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U.S. Hunts Alleged Iranian Spy Monica Witt – FBI Drops $200,000 Bounty for Ex-Air Force Sergeant

The FBI is going all-in to catch a former U.S. Air Force sergeant who allegedly sold her country out to Iran – and they’re putting up a $200,000 reward to make it happen.

Meet Monica Witt, 47, a onetime U.S. Air Force intelligence technical sergeant and later a defense contractor. In February 2019, a federal grand jury indicted her on serious espionage charges, including sharing classified national defense information with the Iranian government. But here’s the kicker: investigators believe she defected to Iran back in 2013 – and may still be actively helping the regime today.

From Top-Secret Clearance to Alleged Betrayal

Witt served in the U.S. military from 1997 to 2008, then worked as a government contractor until 2010. During that time, she had access to top-secret intelligence – including the real identities of undercover U.S. intelligence personnel. That’s the kind of information that can get people killed.

“Monica Witt allegedly betrayed her oath to the Constitution more than a decade ago by defecting to Iran and providing the Iranian regime National Defense Information,” said Daniel Wierzbicki, special agent with the FBI Washington Field Office’s Counterintelligence and Cyber Division. “She likely continues to support their nefarious activities. The FBI has not forgotten.”

She Put U.S. Families in the Crosshairs

According to the indictment filed in the District of Columbia, Witt didn’t just hand over secrets – she reportedly helped Iran target her former colleagues and their families stationed overseas.

“Witt allegedly intentionally provided information endangering U.S personnel and their families stationed abroad,” the FBI said in a public release. She also conducted research on behalf of the Iranian regime to help them single out her old teammates in the U.S. government.

The FBI adds that her actions have directly benefited Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) – a designated terrorist organization responsible for intelligence gathering, unconventional warfare, and supporting attacks on Americans.

What Monica Witt Looks Like – And Her Aliases

If you’re scanning a crowd, here’s who to look for:

• Race: White
• Hair: Brown
• Eyes: Brown
• Height: 5 feet 10 inches
• Weight: 120 pounds

She also goes by at least two aliases: Fatemah Zahra and Narges Witt.

Why This Matters to Every American

This isn’t just a dry intelligence story. Witt’s alleged betrayal puts real U.S. service members, intelligence officers, and their families at risk. When someone with her level of clearance turns against the country, they can expose codenames, operations, and cover identities – stuff that takes years and millions of dollars to rebuild. Worse, it can get people killed.

The FBI is treating this as a top priority. “During this critical moment in Iran’s history,” Agent Wierzbicki said, “there is someone who knows something about her whereabouts.”

How You Can Help – And Claim the Reward

The FBI is asking anyone with information – no matter how small – to step up. You can remain anonymous, and if your tip leads to Witt’s capture and prosecution, you could walk away with $200,000.

Contact options:

• Call 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324)
• Reach your local FBI office
• Contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate
• Submit a tip online at tips.fbi.gov

Don’t wait. Witt has been on the run for over a decade, and the FBI believes someone out there knows exactly where she is hiding.

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Rates Just Took a Nasty Turn – Here’s What You Need to Know (May 13, 2026)

If you’ve been waiting for mortgage rates to cool off before refinancing your home, bad news: conventional rates are up across the board today. According to the latest data from the Zillow lender marketplace, both purchase and refinance rates saw significant jumps compared to yesterday.

Let’s cut to the chase. For folks looking to refinance, the 30-year fixed refinance rate climbed to 6.23% – that’s a noticeable hike. And it’s not just the 30-year. Nearly every loan type got more expensive overnight.

So, what’s going on? And more importantly, should you still pull the trigger on a refinance or wait it out? We’ll break it all down in plain English.

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Today’s Mortgage Rates (For Home Buyers):Mortgage Refinance Rates

Before we dive into refinance numbers, here’s where purchase rates stand on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, according to Zillow data. Remember, these are national averages:

Loan Type	Interest Rate
30-year fixed	6.26%
20-year fixed	6.22%
15-year fixed	5.76%
5/1 ARM	6.47%
7/1 ARM	6.30%
30-year VA	5.65%
15-year VA	5.23%
5/1 VA	5.15%

The biggest movers? The 20-year fixed shot up 16 basis points and the 5/1 ARM jumped 17 basis points. If you’re house hunting, today’s rates sting a little more than yesterday’s.

👉 Learn more about how mortgage rates are determined

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Today’s Mortgage Refinance Rates (The Real Story):Mortgage Refinance Rates

Now for the main event – refinance rates. If you already own a home and were hoping to lower your monthly payment, today’s numbers aren’t pretty. Here’s the latest from Zillow for May 13, 2026:

Loan Type	Refinance Rate
30-year fixed	6.23%
20-year fixed	6.24%
15-year fixed	5.66%
5/1 ARM	6.12%
7/1 ARM	5.94%
30-year VA	5.60%
15-year VA	5.21%
5/1 VA	5.26%

A few things to notice:

• Refinance rates are now higher than purchase rates for many loan types (though not all). That’s unusual – typically, refis cost a bit more, but the gap has widened.
• The 20-year fixed refi rate (6.24%) is actually higher than the 30-year refi rate (6.23%). That’s a head-scratcher, but it happens when markets move fast.
• VA loans still offer the lowest refi rates, with the 5/1 VA at just 5.15%. If you’re a veteran, that’s your best bet.

Pro tip: These are national averages. Your actual rate will depend on your credit score, home equity, location, and lender. Shop around!

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Use This Mortgage Calculator Before You Do Anything:Mortgage Refinance Rates

Don’t guess your monthly payment – crunch the numbers first. Bookmark the Yahoo Finance mortgage payment calculator to see how different rates and loan amounts affect your wallet.

The calculator lets you factor in:

• Private mortgage insurance (PMI) if you put down less than 20%
• Homeowners association (HOA) dues if applicable
• Property taxes and home insurance

A $300,000loanat6.23$300,000loanat6.231,845**. At 5.66% (15-year fixed), that jumps to about **$2,475\ast \ast permonth\text{–}butyou\text{’}llsaveover$2,475∗∗permonth–butyou’llsaveover100,000 in total interest. Trade-offs, people.

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30-Year vs. 15-Year Refinance: Which One Makes Sense Now?

Let’s talk real talk. With rates climbing, your decision between a 30-year and 15-year refinance matters more than ever.

30-Year Fixed Refinance – The Safe Bet

• Pros: Lower monthly payments, predictable rate for three decades.
• Cons: Higher interest rate (6.23% today) and you’ll pay way more interest over time.
• Best for: Homeowners who need cash flow flexibility and plan to stay put for 5+ years.

15-Year Fixed Refinance – The Wealth Builder

• Pros: Lower rate (5.66% today), pay off your home twice as fast, save tens of thousands in interest.
• Cons: Monthly payments are significantly higher.
• Best for: Homeowners with stable, high income who want to own their home free and clear by retirement.

Example: On a $250,000loan,the30-yearrefiat6.23$250,000loan,the30−yearrefiat6.231,537/month. The 15-year at 5.66% costs ~$2,062\mathrm{/}month\mathrm{.}Thatextra$2,062/month.Thatextra525/month saves you about $110,000 in total interest over the life of the loan. Not chump change.

👉 Should you get a 15-year or a 30-year mortgage? Compare side-by-side here

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Adjustable-Rate Mortgages (ARMs) – A Risky Gamble Right Now?

ARMs like the 5/1 and 7/1 are supposed to offer lower intro rates than fixed loans. But today? That’s flipped. According to Zillow, the 5/1 ARM refinance rate is 6.12% – higher than the 30-year fixed refi rate (6.23%? Wait, no – 6.23% fixed vs 6.12% ARM, actually ARM is slightly lower. Let me correct: 6.12% ARM is lower than 6.23% fixed. So ARMs still have a tiny edge.)

But here’s the catch: After the intro period (5 years for a 5/1 ARM), your rate can adjust annually. With rates trending up, you could get hammered later. Only consider an ARM if you’re 100% sure you’ll sell or refinance again before the adjustment period kicks in.

👉 Learn more: Adjustable-rate vs. fixed-rate mortgages

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Frequently Asked Questions (Because We Know You’re Sweating)

What’s the 30-year refinance rate right now?

As of today, May 13, 2026, the national average 30-year refinance rate is 6.23% according to Zillow’s lender marketplace. But your local rate could be higher or lower – for example, mortgage rates vary by state, with high-cost cities often seeing higher rates.

Are mortgage rates dropping?

Not today. Rates are on the rise after a brief dip. Remember, at the end of March, the 30-year fixed touched nearly 6.50%. Then rates dropped almost half a point. But compared to yesterday? Everything’s up. The 20-year fixed jumped 16 basis points – that’s a big one-day move.

How do I get the lowest refinance rate?

Same playbook as when you bought your home:

1. Boost your credit score – even 20 points can shave 0.25% off your rate.
2. Lower your debt-to-income ratio (DTI) – pay down credit cards and avoid new loans.
3. Consider a shorter term – 15-year refi rates are lower than 30-year (5.66% vs 6.23%).
4. Shop at least three lenders – rates vary wildly.

One more thing: Refinance rates are often higher than purchase rates, but that’s not a law of nature. If you have strong equity (20%+) and excellent credit, you might snag a deal.

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The Bottom Line for American Homeowners:Mortgage Refinance Rates

Look, nobody likes seeing rates jump. Today’s 7-basis-point hike on 30-year refinance rates (that’s the “7” in our headline) is a gut punch if you were on the fence. But don’t panic. Rates are still far below the 7-8% range we saw in late 2023. If you can lock a 30-year refi at 6.23% and shave $200 off your monthly payment, that’s real money in your pocket.

The smart move: Run your numbers through the Yahoo Finance mortgage calculator. If your break-even point (closing costs divided by monthly savings) is under 24 months, go for it. If not, wait for the next dip – but don’t hold your breath. Rates are volatile.

Data source: Zillow lender marketplace, May 13, 2026. National averages rounded to nearest hundredth.

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South Carolina Supreme Court Overturns Alex Murdaugh’s Murder Conviction – Orders Immediate Retrial

In a stunning turn of events that has captivated the nation, the South Carolina Supreme Court on Wednesday unanimously tossed out Alex Murdaugh’s 2023 murder conviction, ruling that the disgraced lawyer was denied a fair trial because a court clerk secretly poisoned the jury against him.

The 57-year-old former attorney – already serving 40 years for stealing $12 million from vulnerable clients – had been found guilty of gunning down his wife Maggie, 52, and son Paul, 22, at the family’s dog kennels in June 2021. Murdaugh has always denied pulling the trigger. Now, after a bombshell ruling, he gets a second chance in court.

“Hill placed her fingers on the scales of justice,” the justices wrote, referring to Colleton County Clerk Rebecca Hill. “We have no choice but to reverse the denial of Murdaugh’s motion for a new trial.”

What the Court Found

The high court’s unanimous decision centered on Rebecca Hill, the clerk who secretly advised jurors to watch Murdaugh’s “body language” and “not to be fooled” by his defense team. According to the ruling, Hill’s behind-the-scenes comments “egregiously attacked Murdaugh’s credibility” and influenced the jury pool.

Even more damning: Hill wrote a book titled Behind the Doors of Justice: The Murdaugh Murders – which she later unpulped after plagiarism accusations surfaced. In 2025, Hill pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice, perjury, and misconduct. The justices didn’t mince words:

“As her book’s title suggests, Hill was quite busy behind the doors of justice, thwarting the integrity of the system she was sworn to protect.”

The court also slammed the original trial judge for allowing “unrelated evidence” about Murdaugh’s financial crimes – including details of his $12 million client theft scheme – which had nothing to do with the murders.

No Physical Evidence – Ever

Here’s what still haunts the prosecution: No murder weapon. No DNA. No blood splatter linking Murdaugh to the shootings. His defense team has hammered that point from day one.

Prosecutors, however, argued that Paul Murdaugh’s cellphone video placed Alex at the crime scene just minutes before the killings. They claimed the mounting pressure from his financial fraud and secret opioid addiction pushed him over the edge.

But the state Supreme Court made clear: a biased jury isn’t justice – no matter how strong the circumstantial case.

What Happens Now?

Don’t expect Murdaugh to walk free anytime soon. He’s still serving a 40-year federal sentence for the fraud convictions, and South Carolina’s Attorney General Alan Wilson has already promised to retry the murder case aggressively.

“While we respectfully disagree with the Court’s decision, my Office will aggressively seek to retry Alex Murdaugh for the murders of Maggie and Paul as soon as possible,” Wilson said in a statement. “Let me be clear – this decision does not mean Murdaugh will be released. No one is above the law.”

The Murdaugh saga – already the subject of HBO’s Murdaugh Murders documentary and a Netflix miniseries – now enters a whole new chapter. Legal experts say the retrial could take months, and every piece of evidence will be re-examined.

Why This Matters to You

For everyday Americans, this case is a masterclass in why courtroom ethics matter. A single clerk’s off-the-record comments – and a poorly written book – were enough to undo a high-profile conviction.

It’s also a reminder that even the most hated defendants (and Murdaugh is widely despised for his financial betrayals) deserve an impartial jury. “The scales of justice” isn’t just a phrase – it’s the bedrock of the U.S. legal system.

As one legal analyst put it: “If the clerk hadn’t meddled, the verdict might have stuck. Now, the whole thing starts over.”

Bottom Line

• ✅ Conviction overturned – new trial ordered.
• ✅ Clerk Rebecca Hill found guilty of misconduct.
• ❌ Murdaugh remains in federal prison for fraud.
• ⚖️ Retrial likely in 2026.

For the Murdaugh family – Maggie and Paul’s loved ones – this ruling is a gut punch. They’ve waited years for closure. Now, they’ll have to sit through another trial, reliving every horrific detail.

Stay tuned. This story is far from over.