Bernie Sanders addressed questions about Bill Clinton's past sexual transgressions Friday, NBC News reported. 

The Democratic candidate said the former president's behavior was "disgraceful" but that he is running against Hillary Clinton - not Bill.

"Look, Hillary Clinton is not Bill Clinton," he said during an event in Toledo, Iowa. "What Bill Clinton did I think we can all acknowledge was totally, totally, totally disgraceful and unacceptable. But I am running against Hillary Clinton."

"I'm not going to get into this personal stuff," he added.  

SeaWorld’s Dolphin Stadium is set to close for three months for renovation. The project, which begins on Monday, will include re-coating the pools as well as other infrastructure maintenance.

The stadium, home the park’s killer whales, dolphins and pilot whales, has been the venue for many shows, most recently Dolphin Days.

The dolphins and whales living in the stadium will temporarily be moved to other pools during the project and dolphin presentations will temporarily be at Dolphin Point.

Dolphin Days can be seen through January 10 and will resume after the renovation in April.
 

Deputies with the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department (SDSO) are investigating the death of a man found mortally wounded inside a home in San Diego’s East County.

According to investigators, at around 9:20 a.m. Thursday, deputies from the SDSO’s Alpine Station were called to a home in the 9900 block of Bridon Road in unincorporated El Cajon after firefighters discovered a 64-year-old man dead inside the residence. A neighbor initially made the grisly discovery inside the home and then alerted the fire department and authorities, officials said.

The man was identified by the SDSO as Bren Fisher. He had suffered visible injuries to his upper body, deputies said. No further details on Fisher's  wounds or manner of death were immediately released.

The SDSO said the death is being investigated as a homicide. The San Diego Medical Examiner’s office will determine the cause and manner of Fisher's death.

Anyone with information on this case is urged to call the SDSO’s Homicide Detail at (858) 974-2321 or the after-hours line at (858) 565-5200. Tipsters can also reach out with information to Crime Stoppers at (888) 580-8477.

Neighbors told NBC 7 they were shocked to hear of the homicide in their very rural, private community.

“We’re on a private dirt road,” resident Terri Jones explained. “It’s scary. We don’t know who’s been up and down the road now. Thank God we have dogs.”

One of the victim’s friends told NBC 7 Fisher was a wonderful man who enjoyed playing guitar. Neighbors said he would often wave to them as he drove by in his truck in the rural area.

The San Diego Chargers announced Friday they will extend Head Coach Mike McCoy’s contract with the team through next year.

At a news conference at Chargers Park in San Diego, Bolts General Manager Tom Telesco announced McCoy’s contract extension, valid for now through 2017.

“Mike McCoy is somebody we want to build around,” Telesco said.

This means the fate of McCoy with the Bolts is decided for at least one more year – even if the location of the team is not.

The 43-year-old head coach joined the Chargers in 2013 and led the team to the playoffs in his first year at the helm, a feat only achieved by a few Bolts coaches in their first year, including Sid Gillman (1960), Don Coryell (1979), Bobby Ross (1992) and Norv Turner (2007).

With McCoy in place as head coach since 2013, the Chargers have won 23 games, including playoffs. Before joining San Diego, McCoy served as the offensive coordinator in Denver from 2009 to 2012.

Telesco’s news conference comes on the heels of the team’s big move Monday night to officially file for relocation to the Los Angeles suburb of Carson, Calif.

NFL owners are expected to meet in Houston next week, at which point they could approve a move for the Chargers and/or the Oakland Raiders, or St. Louis Rams to move to Carson. The Rams also filed for relocation there on Monday. At least two of the three NFL franchises are expected to move to Carson.

U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch hailed the capture of drug kingpin Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman on Friday, NBC News reported.

Lynch called Guzman’s arrest “a vindication of the rule of law in our countries" and a blow to the cartel he’s alleged to have led.

"Guzman's latest attempt to escape has failed, and he will now have to answer for his alleged crimes, which have resulted in significant violence, suffering and corruption on multiple continents," she said in a statement.

Lynch praised Mexican authorities, but did not say whether the government would immediately seek to extradite Guzman to the U.S. where he is wanted on multiple charges.  

The Superior Court of San Diego is seeking candidates for their County Grand Jury after an unusually low response.

Only 47 residents have applied for the 19-member jury, which investigates citizen complaints and functions as a ‘watchdog’ over government agencies. It does not conduct criminal investigations.

"We normally see more than 100 residents submit their names for the drawing. We can't
put a finger on exactly why there's a low turnout this year," said Michael Roddy Executive
Officer of the San Diego Superior Court which oversees Grand Jury selection. "We want to get
the word out so we can have a wide and diverse representation on this important panel."

Applications are now available by telephone at 619-450-7272 or in person at the San
Diego Superior Court in the Jury Services Office at the Central (Downtown) branch, and the lounges at the North, South and East branches of the court. You may also download an
application from the San Diego Superior Court's website or the Grand
Jury's website.

The Grand Jury will work four days a week, approximately six hours a day, from July 1,
2016 through June 30, 2017 at the Hall of Justice located in downtown San Diego. A small
stipend per day, plus mileage, and downtown parking are provided.

All application forms must be received by January 15, 2016. Qualified candidates will
be nominated for a random drawing tentatively scheduled for June 3, 2016. The random drawing
gives each supervisorial district equal representation by population.
Candidates must (1) be U.S. citizens, (2) be at least 18 years old, (3) have sufficient
knowledge of the English language and (4) have lived in the county for one year prior to
selection. All candidates will be required to pass a criminal background check. Individuals
meeting the above requirements are encouraged to apply.

The family of a Qualcomm executive killed in a mid-air crash south of San Diego has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the air traffic control company responsible for managing air traffic at the time of the incident.

The lawsuit, filed on behalf of the family of Michael Copeland, claims the New Jersey-based company did not properly monitor the distance between two aircraft that collided near Brown Field in Otay Mesa on Aug. 16.

The company Serco Inc., a private operator, contracts with the U.S. government to offer air traffic control services.

The suit also names the company that owns and operates the jet that collided with Copeland’s aircraft, Maryland-based BAE Systems Technology Solutions and Services.

Copeland was piloting a Cessna 172 when it collided with a twin-engine Sabreliner. Four people on board the Sabreliner died, as did Copeland.

The Copeland family attorney, David S. Casey Jr., said in a statement the control tower had communicated with the pilots of both planes prior to the crash.

The Sabreliner was cleared to land and was on a jet approach, while the Cessna – cleared to perform touch and go landings and take offs – was flying to the airport on a downwind lag, Casey said.

The attorney said: “We believe the air traffic controllers failed to maintain a proper, safe distance between the two aircraft.”

The attorney’s statement also states that the Sabreliner “should have been able to clearly see the smaller plane.”

In September, the family of one of the Sabreliner occupants killed in the crash filed a claim against the estates of two pilots, including Copeland, alleging they were responsible for his death.

Carlos Palos’ family alleges that the defendants were negligent that day because they failed to take “the responsible standard of care required of them.”

A preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board suggested that the pilots did not see each other in the skies above Otay Mesa before they crashed. According to a witness, the Cessna broke apart in the air, while the Sabreliner banked left and exploded when it hit the ground.

The Broward Sheriff's Office is looking for a man who's accused of politely robbing a Little Caesars in Deerfield Beach, Florida.

BSO said the incident happened at the restaurant at 1462 South Federal Highway on Dec. 9.

According to witnesses, the man was holding a black handgun and described the robber's tone as very polite. The man allegedly asked a restaurant employee to open the safe and please give him the money.

The man went on to say he was sorry for doing this, but his kids need Christmas, according to detectives.

"All of his apologies and politeness are one thing, but it doesn't change the fact that he put these people in a terrifying situation," said Gina Carter with BSO.

The suspect is described as a black male in his early 20s with a light complexion and medium frame. He is about 5'8" and had a gold grill on his teeth and a mustache.

"This man may have felt bad about what he was doing, but he clearly knew what he was doing was very wrong," Carter said.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Broward Crime Stoppers at (954) 493-TIPS.

Ted Cruz suggested on Friday that voters should give Hillary Clinton a “spanking” for the Benghazi attack in 2011 when she served as secretary of state, NBC News reported.

Cruz compared it to how he punishes one of his daughters for lying while speaking to voters in Iowa.

"In my house, if my daughter, Catherine, the 5-year-old, says something that she knows to be false, she gets a spanking," Cruz told the attendees at a crowded coffee shop here.

There have already been seven congressional probes into events and decisions around the Benghazi attack. Cruz often uses Clinton's role as secretary of state during the Benghazi attack as a rallying cry against the Democratic front-runner.  

A couple in Lakeland, Florida, was charged with child abuse after allegedly tying up children with duct tape and using a stun gun as a form of discipline, police said.

NBC affiliate WFLA reported that Yalonda Ashley, 36, and Steven Sanchez, 31, are both facing charges.

Ashley was accused of duct taping a young girl’s mouth shut and wrists together to discipline the child, according to detectives. Ashley said she did this to “teach her a lesson to keep her hands and feet to herself,” according to an arrest affidavit.

Witnesses also told WFLA that they saw Sanchez using a stun gun to scare the girl and other children at home, even using it on the child’s bottom.

When asked for her reaction, Sanchez’s mother told WFLA "It saddens me. It actually makes me cry. My son is not a monster. He is a good dad."

Nine homes have been burglarized in Santee between December 18 and the 31st according to the Santee Sheriff’s Station.

The suspect or suspects targeted single story detached homes and forced their way inside through a rear window or patio door. The stolen items were mainly prescription medications, but cash, electronics and tools have also been taken.

Several victims reported seeing a suspicious truck parked in front of their homes before the burglary.

The truck is described as a black, 1998 to 2004 Ford Ranger Extra Cab. The truck is slightly lifted with newer looking rims and all terrain tires.

Below is a list of the dates and locations of the burglaries:

• 12/14/15, 8900 block of Sunwood Drive
• 12/18/15, 8400 block of Kreiner Way
• 12/18/15, 8500 block of De Vos Drive
• 12/18/15, 8400 block of Amino Drive
• 12/18/15, 9300 block of Praful Court
• 12/31/15, 10100 block of Beck Drive
• 12/31/15, 10100 block of Montura Avenue
• 12/31/15, 10209 block of Woodrose Avenue
• 12/31/15, 10100 block of Beck Drive

Anyone with information on these burglaries should call the Santee Sheriff's Station at (619) 956-4000 or the Crime Stoppers anonymous tip line at (888) 580-8477.

After a week of flooded streets, soggy yards and grey skies, San Diego homeowners are using Friday’s brief reprieve from the rain to prepare for the next downpour expected this weekend.

Flood repair experts said preventing water from coming into your home can run into the hundreds of dollars, but flood restoration can cost you thousands.

Tom Frederic with San Diego Flood Restoration offered a few tips to keep rainwater out of your house: close sliding doors, check rain gutters and make sure floor drains on balconies, patios and even pool areas are clear.

“You got to get someone at your house who's a professional, be it a plumber, be it a landscaper, to check all your lines, all your rain gutters, make sure they're clear, and be vigilant,” said Frederic.

San Diego Flood Restoration and other businesses have been slammed this week with cleanup requests. Fredric said in one hour alone, his company got eight calls from flooded properties.

“When the rains are coming down, the phones go crazy,” said Brian Salinas with Xtreme Drainworks. “You cannot find a company to respond to your emergency right away. That's why we can't say it enough: get ahead of the rains, get ahead of the big El Nino before it is too late.”

The flooding is most often caused by residents’ storm drains going unchecked for years or city drains becoming clogged because the storms had too much rain and debris to handle at once, according to the experts.

“Because they drain right now doesn't mean that by the next rain they are not going to be clogged,” said Salinas. “You have leaves, rocks; you have dirt, all kinds of debris that washes into them during these rains.”

Salinas and Fredric explained there are many levels of concern once the flooding starts because rainwater often mixes with raw sewage. Cleanup is not just soaking up water; it requires major disinfection as well.

At the very least, they said, get sand bags set up in case you need them to keep water from your home.

Standing in four inches of flood water, one UC San Diego professor continued teaching his calculus class this week during powerful El Niño storms, earning major credit with students.

On Wednesday, amid pounding rainfall, numerous weather alerts – including a brief but rare tornado warning – and water sloshing at his feet, visiting Professor Kenny Barrese went on with his lecture in a flooded classroom at Peterson Hall on the UC San Diego campus in La Jolla.

His commitment to teaching calculus was captured on video by students, including Tony Murillo, who described the professor as “casually” continuing with his vector calculus lecture “despite a tornado advisory and serious flooding in the room.”

“His actions are a testament to the dedication of UCSD's faculty,” Murillo said, describing the video clip. “P.S. He did end up letting us out early.”

Barrese, now in Seattle, spoke with NBC 7 by phone Thursday. He said no matter the rain, his vector calculus class needed to go on.

The professor said his class, although very wet, did at least capture the attention of his students.

“If it makes the students receptive to being in a math lecture, I am happy for it,” he told NBC 7.

UC San Diego freshman Tonya Zazueta was in Barrese’s class, and student Cynthia Sanchez was in the professor’s lecture an hour before the big rain hit.

Both students told NBC 7 they were shocked to see the professor standing in the flood water, teaching away.

“He's standing in a puddle but he's pretty cool in doing that,” Sanchez said.

Students were surprised the class continued. They alerted friends on social media about the professor’s dedication to his job.

Barrese said he owed it to students to deliver despite the flooding. He said students who braved the weather to get to class that day deserved to be taught, and to get their money’s worth.

“My students seemed to think there should be class, and since I was there, I suppose there should be class,” Barrese added.

The classroom at Peterson Hall seats about 400 students and, despite the heavy storms and wild weather, the seats at Barrese’s lecture were more than three-quarters full.

The flood water pooled at the bottom of the classroom, near the chalkboard and the first row of seats. It was only Barrese with his feet in the water, while students sat above the wet row of seats.

Floor fans were used to dry out most of the classroom.

On Thursday, only a small puddle remained under the chalkboard – but the impact of Barrese’s lecture lingered.

Zazueta said the professor’s perseverance inspired her. Someday, she would like to teach math too, but she now realizes the profession takes more than good grades.

“I think I have to step up my game,” Zazueta said.

When asked if the classroom had flooded before, Barrese kept his humor about the situation and, of course, spoke mathematically.

“I've lectured in that auditorium twice, so I can say for sure it's been dry half the time,” he quipped.

On Friday, the El Niño storms slowly cleared in San Diego, giving way to some sunshine after a very wet week. Though not as heavy, more rain is expected to arrive Saturday evening.
 

The Mexican government has said it aims to fulfill an extradition request from the United States for the notorious cartel kingpin Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, a source within the Mexican attorney general's office told NBC News on Saturday.

Guzman, who was captured Friday during an operation in the northwestern Mexican town of Los Mochis, faces charges in numerous jurisdictions across the United States.

He was transported shortly after he was apprehended to Antiplano — the same maximum-security prison where he escaped from on July 11.

After several days of strong, El Niño-driven storms, the rain will clear out and give way to some sunshine in San Diego County Friday – but more showers are expected this weekend.

According to NBC 7 meteorologist Jodi Kodesh, there was a 10 to 20 percent chance of sprinkles through 10 a.m. in coastal and inland areas.

“We’re not looking at a big rain event, by any means, today. There’s no Friday storm system for the first time in a while,” she explained.

By around noon, the chances of rain will drop even more and locals will see a mix of sun and clouds at the coast and inland, with temperatures in the upper-50s. It will be windy in parts of the county, too.

“We’ll have some sunshine – but still not very warm. After 10 a.m., you just won’t need that umbrella,” Kodesh added.

In the mountains, in those higher elevations, the chance of Friday showers is higher. Kodesh said some mountain areas, including Mount Laguna, may get some snow flurries to add to the 12 to 15 inches of fresh snow that has fallen this week.

Those who plan to make a trek to our snowy, local mountains should follow these tips for a safe trip. Remember, chains are required for vehicles on the icy, slick roadways.

As of 6:45 a.m., the National Weather Service (NWS) only had one warning in effect for San Diego County: a high surf warning, in place through 10 p.m. Friday.

The NWS said waves were five to nine feet throughout Friday morning, with sets to 12 feet. The tides will be the highest at 7:30 a.m., coming in at about seven feet.

The waves will subside to four to seven feet later in the day, according to the NWS.

The high surf could lead to beach erosion, strong rip currents and coastal flooding during high tide as battering waves pound the shoreline. Swimming conditions are dangerous and there is a lot of runoff from recent rain in the ocean, so it’s best to stay out of the water.

Due to high surf, the Ocean Beach Pier remained closed Friday, the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department (SDFD) confirmed. Officials said the popular pier sustained minor damages in the storms and high surf, San Diego Lifeguards will keep the pier closed until repairs are completed.

Though showers appear to have cleared for now, another smaller storm system is likely to move in this weekend, beginning Saturday evening.

Kodesh says that system will bring rain and a chance of showers into Saturday evening and Sunday morning, but not a massive storm like the wild weather San Diegans experienced this week.

Kodesh said the storms this week soaked the county. Below is a table showing total rainfall measurements across the county as of 4 p.m. Friday, according to the National Weather Service.

To see a complete list of rainfall totals in every area, click here.

A woman convicted of committing what prosecutors called the "ultimate act of obsession" -- stalking, harassing and shooting her ex-boyfriend – will spend 50 years to life in prison.

Vegas Bray, 27, was found guilty in November of first-degree murder and a gun allegation for shooting her ex-boyfriend, former Victor Saucedo, to death in his own Imperial Beach apartment in 2012.

At her sentencing Friday, Bray was also ordered to pay $5,000 in restitution. Saucedo's 9-year-old son sat outside the courtroom with a relative, while other family members packed the two rows of courtroom seats.

"Whatever was going to happen was going to happen," said Saucedo's brother Tony of Bray's sentence. "It wasn't going to make a difference. Put my brother here next to me or put my brother next to his son."

He said his nephew was traumatized by his father's death at the beginning, but he is doing better.

Bray's attorney asked the judge to consider that Bray was molested as a child, abandoned by her mother and had mental problems. The judge said the jury had a chance to consider that but still decided to convict her.

At her 2012 arraignment, Deputy District Attorney Harrison Kennedy told the court Bray committed the “ultimate act of obsession” when she entered Saucedo’s apartment and shot him nine times with hollow point bullets.

Kennedy said that Bray used a .38 revolver and had to reload the gun to continue shooting Saucedo.

Bray was taken to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department for questioning immediately after the shooting, but was arrested shortly after.

According to several of Saucedo’s friends, Bray was employed at “Little Darlings” adult cabaret in Lemon Grove and was a former sailor in the Navy.

At her arraignment, Bray appeared emotionless but confident in court as she pleaded not guilty in front of over a dozen of Saucedo’s friends and supporters. Many of those friends described Bray as a volatile ex-girlfriend who allegedly stalked Saucedo for months before his death.

Saucedo, 28, was recently out of the military and was working and going to school to support his then 7-year-old son, who spoke during an emotional candlelight vigil.

His friends told NBC 7 that he had struggled with Bray since they broke up about a year ago. At one point, Saucedo even moved to a different apartment to try to avoid her.

“She wouldn’t leave him alone. They broke up. She couldn’t get over it,” said the victim's former fiancée Zulema Reyes in 2012.

During a readiness hearing, Kennedy agreed that Bray was trying to rekindle her relationship with Saucedo.

According to the sheriff’s department, Saucedo reported vandalism multiple times. The calls were investigated, but no one was arrested and authorities did not identify a suspect.

Reyes recalled damage from eggs, paint, vinegar and jelly jars thrown at Saucedo's home. She blamed Bray for those incidents.

Saucedo’s best friend Jeremiah Messenger told friends that Saucedo didn't think officials took him seriously because he was a man complaining about a woman. Because there was no physical harm to him and no one else had witnessed it, there was nothing they could do, Messenger added.

Court records show she had a traffic violation in 2008 and an arrest for grand theft in 2007 in which she pleaded no contest to petty theft. As a result, she paid a fine and attended shoplifting rehabilitation program.

In response to the allegations against Bray, her mother previously told NBC 7 that she was likely trying to defend herself, and that she would have never commit such an act unless the circumstances were dire.

The recent bout of El Nino storms wreaked havoc on many San Carlos homes, and residents are placing the blame on the city of San Diego.

On Tuesday, a storm drain burst, letting loose a torrent of water onto Cabaret Street. At least eight homes received extensive flooding damage.

Guy Lawyer, whose mother owns one of the damaged homes, recorded cellphone video as the raging river from the pipe ripped through her backyard and home. The water knocked down fences as it moved downhill to other houses.

“The well just blew out,” Lawyer said. “It was a waterfall, smacked up against… the hill smacked up against our house, so I ran out into the garage; we have a side door. The water's coming into the garage, literally flowing through like a river.”

When the flood receded, Lawyer was left with frustration. He said he and other residents warned the city about the problematic drain back in October. However, when crews came out, they did not make any repairs.

A city official told NBC 7 repairs were not needed at the time.

To make matters worse, the damage to each home is not covered by insurance because it was caused by an external, faulty pipe.

“It’s a disaster and it happened. It could have been prevented if the city had repaired the pipe up the street,” said another San Carlos victim Joan McCollum.

Now, Lawyer and others are scrambling to salvage property and to figure out how to deal with the thousands of dollars in devastation.

“It’s heartbreaking,” said Lawyer. “What do you do? I’m not a pro. I don’t know what to do. You’re just trying to survive.”

Residents said city officials have visited them and told them to save all their repair receipts so they can possibly be reimbursed.

The homeowners told NBC 7 the city has been helpful, but they are still left with a huge cleanup and anticipate a lot of bureaucratic red tape – everything, they believe, could have been avoided. City investigators are determining liability.
 

The third and final San Diego resident convicted in the grisly 2012 torture and slaying of a young military wife was sentenced to life in prison without parole Friday in a north San Diego courtroom.

Jessica Lynn Lopez, 28, was convicted in October 2015 alongside former U.S. Marine Staff
Sergeant Louis Perez, 49, and Dorothy Grace Maraglino, 40, in the killing of 22-year-old Fallbrook resident Brittany Killgore.

Perez and Maraglino were both sentenced to life in prison for the murder of the young woman in November 2015. Lopez too will spend the rest of her life behind bars.

During her sentencing Friday, a representative read written statements from Killgore's family about their loved one's death.

"I struggle every day trying not to think about what she felt, what she was thinking, was she in pain? Was she praying she would be helped? Will it ever end?" said the statement from Killgore's father, Darryl Wrest.

Killgore's body was found naked and strangled in a Riverside County ravine four days after she was reported missing in April 2012. According to prosecutors, one of the most chilling details of the case included Killgore’s last text message to a friend — "Help" — sent shortly after getting into Perez’s truck. Perez was the last person to see Killgore alive, according to prosecutors, on April 13, 2012.

At trial, prosecutors said Perez, Maraglino and Lopez lived together in a home in Fallbrook where police discovered a sex dungeon with whips, ropes, sex apparatuses, spiked collars and a Taser, among other items, used in their lifestyle of bondage, discipline, sadism and masochism.

Prosecutors contended the trio killed Killgore "for their own sadistic pleasure," strangling her with the intention of dismembering her.

After deliberating for more than 18 hours over the course of three days, a jury announced its verdict on Oct. 21, 2015, convicting all three of murder, kidnapping, torture and sexual battery. The only charge that was tossed out was one count against Lopez of conspiracy to kidnap.

After the verdict was announced, Killgore’s mother, Michelle Wrest, spoke with reporters and praised the tireless work of detectives and prosecutors over the past three-and-a-half years. Wrest said her daughter was a beautiful person who got mixed up with the wrong people.

"Our daughter was a beautiful woman inside and out. Unfortunately, she run (sic) across people who were monsters and took her life," Wrest said. "She is going to be missed for the rest of our lives. We have a lot of family that have to deal with this on a daily basis."

At his sentencing last November, Perez spoke, calling Killgore’s death a “tragedy in the worst case.”
The courtroom also heard gut-wrenching impact statements from Killgore’s family members, including her father and 9-year-old little brother, read on their behalf by a prosecutor.

"I love my sister and I miss her very much. I want her back," Killgore’s brother’s statement said. "The people that hurt Brittany are bad and I hope they stay in prison forever.”

The statement from Killgore’s father described the last time the family saw the victim alive and how the family was busy planning his daughter's move back home when she was killed.

The family had been looking forward to seeing Killgore again April 15, 2012, but that day never came.

The father's statement included his final memories of his daughter — the day he and his family saw the cold, metal casket that held her remains.

"A few weeks later, we walked into a funeral home to see a metal shipping casket, screwed shut, so that it could not be opened. After the trial, we all know why we could not view our beautiful Brittany," the statement said. “Many events imprinted in our memory about our loss, but repeatedly hugging a cold, metal casket while trying to understand what was happening will be forever imprinted in my memory.”

The father's statement went on to describe the pain he feels on a daily basis when he thinks about the torture his daughter experienced during her slaying.

“What I feel as a victim cannot compare to the real victim, my daughter Brittany. Her life was violently and senselessly taken in her prime. I am her father and, as such, am supposed to protect her. I failed her."

"I struggle every day trying not to think of what she felt; what she was thinking. Was she in pain? Was she praying she would be helped? When will it end?” the statement continued. "If I do [think about this] I know I cannot mentally survive. I am trapped."

To read a complete timeline of this high-profile murder case, click here.

Tax relief is available to all property owners who suffered damage due to the recent El Nino flooding according to County Assessor Ernie Dronenburg.

“I would like to strongly encourage all property owners who suffered flood damage to their property in excess of $10,000 to contact my office for the necessary claim form at (619) 531-4993 or by visiting the Assessor’s website,” Dronenburg said in a statement.

The tax relief program requires the reassessment of the property to reflect its damaged condition, and the reduced value will remain in effect until the property is rebuilt or repaired.

The homeowners can retain their previous taxable value if the property is rebuilt in a similar manner as well. This means that the property tax assessment will not increase beyond what is was prior to the flooding.

Tax relief is included for any home, out buildings, commercial and industrial properties or mobile homes damaged by recent flooding.

Damage to cars or the contents of a home are not eligible because it is not taxable.
 

The newly restored Villa Montezuma Museum will offer free tours on Saturday, January 9.

Tours of the interior of the museum will be free and guided by the Friends of the Villa Montezuma.

The museum was closed for nine years for restoration with a ‘soft’ opening last June.

The Queen Anne style home was built in 1887 by architects Nelson A. Comstock and Carl Troetsche for pianist and spiritualist Jesse Shepard.

The restoration was funded by a $882,000 Community Development Block Grant. According to the terms of the federal grant, for the next five years, the City must open the museum once per quarter to the public at no charge.

The tours start at 9 am and continue every half hour until noon.

Villa Montezuma Museum is located at 1925 K Street in the Sherman Heights Historic District.