An Alabama Woman Noticed a Teddy Bear in a Garbage Pile, so she Snagged it for her Dog. Inside a Secret Pouch, She Found Human Ashes

A woman from Lauderdale County was driving through Muscle Shoals with her daughter and happened to see a stuffed teddy bear in a garbage pile. She thought it might make a good chew toy for her dog, so she stopped to grab it from the trash. When she opens a secret pouch in the teddy bear, she finds what she believes are human ashes along with a note.

WHNT News 19 reported that Vicki Wise and her daughter were just driving through a random Muscle Shoals neighborhood when her daughter saw a teddy bear in someone's garbage pile. They decided to stop and grab it as a chew toy for their dog.

Inscription on Ashes Box in Secret Pocket of Teddy Bear

Vicki inspected the teddy bear closer and saw the embroidered words "Forever in My Heart" on the bear's left foot. She then found a secret pouch inside the teddy bear, which held a little heart-shaped box with the words "Forever in My Heart" on the front and "Barry Freed" on the back. A note attached to the back of the box read: "Barry Freed passed away on May 20, 2020."

Many people have wondered if Barry Freed was a human baby or even a pet.

Vicki Wise speaking to WHNT News 19

No Information Found Online on Barry Freed

WHNT News 19 reported that Vicki Wise tried to do an internet search on the name Barry Freed, she did not find any information about Barry Freed or the family.

She said:

"I don't know who he is. All I know is his name and the date he passed away," Wise said. "I don't know where he is from. I don't know anything about him, but I do know that he had to be loved, and I know that the person he belongs to is missing him." -Vicki Wise

If anyone has any information about Barry Freed, please contact WHNT News 19. 

Do you think the ashes of Barry Freed were from a baby, a child, or an adult?

Source

Willmon, Addison. "Alabama woman finds trashed teddy bear with human ashes inside." WHNT News 19. Published: 4 January 2023. Updated: 5 January 2023.

*The above article was first published on Newsbreak on January 15, 2023, and received over 1,000,000 views.

Goldin Auctions Sold 'Cheetozard' for Nearly $88K

An auction house in New Jersey auctioned off a Flamin' Hot Cheeto that resembles the Pokémon character Charizard. The final price of the auction reached $87,840 after fees on March 2, 2025.

Cheetozard sold for $87,840

According to ABC Action News, Goldin Auctions house in New Jersey discovered and preserved a Flamin' Hot Cheeto that resembled a Charizard in a clear box along with a Pokémon card. The cheeto was dubbed the "Cheetozard," and reached a final price of $87,840 after 60 bids. 

The Cheetozard was first discovered by 1st & Goal Collectibles between 2018 and 2022, and received a lot of attention on social media starting in 2024.

The auction ended on Sunday, March 2, 2025 after the Cheetozard was seen at the 2025 February Pop Culture Elite Auction, starting at only $250. The winning bid was actually $72,000 before Goldin Auctions' fees were added, bringing the final price to $87,840.00 USD.

Sources:

"Flamin hot Cheeto that resembles Pokemon character sells for nearly $90K at auction." ABC Action News

"Someone spent $88,000 to own 'Cheetozard,' a viral Cheeto shaped like Charizard from Pokemon." Entertainment Weekly.

In a previous blog post, I shared about a Cheeto that looked like Harambe the gorilla, and it sold on eBay for $99,900.

Katie Britt and Tommy Tuberville Send Letter to Kash Patel to Request More FBI Employees at Redstone Arsenal

Two U.S. Senators representing Alabama sent a letter to newly appointed FBI Director Kash Patel to convince him to send 1,000 more FBI employees to its Redstone Arsenal campus after Kash Patel already given orders for 500 FBI employees to transfer from Washington to Huntsville. Senators Katie Britt and Tommy Tuberville are behind the new initiative to ultimately bring 4,000 more FBI jobs to the Huntsville area.

U.S. Senators Katie Britt and Tommy Tuberville

According to AL.com, shortly after being appointed to the new FBI Director, Kash Patel "reportedly ordered the transfer of 500 workers from Washington, D.C. to Redstone Arsenal." These orders also included moving 1,000 FBI employees from the D.C. headquarters "out into the field."

However, U.S. Senators Katie Britt and Tommy Tuberville want more FBI employees moved to the Redstone Arsenal.

Letter from Katie Britt and Tommy Tuberville to FBI Director Kash Patel

In a letter to Kash Patel, Katie Britt and Tommy Tuberville made a case urging Kash Patel to send even more FBI employees to Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, AL.

Excerpts from the letter can be read below:

“Alabama is proud to host Redstone Arsenal, a hub for the FBI’s cutting-edge technology and advanced training,” the senators stated. “As national security threats grow more complex, the operations at FBI-Redstone Arsenal must expand to meet these challenges.”

“Given the strategic investments at Redstone Arsenal and its alignment with your mission to prioritize the safety and security of the American people, we urge you to assign an additional 1,000 employees to FBI-Redstone as a first step.”

Senator Britt invited Director Patel to visit the FBI’s Huntsville facilities during his Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing. Patel affirmed his commitment to staffing the Redstone Arsenal campus, stating, “Senator, you have that commitment.” He also acknowledged the campus’s critical role in strengthening the FBI’s nationwide infrastructure.

The expansion of the FBI’s Redstone Arsenal campus is part of a larger effort to enhance national security operations, particularly in areas such as cybersecurity, intelligence, and advanced training. With ongoing federal investment, the Huntsville FBI campus is poised to play a pivotal role in the FBI’s evolving mission.

Sources:

Angle, Alex. "Britt, Tuberville Push for Kash Patel to fill FBI jobs at Redstone Arsenal." Decatur Daily.

Koplowitz, Howard. "Kash Patel reportedly orders 500 FBI employees to transfer from Washington to Huntsville." AL.com.