were in the freezer, including a bird, -- including birds, rabbits, a guinea pig, and others. neighbors say they told officers that the woman has not been there for at least several days, and the heat and power had been turned off. >> we think we know who she is. we think there's a possibility that she may have been involved with a rescue organization. right now, we do not know her whereabouts. >> at this point, we are doing everything we can to locate her. we are hoping that she will hear this story and want to come forward and talk with us. no charges have been filed at this point. >> police tell us there was food and water inside the home, but the animals could not get to it. four animals were found alive. they were dehydrated and underweight. they're not doing well.

more on this later. >> thank you. now to our other big story tonight, investigators are searching for the cause of a fire that tore through homes, three of them, in owings mills. they could not find the address, so it took a while to get to them. >> county officials have confirmed that there was some delay with firefighters reaching this fire because of problems with the cross street. but they insist there were no problems as far as fighting the fire. as far as the cause, the victims in this case feel it was a bunch of children and smoking underneath their deck. >> walters said he got a frantic call from his wife just after midnight tuesday that their house was in ruins. >> i saw smoke blowing out by the kitchen. i went back to get my keys, but

it was a choice between going toward the front door or back by the kitchen and possibly getting hurt. >> it took more than 33 pieces of equipment to control this fire as firefighters for able to keep three adjacent homes from catching fire as well. first responders had trouble locating the house because information on a certain crosstree was incorrect. fire officials insist there was no delay in service. >> a little bit of an inconvenience for our firefighters. occasionally, we will come across an address that is not easy to find. this was one of them. however, it did not have any impact on the ability to fight this fire or on the outcome. >> fire and police officials will not discuss the cause of the fire, but walter said there have been problems recently with children in the neighborhood smoking near various homes. and as recently as last week,

his wife, then smoking in a shed under their debt, which is where they are convinced -- under there? -- under their deck and is convinced that is where it began. we tried to speak to a woman at the accused a children's home, but she would only tell us that police are investigating. in the meantime, the family is trying to keep their spirits up, just thankful that no one was killed or seriously hurt. >> as far as confirming the cause of this fire and the children of concern, fire officials will only tell us that the cases under investigation. -- the case is under investigation. >> police are investigating three shootings that happen with any two-hour time span of each other.

the first happened on terror from our road around 8:00 p.m. last night. -year old mana 32 -- with asia and not one. and a 36-year-old man was shot in the hit. he is expected to recover. and the latest was around 10:15 p.m. on longwood. a 29-year-old man walked into an area hospital having been shot multiple times. no details or suspects or motive in any of the cases. >> robert richardson weight is white -- his right to it pulmonary hearing today. -- waived his right to a preliminary hearing today. barry simms is live in bellaire with what the women there are hoping to accomplish. >> this case has plenty of people asking what they can do to help support robert

richardson iii. and many are communicating on social media. that is what has put those bellaire mothers into action. >> it breaks my heart. he is just a kid. >> determined to help, four bellaire women came to district court morning to find out more about the murder case against robert richardson iii. after telling the judge he was a 16-year-old freshman in high school, he waived his right to a preliminary hearing. >> he is skinny as a rail. and everybody that knows him says he is quite in a good kid, very polite. >> several of them have been following it case in the news. they know he is accused of shooting his 58-year-old father, robert richardson jr., on january 9, and taking the body and dumping it in a pond behind a relative's road. -- home.

he is then a budget -- he and then allegedly crashed the suv into a church. >> we just want to do the right thing for the boy that has been falling through the cracks for too long. >> the mother's facebook page, on this page, supporters are seeking all kinds of assistance, including financial, for the 16- year-old that is now represented by a public defender. >> he is a kid and he should not be tried as an adult. we want to raise money for anyone who supports him to help us hire a private attorney. >> richardson is charged with first and second-degree murder. his public the senate is considering asking for a reverse waiver so the case -- his public defender is considering asking for a reverse waivers of the case can be moved to juvenile

court. >> a massive cleanup under way following the burst pipe in an office building in annapolis. it prompted a temporary building shutdown. david collins was one of the first on the scene yesterday when this happened. he joins us from annapolis with an update. >> you usually consider a water main break to be on the outside. this occurred inside. the broken pipe spilled 10,000 gallons of water into senate offices. that is enough to fill a swimming pool. >> i have seen water coming out like that at a water amusement park, but this was quite spectacular. i'm surprised we do not have an indoor sprinkle in the basement. >> senator james ravi is describing the consequences of a three-inch pipe that burst in the office building. >> my shoes are still drying

out. i have the same ones on today and they are still a bit damp. >> fans and vacuums replacing the usual sounds of the office building. the water pipe burst around 1:30 p.m. monday afternoon, spilling enough water to fill tasering pool. -- phil a swimming pool. 35 of the state's 47 senators have offices in the building. it was constructed in 1939. it is attached to the miller office building, where committee hearings are held. >> you could end up with mold in the ceiling and walls. that is why we got on it. typically, mold growth does not start until 48 hours afterwards. we're able to get in and knock it down to eliminate any mold or air quality issues. >> the pipe was connected to the building's sprinkler system. four senate offices took the

brunt of the damage. >> it was fascinating wende staff was called. we were told that we had a major water leak. we thought it might have been flooded toilets. no, 10,000 gallons of water is a major impact. >> will insurance cover all of it? >> right now, they are going back to reassess. i do not know all the damage at the time -- the present. they have to check the computers and printers and stuff. >> four senate offices have been relocated. no, this is not a republican conspiracy. two of those offices are gop and the other two are democrats. wbal tv 11 news. >> are longtime friend and colleague ron smith was remembered today in a public memorial service. >> he died before christmas after a very short battle with

pancreatic cancer. >> here is jayne miller. >> it is my great pleasure to be your host today as we celebrate the life of ron smith. >> it was a service that remembered but the public and private ron smith. stan stovall was his friend for 34 years. >> everybody asked in this morning how and when to handle it today. i said, i'm fine, fine. and i'm not. >> a financial analyst spoke of being intimidated by ron when he first walked on -- worked on his show, but came to know him as a different man. >> i discovered he was just a really big, really smart oreo cookie. he was hard and crunchy on the outside and warm and soft on the inside. and he was absolutely filled with love. >> this is action news. >> the service included a video of his career, starting as a

golden anchor on action news, and involved in the "voice of reason" on the radio. >> listen up, conservatives, liberals, moderates, whenever you may be, i guarantee that we will say things to upset you in the next three hours. >> ron smith was exciting and other ticket and loquacious. but we are not here to canonize him. he was also enraging, maddening, outlandish, opinionated. >> the audience included senators mikulski and gordon, both democrats, and republican senator robb ehrlich. -- republican senator lekperieh. >> he is probably the most influential person in my life, particularly in people cooperating and getting along, despite differences of opinion. >> in a nod to " what is coming

up sunday, jerry sandusky held up the ball. >> i have tim and i kissed him on the cheek, and he whispered in my ear, go ravens. [laughter] [applause] >> continuing on is the effort to raise money in his memory for pancreatic research under the team banner "team reasons." >> you can watch the entire tribute on nine at wbaltv.com -- online at wbaltv.com. >> it was a wonderful service. >> it really was. >> and one of the mementos that i will forever cherished is this picture. 1978, ron and i anchoring here at wbal.

a big afro, big mustache. there you go. ron, we love you and miss you. >> you want to check it out on line. i feel like we have been given a gift today. >> still ahead, as crews pulled more bodies from the italian cruise ship, the new details surfacing about what happened the night of the wreck. >> the italian coast guard has a disturbing audio tape showing the capt. fleeing the scene, even though there were still passengers on board. >> plus, staggering statistics about obesity in america. some health officials say some groups are in worse shape than ever before. >> i'm jerry sandusky at owings mills, where work continues to prepare for the championship game on sunday.

>> all eyes are on new england towe check the ravens neroad indianapolis. one of the biggest concern is athletic prowess. gerry sandusky is that the training facility at owings mills. wonderful job today mc'ing the bronze memorial. >> thank you. -- the ron smith memorial. >> thank you. he will be watching sunday from heaven as we take on the new england patriots. cam the ravens scored enough points? the championship games frequently come down to one or two plays. the question is when they will make the place.

you know tom brady will make plays as well as others. who will make the play that makes the difference? tory smith had 1 receptions -- one reception in the last game against the texans. he also dropped a long pass, something he cannot afford to do this next week. john harbaugh expressed -- stressed the importance of making every play. you never know what i will be the difference between going to the super bowl and ending the season. >> we stand by the defense and believe in our defense. they're the rock of our team. we try to take care of the ball and we cannot have any outs. we've got to keep the offense on the field. and score points. >> he has figured out the game

plan already. there will be begin -- beginning to put that game planning to practice tomorrow. we will talk to jerry johnson about the colossal task ahead of the ravens defense when it comes to a way to slow down tom dy.yde >> in tonight's medical alert, america continues to have a weight problem. new statistics find the problem of obesity in the u.s. has not gone down in recent years despite the publicity about it. it has actually risen in some groups. >> these are a few ways americans are losing weight, and possibly stabilizing our obesity problem. >> even doing walking, household choice, -- household chores, but

being on the move with friends, it helps. >> he is reacting to the latest numbers on obesity from the cdc. not much has changed in the past decade. nearly 70% of adults in this country is overweight -- are overweight. one in three are over beast -- are obese. and even more teenagers are obese. >> those little guys watched as for what to do, and they watch us more than they listen to us. >> there were notable elevations in obesity in men, boys, african-americans, and mexican- american women. there's no indication or reason for -- behind those increases. thaty isn't it assumed when we go into a restaurant or a fast-food place where we probably want is water? why isn't it assumed that what we want is a small sized serving? >> that just might bring the

stats and the numbers on your scale back down. >> get walking, and while you were walking, take off the headphones. researchers at the university of maryland from a number of injuries and deaths involving pedestrians wearing headphones have tripled in the past several years. over half have involved trains, and one-third of the cases, a warning sounded before the crash. >> and now, your 11 insta- weather plus forecast with chief meteorologist tom tasselmyer. >> unseasonably warm spring-like conditions across the mid- atlantic. hd doppler right now shows the rainshowers approaching from the west as the line of showers and sears heated with the front moves in. you can see heavier showers, maybe even thundershowers across the ohio/pennsylvania border north of pittsburgh. southwest of roanoke, va., toward the mountains of south carolina and parts of the ohio

valley, tornadoes reported this afternoon. it is a pretty rough afternoon down that way with spring-like thunder storms popping up all along this front. for today, unseasonably warm. 59 at b.w.i. marshall. 60 degrees downtown baltimore. the normal is only 41 degrees. we had an unusually warm day, but this is the anniversary of the coldest temperature ever in baltimore. seven degrees below zero in 1984. one of those times was in 1982 on the 17th of january. it has happened five times that we have hit 7 veloz 0. -- seven below zero. it will get that cold, but it is going to get chillier. dropping back into the 40's in western maryland. there is still a possibility of scattered showers across the

eastern shore. the snow returning to the mound is an indication of the more normal january temperatures. a lot of sunshine here tomorrow, but the temperatures will be falling with gusty winds. allegheny county, of 35 to 45 miles per hour. scattered showers tonight. lohorning, over 20's 2 30's. very cold to the north and west of here. international falls, to below zero. -- two below zero. our temperatures are going to go down and -- below normal again. right now, it is an active front toward the gulf coast. on the underside, a bit of snow shows up. tomorrow, windy conditions, northwest breeze is out to 25, gusting over 35 and the highest

just 42. 24 at sunrise. a few flurries and snow showers on thursday. temperatures will be dropping 20 degrees tomorrow, even though it is a sunny day. there's a chance for snow showers thursday evening. a chance for a sprinkle or a light shower in the evening on thursday. winds will be brisk out of the northwest on the bay. that will get the waves at about 3 feet. temperatures are in the upper 30's. 40 tamara and windy. a chance for a light snow or flurries thursday evening. partly to laws the cloudy friday and another chance for a wintry makes saturday morning. >> a somber day across the state of maryland.

>> governor mountain normality have -- has ordered -- gov. martin o'malley has ordered flags at half mast in honor of a soldier. details, next. ♪

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>> a volunteer firefighter was responding to an accident in carroll county when he was struck by a vehicle. it was a huge pile up on slippery roads. it happened last night. according to the sheriff's office, there were more than 30 accidents in carroll county aloma site because of the weather. the firefighter was attending to a victim in one of the crashes. at this hour he is listed in serious, but stable condition. >> flags are being flown around maryland state in honor of a maryland soldier that died in afghanistan. chairman first class machu cyber of westminster died january 5 when an ied hit his troops in

afghanistan. two other airmen died in that attack. >> a baby is dead after being left outside in freezing temperatures. >> the very latest on the investigation as police tried to determine who abandoned the week-old infant. >> and [ male announcer ] get ready for some deli-style delic-ious-ity: the subway big hot pastrami melt. take a moment to ponder tender cuts of pastrami, piled sky high atop your favorite freshly baked bread with spicy mustard, pickles and melt-a-licious cheese. okay, enough imagining how this fresh toasted number would tantalize your taste buds -- it's time to actually experience the subway big hot pastrami melt, built by the sandwich experts the way you love -- to per-fec-tion. subway. eat fresh.

>> 11 news at 5:00 p.m. in hd continues now. >> new tonight at 5:30 p.m., a dozen elementary schools are set to fly blue ribbon flags. the schools from all across the state were picked based on student performance in math and reading. >> it was kept tightly under wraps until this morning when it was announced during a ceremony at the state board of education. tim tooten is live with more. >> the blue ribbons that this is an indication that the schools are making steady progress. tonight, we're looking at one of those schools getting the top honor. >> 100% of students tested at croft in elementary school are advanced in math on a state based test. 99% did the same in reading. that helped the school to learn a blue ribbon.

>> i think it means that our school knows how to work together and they work hard. >> it is an honor because we're one of the only schools in maryland to get this honor. there hundreds of them, and we are one of the few. >> the news came as a surprise to most students and staff, including most teachers. they were kept in the dark leading up to the announcement. >> we know what a great staff we have, but we also know how hard our children work. it is an honor to have their efforts recognize. >> the students also got high marks for computer -- community- based projects. >> they have been going above and beyond before school, after school, to provide services to our children. not only academic services, but those for emotional and social well-being. >> it has helped to motivate staff and students to work even

harder. >> we are not stopping here. the we're going to go national blue ribbon and keep moving forward. >> moving forward one day, and one lesson, at a time. >> there were six schools given the status of blue ribbon. each school will get a maryland blue ribbon flagg, $2,000, a smart board. a formal ceremony is set for mid march. here's the list of schools. rounding out that list is montgomery county's rachel carson elementary. all of the schools will get to compete for a national blue ribbon. other topa look at stories at this hour.

authorities in howard county have uncovered a house of horror filled with dead animals. there were four animals still alive, but conditions inside the home were terrible. the water, food, or heat. police believe there was a person living at the location, but no one is believed to of been there for more than a week. it is unclear how long the animals were unattended. and a two-story fire ripped through a home in -- 82 alarm fire ripped through a home in owings mills. -- 82-alarm fire ripped through a home in owings mills. residents say that kids smoking a shed may have started the fire. and police to identify the body that washed ashore yesterday in annapolis. tither cordray of somerset county was found monday morning.

he was one of three people tossed into the chesapeake bay in december when their sailboat capsized. one of the passengers survived, but cordray had been missing ever since. >> many of us here at 11 news were on hand and spoke at the memorial for ron smith this morning. many listeners for also on hand, of recalling the voice of the voice of talk radio. he died in december after a short battle with pancreatic cancer. >> the death toll on the italian cruise ship that sank off the task the coast has doubled to 11. and the audio taped shows the captain resisting as a coastguard official orders him to return to the ship. >> there seems to be an army of

searchers here are not highly -- tiny island. -- on the tiny island. they have punched a hole into the halls of making it better theess to the cabins -- eigh hull so they can get better access to the cabins. five more bodies were found. the captain has been charged with manslaughter, abandoning ship, and causing the rack. he is now under house arrest. but more shocking is this audio recording of a phone conversation between the captain and the port authority of around three hours after he decided to take the ship of course, hitting iraq. repeatedly, -- hitting a rock. repeatedly, the port authority tells him to get back to the ship. repeated the you hear him making

excuses, sang the lifeboat is not working, i am coordinating efforts from off the ship. at one point he says, are you aware that it is dark and we cannot see anything? back to you. >> increase the story to watch that video. a violent rampage at a gold's gym in new york. >> it is all caught on tape. what police say contributed to this violent outburst. >> plus, at midnight tonight is lights out for wikipedia. what is behind this blackout for the nation. the nation.

>> police say the suspect in a string of home invasions in montgomery county is also a registered sex offender. he is being brought back to maryland after being apprehended in north carolina over the

weekend. he is charged in several assaults. he put -- was put on the sex offender registry after being convicted in 2005 of a third degree sex offense, and he also pled guilty in the 2009 manslaughter. he could see prison time without the possibility of parole. >> covering nation tonight, a horrifying case in washington d.c. where a week-old infant died after being found outside a home in freezing temperatures. a 9-year-old spotted a baby while walking to the store on monday. the infant was rushed to children's hospital where she later died. police have not said if they know who left the baby in the cold, or if she had been abandoned. an autopsy is being determined -- is being performed to determine the exact cause of death.

>> here is security camera of a violent rampage in the gold jim in new york. -- in this gold's gym in newark. he knocked over a few items in the lobby before starting to pull down exercise equipment in the workout area. you see people getting out of the way. police eventually had to use a stun gun to subdue him and then he went into cardiac arrest and died just before going to be hospital. an autopsy revealed pcp and steroids in his system. >> wikipedia is going door to protest a new law. it for shutdown access to its english site midnight tonight through midnight wednesday to protest anti- piracy legislation in congress. they complain it " seriously restrict free speech. -- they complain it will

seriously restrict free speech. >> still ahead, plans to have it your way even if your plan is never to leave your home. >> coming up, the technology that keeps the birders hot and a fried crispy. >> a strong cold front is coming through tonight. 59 degrees right now in downtown baltimore with

>> coming up tonight on 11 news at 6:00 p.m., the 16-year-old accused of murdering his father was back in court today. we'll have details of the proceedings and who is offering support for the teenager. and new at 6:00 p.m., a preview of how governor o'malley is expected to close the budget gap.

>> mitt romney has now climbed to a commanding 23 point lead in the national gallup poll of republicans. he hopes to lay claim to the gop nomination saturday in south carolina. steve handelsman has tonight's commitment 2012 update. >> in florence, south carolina, mitt romney focused on barack obama. >> i am so distressed as i watched our president tried to replace and vision with envy. >> mitt romney claims he will be the strongest obama opponent. so did newt gingrich. rick santorum, less drama, same claim. but today's washington post

abc news poll finds only mitt romney is winning the obama matchup. ron paul trails the president by 7. santorum by 11. gingrich by 12. to try to widen and the winning yacht, team obama -- any winning gap, team obama revealed today they will do what they did in 2008 to help him win colorado. they're trying to repeat in north carolina. >> president obama and democrats will not see any ground -- cede any ground in north carolina. >> governor romney says there were 100 -- there were some jobs lost in the takeover deal, but many more added. >> gingrich talked to anti- romney conservative voters.

so far, no sign that santorum voters or. . voters will shift to being rich. -- or rick perry voters will shift to gingrich. >> and now, your 11 insta- weather plus forecast with chief meteorologist tom tasselmyer. >> the day started with a chilly rain in many areas and we ended up with mild sunshine. now we will change it up all over again. as a cold front sweeps through, tomorrow will be a more typical january day. to our north and west, a line of showers up near pittsburgh. that is the cold front that will have to get through here later tonight. the potential is there for a bit more wet weather. the emphasis will be on the cold and the wind, and maybe some

snow off the great lakes. there's a bit of a flurry activity possible by thursday evening. check out the contrast across the central and eastern u.s. to below zero at international falls. the 14 -- two below zero at international falls. 14 in minneapolis. as the front comes through, a few more showers and strong winds and falling temperatures. right now, well above freezing out west, and even 61 degrees at petersburg. salsbury is at 57. the last bitter shower activity just to our east through midnight. -- the last bit of shower activity just too far east through midnight. east of the mound, we expect a lot of sunshine. -- east of the mountains, we expect a lot of sunshine.

the wins will be gusting over 40 miles per hour. a chance for a shower early tonight, and then clearing out, 29-37 for the low. severe thunderstorms from central kentucky to the gulf coast, and even the possibility of isolated tornadoes. the worst weather will stay to our south. it is really cold out there. there is some truth arctic air tomorrow afternoon into thursday. some of the cold may break off east of the mounds and tracked through baltimore thursday evening. it might even coat the ground in spots before it clears out going into the first part of friday. right around 40 tomorrow, a good 20-degree drop from today. the snow comes back into the mountains and deep creek for

wednesday and thursday. in the single digits and teens in the highest elevations. wende at the close tomorrow. the chance for a sprinkle of rain late on thursday. there is a 30-% -- there is a 30% chance for precipitation in the evening. another chance for showers on friday morning and another -- and cloudy skies on sunday. >> a vote on the new contract tonight that will expand what lights can have speake counters in the county. in addition, 18 cameras could be ordered over the course of the contract. there are more mobile device

users than just a few months ago. that has concerned about security nationwide. on-line safety experts are advocating people install anti- theft software. also, keep an eye out for some new apps. some of them come with a qr code, which could be trouble. >> it may not even be that the code is infected, but it could take you to a malicious app. >> there also hidden fees you should look out for, adding on hidden text charges on your monthly telephone bill. burger king is expanding to home delivery in certain markets, including washington d.c. if the trial works out, it could expand. customers could order their walkers just like they do their peak and it will be delivered to your door. but there -- customers could

order their whoppers just like they were there pizza and it will be delivered to your door. but will it be fresh and crispy? >> thanks to the $1 billion deficit, gov. martin o'malley will release his legislative plans to mawr. but legislative leaders are looking at changes in pension costs and other issues. >> i will let you know how you >> i will let you know how you can get a

>> the ravens fans are showing their support for the team as they get closer and closer to the super bowl. one local hair salon is giving female fans some new options, even one inspired by joe flacco's for manchu. >> reagan's fever -- raven's fever is all over town and including the valley. >> showing your team spirit is not just going to the game anymore. it is daian, day out, all during the week. you see everyone wearing their jerseys. >> that is why they are introducing new ways that

especially the the ravens fans can show their purpose of pride. it includes temporary hair flair. >> i have strands of tinsel that look kind of like christmas tree. it could be different colors. them have purple extensions. -- then we have purple extensions. >> it could also include fake eyelashes to glittery makeup applications to face paint. and also what they're calling the she mancu. >> you put the glitter on the glue. and you have a fu manchu. >> all of this visible support from the fans can only help them to get to indianapolis. >> they're looking for their fans to be their last team

member. i think that is what is driving them to go to the big game. >> all of these services are available through a link at our website wbaltv.com. >> there is certainly no age restrictions when it comes to raven's maniac. for example, this person here all pumped up, sporting his fu manchu and his shirt. and at the rogers avenue day nursery, these four and 5-year- olds are showing their spirit. that is all for us at 5:00 p.m. here is what is coming up at 6:00 p.m. >> governor o'malley and local officials, let's make a deal. details straight ahead. >> supporters of the 16-year-old accused of killing his father want to help with his defense.

>> why did mayor's office to tell this city council president to give back his prized football tickets? >> live, local, late breaking, this is wbal tv 11 news at 6:00 p.m. >> good evening, everyone. tonight, the i-team has learned baltimore city council president had to give back prized tickets to the ravens game at the request of the mayor's office. >> and that happened on the heels of jack kemp's been opposed to the honor race. >> you can put this in the "paybacks are a you know what" department. they are prized seats, especially for a playoff game. the mayor's office controls the guest list. one of the mayor's staff members asked jack ki'yauh g