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Crime

Mother and 16-Year-Old Daughter Drown While Fleeing Shoplifting Scene

Aug. 6, 2011 4:21pm Christopher Santarelli

Amid heavy downpours, a mother and daughter suspected of shoplifting at a Charlotte coat store ran into a swollen, fast-moving stream Friday night. Police found the mother’s body at the bottom of the creek Friday, and now it is being reported that search crews have found the body of her 16-year-old daughter Saturday.

The torrential rains caused flash flooding, swamped drivers and forced residents to evacuate neighborhoods. Crews rescued motorists and residents by boat, and were searching the stream for the other shoplifting suspect.

“Tragically, today we had some people who were caught in very dangerous water conditions,” Fire Department Capt. Rob Brisley said.

Police identified the dead woman as Gracie Nell Johnson, 43, and her daughter Rihanna Johnson, 16. Johnson and two others were at a Burlington Coat Factory in the city when a store employee called police to report shoplifting, according to a statement from police. NBC Charlotte affiliate newscast on the discovery of Gracie Johnson’s body Friday night:

One of the trio was taken into custody, while Johnson and her daughter ran. A store employee chased them, and all three plunged into a creek near the shopping center. The worker made it out, but Johnson and her daughter were swept away.

Gracie Johnson’s ankle bracelet lead police to her body.

“It’s tragic when you go to many, many calls and save many, many lives that you have a call where you can’t save a person’s life,” Brisley said.’

Firefighters and other emergency responders began heading out on flood-related calls around noon. Motorists were trapped in their cars by high water and residents watched clogged storm drains flood their property. People from two neighborhoods were evacuated when creeks spilled over their banks, but no injuries were reported.

In some neighborhoods, heavy rain seeped through roofs and flooded the insides of homes and businesses. CBS 3 reports that rescue crews say that the creek waters raised by 8 feet shortly after the rain began.

The sudden deluge was caused by heavy showers and thunderstorms which deposited up to 6 inches of rain in some parts of the city, all falling within a few hours.

“From about noon, for three hours we were responding to calls from one end of the city to the other,” Brisley said.

The Associated Press contributed to this article.

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Comments (319)

TAKE_NO_PRISONERS
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 4:43pm
Gracie Johnson’s ankle bracelet lead police to her body.
Well this appears to be not the first run in with “JOHN LAW”.That’s proably why she tried to get away ,to a tragic end,took her daughter with her.

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- redbone007
  Posted on August 6, 2011 at 4:56pm
  Generational curses:
  
  Exodus 34:7, “Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting (punishing) the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.”
  
  Lamentations 5:7, “Our fathers have sinned, and are not; and we have borne (been punished for) their iniquities.”
  
  Report this comment
- WhiteFang
  Posted on August 6, 2011 at 5:03pm
  Bad decisions bring bad consequences.
  
  Report this comment
- avenger
  Posted on August 6, 2011 at 5:06pm
  ya think there is a God ! wow,I can see the libs freaking..how about just a liberal viewpoint of cleaning up the gene pool…
  
  Report this comment
- Shoot-To-Kill
  Posted on August 6, 2011 at 5:40pm
  Boy!! I wish we could get some of that rain here in Texas!
  
  Report this comment
- mils
  Posted on August 6, 2011 at 5:42pm
  i in no way shape or form believe any god would punish anyone for their father’s sin…RUBBISH…unless he was some jackwad on the troll for laughs at other’s expense.
  
  Report this comment
- reality based lifeform
  Posted on August 6, 2011 at 5:49pm
  this senseless tragedy could have been averted if they had only shoplifted at the
  “Burlington Lifejacket factory ” instead
  
  Report this comment
- Devil Dog 7175
  Posted on August 6, 2011 at 6:22pm
  Lets see… Career criminal No further problems,… Budding young apprentice criminal , No further problems…Generations of likely future criminals… Ended. Where is the down side to this? OH… I know, The store employee will be charged with at least manslaughter, for chasing them and causing their demise.
  
  Report this comment
- getalong
  Posted on August 6, 2011 at 6:43pm
  How does the Bible put it, the sins of the father are visited upon the son. My condolences to their family. Certainly shoplifting does not constitute death. No doubt, there deaths will be blamed on white people.
  
  Report this comment
- Sparky101
  Posted on August 6, 2011 at 7:03pm
  Mills, your reply is a great example of why you need to shutup and listen when God speaks. Hopefully he will give you plenty of time and chances, to discover the truth. I doubt he will change for you, so consider changing for him. Yes, there will be those who will refuse to submit to God, but that is not his choice. The choice is yours, and you can revise it all the way up to the end. First, look into why you hate God, and go from there.
  
  Report this comment
- mils
  Posted on August 6, 2011 at 7:10pm
  wow…guess the powers that had enough of her dishonesty…
  
  Report this comment
- JoeBtfsplk
  Posted on August 6, 2011 at 7:22pm
  @REALITYBASEDLIFEFORM
  
  Burlington Lifejacket Facotry – classic!
  
  Report this comment
- 408 CheyTac
  Posted on August 6, 2011 at 7:41pm
  instant karma I love it.
  
  Report this comment
- Secret Squirrel
  Posted on August 6, 2011 at 7:54pm
  .
  Sometimes you just can’t fix “stupid”.
  
  Report this comment
- imreddog
  Posted on August 6, 2011 at 8:04pm
  Was this one of those ankle bracelets that they put on habitual criminals? Since the police were able to find her by using the ankle bracelette, I think so.
  
  Report this comment
- poverty.sucks
  Posted on August 6, 2011 at 8:10pm
  Are you saved? The next time you run from the law and drown, will you go to Heaven?
  
  http://peacewithgod.jesus.net/
  
  Report this comment
- MIBUGNU2
  Posted on August 6, 2011 at 9:47pm
  Probably SUE the store and emlpoyee, I’d put money on it !!
  
  Report this comment
- Patriot Rider
  Posted on August 6, 2011 at 10:17pm
  Could this be called instant karma???
  
  Report this comment
- Eliasim
  Posted on August 6, 2011 at 10:58pm
  Well I guess she won’t be shop-lifting anymore.
  
  Report this comment
- Hungry_i
  Posted on August 6, 2011 at 11:37pm
  What a pathetic waste.
  
  Report this comment
- Bluebonnet
  Posted on August 6, 2011 at 11:49pm
  When once you practice to deceive………………..can turn to tragedy.
  
  Report this comment
- vitaminb6b12
  Posted on August 6, 2011 at 11:49pm
  They (AA’s) don’t swim so good. :(
  
  Report this comment
- MrJones
  Posted on August 7, 2011 at 12:53am
  In an ironic twist, the creek is known to locals as “Schit’s Creek”.
  
  Report this comment
- buckster6.0
  Posted on August 7, 2011 at 1:18am
  crazy how that turns out.nationwide heat wave and die stealin from a coat store
  
  Report this comment
- buckster6.0
  Posted on August 7, 2011 at 1:37am
  im sure sharptons fat ass is on a plane right now $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
  
  Report this comment
- buckster6.0
  Posted on August 7, 2011 at 1:43am
  5 stars@mrjones
  
  Report this comment
- mlcblog
  Posted on August 7, 2011 at 3:58am
  To Redbone
  
  Jesus came to set us free from those curses. If we will accept that. Too bad these 2 died in the throes of generational sin.
  
  Report this comment
- Dont-hate-on-me-2
  Posted on August 7, 2011 at 6:56am
  Well they wont be stealing from us anymore.
  
  Report this comment
- Ready2Rumble
  Posted on August 7, 2011 at 10:04am
  Looks like someone was Lo-Jacked.
  
  Report this comment
- SamIamTwo
  Posted on August 7, 2011 at 10:22am
  Crime doesn’t pay.
  
  Report this comment
SUPPLY_SIDE
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 4:42pm
“Gracie Johnson’s ankle bracelet lead police to her body”…..something to be said about tracking criminals.

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- avenger
  Posted on August 6, 2011 at 5:21pm
  way to go Ron..
  
  Report this comment
- Brasil2520
  Posted on August 6, 2011 at 5:52pm
  Bring back Ron, our only hope
  
  Report this comment
Ravings of a lunatic planet
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 4:42pm
It’s Bush’s fault.

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- Woody WoodBecker
  Posted on August 6, 2011 at 4:57pm
  I blame the Arab spring, tsunami, the credit downgrade and the Tea Party…and Bush.
  
  Report this comment
- eagle2715
  Posted on August 6, 2011 at 5:10pm
  Him and his damn weather machines are at it again…
  
  Report this comment
- loriann12
  Posted on August 6, 2011 at 5:10pm
  You forgot global warming.
  
  Report this comment
- IlovemyAkita
  Posted on August 6, 2011 at 5:23pm
  ahhhh…yup!
  
  Report this comment
- WylE
  Posted on August 6, 2011 at 5:37pm
  Obviously, strong headwinds…
  
  Report this comment
- 1bambam
  Posted on August 6, 2011 at 9:01pm
  Sorry it was BIG OIL’S fault
  
  Report this comment
- bumpkin
  Posted on August 6, 2011 at 9:41pm
  Oh, oops. The page flipped to this one as I clicked reply- (I thought it was the same page, but, oh, well, guess not) I have cursor problems here- guess they DID find the teen. VERY sad. No learnable lesson for that teen. Yeah, when our economy collapses, it will get very ugly, and there will be only rare examples of goodness, compared to the myriad stories of horror for at least the first 9 months to a year. I shudder at the thought.
  
  Report this comment
IM_UR_HUCKLEBERRY
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 4:42pm
This is so sad.
Parent “Training” children to steal.
Watch for shoplifting and such to EXPLODE soon as USA economy tanks.

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- 13th Imam
  Posted on August 6, 2011 at 5:25pm
  Or strapping a bomb on your child.
- sooner12
  Posted on August 6, 2011 at 5:39pm
  Or beating on white people just for the thrill of it.
  
  Report this comment
- bumpkin
  Posted on August 6, 2011 at 9:35pm
  Thou Shalt Not Covet! And the store employee didn’t chase them into the water. NO. They LED the Store employee to the water, and tried to get the employee to drown with them! People make choices, and if they choose the wrong choice, they have a bigger chance of failure. Not GOD. HE gave them free agency, and a choice. And laws to follow. Every clepto- every thief, causes our costs of our purchases to go up. The stores have no option but to increase prices in order to pay for the loss of their inventory that THEY paid for. So, every thief steals form their family, their neighbor, their grandma, and not just the store. They took a big risk jumping in to the raging waters, and the risk was apparently worth their lives. IF they find the youngster alive- I haven’t yet heard… hopefully the teen will learn the reason for following GODs laws. They are the safer, better bet every time.
  
  Report this comment
- Nobamazone
  Posted on August 7, 2011 at 7:20am
  years ago while teaching preschool I had a 4 yr old girl tell me all about how she and her dad and sister “steeled” stuff, inlcuidng beer, if that was not ridiculous enough… according to child protective services this is not something that puts the child in danger and they did NOTHING about it!
  
  Report this comment
letsbefrank
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 4:42pm
I’ll bet my bottom dollar that they will sue the store for chasing them. Mother already had a monitoring anklet on, just says a lot. Too bad the daughter was being groomed for a life of crime, too bad she had to die because of bad parenting!!

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Monketo
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 4:42pm
How come you always seem to hear two or three stories a year about people who can’t swim doing something stupid near water and the end up drown? Are they less afraid of water because the take baths and showers in the stuff every day without a problem? Seriously, you can’t stop your kids from making stupid decisions, but you can teach your kids to swim.

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- 13th Imam
  Posted on August 6, 2011 at 5:28pm
  And to Steal for a living. And to supplement the Food Stamps,WIC, Fuel Oil Stipend, Welfare Check,
  
  Report this comment
Psychosis
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 4:42pm
http://www.wcnc.com/news/local/Shoplifting-suspects-presumed-dead-in-drowning-126860758.html

yup she had on a electronic tracking bracelet given to her for her past criminal activity

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- 4kidsandacat
  Posted on August 8, 2011 at 1:49pm
  So….I guess that proves the efficacy of ankle bracelets yet again…
  
  Report this comment
Tankertony
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 4:41pm
They probably won’t be stealing anymore.

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- Tundra4x4
  Posted on August 6, 2011 at 4:49pm
  Seems to me I remember reading something that went like this – “YOU SHALL NOT STEAL”. I think there may have been 9 others, too! They got some ‘splainin to do!
  
  Report this comment
- muzzleloader
  Posted on August 6, 2011 at 5:10pm
  I’m sure they will still vote though.
  
  Report this comment
- chips1
  Posted on August 6, 2011 at 5:28pm
  There were eleven.
  THOU SHALL NOT VOTE LIBERAL!!
  
  Report this comment
- izzy1127
  Posted on August 6, 2011 at 10:07pm
  THOU SHALT NOT STEAL? Damn Tundra, at least get it right…..
  
  Report this comment
BlazingInSC
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 4:41pm
Glad to hear the employee made it out of the river OK.

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clingingtogodandguns
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 4:40pm
Don’t do the crime if you can’t do the time,or consequences.

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drago
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 4:39pm
Good riddance to bad rubbage.Sometimes your the bug, sometimes the windshield…..Sad part is, the employee and store will get sued…..

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Psychosis
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 4:39pm
police say her ankle bracelet led to finding her body

was this miscreant on electronic surveillance and forced to wear a tracking device on her ankle????

if so, she obviously didnt learn her lesson from her previous conviction

its nice to see darwin still targets idi ots

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hamanns
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 4:39pm
Very sad and very alarming. Life of crime does not pay. Teaching your kids that stealing is aacceptable and normal way of life because “they were inslaved” and society needs to pay back. Broken family, broken morals and broken society. I just see law suit coming from greeving relatives. They will sue thios retailer for millions. I bet they will cash out nicely.

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dmerwin
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 4:37pm
Justice served without the incredible court cost.

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- redyanqui
  Posted on August 6, 2011 at 5:03pm
  shoplifting deserves death? seriously?
  
  Report this comment
- Stu D. Baker-Hawk
  Posted on August 6, 2011 at 5:11pm
  Posted on August 6, 2011 at 5:03pm, Redyanqui said, “shoplifting deserves death? seriously?”
  
  No. But in this case, we got lucky.
  
  Report this comment
- Inbred Jed
  Posted on August 6, 2011 at 5:12pm
  Yes, it was self inflicted thus she got what she deserved. Not only did she shoplift but she fled when approached. Had she not run and took her lumps, she and her daughter would both be alive. Another unintended consequence of a poor desicion.
  
  Darwin gets another point.
  
  Report this comment
- claymoremacm
  Posted on August 6, 2011 at 5:16pm
  if she was in a Muslim land she would have lost her hands the 1st time,In the old west she would have hung,but wait if she live back before the wellfare state she would have probable not be in the gene pool anyway
  
  Report this comment
- 13th Imam
  Posted on August 6, 2011 at 5:32pm
  Stupidity has consequences. No one else made them do this.
  
  Report this comment
- one years food ration like glenn says
  Posted on August 6, 2011 at 6:12pm
  @REDYANQUI.. It does when I own stock at Burlington Coat factory .. Yes
  
  Report this comment
- HD Veteran
  Posted on August 6, 2011 at 6:47pm
  redyanqui
  Posted on August 6, 2011 at 5:03pm
  
  shoplifting deserves death? seriously?
  
  Nope. but stupidity can get you there quick.
  
  Report this comment
- AlansTigg
  Posted on August 6, 2011 at 8:24pm
  stupidity frequently results in death
  
  Report this comment
- Mateytwo Barreett
  Posted on August 6, 2011 at 8:53pm
  @ Redyanqui
  Uh, so how did she “qualify” for the bracelet- jaywalking?
  
  Report this comment
m r 2 dux
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 4:33pm
Just wait till Al and Jesse get down there to boycott the store and demand the mean ol’ employee be held accountable for the deaths of these fine, upstanding, hard working citizens.

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- alcarfl
  Posted on August 6, 2011 at 4:48pm
  You done sez what I done beez tinkin. Wharedayat?
  
  Report this comment
Bushie
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 4:33pm
What a waste of a good ankle bracelet.

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- claymoremacm
  Posted on August 6, 2011 at 7:26pm
  don’t worry it is water proof and the Police got it back
  
  Report this comment
OMC-BLUTARSKY
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 4:32pm
High price to pay for a jacket….

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- Tundra4x4
  Posted on August 6, 2011 at 4:40pm
  They can profess their innocence to The Lord because their demise is a blessing to us here having to survive under their messiah Ocrap. We won’t miss the thieves.
  
  Report this comment
- IM_UR_HUCKLEBERRY
  Posted on August 6, 2011 at 4:40pm
  Sad, Sad story.
  I see parents “training” children to steal like this EVERYWHERE!
  I hate that it cost them their lives…
  I expect this kind of crime to EXPLODE soon.
  A local AT&T phone store recently had to hire an armed guard due to this crap and that is in a medium sized city in North Texas.
  GET READY GANG… It Ain’t Gonna Get Better.
  
  Report this comment
- RavenGlenn
  Posted on August 6, 2011 at 5:10pm
  Yup. In Philly I’ve seen parents nudge their children towards a candy kiosk in the middle of the mall, watch them take a thing of candy, watch them walk back to them, then continue on their merry way without paying.
  
  That kind of stuff is sickening.
  
  Report this comment
- Saved777
  Posted on August 6, 2011 at 11:34pm
  I may have felt sorry if this was during the winter months with low temps… BUT GEEZE a Jacket in August, with record breaking temps nationwide? She was a life time criminal teaching her daughter to follower her footsteps. I really feel sorry for the daughter.
  
  Report this comment
- Hula Calhoun
  Posted on August 7, 2011 at 11:13am
  Amazing how many people posting here don’t realize that Burlington Coat Factory sells a LOT of other things besides coats!
  
  Report this comment
lel2007
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 4:32pm
Terribly sad. This tale of woe must be pinned squarely on the Chief Donkey’s behind and his herd of Jackaces.

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- IM_UR_HUCKLEBERRY
  Posted on August 6, 2011 at 4:45pm
  Nah… you’re wrong…
  This is a learned “Life-Style”
  They were doing this LONG before Obama.
  They’ll be doing it LONG after he is nothing but a BAD memory.
  
  Report this comment
- one years food ration like glenn says
  Posted on August 6, 2011 at 6:15pm
  @RAVENGLENN.. And you don’t say a word , right ? Because you’ll be God damned you will be called a snitch..
  
  Report this comment
- lel2007
  Posted on August 6, 2011 at 7:44pm
  Democrats create dependence by their social programs. Before Johnson’s War on Poverty, though poor and suffering discrimination, Blacks had self respect, dignity, and family values.
  
  Report this comment
Rob
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 4:32pm
It’s the Tea Party’s fault!

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- Dkoonz
  Posted on August 6, 2011 at 4:39pm
  No! Busch did it.
  
  Report this comment
- Bill Rowland
  Posted on August 6, 2011 at 5:03pm
  Jackson-Lee is on the way with Rev Jackson ( and son) and Rev Sharpton to stand up for these hardworking upstanding citizens.
  
  Report this comment
- redyanqui
  Posted on August 6, 2011 at 5:04pm
  lololol
  
  Report this comment
- RepubliCorp
  Posted on August 6, 2011 at 5:10pm
  hope and change……wasn’t shovel ready
  
  Report this comment
- 1TrueOne55
  Posted on August 6, 2011 at 5:39pm
  @Bill Rowland
  
  Sharpton had to abstain because he has a new TV Show on MSNBC or was it CNN? Oh well he got what he wanted, to get easy money for spouting off his insanity.
  
  Report this comment
- Multiple Arms
  Posted on August 6, 2011 at 8:06pm
  To Republicorp: They are shovel ready now.
  
  Report this comment
Bonnieblue2A
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 4:30pm
Sometimes justice is as swift as a stream. What a waste and she took her daughter with her. Darwin award winner. Sad.

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- ecurbyy
  Posted on August 8, 2011 at 10:49am
  Yeah! There’s a couple of shovel ready jobs Obamao can kick that job creation number up a couple of notches. Ron Paul in 2012. Liberty, Prosperity, Peace.
  
  Report this comment
angelcat
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 4:30pm
It is sad and unnecessary that this mother and daughter lost their lives. If only they hadn’t resorted to stealing, they would both still be alive. They learned tragically that actions have consequences. I hope this isn’t made to seem the fault of those who chased them. Had they not stolen, they would not have been chased. They could have just let themselves be apprehended. They made a poor choice that resulted in their deaths.

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Jaycen
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 4:30pm
Huh.

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thegoodvoter
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 4:30pm
Tee hee hee! Who said Darwinism is junk science? Hee hee, snicker, snicker.

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- Ron_WA
  Posted on August 6, 2011 at 11:47pm
  Terrible to say but if they were guilty I’m 100% w/ you on this
  
  Report this comment
- pitbullsandhandgrenades
  Posted on August 7, 2011 at 4:54am
  Rule #1 : don’t steal that coat if you cannot float Rule #2 you don’t get more money from O’bama if you be dead like yo mama Rule #3 I bet you freak in dat creek Rule #4 You shoulda took a boat when you boosted dat coat………….Finally rule#5 Now baby daddy can afford to smoke dat indoor fattie
  
  Report this comment
mbean
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 4:30pm
No comment.

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Rob
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 4:30pm
Darwinism.

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- onejimharris
  Posted on August 7, 2011 at 11:13am
  Brain dead….lost Soul
  
  Report this comment

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