounted toll but will be able to use the carpool lanes to save time traveling through the toll plazas. There will be no change at the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, where volumes of vehicles with three or more occupants are much higher than those at other bridges. Use of the carpool lanes on approaches to the Bay Bridge will still require a minimum of three occupants.
In addition to establishing region-wide consistency for the carpool toll discount, the policy changes are designed to:
Improve safety on the toll bridge approaches by minimizing “weaving” between lanes.
Optimize lane configurations as now-obsolete toll booths are removed as part of the bridges’ transition to open-road tolling.
Increase person-throughput by prioritizing access for buses and carpools.
Ray Reeves accepted a plea deal for the death of Gianathon Michael Vincent. Reeves photo source: Facebook. Photos of Gianathon courtesy of Veronica Finley, published with permission of the family.
Ray Shaqil Reeves who “was crying a few times” during trial agrees to plea deal for 8 years, 4 months in state prison, could be out in three-and-a-half
Aunt shares details from trial, incident, says Gianathon Vincent’s surviving cousins now in high school
GoFundMe page for the family continues raising funds
By Allen D. Payton
According to the Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office, on Thursday, December 19, 2024, in the case of People v. Ray Shaqil Reeves, a court hearing was held to determine the appropriate term of imprisonment. The Contra Costa District Attorney’s Office recommended the maximum sentence of 9 years and 8 months in state prison, while the defense advocated for a 2-year sentence.
After weighing the relevant legal factors, Judge Charles Burch sentenced Reeves to 8 years and 4 months in state prison for killing a 12-year-old boy, Gianathon Vincent, in Antioch.
Deputy District Attorney Aron DeFerrari, who prosecuted the case said: “This is a profoundly sad incident. The impact of Mr. Reeves’ devastating actions cannot be described in words alone.”
On September 16, 2022, Reeves was driving recklessly at twice the speed limit on Sycamore Drive when he struck the boy and two other children, who were walking home from school. The collision severely injured the other two children.
As previously reported at approximately 3:20 PM, the Antioch Police Department Dispatch began to receive numerous reports of a major injury collision in which three juvenile pedestrians, one girl and two boys, were struck by a vehicle. Witnesses stated that a red Chevrolet Impala struck a tan Mercury Mystique in the area of Sycamore Drive and Manzanita Way, forcing the Impala in the direction of the juveniles walking on the southwest corner of Sycamore Drive and Manzanita way.
At approximately 3:23 PM, Antioch Officers arrived at the scene of the collision and located two of the juveniles who were in critical condition. Officers immediately began life-saving measures when the third juvenile was located several feet away. With the assistance of Medical Emergency Services, all three juveniles were given medical attention at the scene and ultimately life-flighted to local area hospitals to receive additional medical care.
Additionally, the driver of the Mystique was transported to a local area hospital as a precaution. In contrast, the driver of the Impala was also life-flighted to a local hospital for serious injuries sustained during the collision.
According to witness statements, the Mercury Mystique was traveling westbound on Sycamore Drive and was waiting for traffic to clear before turning left (southbound) onto Manzanita Way. Simultaneously, the Chevrolet Impala exited Sycamore Square onto westbound Sycamore Drive at a high rate of speed. As the Impala approached the Mercury, the Impala attempted to pass the Mercury on the left just as the Mercury began to make the left-hand turn. Regrettably, the result was the Impala colliding into the Mercury, propelling the Impala in the direction of the juveniles reportedly walking home from school.
According to localcrimenews.com, the 31-year-old Reeves was charged for vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence and reckless driving with injury. However, as previously reported by the Antioch Police on Oct. 11, 2024, the day he was arrested, Reeves was charged with six felonies with three enhancements and he was held on $390,000 bail at that time. According to the Contra Costa Sheriff’s Department, he was born on Sept. 21, 1993, is six-foot, two-inches tall, 255 pounds and as of Dec. 23, 2024, is being held in the West County Detention Facility.
Following the incident, the children’s aunt, Veronica Finley, shared the condition of her three young relatives. “Cheyanne who is at U.C Davis is improving,” she said. “Mason and Gianathon are at Oakland Children’s. Mason is also improving, Gianathon has not improved, and we are praying but it’s not looking good.”
Asked for their ages, Finley responded, “They are 12 years old. They are a blended family.”
She also shared that Gianathon’s “spine was partially severed” and was placed “on life support.”
He later succumbed to his injuries.
Courtesy of Veronica Finley.
Following the sentencing, she said, “The trial started on Monday, and we did all of our victim impact statements, including the children. It was horrible, hard hitting but touching. It was pretty powerful.”
“The defense tried to say the driver had PTSD. But he took a plea deal and was sentenced to 8 years, 4 months in prison. Even though that was less than the minimum, the family didn’t want to put the kids through a trial. They would have had to get up and
“Reeves got up and spoke, too. He was crying a few times. I’m sure he feels bad,” Finley stated. “He was also given two strikes, time served in jail, and he cannot appeal this. If he gets out on good behavior he may end up only doing three-and-a-half more years, the DA said.”
Asked if he was drunk, she said, “No. They said he was distraught as he had just gotten a disturbing phone call right before. His mom said he and his girlfriend had just broken up.”
“They live over by Lake Alhambra, so he had to drive all the way over as school was letting out,” Finley continued. “There was video from the little shopping center on Sycamore that they showed during the trial. You could hear the screeching out of view, as he slammed on his brakes because he almost hit a mother and her child walking across the street.”
“Then he zoomed to 62 miles per hour westbound on Sycamore when he hit the kids. They weren’t even in the crosswalk, they were still on the sidewalk,” she stated. “Gianothan was under the Impala the whole time. Mason was trapped between the Impala and the bushes. Cheyanne was thrown 50 feet into the side of someone’s home. They couldn’t find her
“Jami was wondering why the kids weren’t home, yet so she called Mason’s phone. When he answered he said, ‘Mommy, help me, I’m dying,’” Finley shared. “She drove to the scene and it was just chaotic. People were everywhere. It was three in the afternoon and kids were walking home from school. At first, she couldn’t find Cheyanne and Jami asked, ‘where is my daughter?’ to people on the scene.”
“It was the strangest thing. I felt that something had happened, and I called Jami and asked if the kids were OK and she said, they were getting ready to go the hospital because the kids were hit by a car,” the aunt shared. “Mason was taken by ambulance and Gianothan was airlifted to Oakland Children’s Hospital. Cheyanne was flown to U.C. Davis Medical Center as she had been unconscious for a bit. She had a brain bleed and a broken pelvis. When she woke up in the hospital Cheyanne didn’t remember what happened. She was in a wheelchair for a while.”
Gianathon’s grandmother, his dad’s mom and I stayed at a home near the hospital the whole time. It’s like a Ronald McDonald House. Or we’d stay in the room with him,” Finley continued. “The hospital was great to us. They brought us hot food and care packages.”
“We took Gianathon off life support two weeks later on Oct. 1st,” she stated. “That was the hardest decision. We donated some of his organs.”
(Left) Gianathon’s cousins Mason Hanlin and Cheyanne Comfort who survived the collision at their 8th grade graduation in 2023. Courtesy of Veronica Finley, published with family’s permission. Jami and Johnny Comfort and children. Source: GoFundMe
Asked about her niece and nephew Finley said, “Mason and Cheyanne are doing OK. They’re in high school, now. This is their first year and he played quarterback for the JV football team. They had to do some skin grafts for his face, and he has to undergo leg surgeries. Also, Cheyanne is playing volleyball for Antioch High.”
A GoFundMe page was set up for the family by Eden Comfort, Johnny’s aunt, to help with expenses. A total of $42,000 has been raised to date toward the goal of $70,000.
On that page she wrote, “Johnny Comfort and Jami Hanlin are parents of five beautiful children together. Johnny is a Manager at an apartment complex and Handyman, and Jami is a Special Education Teacher. The family lives in Antioch. The family is devastated, and they need your help with prayers and love right now. A disastrous event like this will cause enormous expenses for the family. Please find it in your heart to donate to the family to help in their time of need.”
Comfort and Hanlin were Gianathon’s uncle and aunt who had guardianship of him and have since married, Finley shared.
“The family appreciates all the help people provided that day and continued prayers from the community,” she added.
