The sporting world is in mourning, as the body of Jacques Freitag, a former Olympian and world high jump champion, has been found in Pretoria, South Africa.
The discovery of Freitag has turned his missing person case into a murder investigation after he was found with multiple gunshot wounds, as Fox News reports.
Freitag, 42, disappeared on June 17 after leaving his mother’s home. His disappearance prompted his family to seek assistance through social media, particularly his sister, who disclosed that Freitag had been struggling with drug addiction since his retirement from professional athletics.
This week, Freitag’s body was discovered in a field near a cemetery in Pretoria. The South African Police Service (SAPS) has confirmed the elevation of the case to a murder investigation. Brigadier Brenda Muridili of SAPS confirmed to ESPN that the initially missing person report has now shifted due to the circumstances of the discovery.
World Athletics reported that Freitag's body showed multiple gunshot wounds. The gruesome discovery has shocked many, as no immediate suspects have been identified, and police are still actively pursuing leads in the case.
Brigadier Muridili noted that, as of yet, no arrests have been made but investigations are ongoing. This leaves Freitag’s family and the community at large in a state of frustration and grief, yearning for answers and justice.
Freitag’s sister had turned to social media to amplify the search, highlighting her brother's recent battles and appealing for help in finding him. The struggle Freitag faced with addiction had been a significant post-retirement hurdle, a detail that sheds light on the difficulties athletes sometimes endure away from the public eye.
The athlete made a name for himself in the early 2000s, most notably by winning a gold medal at the World Championships in Paris in 2003 and representing South Africa at the 2004 Athens Olympics. His impressive achievements in high jump placed him among the top athletes of his time. However, his transition from sport to retired life was marred by personal battles, a plight that many sports professionals can relate to but one that few have to face as tragically as Freitag did.
The SAPS remains tight-lipped on specific details of the investigation to maintain its integrity. However, Brigadier Muridili has reassured the public that all leads are being meticulously followed. The reclassification from a missing person to a homicide underscores the severity of the case and the extensive efforts underway to bring the perpetrator to justice.
The site where Freitag's body was found has been analyzed for forensic evidence, and the investigation team is sifting through potential witnesses and communication records in hopes of uncovering any clues that may lead to an arrest.
The loss of Jacques Freitag is felt profoundly within the athletic community, both in South Africa and globally. His legacy as an elite high jumper is now overshadowed by the tragic manner of his death, and the search for truth in his final days continues.
Concluding this tragic story, it’s crucial to reflect on the life of Jacques Freitag who brought pride to his country through his athletic prowess. Despite his personal struggles, his accomplishments in sports should be remembered and celebrated.
As of now, the investigation continues with police following up on any and all leads. The hope remains that those responsible for Freitag’s death will be brought to justice promptly, providing some solace to his grieving family and fans.
Dave Ramsey did not hold back in his advice to a married couple wrangling over fun money contributions.
According to Daily Mail, Ramsey urged the couple to see their finances as a unified entity in marriage rather than separate accounts.
Val, a woman who wrote to Dave Ramsey, works outside the home alongside her husband. They are at an impasse over how to handle their discretionary spending contributions.
Her husband suggested they each contribute 5 percent of their earnings to an account reserved for discretionary spending. However, since he earns significantly more, he would end up with a larger sum to spend, which seemed unfair to Val.
Though Val isn’t greedy and doesn't indulge in frivolous expenditures, she believes that contributing an equal dollar amount would be much fairer. She sought Ramsey's perspective on this disagreement.
Ramsey critiqued the husband’s proposal, describing it as immature and selfish. “I’m sure your husband means well and he’s really a good guy overall, but it sounds like he hasn’t thought this whole thing through,” Ramsey insisted. He pointed out that limiting fun money to the income earner would be unreasonable in families where only one spouse works outside the home.
According to Ramsey, most spouses who do not work outside the home still fulfill numerous responsibilities and contribute significantly. Placing a monetary value on their contributions would reflect a considerable income.
He stressed the philosophy of ‘our income’ and ‘our assets’ instead of focusing on individual earnings. Ramsey reminded the couple of their marriage vows, asserting that marriage should be a partnership in every way, including financially.
He asked Val and her husband to reflect on their wedding day when they were pronounced “as one.” He emphasized that their joined income, assets, and responsibilities should be viewed collectively, not individually.
“If you own a home, it’s our home,” Ramsey said. “It’s not more his home just because he makes more money than you. Our kids, our marriage, our everything. Get the picture?”
Ramsey concluded with a stern reminder: marriage is not a “me” proposition; it should always be viewed as a “we” proposition. He urged Val’s husband to embrace this mindset for the benefit of their partnership.
The story highlights a common issue many couples face regarding finances and underscores the importance of a unified approach. Ramsey's advice serves as a reminder that marriage requires collaboration in all aspects, notably in managing finances.
As this story illustrates, contributing equally to fun money doesn’t mean contributing equivalent percentages when earnings are lopsided. Fairness in marriage often means thinking about what’s best for the partnership as a whole, rather than what feels fair to individual members. Dave Ramsey's insights resonate beyond this specific case, offering valuable guidance for any couple navigating financial complexities in their relationship.
Archaeologists from Innsbruck University have discovered a marble shrine and a 1,500-year-old ivory box with Christian motifs in Irschen, southern Austria.
Fox News reported that the imagery on the box appears to depict Moses receiving the Ten Commandments and the Ascension of Christ, offering important insights into historical and religious contexts.
Excavations at a church site in Irschen, located in the Carinthian Drava Valley, yielded a marble shrine housing the ancient ivory relic. The shrine was found beneath an altar within a chapel on the Burgbichl hill. Led by experts from Innsbruck University, the archaeological efforts in Irschen have been ongoing since 2016.
The ivory box is a remarkable find, belonging to a limited group of around 40 known artifacts worldwide. The last significant discovery of a similar item occurred approximately a century ago. The box features intricate Christian imagery and motifs believed to depict key biblical scenes.
Among the motifs on the box is an illustration showing a man receiving something from a hand extending from the sky, interpreted as Moses receiving the laws on Mount Sinai. Gerald Grabherr, a leading archaeologist, acknowledges this image as the “typical depiction” of the Old Testament event, symbolizing the start of the covenant between God and humankind.
Another notable scene displays a man in a chariot with two horses, believed to portray the ascension of Christ. This depiction is unique, as a hand from the heavens appears to be drawing the figure upward, symbolizing the fulfillment of the covenant from the New Testament. According to Grabherr, this representation is atypical and unprecedented.
The excavation efforts also revealed the remains of two Christian churches at the site, alongside a cistern and various personal belongings. These findings offer a glimpse into the life and practices of former inhabitants of the settlement.
The settlement itself had shifted to the hilltops during the late Roman Empire, a strategic move for enhanced defense in uncertain times. As Grabherr notes, the hilltop location provided settlers with a safer residence compared to the valleys below.
Further research is ongoing to trace the origins of the ivory material and the metallic and wooden components found within the marble box. These investigations may provide additional context to the relic's creation and usage.
Grabherr emphasizes the immense archaeological and art-historical value of the ivory relic. He notes the rarity and uniqueness of the artifact, as well as the limited number of similar items known to exist. The depiction of the Ascension of Christ involving a two-horse chariot (biga) is an especially distinctive and previously unknown element.
Prior to the current discovery, such pyxes (small containers) were primarily found in the treasures of cathedrals or exhibited in museums. Their historical and religious importance cannot be understated, as they provide insights into the artistic and religious expressions of their time.
The find in Irschen contributes valuable knowledge to the understanding of religious art in late antiquity and the intertwining of Old and New Testament themes in early Christian traditions. The combination of these depictions on a single artifact underscores the profound theological and cultural connections of the era.
The ongoing work in Irschen continues to reveal significant historical and archaeological insights, with the university's team committed to preserving these discoveries for future generations. As excavations and studies progress, archaeologists and researchers anticipate further findings that will enhance our understanding of human civilization. The marble shrine uncovered in southern Austria, containing an ancient ivory box with unique Christian motifs, highlights the region's rich historical and religious heritage, promising to deepen our knowledge of the past.