18 Photos That Defined a Chaotic and Unprecedented Year in Politics

Two thousand twenty-three was another year for the history books, as prominent politicians were indicted, legal precedent was challenged, leaders were lost and (sometimes physical) fights broke out in Congress. Shock, grief and fury took control of the political landscape — but amid tensions both at home and abroad, Americans managed to find occasional moments of inspiration and bipartisanship.Eighteen photos helped define the state of politics in 2023, collectively painting a chaotic portrait of a year that will be remembered for generations to come.

18-Year-Old Texas Rodeo Roper Dies in Freak Accident After Being Dragged by a Horse: 'He Was a Great Kid'

Ace Patton Ashford.Photo:Hewett-Arney Funeral Home Hewett-Arney Funeral Home A Texas community is mourning the death of an 18-year-old junior rodeo champion who died in a freak accident involving a horse. “Somehow, the man’s leg got tangled and the horse [dragged] him quite a distance in an open field,” the Lott VFD official told KWTX. When first responders got to Ashford, he was breathing and had a pulse but had suffered extensive head injuries.

18-Year-Old Was Murdered in Florida on Spring Break in 1980. A Serial Killer Has Confessed to Killing Her

Carol Ann Barrett.Photo:Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office/FacebookA convicted serial killer admitted to murdering a young woman in Florida in 1980, whose murder had become a cold case.Carol Ann Barrett, 18, from Zanesville, Ohio, was visiting Daytona Beach while on Spring Break when she was abducted from a motel on March 23, 1980, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. Barrett’s friends, who were in the room during the abduction, spoke to police and a sketch of the suspect was developed.

1923Actor Cole Brings Plenty Found Dead After Being Named a Suspect in Domestic Violence Case

Cole Brings Plenty on Nov. 12, 2023 in Beverly Hills.Photo:Frazer Harrison/Getty Frazer Harrison/Getty The body of1923actor Cole Brings Plenty was discovered in Kansas, days after he was named a suspect in a domestic violence case and reported missing, authorities said. The Johnson County Sheriff’s Officeannounced in a press releasethat Brings Plenty, 27, was discovered in a rural area of Kansas on Friday, April 5 at around 11:45 a.m. after deputies received reports about an unoccupied car.

1972 Andes Plane Crash Survivor Reflects on Group’s Decision to Eat Bodies of Friends Who Died

Dr. Roberto Canessa.Photo:PABLO PORCIUNCULA/AFP via Getty PABLO PORCIUNCULA/AFP via Getty A survivor of the1972 Andes Mountain plane crashsaid the upcoming Netflix filmSociety of the Snowbrought him back to the horrific ordeal. “I was immersed in that place again,” Dr. Roberto Canessa toldTodayin an interview published on Thursday. “I was back [in] the fuselage.” During his interview withToday, Canessa was asked about the moment the group decided they were “going to have to eat” their “loved ones.