We’re also hearing Warren County School's response to claims of a 6-year-old boy with autism restrained and put in a closet at school. Plus, why some Wake County residents want more of your tax dollars to go toward schools. Watch WRAL-TV at 11 p.m., and search for these and other stories on WRAL.com.

On WRAL at 11: It’s a warming week, but how comfortable will it feel? We’re tracking temperatures and the next rainmaker

In November 2022 Tessiah Smithen received a letter that's haunted her for 18 months. Since, a teacher has resigned, and the school system is making changes following a 5 On Your Side investigation.

5 On Your Side: An anonymous letter accused a Wake teacher of abuse. What happened after a mom pushed for an investigation

5 On Your Side: Teacher accused of abusive behavior toward student with autism

Strawberry farms in the Triangle are now open and ready for strawberry lovers to come and fill up their buckets.



Strawberry picking near me: List of Triangle area u-pick strawberry farms🍓

Fresh strawberries

All assets associated with the tag: Jeffrey MacDonald

Jeffrey MacDonald Coverage

A federal judge on Friday denied a "compassionate release" request filed on behalf of 77-year-old Jeffrey MacDonald, who is serving life prison sentences for the 1970 murders of his pregnant wife and two young children at Fort Bragg.

Judge denies release for 'Fatal Vision' killer during pandemic

Jeffrey MacDonald 

A federal judge said Thursday that he needs time to decide whether to release a former Army captain serving life prison sentences for the 1970 murders of his pregnant wife and two young children at Fort Bragg due to his deteriorating health during the coronavirus pandemic.

<p>&gt;&gt;&gt; BREAKING NEWS NOW AT 5:30 INVOLVING A HIGH PROFILE MURDER CASE. WRAL HAS BEEN FOLLOWING IT FOR DECADES. &gt;&gt; JEFFREY MacDONALD SERVING THREE LIFE SENTENCES FOR KILLING HIS FAMILY AT FORT BRAGG AND NOW HE WANTS OUT OF RESIN. AMANDA LAMB LIVE AT RALEIGH WHERE A FEDERAL JUDGE IS WEIGHING WHETHER HIS AGE AND HEALTH SHOULD BE CONSIDERED TO SET HIM FREE. INTERESTING NEW DETAILS BROUGHT UP IN THAT HEARING. &gt;&gt; Reporter: ABSOLUTELY. THE HEARING IN THIS BUILDING ENDED A LITTLE WHILE AGO AND ATTORNEYS FOR JEFFREY MacDONALD SAY THAT 77-YEAR-OLD IS SUFFERING FROM LIVER DAMAGE, HE IS CLOSE TO NEEDING DIALYSIS AND CLOSE TO THE END OF HIS LIFE AND SHOULD BE RELEASED. THEY ARGUE IN COURT TODAY HE HAS BEEN A MODEL PRISONER THAT HIS WIFE OF 18 YEARS WAS RECENTLY ASSAULTED AND NEEDS TO BE RELEASED SO HE CAN CARE FOR HER AND THE FACTS OF THE CASE QUESTIONABLE. THE U.S. ATTORNEY ARGUED THE COMPASSIONATE RELEASE LAW WENT INTO EFFECT IN 1987 AND THEREFORE DOES NOT APPLY TO CASES LIKE THIS ONE PRIOR TO THAT TIME. THEY ALSO POINTED OUT McDONALD HAS ALREADY HAD COVID AND RECOVERED FROM IT AND RECENTLY REFUSED THE FIRST DOSE OF THE VACCINE. HIS MANY LAWYERS FROM OVER THE YEARS IN COURT TODAY AND TELL US THEY ALSO BELIEVE HE SHOULD BE RELEASED. &gt;&gt; THE QUESTION IS, WILL THIS CASE BE TREATED DIFFERENTLY THAN OTHER CASES BECAUSE HE IS JEFFREY MacDONALD? THAT WOULD NOT BE JUSTICE AT ALL. I THINK HIS ILLNESSES, HIS WIFE'S ILLNESSES, HIS AGE, THE NUMBER OF YEARS HE HAS SERVED, HIS RECORD, DURING HIS INCARCERATION, ALL OF THAT WOULD BE RELEVANT IF IT WASN'T JEFFREY MacDONALD. &gt;&gt; IT IS FOR THE JUDGE, WE WOULD WISH WITH OUR ENTIRE HEART HE WOULD GRANT THIS MAN A COMPASSIONATE RELEASE. IT HAS BEEN 40 YEARS OR MORE. SO, WE HOPE HE WILL BE WITH US. &gt;&gt; Reporter: THE FIRST TIME IN MANY YEARS, THE BROTHER OF ONE OF THE VICTIMS, MacDONALD'S WIFE, COLETTE, ADDRESSED THE COURT ABOUT HIS FAMILY'S LOSS. HE SAID THE MURDERS DESTROYED EVERYONE'S LIVES IN HIS FAMILY AND BELIEVES MacDONALD SHOULD NEVER BE ALLOWED TO WALK THE FACE OF THE EARTH AGAIN. THE JUDGE SAID HE HAD A LOT OF INFORMATION TO CONSIDER IN THIS CASE AND WOULD NOT RULE FROM THE BENCH TODAY BUT TAKE IT UNDER ADVISEMENT. &gt;&gt; YOU HAVE COVERED THIS CASE FOR DECADES. IS MacDONALD ELIGIBLE FOR PAROLE AND HAS HE EVER BEEN UNDER IT BEFORE? &gt;&gt; Reporter: AT SENTENCING TIME, HE WAS ELIGIBLE 10 YEARS INTO THE THREE LIFE SENTENCES. HE APPLIED FOR PAROLE IN 2005 AND WAS DENIED AND HAS BEEN ELIGIBLE SINCE THEN BUT DID NOT APPLY. HIS ATTORNEYS POINT OUT ONE IMPORTANT POINT GETTING EARL IS BEING REMORSEFUL, ADMITTING THAT YOU GET THE CRIME. THEY SAY THAT IS SOMETHING HE</p>

Numerous area attorneys say Jeffrey MacDonald should be released

Ex-Army officer guilty in 'Fatal Vision' case seeks release amid pandemic

Jeffrey MacDonald, the former Army captain who is serving three life sentences for the murders of his wife and two young children their home at Fort Bragg in 1970, is asking a federal judge free him due to his age and failing health. 

Jeffrey MacDonald, convicted of murdering family at Fort Bragg, says COVID risk means he should get out of prison

Jeffrey MacDonald

The murders of Jeffrey MacDonald's wife and children became the subject of the "Fatal Vision"  books, movies, countless television programs, and podcasts.

50 years after family's murder, Jeffrey MacDonald still argue his innocence

Former Army doctor Jeffrey MacDonald, serving three life sentences for the deaths of his wife and daughters, has always maintained his innocence.

50 years later, Fort Bragg murder case still intrigues 

'Fatal Vision' doctor again denied new trial in 1970 slayings

A federal appeals court has refused to grant a new trial to a former Army surgeon convicted of slaughtering his pregnant wife and two young daughters at Fort Bragg nearly half a century ago.