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A Florida man who went missing on Valentine's Day was rescued on Thursday after being stuck to his shoulders in mud described as "quick sand" without food or water for several days.

Putnam County Sheriff's Office said Andrew Giddens, a 36-year-old from Jacksonville, was rescued from a Vulcan Materials Company site east of Melrose.

Giddens had not been seen by his family since Feb. 14 and was the subject of a missing persons report. His family and friends had raised the alarm with authorities after he became depressed following a recent relationship breakup, the sheriff's office said.

The sheriff's office said on social media that deputies found Giddens on Thursday "covered to his shoulders in the mud and had sunk below the level of the grass surrounding the borrow pit, making him virtually camouflaged."

The Palatka Fire Department said on Facebook that Giddens "had been stuck in mud for several days without food or water, while the area faced freezing temperatures."

A video of the incident shows deputies initially struggling to pull Giddens free using ropes and then using ladders, pallets, wooden boards and other tools to dig him out.

"Additionally, due to the instability of the ground, responders had to progress slowly so they would not sink," the sheriff's office added. After more than two hours, he was finally freed at 8:30 p.m. ET on Thursday.

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The man was able to talk to rescuers, but was flown to a trauma center by air ambulance in a critical condition, the sheriff's office said.

Putnam County Fire Rescue, Palatka Fire Department, Melrose Fire Department and Clay County Fire Rescue all assisted in the rescue.

Deputies found Giddens' car abandoned on Feb. 23 and had previously found him trespassing on a different Vulcan Materials Company in 2023.

The sheriff's office said it was not considering trespassing charges against Giddens "due to his mental health."

"We hope that he is able to recover from his ordeal both physically and mentally," it said. "We also ask family members and friends to continue to check on loved ones, especially during times of high stress and anxiety."

A spokesperson for Vulcan said: "Our Vulcan team at the Grandin Sand Plant handled a trespassing situation with care and compassion, shepherding first responders to a man who was in distress. We are grateful for his safe rescue and thankful for the first responders who aided him."

If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 or go to988lifeline.orgto reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. You can also call the network, previously known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, at800-273-8255or visitSpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources.

Love Island's Rob Rausch won season 4 of Peacock's reality competition series The Traitors

NEED TO KNOW

• During the reunion, which premiered on Feb. 26, he revealed that he has been in a relationship for the past two months

• The reality TV star said that he wanted to keep his girlfriend's identity private

Rob Rauschis officially off the market.

After winning the$220,800 prizeon season 4 ofThe Traitors, the Alabama-raised reality star confirmed to reunion hostAndy Cohenthat he was in a relationship. And like the rest of the series fans who fell in love with the snake wrangler, the host was shocked.

"At the moment you become America's heartthrob, you lock it down," Cohen said. The reality star quipped back, "Just my luck."

Unlike the very public love triangle he found himself in withLeah KatebandAndrea Carmonaon season 6 ofLove Island USA, Rausch has kept this romance private, choosing not to reveal his girlfriend's identity.

So who is Rob Rausch's girlfriend? Here's what we know about her relationship with the reality TV star.

They started dating in December 2025

During the season 4Traitorsreunion, Rausch confirmed that he had been in a relationship for the past two months.

Since the reunion was pre-taped and filmed on Feb. 12, according to contestantLisa Rinna'sTikTok, that would put the official start of his new romance sometime in December 2025.

Rausch is keeping her identity private

Although he's been in the spotlight since appearing on season 6 ofLove Island USA, Rausch also expressed that fame isn't a major priority for him. He toldGQin February 2026 that though reality TV changed his life financially, he wouldn't mind stepping away from public attention.

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"At the end of the day, I have to constantly remind myself, especially lately, that I don't really care," Rausch told the outlet. "If it ever got really bad, I would literally fall off the face of the earth, and it wouldn't bother me at all."

After winningThe Traitors, Rob said in the finale that whoever is his next girlfriend would be, she would have to not be a big fan of reality TV — otherwise he might not have a great shot with her after all the lying he had to do on the show.

"Now I just have to find a nice girl that hasn't watched TV too much, then I think a nice farm, maybe some kids running around," he said. "I want to have a quiet life."

He's making a woodworking project for her

In a February 2026 interview withThe Cut, Rausch revealed that he was in the middle of a woodworking project for his girlfriend. But like her identity, theLove Islandalum didn't reveal any more details.

Rausch admitted to "flirting a bit" with Maura Higgins onThe Traitors

Throughout the fourth season ofThe Traitors, fans felt the bond between Rausch andMaura Higginswas more than just strategic. However, when Cohen asked them point-blank if anything romantic had happened between them, they both said no.

"We were genuinely just friends," Higgins said, with Rausch chiming in, "Yeah, we never did anything."

Nothing physical may have occurred between the two, but the reality star did admit to a little harmless flirting during the show, despite Higgins insisting that they didn't.

"I mean, we probably flirted a little bit," he said, later joking that he probably ruined his chance with Higgins after lying to her about being a traitor.

Read the original article onPeople

CNN'sJake Tapperand CBS News'Tony Dokoupilboth reported the news on Thursday night (February 26) that Warner Bros. Discovery had accepted Paramount Skydance's latest bid for the company's assets. The deal means that CNN is headed towards gettingTrump-friendly owners.

Earlier that day,WBD said that Paramount's latest bid, up from $30 to $31 per share, was better than Netflix's previous offer. Netflix later announced it would not match the offer and would instead withdraw from the bidding, essentially giving the win to Paramount.

This is significant for several reasons, one of which is that, unlike Netflix's bid, Paramount's is forallWBD assets. Netflix was only looking to acquire the film studio and HBO streaming services, whereas Paramount's offer also includes the WBD linear networks, including TNT, TBS, and, perhaps most significantly, CNN.

"Moments ago, Netflix said it is declining to raise its offer for the purchase of Warner Bros studios and HBO," Tapper said on Thursday's edition ofThe Lead. He went on to explain how Paramount's offer includes "the whole enchilada, including us here at CNN."

"Paramount has submitted a superior offer, according to Warner Bros. Discovery's board. As I've noted, Warner Bros. Discovery is the parent company of CNN," he added.

Paramount is run by David Ellison, the son of Oracle's billionaire co-founder and close Trump ally, Larry Ellison. Last December,the Wall Street Journal reportedthat David "offered assurances to Trump administration officials that if he bought Warner, he'd make sweeping changes to CNN."

Trump himself has saidpublicly, "It's imperative that CNN be sold," and referred to the network's current leaders as a "disgrace."

Critics fear that Paramount's ties to Trump will lead to significant changes in CNN's reporting, transforming it into a more MAGA-friendly network.

CBS News, which is also owned by Paramount, has faced similar criticism in recent months. After the merger with Skydance last year, David hired The Free Press co-founderBari Weissas the new editor-in-chief of CBS News. Weiss has been putting her stamp on the network, includingfiring,hiring,promoting,andkilling reports.

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One of Weiss' most significant moves so far was promoting formerCBS Morningsco-host Dokoupil to leadCBS Evening News. Since Dokoupil took over the evening broadcast in January,viewers have criticizedhim for trying to appease the Trump administration.

On Thursday's episode ofCBS Evening News, Dokoupil announced the latest WBD drama, saying, "Netflix says it will not raise its bid for Warner Bros. Discovery to match a rival bid by Paramount Skydance, which, of course, is the parent company of CBS News."

"Netflix called the deal 'no longer financially attractive,' after the Warner Bros. board said the Paramount offer was better," he continued.

Fans reacted to the news, with one YouTube commenter writing, "Well CNN it was nice knowing you. Adios."

"Get ready for the bloodiest mass layoffs Hollywood has ever witnessed," said another.

"The next few episodes of Last Week Tonight are going to be interesting…," another added, referring to comedian John Oliver's late-night show, which airs on HBO.

Another added, "One step closer to state-owned media."

"I see the end of CNN after this, sadly. It will be turned into another Fox News," said one commenter.

"No good for CNN. Who needs two CBS News?" another added.

Read the latest entertainment news onTV Insider.

By Adriano Machado, Ana Mano and Roberto Samora

Soybean trucks back up as heavy harvest traffic slows unloading at Miritituba port, Brazil

MIRITITUBA, Brazil, Feb 27 (Reuters) - Truck drivers in Brazil are facing unusually long delays to deliver soybeans at the Miritituba port terminal in the Amazon ‌rainforest, as a record harvest of approximately 180 million metric tons overwhelms logistics at one of ‌the world's key export hubs for the crop.

The backlog for moving soybeans from the world's largest producer and exporter highlights ongoing logistical hurdles in ​Brazil's agricultural supply chain. Much of the soybean harvest is destined for China.

"It's a disgrace here in Miritituba," trucker Jeferson Borges da Silva, who waited in a 30-km (20-mile) queue after driving 1,200 km from Mato Grosso, told Reuters. "We've been in line for two days already, this year was the worst yet."

Miritituba, a critical transshipment point, handles roughly 12 million ‌metric tons of grains annually, including soy ⁠and corn. Firms such as Cargill, Bunge, and Brazil's Amaggi, operate river terminals where crops are loaded onto barges for downstream transport to larger facilities capable of filling ocean-going vessels. ⁠Traffic is usually heavy at this time of the year.

PROTESTS COMPOUND EXPORT CHALLENGES

Adding to the industry's setbacks, Indigenous activists invaded a Cargill transshipment facility in Santarem this month in protest against government policy to dredge and expand shipping capacity through the ​Amazon ​basin.

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Their demonstrations prompted the government on Monday to revoke a ​decree facilitating such waterway expansions, creating further uncertainty for ‌agricultural exporters.

Trucker Wellington Bressan said the Indigenous protests may have contributed to the logjam in Miritituba as drivers rushed to secure unloading spots. "Truckers live on commission, if they work, they make money. That's why they did not want to wait before coming to Miritituba."

Cargill, which temporarily halted operations at its Santarem terminal during the protests, said on Thursday it is working to resume activity. In a statement, the company thanked employees for their "resilience" and reiterated its ‌commitment to transporting food "safely and reliably."

INFRASTRUCTURE CONCERNS MOUNT

The revocation of the ​government decree could slow efforts to enhance logistical infrastructure in the ​northern export corridor, said Thiago Pera, a logistics ​expert at the University of São Paulo. He warned of medium- and long-term impacts on ‌Brazil's ability to handle farm exports efficiently.

"The scenario ​is becoming increasingly challenging," Pera ​said, adding that dredging the region's rivers could allow for larger vessel movement year-round, easing pressure on trucking and lowering freight costs. Some 60% of Brazilian agricultural exports rely on truck transport.

Truckers like Sonia da ​Silva voiced frustration over outdated infrastructure ‌at Miritituba's terminals. "How are you going to fit 1,000 trucks in a yard that only holds 500, ​or 200?" she asked.

(Reporting by Adriano Machado in Miritituba and Santarém, Ana Mano and Roberto ​Samora in São PauloEditing by Brad Haynes and Andrei Khalip)

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Secretary of State Marco Rubio will make a quick trip to Israel early next week, the State Department said, as tensions betweenthe United States and Iranremain high aftertheir latest nuclear talksand American forces gather in the region.

Israel Mideast Wars Iran

The U.S. Embassy in Israel had earlier urged staff who want to leave to depart, joining other nations in encouraging people to leave the region and signaling thatU.S. military action might be imminent. The announcement of Rubio's visit could indicate a longer timeline for any potential strike.

A confidential reportfrom the U.N. nuclear watchdog meanwhile confirmed that Iran has not offered inspectors access to sensitive nuclear sites since they were heavily bombed duringthe 12-day war launched by Israel last June. As a result, it said it could not confirm Iran's claims that it stopped uranium enrichment after the U.S. and Israeli strikes.

The report was circulated to member countries and seen by The Associated Press.

U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened military action if Iran does not agree to a far-reaching deal on its nuclear program. Iran insists it has the right to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes and denies seeking a nuclear weapon.

Those wishing to leave 'should do so TODAY'

The State Department said in a statement that Rubio would visit Israel on Monday and Tuesday to "discuss a range of regional priorities including Iran, Lebanon, and ongoing efforts to implement President Trump's 20-Point Peace Plan for Gaza." It offered no other details.

Israeli Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahuhas long urged tougher U.S. action against Iran, and has warned that Israel will repond to any Iranian attack.

The announcement of Rubio's visit came just hours after the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem implemented "authorized departure" status for non-essential personnel and family members, which means that eligible staffers can leave the country voluntarily at government expense.

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In an email, U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee urged staff considering departure to do so quickly, advising them to to focus initially on getting any flight out of Israel and to then make their way to Washington.

"Those wishing to take AD should do so TODAY," Huckabee wrote, using an acronym for "authorized departure."

"While there may be outbound flights over the coming days, there may not be," he added, in an email that was recounted to The Associated Press by someone involved with the U.S. mission who wasn't authorized to share details.

On a town hall meeting Friday after the email was sent, Huckabee told staff that he was encouraging airlines to keep flying.

Vance to meet with mediator

Iran and the United States on Thursday walked away from another round of nuclear negotiations in Geneva without a deal. Technical discussions are scheduled to take place in Vienna next week.

U.S. Vice President JD Vance was to meet later on Friday in Washington with Oman's foreign minister, Badr al-Busaidi, who has been mediating the talks, according to a person with knowledge of the meeting who spoke on condition of anonymity because the meeting is private.

Earlier, al-Busaidi said that there had been significant progress made on Thursday, though officials from Iran and the United States haven't announced steps forward.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Thursday said "what needs to happen has been clearly spelled out from our side," without offering specifics. Iran has long demanded relief from heavy international sanctions in return for taking steps to limit but not end its nuclear program.

Flights suspended as people are urged to leave

The U.S. has gathereda massive fleet of aircraft and warshipsin the Middle East, with one aircraft carrier already in place and another heading to the region.Iran says it will respondto any U.S. attack by targeting American forces in the region, potentially including those stationed in U.S. bases in allied Arab countries.Airlines such as Netherlands-based KLM have already announced plans to suspend flights out of Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion International Airport, and other embassies have also made plans for authorized departures from Israel and neighboring countries.Britain's Foreign Office said that "due to the security situation, U.K. staff have been temporarily withdrawn from Iran." It said the embassy was operating remotely.Australia on Wednesday "directed the departure of all dependents of Australian officials posted to Israel in response to the deteriorating security situation in the Middle East." China, India and several European countries with missions in Iran have advised citizens to avoid travel to the country.China's Foreign Ministry also advised its citizens already in Iran to leave, according to a statement reported by Chinese state media.___Metz reported from Ramallah, West Bank and Lee from Washington. Seung Min Kim in Washington and Kareem Chehayeb in Beirut contributed to this report.

The U.S. has gathereda massive fleet of aircraft and warshipsin the Middle East, with one aircraft carrier already in place and another heading to the region.Iran says it will respondto any U.S. attack by targeting American forces in the region, potentially including those stationed in U.S. bases in allied Arab countries.

Airlines such as Netherlands-based KLM have already announced plans to suspend flights out of Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion International Airport, and other embassies have also made plans for authorized departures from Israel and neighboring countries.

Britain's Foreign Office said that "due to the security situation, U.K. staff have been temporarily withdrawn from Iran." It said the embassy was operating remotely.

Australia on Wednesday "directed the departure of all dependents of Australian officials posted to Israel in response to the deteriorating security situation in the Middle East." China, India and several European countries with missions in Iran have advised citizens to avoid travel to the country.

China's Foreign Ministry also advised its citizens already in Iran to leave, according to a statement reported by Chinese state media.

Metz reported from Ramallah, West Bank and Lee from Washington. Seung Min Kim in Washington and Kareem Chehayeb in Beirut contributed to this report.

The death of aRohingya refugeein Buffalo, New York, has raised pressing questions about how federal immigration agents handled his release from their custody – and what happened in the five days he was missing before his body was found.

Nurul Amin Shah Alam, 56, who spoke little English and was nearly blind, was released from the Erie County Holding Center on February 19. Border Patrol agents briefly took custody of him on an immigration detainer before determining he shouldn't be deported and, later that night, dropped him at a closed coffee house alone in near freezing temperatures. His body was found on February 24, about four miles away.

US Customs and Border Protection has defended the agents' actions, but local and state leaders are calling for investigations.

Meanwhile, Shah Alam's friends and family gathered at a mosque Thursday for his funeral, offering prayers before accompanying him to a cemetery for burial.

"We do not want his death to just go to waste," Khaleda Shah, a spokesperson for the family, told theAssociated Press. "We want his death to bring awareness to his community, his family, his community at large. We want his name, his story to be a voice for those who are still suffering."

The case comes amid growing concerns about the constitutional protections andtreatmentof people who come into contact with federal immigration authorities, regardless of their immigration status, under the Trump administration'smass deportationefforts.

Here's what we know – and don't know – about his death:

Who was Nurul Amin Shah Alam?

Shah Alam entered the US as a refugee on December 24, 2024, according to US Customs and Border Protection. He and his family areArakan Rohingya, a persecuted Muslim minority from Myanmar that the US government has said was subjected to genocide.

Shah Alam previously worked in construction in Malaysia and came to the US with his wife and two children, searching for opportunity, Imran Fazal, who knows the family, toldCNN affiliate Spectrum News Buffalo.

Shah Alam's son, Mohamad Faisal, told CNN he last saw his father on February 19, before he was released from jail.

Faisal toldReutersthat Shah Alam did not read, write or use electronic devices.

What we don't know:

• What was the extent of Shah Alam's visual impairment?

• What was his health condition before he was released?

• Did he have diagnosed medical conditions requiring treatment?

Why was he in jail?

Shah Alam was arrested in February 2025 after what his son described as a misunderstanding.

He had gone for a walk using a curtain rod as a walking stick, became lost and wandered onto private property, Faisal told Reuters. When officers arrived and ordered Shah Alam to drop the rod, he did not comply because he did not understand.

Body camera video obtained byCNN affiliate WGRZshows Shah Alam holding what appears to be two long black poles. He is seen waving the poles in the direction of the officers before they fired stun guns and tackled him. Two officers suffered minor injuries, police said.

He was later indicted on felony assault, burglary and criminal mischief charges, the Erie County District Attorney's Office said.

Earlier this month, he pleaded guilty to two misdemeanor charges: criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth degree and criminal trespass in the third degree. Sentencing was scheduled for March 24.

Erie County District Attorney Michael Keane said his office reduced the charges after considering Shah Alam's medical condition, time served and the "significant collateral consequences that would result from a felony conviction – including mandatory deportation."

What we don't know:

• Did Shah Alam consistently have access to a translator during his year in custody?

• Was his visual impairment or other health issues documented in internal jail records?

Why was he released from jail?

Shah Alam's bond had been set at $5,000. His family initially declined to post bail, fearing a federal immigration detainer would result in his transfer to immigration custody, according to theLegal Aid Bureau of Buffalo, which represented Shah Alam.

Following the plea deal, an immigration lawyer was consulted and the family posted bond after being advised it would not place Shah Alam at risk of deportation, the legal aid statement said.

As Shah Alam's release was being processed on February 19, Erie County deputies notified Border Patrol because of the detainer, the Erie County Sheriff's Office said.

Border Patrol agents arrived as Shah Alam's release was being processed and took him into their custody.

What we don't know:

• Who posted the bond?

• Was Shah Alam offered a translator during his release or when Border Patrol agents picked him up?

• How much communication was there between local and federal authorities before the transfer?

What happened when he was released from jail?

Later that day, immigration authorities determined Shah Alam, as a legal refugee, "was not amenable to removal," Customs and Border Protection said in a statement.

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Using a translation program, agents attempted to communicate with Shah Alam, according to a federal law enforcement official. Shah Alam was offered the opportunity to make a phone call, but declined, and asked to be taken to the location where he was eventually dropped off, the official said.

"Border Patrol agents offered him a courtesy ride, which he chose to accept to a coffee shop, determined to be a warm, safe location near his last known address, rather than be released directly from the Border Patrol station. He showed no signs of distress, mobility issues, or disabilities requiring special assistance," the CBP statement said.

According to legal aid, Shah Alam was dropped off at a Tim Hortons near his last known address sometime after 8 p.m., though that location had already closed at 7 p.m. His family no longer lived at the prior address, and neither relatives nor his attorney were told he had been released by CBP or where was taken, the organization said.

"Mr. Alam was extremely vulnerable. He spoke almost no English and could not communicate without the aid of an interpreter. He suffered from severely impaired vision and had other health issues," the legal aid statement said.

"He had only been in the US for a few months prior to his arrest. He would not have known where he was or had the wherewithal to contact his family or avail himself of other resources or services that could have assisted him," the statement continued.

Buffalo Mayor Sean Ryan criticized Shah Alam's release by Border Patrol, saying agents could have contacted family members or returned him to the county holding center. There, they could have obtained phone numbers for his son or lawyer, who had both been active visitors while he was in custody, according to Ryan.

What we don't know:

• Is there protocol for releases involving people with disabilities or limited English proficiency?

• Did the agents speak to anyone in the coffee shop after it had closed and before leaving him there?

How was he found?

Shah Alam's attorney reported him missing to police three days after he was released, on February 22, telling officers he couldn't "confirm his client's location despite contacting federal authorities," police said.

Police briefly closed the case after determining Shah Alam had been transferred to federal custody, then reopened it when they learned he had been released.

His missing person case remained open when someone called 911 around 8:30 p.m. on February 24 to report a man on a downtown street who appeared not to be breathing.

The man, later identified as Shah Alam, was wearing a dark parka and khaki pants, a police statement said. A woman told responding officers she'd seen the man about three hours earlier at the same location and he was moving.

First responders attempted life-saving measures, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

His cause of death is unknown.

A city spokesperson said Wednesday the death appeared health-related and exposure and homicide had been ruled out. But on Thursday, Ryan, the mayor, said the medical examiner had not yet released its full findings.

The Erie County Health Department told CNN that medical examiner records are treated as confidential medical records and would only be shared with law enforcement and others legally entitled to them.

According to preliminary information, Shah Alam did not have shoes on, just orange booties from the detention center, when he was dropped off by agents, Ryan said.

The day Shah Alam was dropped off at the coffee shop, the area saw light freezing rain with temperatures in the low 30s. There was snow and fog over the next two days, with temperatures hovering around freezing for at least 24 consecutive hours.

What we don't know:

• What is Shah Alam's cause of death?

• Did any underlying health conditions contribute to his death?

• What happened in the days between his release and when he was found dead?

What are local and state officials saying?

Ryan has sharply criticized Border Patrol's actions in the case, calling it "an inhumane thing to do," and insisted that CBP must "answer for how and why this happened."

The Buffalo Police Department said its homicide detectives are looking into the timeline and circumstances leading to Shah Alam's death.

"The death of Nurul Amin Shah Alam is a horrific and heartbreaking tragedy," US Rep. Tim Kennedy, whose district includes Buffalo, said Thursday, calling for a "full and transparent investigation at the local, state, and federal levels."

New York Attorney General Letitia James said her office "is reviewing our legal options," according to a statement.

CNN has reached out to CBP for more information.

What we don't know:

• Have any agencies aside from the Buffalo Police Department started an investigation?

CNN's Omar Jimenez, Priscilla Alvarez and Nicole Chavez contributed to this report.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account atCNN.com

Meredith Monroe shared an emotional Instagram tribute to her Dawson's Creek costar James Van Der Beek on Thursday, Feb. 26

NEED TO KNOW

• Van Der Beek, who starred as Dawson Leery in the series, died at age 48 on Feb. 11

• "I've been flooded with fond memories of our friendship that we shared over the years & this is what's come from them - Your legacy is your light," Monroe, who played Andie McPhee wrote

Meredith Monroe is paying tribute to her close friend andDawson's Creekcostar,James Van Der Beek,two weeks afterhis death at the age of 48.

On Thursday, Feb. 26, Monroe, 56 — who played Andie McPhee on the beloved teen series from 1998 to 2003 alongside Van Der Beek's Dawson Leery — posted an emotional message onInstagramalongside several photos of the two of them taken through the years.

The actress wrote, "It's been 2 weeks & I still don't know what to say?? Nothing seems right?? James, you, Kimberly, your children & families have been constantly in my thoughts, my prayers & on my heart," referencing Van Der Beek's wife,Kimberly Van Der Beek, whom he married in 2010, andtheir six kids.

Monroe continued, "I've been flooded with fond memories of our friendship that we shared over the years & this is what's come from them - Your legacy is your light."

"Whether 1 on 1, at a party, an event, or in your art you've always shared your light through: your humor & laughter your curiosity, time & energy both in others & the world around you your ability to be completely present & make others feel welcome & comfortable your sincerity, friendship, compassion & love," she shared.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Monroe went on, "James may the love & community that your light has built worldwide be reflected back infinitely upon your beautiful wife Kimberly, your amazing children & your family," concluding, "God gained an angel far too soon. Rest in peace," and adding a white love heart emoji.

Van Der Beek diedon Feb. 11 after beingdiagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancerin 2023.

The late actor'sDawson's CreekcostarKatie Holmeswas alsoamong the many stars from the show paying tributefollowing his tragic death.

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In a moving, hand-written note posted toInstagram, Holmes said that losing Van Der Beek had been "a lot to process."

"I formed some words with a heavy heart. This is a lot to process. I am so grateful to have shared in a piece of James' journey. He is beloved. Kimberly, we love you and will be here always for you and your beautiful children. ❤️,"the mom of one, 47, wrote in a caption.

InDawson's Creek, Van Der Beek's Dawson was an aspiring filmmaker with his heart set on his own happily ever after with Joey Potter (Holmes).

"James, thank you. To share a space with your imagination is sacred — breathing the same air in the land of make believe and trusting that each other's hearts are safe in their expression," Holmes began the letter.

She continued, "These are some of the memories, along with laughter, conversations about life, James Taylor songs — adventures of a unique youth."

Holmes then listed some of Van Der Beek's best qualities, including "bravery, compassion, selflessness and strength."

"An appreciation for life and the action taken to live life with the integrity that life is art — creating a beautiful marriage, six loving children — the journey of a hero," she added.

Holmes then went on to write that she mourned the loss of Van Der Beek "with a heart holding the reality of his absence and deep gratitude for his imprint on it."

The actress concluded her message by addressing her late costar's wife, Kimberly, and their children. "We are here for you always," she wrote. "And will always be there to shower you with love and compassion."

Read the original article onPeople