ABC11 Eyewitness News - Eyewitness News at 11pm - December 19, 2025

Episode Date: December 20, 2025

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Hi everyone next on eyewitnesses. The fight to win over voters here in North Carolina tonight ahead of the midterm elections. President Trump making a trip to Rocky Mount this evening showing his support for a GOP Senate hopeful. He's a tough, strong guy. He's also a wonderful human being. He's just a great person. Plus the president's message about the current state of the American economy. And for the second time in just a week, a local nurse accused of sexually assaulting patients. We're learning more about these latest incidents. Allegedly happening at Duke Health. And tonight from the I-Team troubleshooter, Wake County prosecutors say a guy who operated a service dog business for kids with special needs

was actually running a scheme, taking thousands of dollars from families. We're in court as he learns his consequences. Eyewitness news begins right now. Right now, live coverage from your local news leader preparing you for tomorrow starting tonight and your first alert forecast. Here's what's happening where you live. This is ABC 11, I Witness News. And right now on eyewitness news, President Trump, spending his Friday night in Rocky Mount focusing on the economy.

The president promising bigger paychecks and lower prices as he highlighted his accomplishments since taking office. Since my inauguration, we've created more than 53,000 North Carolina jobs, including 8,000 North Carolina construction jobs. We're covering the president's message

to voters here in North Carolina ahead of next year's crucial mid-term election. Hi everyone, thanks for joining us here for a late edition of eyewitness news tonight. I'm Steve Daniels. Lauren is off tonight. It is a big night for Rocky Mount, the Nash County Town, in the national spotlight. President Trump taking the stage tonight talking about a number of things, including the economy, terrorists, the race for a U.S. Senate seat here in North Carolina and the retaliatory strikes today against dozens of ISIS targets in Syria. John Dowding joins us live now. In Rocky Mount, John, the president,

touching on a lot of issues during a speech that went on for about 90 minutes tonight. Steve, he spoke just before 9 o'clock, got off the stage just before 10.30, a lot of that speech, a large majority of that speech centered around one topic, the economy, specifically job growth and actions taken that he says will impact one of the Tar Heel State's most important industries. President of the United States, Donald J. Trump. President Donald Trump, making a Friday night stop in the Tar Heel State, visiting the Rocky Mount Event Center to talk about his first year in office. One year ago, our country was dead. Now we are the hottest country anywhere in the world. Hundreds lined up in the cold to hear the president speak. I'm here for not only our

president, for Michael Watley as well. We want to help him, you know, win this election. He quickly shouted out Michael Wadley. The former RNC chairman is running for Senate next year in North Carolina. To be endorsed by the president, supported by the president, and have him come here to North Carolina. It's absolutely fantastic. But the main thing, topic discussed tonight, the economy. Since my inauguration, we've created more than 53,000 North Carolina jobs, including 8,000 North Carolina construction jobs. The president specifically highlighting tariffs he placed on China.

Tariffs, he says, will help revitalize the North Carolina furniture industry. I approve 25, 30 percent, and 50 percent tariffs to save North Carolina's cherished furniture industry which has been decimated by China. Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-Daremer tells eyewitness news the administration is making investments in developing a skilled workforce, including right here in the Tarheel state. We want to make sure that they can earn while you learn. We have a skilled workforce. We're going to see biotech come to North Carolina. We're seeing the investments in the industry here. We want to make sure that the workforce is prepared. Now the president also spoke out against Congressman Don Davis. He wrote,

represents this current district, this district, which was redrawn for ahead of the midterm elections next year. President Trump also speaking tonight about the ongoing relief needed for Western North Carolina after Hurricane Helene. And he also touched on the full federal recognition that the Lumby tribe has received earlier this week that he signed into law just a few days ago. So a lot of topics covered here tonight, a lot of focus right here on North Carolina, the economy and the midterm elections next year. Live here in Rocky Mount this evening. I'm John Dowding. ABC 11. Our Witness News. Yeah, in fact, it was Trump's second visit in a short period of time. He was last year in October of 2024, right there in Rocky Mount,

a place where he has a receptive audience. It would appear. John, thank you. President Trump's visit comes just hours after the Pentagon announced retaliatory strikes in Syria to eliminate ISIS fighters. It comes after a deadly attack on two National Guard members and an American civilian interpreter in the Syrian desert. American fighter jets and attack helicopters unleashed airstrikes and missiles and artillery hitting ISIS weapons, facilities, and also infrastructure, according to an American official. The president talked about that attack tonight during the speech in Rocky Mount. Patriots last week, two soldiers, one interpreter, all great people, and it was very successful.

It was precision. We hit every sight flawlessly. And at the Pentagon, Secretary Pete Hegseth says the attacks are not the beginning of a war. He said it is a declaration of vengeance. North Carolina Democrats are responding, calling the president's trip to North Carolina desperate as he campaigns one week before Christmas for former RNC chairman Michael Wattley. The party is pushing their candidate for U.S. Senate, former Governor Roy Cooper, who is from Nash County. Republicans hope to hold on to the seat for another term, but Democrats do see it as an opportunity. Democrats think Cooper is the best choice for the Senate seat, accusing,

Wattley and the Trump administration of driving up the cost of health care. In my opinion, for the type of people that this administration has picked on and honestly tried to, I think, demoralize. And right now, we're trying to see him go there and safe face. And it's not going to work because people are going to watch the fact that their health insurance is going up on January the 1st. The Watley Cooper race is expected to be one of the most expensive and competitive anywhere in the country. Also tonight, some new polling out. today from the AP shows 61% of Americans disapprove of the job President Trump is doing, 36% approve. The polling also shows 67% of people disapprove of how the president is handling

the economy. 31% approve and 60% of people agree with this handling of immigration compared to 38% right now who disapprove. We brought you in ABC11 streaming special earlier this evening diving into the Senate race here in North Carolina and the state of mind of North Carolina voters less than a year from the midterm election. You can watch it streaming on ABC11.com or wherever you stream ABC 11. Now some other news and tonight a nurse who works for Duke Health is facing serious allegations of sexually assaulting two patients while they were incapacitated at Duke University Hospital. Jamil Tagato faced a Durham County judge today. He's facing charges including sexual battery,

sexual acts by a government or private institution employee, and sexual contact or penetration under the guise of medical treatment. The alleged assaults happened in May and in December according to court documents. Mr. Tagato, your next question. court date is January 6th for probable cause on these felony charges. I will assign the public defender to your case. Your bond will remain at no bond. According to Duke Health officials, Tagato began working for Duke Health in July of 2023. He was removed from patient care and he's been on administrative leave since December the 7th. His license is now suspended. He's actually

the second hospital employee here in the triangle this month accused of sexually assaulting patients. The other one worked at UNC Rex Hospital in Raleigh. The North Carolina Nurses Association says in part these allegations are beyond horrifying and our primary concern for the victims. This type of incident is exceedingly rare, and we hope most people discern that this is not representative of the rest of the profession. In Franklin County, a sheriff's deputy named Taylor Lucas is now out of the hospital after getting shot last night in Lewisburg after a chase along East River Road. According to the SBI, 40-year-old Jermaine Anthony Branch led two deputies on a chase that ended with an exchange of gunfire and Deputy Lucas getting shot in the chest. According to the sheriff, Kevin White, his injuries would have been a lot more severe if he was not wearing his protective breastplate. The FBI tells this branch was also shot during the incident and was taken to Wake Med.

They have not updated his condition. In Fayetteville, an investigation is underway after a deadly crash shut down all lanes of Yadkin Road at Simeron Drive. We're learning that crash involved three vehicles all driven by Fort Bragg soldiers. Police say a motorcycle driver who's been identified as an active duty Fort Bragg soldier tried to pass a car and then was hit head on by another vehicle going in the opposite direction. The motorcycle driver went airborne and crashed into another vehicle. The motorcycle driver died there at the scene. Police have not yet shared that person's name. Tonight we're learning more about yesterday's tragic plane crash in Statesville that killed seven people, including NASCAR legend Greg Biffle and his young family. Biffle died just five days before his 56th birthday.

His wife, Christina, their two children, and three others were on board that private jet. According to a People magazine article today, Christina Biffel sent a text message to her mother right before the crash, writing, we're in trouble. The NTSB says that Cessna citation hit the ground short of the runway and then burst into flames. The NTSB also revealing today they're not aware of a Mayday call was made before the crash because there's no control tower there at the Statesville airport. They also don't know why the plane was heading back to the airport after initially taking off. Federal records show at least two certified pilots were on the plane at the time of the crash, Biffel and Dennis Dutton, who's a licensed person as an airline transport pilot. This afternoon, the NTSB revealing it's still unclear who was actually in control when the plane crashed.

Unable to verify who was flying the airplane. We do know three of the occupants did possess a pilot's license, but we have been unable to verify. that verify that at this time, but that's one of the things we're working on. Early findings are expected to be released in a month or two. Investigators will, of course, be looking at the maintenance records. The NTSB says they've recovered the cockpit voice recorder, but the jet was not required to have a flight data recorder, so those mechanical details at the time of the crash will not be available to investigators. In Wake County, there's a major milestone in the improvement project along the Raleigh Beltline.

Traffic is now in its final pattern there, the new pattern along the west side of I-440. Chopper 11 flying over the belt line today. It now has three lanes open in each direction from Wade Avenue down to Walnut Street. So that makes the final section to be upgraded from two to three lanes in each direction. And it is expected to really improve traffic flow and safety in that part of Wake County. Still to come here on eyewitness news, a guy in Wake County said he was a dog trainer, specializing in animals for children with autism. But families told the eye team those dogs were untrained and really aggressive.

He appeared in a Wake County courtroom this afternoon, pleading guilty to criminal charges related to his business practice. practices. Troubleshooter Diane Wilson shows us his punishment coming up. Plus, we have an eyewitness news exclusive. We're sitting down with the Raleigh Firefighters who battled that blaze at the Raleigh Convention Center, how they say teamwork and training really helps them put the fire out. And Don's with us checking on some good-looking temperatures as we enter Christmas week. Yeah, we've got temperatures falling tonight, but warming back up as we head through the next 48 hours. Matter of fact, Sunday afternoon, looks nice around here. We'll talk about that. And of course, we've got that all-important Christmas forecasts.

I'll release hundreds of thousands of documents from its investigation into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein following the passage of the law requiring the DOJ to release the full FBI files. The documents include never before seeing records from the investigation and thousands of documents from its investigation into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein following a law requiring the DOJ to release the full FBI. Sorry, we've got some overlapping audio here from a reporter in Washington. We're trying to bring that down. The documents include these never-before-seen records from the investigation and thousands of photographs. Some of them graphic are heavily redacted without context. The release includes some never-before-seen images of former President Bill Clinton and Epstein together. Clinton has not been accused of any wrongdoing.

A spokesperson for Clinton says he ended his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein before those crimes came to light. So far, ABC News has found minimal references to President Trump in those released files. New tonight, President Trump's name has officially been added to the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington. This is video showing workers changing the signage today. The National Guard was also there as that change was made. Just yesterday, the Board of Trustees voted to rename the center the Trump-Kennedy Performing Arts Center.

Tonight from the I-Team Troubleshooter, a Wake County man who operated a service dog business for children with special needs has now pleaded guilty to 50 criminal charges in court. It's a story we've been following for the past six years here on eyewitness news. Trudeer Diane Wilson was in that Wake County courtroom. She has more from prosecutors who say this was not a failed business. This was a scheme that took thousands of dollars from families. This faced a judge and pled guilty to 50 counts of obtaining property by false pretenses. Mathis owned Ryecon service dogs in Wake County from 2008 to 2018 and claimed to sell trained service dogs of families with medical or developmental needs. Many of those families in court for the hearing. They've been waiting years for this day as they filed complaints, years ago with the North Carolina Attorney General's office saying that they paid thousands for dogs from Mathis, but they weren't properly trained and had health problems. Mathis shut down his business in 2018, victims of Mathis in court, including Maggie Velatica, along with her husband and daughter.

That's why I took her out of school early for her to be here. I really wanted the judge to see the community that he affected. I mean, my face is a face of the community somewhat, but it's her dog, and she was the one who was really affected by the. And I wanted someone to see that. I wanted someone from the community that was really disrespected to be here so that the judge could see that. Her daughter McKenna now 16. They still have Sven, the dog they bought from Mathis, but said it took thousands of additional dollars in training. We all kind of banded together and really wanted to stop this from having anybody else. After pleading guilty, the judge sentenced Mathis, but suspended his sentence in Mathis got 60 months of supervised probation.

He must pay a total of 353,000 in restitution to 50 families who purchased a service dog. In court, Mathis did apologize to families. I hope that this brings some comfort. I know that it can't erase all that you've gone through. I'm deeply sorry and deeply apologetic for all that happened, and I will make every effort to comply and do right by you through this order. Some of the victims said they weren't happy. Mathis avoided jail time but wanted some type of closure.

I think what we wanted more now than the money was the justice and for him to really understand how he took advantage of a community that already has enough problems and doesn't have enough support and that he's a part of ironically. And he used that against us and he weaponized the love we have for our children. As part of the plea deal, Mathis did pay $100,000 of that restitution today. will go directly to the 50 victims. Mathis is banned from training or selling service animals. I'm Troubleshooter Diane Wilson, ABC 11, eyewitness news.

Diane, thank you. Now to an eyewitness news exclusive. We have an interview with the first group of Raleigh firefighters on the scene as the downtown Raleigh Convention Center went up in flames. And two of the guys were fresh out of the fire academy on their very first active fire call fighting to save a Raleigh landmark. You may remember the fire broke out about 9.30 in the evening on December 1st on the roof of the convention center. Investigators think a mechanical malfunction near the HVAC equipment caused the fire. There were no events at the time, only a handful of staff members inside, and thankfully no one was injured. We spoke with the firefighters from Station 1 downtown, who were first on the scene and quickly knocked down the flames

within 30 minutes for two of the first five firefighters inside the building. It was their first active fire just three months out of the academy. They say it all came down to their training and some great teamwork, too. Built through training and through performing. So it's nice to be able to continue to do that going forward. I was just waiting to get on scene and grab whatever tools I needed off the truck waiting for directions for my captain and I trust him. Damage at the convention center is estimated to be $2 million. Repairs and renovations are underway right now. After canceling all the events there in December, a city spokesperson says they do expect some events will happen at the convention center in January. As the countdown to Christmas

continues, we have a couple of holiday events to share with you happening across the triangle this weekend. Families in Raleigh are invited to have breakfast with Santa tomorrow morning. They'll also have crafts, a toy giveaway, and a raffle for the adults, too. This is happening from 10 a.m. to noon at the Tarborough Road Community Center on North Tarboro Street. And Durham's Black Nativity returns to the stage for a 19th season this weekend. That beloved holiday tradition is running at the John Gattis Wendell Tab Theater on the campus of Hillside High School. It's a soulful musical adaptation celebrating the birth of Christ, and they have shows on Saturday and Sunday in the afternoon at 3 p.m. All right, let's start.

talk to Don about this really good looking forecast around here. We have some 70s to talk about during Christmas week. I know. It's crazy. We've got a nice warm up on the way. A great holiday. We'll talk more about it in just a bit. Good evening to you. Friday nights are the only time we do your flapjack forecast and temperatures will be in the 30s to start today. Good day to make breakfast with the kids. We'll let it warm up a little bit. We're in the 40s by 10 o'clock and by lunchtime we jump to almost 50 degrees. A look at your seven-day forecast and 50. tomorrow 60s on Sunday. As Steve mentioned by next Friday, we are in the 70s. Let's talk about what we're seeing out there tonight. Live look at our first alert Doppler network scanning the skies, not seeing any rainfall out there. We're looking live on the self-help sky cam right now. 12-16, it's 37 degrees under clear skies. Winds are calm, so really not dealing with any wind chills tonight.

Maniota Murphy, temperatures in the 40s down at the coast, 46 at Manio, 46 down at ECU. Four up in Shea City, 39 in the tribe ahead all the way to the western tip Murphy, just 22 degrees that colder air will work through over night. Let's check the forecast for tonight. Temperatures down to 30 furlough under clear skies. Then as we go through the day tomorrow, we will warm up. Here's your first alert satellite radar composite. We're clear. We're dry around here. Zoom it out. You can see snow up to the north.

We see the clear skies hanging around, though, and that will drop the temperatures. wake up tomorrow morning in the 20s. We recover nicely into the 50s. Then as we go Saturday night into Sunday morning, not as cold. 30s for lows. And by Sunday afternoon, we'll see some 60s in here, even warmer next week. Tomorrow, that's temperatures in the 50s. That's seven-day forecast, powered by Accuilater, 37 tomorrow night, Sunday, 62 for the first day officially of winter, feeling more like spring. Monday is the last night of Hanukkah, 49. Tuesday, if you're tailgating for the canes, looking good for. For that, temperatures in the 50s, could see a shower Tuesday night. Wednesday, we get warm for Christmas Eve, 65 Christmas Eve temperatures. If you're headed to church, we'll be in the 50s, 65 on Christmas and 72 for the first day of Kwanza. Looking pretty amazing. Don, thank you. So I'll head here on eyewitness News while this kid might live in Tennessee, his SEC heart is with Georgia.

Next, we'll show you what happened when he was asked to sing a song adopted by the University of Tennessee football fans. At Capital One, we're more than just a credit card company. We're people just like you who believe in the power of yes. Yes to new opportunities. Yes to second chances. Yes to a fresh start. That's why we've helped over 4 million Canadians get access to a credit card. Because at Capital One, we say yes, so you don't have to hear another no.

What will you do with your yes? Get the yes you've been waiting for at Capital One.ca.ca. Terms and conditions apply. Get to know yourself and your roots better with Ancestry DNA. Want to know where your family comes from in northern France? Maybe you'd like to see how your genes influence certain traits like diet, fitness, and allergies. There's so much of you and your heritage to discover.

Visit Ancestry.ca and get started with an AncestryDNA kit today. We are back now with tonight's top trending stories in the segment we call real news. And we know the saying like father, like son. But how about like uncle, like nephew? Well, this uncle and nephew are proving to be like father and son after they reacted exactly the same way when that habachi flame flared up in Atlanta restaurant. Take a look at that moment. The flame goes right over there toward them. They both turn away while looking totally unimpressed and unbothered by the heat as they are waiting for the habachi to come off the grill there. All right, let's go over to Europe. A sneaky dog in Portugal surprised his owner by

improving his hide-and-seek skills right there on the beach. Melanie Sorga was playing hide-and-seek with her dog named a boxy and was quickly caught off guard when she found him hiding over there. Watches Melanie peeks around a rock on the beach to see a boxy hiding over there on the other side. And then when she approaches the dog from the opposite angle, he is already one step ahead. That clever canine was actually on top of the rock looking down there saying, hey, mom, here I am. Look over here. All right, let's go to Tennessee.

A boy in Chattanooga remained faithful to the Georgia Bulldogs during his school's holiday performance. Refusing to sing Rocky Top, that song adopted by the University of Tennessee football fans as the team's unofficial anthem. Check it out. All right, that's a fifth grader named Nolan. You can see him there. His lips sealed. He's shaking his head as his class is singing that infectious bluegrass did he. And then when I asked why he didn't sing the song,

Nolan said, it's not a bad song. He's just a Georgia fan, and George is better than Tennessee. That is your real news tonight here on this Friday night. Coming up here on night. Thank you. We're going to be. We're going to be. We're going to be.

We're going to be able to be. We're going to be. We're going to be able to be. We're going to be. . Next up to the King's. is tomorrow night in Tampa. That's a wrap for us here on eyewitness news tonight.

We're glad you joined us. Jimmy Kimmel is on the way next. Remember the news is always on at ABC11.com. Good night.