NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — A Norfolk Navy veteran will attempt to climb Mount Everest next week to raise money for a national nonprofit.  

Brian O’Malley may be in his 60s, but he told 10 On Your Side his age isn’t going to stop him from taking on the challenge of a lifetime.  

He’s been busy preparing for the journey by working out and sleeping in a special tent to help him acclimate to the change in altitude once he starts.  

“I feel very strong physically," O'Malley said. "I feel very strong mentally. I'm ready."

O’Malley got the inspiration to attempt this journey in 2023 when he was recovering from a back surgery.  

"I found myself watching a lot of documentaries on Mount Everest,” O’Malley said. “I made a pact with myself that if my back gets back to 100% that I wanted to do something significant.” 

He’s using the challenge as a chance to fundraiser for Tunnels to Towers, a nonprofit that supports military members and first responders. 

So far, he has raised more than $16,000.  

"The reason we love Tunnel to Towers is because not only does it support all of our military service members and stuff, it also supports first responders," O’Malley said.  

He added that he understands the risks that can come with attempting to climb Everest, so that’s why he took a trip recently to prepare.  

"My brother-in-law and myself went out to the Nepal area, to the Himalayas just about a month ago, and we tracked about 100 miles through the Himalayas and about 10,000 feet or so [of] an elevation change," O'Malley said. "I acclimated well with the elevation change." 

If he succeeds, he'll be one of the oldest Americans to have summited. O’Malley also plans to document his journey, one he hopes will make a difference and inspire others.  

"I really believe that God has given me this one more opportunity," O'Malley said, "by giving me a good back that will allow me to do this."

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VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — A Virginia Beach Navy veteran said she is disappointed with the Department of Defense's decision to end the recognition of cultural awareness months.  

The guidance was first announced Jan. 31. Servicemembers must celebrate cultural awareness month celebrations and events while off-duty.  

Retired Navy Commander Caroline Tetschner was troubled by the recent news.  

"I was stunned to hear that, and I was disappointed,” Tetschner said.  

Tetschner served for 27 years and said that the Military’s strength lies in its diversity.  

"We are not all going to be the same, nor should we," Tetschner said. “So, celebrating that, whether it's, you know, a Latin cultural club or a Women's History Month, you know, that says you're important.” 

According to the DoD, it will not use official resources to host celebrations or events related to cultural awareness months going forward.  

That includes Black History Month, Women's History Month, Pride Month and more.  

Part of the guidance read, “efforts to divide the force — to put one group ahead of another — erode camaraderie and threaten mission execution." 

"That's where the problem lies, you know, not recognizing that, that our backgrounds will be different, and that's what we bring, you know, and celebrating that,” Tetschner said. 

The Department of Defense Education Activity also released a message to military families on Monday, stating they are planning to fully comply with the guidance as well.  

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. (WAVY) — Gov. Glenn Youngkin has declared a state of emergency ahead of potential winter weather.   

A wintry mix is possible for Hampton Roads Tuesday, and some snow accumulation is forecasted in Williamsburg.

Some residents in Williamsburg are gearing up for the possible weather.

Lucy Walters said the forecast isn’t going to stop her from showing up to play her ukulele outside of a Food Lion in Williamsburg.   

"Virginia is very unpredictable with the weather, but it's fun,” Walters said.  

Another resident, Denise Edlow, said she has everything she needs to bundle up and enjoy the weather from inside.   

"If it's going to snow, I'm looking forward to it," Edlow said.  

The snowfall in Hampton Roads likely won’t be as much as central and northern Virginia. This is why Dominion Energy spokesperson Cherise Newsome said they’re preparing to send Hampton Roads crews to other regions to help out.   

"They're going to be working around the clock, just like everybody else," Newsome said, "but they'll make sure that they are nearby so that they can respond as quickly as safely as possible."  

Meanwhile, a VDOT spokesperson told 10 On Your Side they have been pre-treating roads across the Hampton Roads district with brine to prepare for the weather.  

CHESAPEAKE, Va. (WAVY) - A Chesapeake family is continuing to look for answers after their loved one disappeared over six months ago. 

65-year-old Bill Wolf was reported missing on July 23, 2024. He was last seen in the 2000 block of Athens Court just after 3 p.m. 

"He's been gone six months now, and it's just hard to go on without him," Cynthia Wolf, Bill Wolf's wife said.

According to Cynthia Wolf, her husband was last seen operating his silver 2008 Ford F150 pickup with a Virginia license plate that reads “IBDWOLF” after having a mental health episode. 

“He thought someone was chasing him. He was asking for help. So, I went to call 911 to get somebody to come to help him, and in that minute, he took off into his truck, which is parked in the driveway, and drove off,” Cynthia Wolf said. 

An investigation and search followed by the Coast Guard, Virginia Marine Police and Chesapeake Police.  

The Coast Guard announced they had found an unmanned catamaran about three nautical miles north of Little Creek Harbor in Norfolk. It contained some of Bill Wolf’s personal items, but he was nowhere to be found.  

"Not knowing is what's hurting me the most. I don't know if he's walking around hiding, thinking that somebody's still looking for him or if he drowned," Cynthia Wolf said.  

Authorities have also since recovered Bill Wolf’s truck, which now sits parked in the family’s driveway.  

His two sons, Thomas and David Wolf, are struggling to come to terms with his disappearance. They said that their dad had struggled with his mental health in the past but had never been gone for this long before. 

"It's almost like my life's on pause at the moment because of it," Thomas Wolf said. “I'm hoping someone can give us some news or information.” 

David Wolf echoed the same message.  

"I would like to know that he's alive, or at least closure,” David Wolf said. “The worst part is thinking he's either out there or he's not. But until we know something, you can't, you can't move past it or go through it,” 

Cynthia Wolf hopes by speaking out, they can finally get answers.   

"Just for somebody to let us know that he's alive. It's very hard to be home here and the night comes, and I think of him being out there by himself," Cynthia Wolf said.  

Police described Bill Wolf as 5 feet, 8 inches and about 188 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes.  

Anyone with any knowledge about Bill Wolf’s whereabouts is urged to contact the Chesapeake Police Department at 757-382-6161 or the Coast Guard at 757-483-8567. 

CHESAPEAKE, Va. (WAVY) — Three children and a mother are dead after an apparent murder-suicide in Chesapeake, according to police.

According to officials, just before 7 a.m., officers were dispatched to the 3000 block of Welcome Road for a welfare check.

Officers arrived to the scene and were able to determine that an armed woman was inside the residence. After attempting to negotiate with the armed subject, later identified as 34-year-old Cymone King-Roberson, police ultimately called the SWAT team for assistance.

Shortly afterwards, the SWAT team initiated an emergency entrance after determining there was a "high probability of deceased juveniles inside the residence." Upon entrance into the house, officers then found three children and a woman dead at the scene. The woman was said to have died due to a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Photos from the scene shows a heavy emergency vehicle presence.

Feb. 6, 2025 police activity on Welcome Road in Chesapeake, Va.

Feb. 6, 2025 police activity on Welcome Road in Chesapeake, Va.

10 On Your Side's Andy Fox spoke with Ivonni King, who said his sister, Cymone King-Roberson, is the one who shot and killed her three kids, a 14-year-old daughter and 5-year-old twins, a boy and a girl.

"Basically, I just got a call this morning, um, basically stating that she killed the children, that she was going to kill herself because her girlfriend left," Ivonni said. "I was in disbelief at first, but I came."

A nearby resident spoke with WAVY's Karina Garcia about the incident, who said she heard a lot of screaming early in the morning.

"It was a lot of screaming coming from the household," Shana Hicks said. "No one knew what was going on. It was round the time the elementary kids get on a school bus. So, we just thinking kids getting ready, having a hard time. We didn't know that, that's what was taking place at that home when we heard screams coming from the household."

Mary Crutchfield, a local psychiatric nurse practitioner, said when a tragedy like this happens, it's an emotional struggle for everyone.

"It is absolutely normal to feel horrified, to feel disgusted, to feel astonished, really, really sad," Crutchfield said. "A lot of grief might come after this. That's completely normal, and if we talk about it, then no one has to feel shame, survivor's guilt, 'if I had just done this or that.' All of things are a part of the process that comes after the initial shock."

Crutchfield said that if you know someone who is going through hard times, look for behavior that is out of the norm.

"A lot of times, it's increased agitation, it's irritability, it's fast speech, it's things that don't make sense," Crutchfield said. "It's behaviors al of a sudden. ... They may say or do things that you've never seen them do before."

Crutchfield said that if you observe this behavior in someone, to be there for them as much as possible.

"The first thing to do is to talk to the person, but not in a way of trying to fix them, or tell them that they need help or any sort of lecture," Crutchfield said. "It's really, just tell me more. Just tell me more."

The incident remains under investigation, and no additional information has been released.