AG Pam Bondi's Alleged Conflict of Interest Sparks Fight Over Death Penalty in Luigi Manginone Case | Crime Alert 6AM 12.22.25

At age 10, Erica Bilheimer got a fresh name with a fresh start. Adopted by Heather and Steven Snapp, she chooses to now be known as "Hollynn" Snapp. Hollynn and the Snapps remain in close contact with her previous foster mother, Leslie Hunt, who took care of Hollynn for more than a year. Over time, Hollynn doesn’t change much. At 19, Hollynn stands just 4 feet, 9 inches tall, and is diagnosed with a low IQ; she has the mental capacity of a 10-year-old child. On October 5, Hollynn texts Heather she’s attending a party at a home on Bell Ridge Drive with a man a trusted friend introduced her to, 52-year-old Steven Linkous. In her text, Hollynn mentions Linkous didn’t want her telling anyone his name, which Heather finds odd. Hollynn texted Heather an address in Kingsport and said, "Hey, this is where I am, and this iswho I am with, although he didn't want me to tell you his name," but she told Heather his name in the text. Foster mom, Leslie Hunt, assumes Hollynn started inpatient treatment when Hollynn hadn’t reached out in more than a week, but is shocked to see a Facebook post from Heather Snapp, asking if anyone has seen or spoken to Hollynn. Heather tells Leslie about Hollynn’s last text, and they agree that if Hollynn had access to a phone, she would have reached out by now. Heather struggles to get local authorities to take a missing person report, so the women report Hollynn missing to the Sullivan County Sheriff's Office. After Hollynn is reported missing, Hollynn’s friend comes forward about leaving Hollynn at Linkous.’home Hollynn was last seen on October 5 at a "party" on Bell Ridge Drive in Kingsport, Tennessee. Witnesses said she had taken a beating and was not coherent. Hollynn is described as weighing 90 pounds, with brown hair, hazel eyes, and an ‘Eye of Providence’ tattoo on her forearm. Anyone with info is asked to call Sullivan County Sheriffs at 423-279-7330 or the TBI at 1-800-TBI-FIND. Joining Nancy Grace: Detective Anthony Stevens - Lead Detective in the Hollynn Snapp case, Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office, TN Captain Richard Frazier - Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office, TN  Leslie Hunt - Hollynn's Former Foster Mom Heather Snapp - Hollynn's Adoptive Mom Caryn Stark -  Forensic Psychologist, renowned TV and Radio trauma expert and consultant, www.carynstark.com, Instagram: carynpsych, FB: Caryn Stark Private Practice  Steve Fischer [FISH-er] (San Bernardino, CA) Missing Persons Private Investigator, Search & Rescue Specialist, & Owner of Search Investigations, website: search investigations.org, Facebook: SearchInvestigations, X: @SF_Investigates Franz Borghardt - Criminal Defense Attorney, Founder of Borghardt Law Firm, Former Prosecutor, Adjust Professor at Louisiana State University Teaching Criminal Litigation, website: www.borghardtlawfirm.com, Instagram and Facebook: BorghardtLawFirm Sydney Sumner - Investigative Reporter, ‘Crime Stories’     See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lawyers representing Luigi Mangione are requesting that the death penalty be halted in his federal murder trial, citing a purported "conflict of interest" involving Attorney General Pam Bondi, as detailed in a recent court submission.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Austin police respond to a home in Del Valle after receiving a 911 call about a 7-year-old girl who discovered starved and locked inside a bedroom closet. Six other children are also found in the home, but police say it appears they are physically healthy. According to reports, the child was soiled and barricaded in a closet with heavy boxes blocking the door. An arrest affidavit reveals Virginia Marie Gonzales is accused of locking the 7-year-old girl in a closet for “weeks at a time.” The affidavit further states the girl’s grandmother told police that the child had trouble controlling her bladder and often ate things she shouldn’t. This allegedly led to her siblings being instructed to keep her locked in the closet. The 7-year-old was hospitalized and is now recovering. During the investigation, detectives learn about another child, Ava, who has been missing for years. Virginia Marie Gonzales, Ava‘s mother, was arrested on a charge of serious injury to a child in connection with the 7-year-old’s case. According to police, the missing now 9-year-old child was last seen when she was just 2 years old and in the custody of her mother, Virginia Marie Gonzales. Now, Gonzales has rejected a plea offer related to her arrest. The State offered Gonzales a 40-year prison sentence in exchange for her guilty plea. She and her attorney, Gabe Hernandez, rejected the offer, calling it  “utterly absurd.” Gonzales is still in custody. Trial is set to begin January 26, 2026. Joining Nancy Grace today: LeAnne Marie - Friend of Mom, Virginia Gonzales Bronwyn Blake - Adjunct Professor, University of Texas School of Law; Chief Legal Officer, Texas Advocacy Project; Founder: Teen Justice Initiative (advocating for teen victims of dating violence); Facebook and Instagram: @TexasAdvocacyProject Dr. Angela Arnold - Psychiatrist in Atlanta: Expert in the Treatment of Pregnant/Postpartum Women, Former Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Obstetrics and Gynecology: Emory University, Former Medical Director of The Psychiatric Ob-Gyn Clinic at Grady Memorial Hospital Daryl Parker - Private Investigator at Blackfish; Former Lieutenant in the Fannin County Sheriff's Office, Private Investigator at Blackfish Intelligence Former Marine, Former Texas Police Officer  worked with the Innocence Project of Texas for the last ten years); Instagram: @blackfishintel, FB – blackfishintelligence Virginia Bagby - Director of the ChildHelp National Child Abuse Hotline; Facebook and Instagram: @ChildHelp Dr. Kendall Crowns - Chief Medical Examiner Tarrant County (Ft Worth), Host of Podcast, "Mayhem in the Morgue," and Lecturer: Burnett School of Medicine at TCU (Texas Christian University) Christina Aguayo - National News Anchor, Salem News Channel; Facebook: @ChristinaAguayoNews, Instagram: @Christina.AguayoNew See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Content Warning: This episode discusses the deaths of individuals. If you’re sensitive to this topic, this episode may not be for you. In this episode of Mayhem in the Morgue, Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Kendall Crowns reflects on how celebration and death often share the same season. From Christmas music echoing through the medical examiner's office to a door-decorating contest that nearly led to suspension, he recalls the unusual ways morgue culture adapts to the holidays. Dr. Crowns also recounts a corporate holiday party that ended in homicide, explains the science behind neck injuries, and remembers the “death watch” he and his father kept while delivering newspapers to those who died alone during the most festive time of the year. Highlights • (0:00) Welcome to Mayhem in the Morgue with Dr. Kendall Crowns • (0:45) Christmas music in the morgue and a memory that tested family tolerance • (3:45) Door-decorating competitions from residency and the Rudolph controversy • (7:30) Holiday parties, the rumored poisoning case, and the politics of the potluck table • (11:00) The dangers of open bars at holiday office parties and a rivalry gone wrong • (14:00) Understanding subarachnoid hemorrhages, vertebral artery tears, and blunt-force trauma • (17:45) Decomposition and the reality of those who die unnoticed, leading to the “death watch” lessons learned on a paper route • (22:15) Closing reflections: the importance of checking in on others during the holiday season About the Host: Dr. Kendall Crowns Dr. Crowns is the Chief Medical Examiner for Travis County, Texas, and a nationally recognized forensic pathologist. He las led death investigations in Travis County, Fort Worth, Chicago, and Kansas. Over his career, he has performed thousands of autopsies and testified in court hundreds of times as an expert witness. A frequent contributor to Crime Stories with Nancy Grace, Dr. Crowns brings unparalleled insight into the strange, grisly, and sometimes absurd realities of forensic pathology. About the Show Mayhem in the Morgue takes listeners inside the bloody, bizarre, and often unbelievable world of forensic pathology. Hosted by Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Kendall Crowns, each episode delivers real-life cases from the morgue, the crime scene, and the courtroom. Expect gallows humor, hard truths, and unforgettable investigations. Connect and Learn More Learn more about Dr. Kendall Crowns on Linkedin. Catch him regularly on Crime Stories with Nancy Grace and follow Mayhem in the Morgue where you get your podcasts. If you liked this episode, don’t keep it to yourself—follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave us a review.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Breaking crime news as it happens throughout the day! Follow "Crime Alert Hourly Update" now on your favorite podcast app: https://link.chtbl.com/Crime_Alert Here's some of our top stories this week: Sources claim Nick Reiner was diagnosed with Schizophrenia before parents were murdered and the recent medication change "made him erratic and dangerous"  A scathing lawsuit is calling out a hospital - accusing them of gross negligence after a granny's skull chunk it tossed out - in a bone blunder. They offered a $25 gas card to make up for the error.  The individual suspected of last week's mass shooting at Brown University has been discovered deceased in a storage facility in Salem, New Hampshire, following a six-day multi-state manhunt. The arrest of sixty-eight-year-old Joe Campbell, a once-celebrated children’s pastor now accused of first-degree rape and lewd acts involving a child under sixteen, marks what survivors say is a long-overdue reckoning more than forty years in the making.  Stay informed, stay safe, and stay ahead with "Crime Alert Hourly Update.”See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Holly Bobo, a beautiful young nursing student, disappears from her family home in Darden, Tennessee. She is last seen by her brother, Clint, walking into the woods at the back of their property with a man wearing camouflage who looks familiar. The Holly Bobo murder case returns to court years after a Tennessee man’s conviction. A new legal filing has emerged, requesting a new trial based on statements made by a key trial witness who now claims to be recanting his testimony—the same testimony that helped convict his friend. Holly's case has already faced several setbacks over the years; could this be another? At the time of her disappearance, Holly Bobo was a 20-year-old nursing student at the University of Tennessee at Martin, where she attended classes at the Parsons Center. She lived with her parents and brother. On the morning of her disappearance, Clint, Holly's brother, was awakened by a noise outside the home. Believing he heard and saw his sister talking with her boyfriend, he thought nothing was wrong. However, when Clint spoke to their mother, she immediately sensed something was wrong and frantically called 911. That morning, Holly had woken up at 4:30 a.m. to study for an exam. Around 7:30 a.m., she answered a call from her boyfriend, Drew Scott, who was out turkey hunting. By that time, Holly's parents had already left for work, and Clint was still asleep. Twelve minutes later, Holly made her final cell phone call.  Now, her convicted killer wants a new trial. His then attorney testifies that she does not believe she was an effective counsel. She cites depression and being overwhelmed by the volume of evidence. The judge will hear more testimony this month. Joining Nancy Grace today: Ben Powers - Criminal Defense Attorney, Facebook: Legal Powers Dr. Angela Arnold - Psychiatrist, AngelaArnoldMD.com, Former Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Obstetrics and Gynecology: Emory University, Former Medical Director of The Psychiatric Ob-Gyn Clinic at Grady Memorial Hospital, Todd G. Shipley, CFE, CFCE - Cyber Crime Expert, and Author: “Investigating Internet Crimes: An Introduction to Solving Crimes in Cyberspace;" X: @webcase Dr. Kendall Crowns -  Chief Medical Examiner Tarrant County (Ft Worth), NEW Podcast --- launching on April 7th, Lecturer: Burnett School of Medicine at TCU (Texas Christian University) Shane Deitert - Former Assignment Editor for WATN in Memphis Dave Mack- Crime Stories Investigative Reporter See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ricky Johnson, David Harrington, and Clayton McGeeney were last seen alive on January 7, 2024, watching the final regular-season Kansas City Chiefs game at the home of their friend, Jordan Willis.  Two days later, authorities found their frozen bodies outside the house. After a yearlong investigation, prosecutors charged Jordan Willis and Ivory Carson in connection with the deaths, which gained national attention. Both men face three counts of involuntary manslaughter and two counts of delivering a controlled substance. Police say Carson, known as "Blade Brown," supplied and sold cocaine to Willis and the victims. Investigators found Carson's DNA on a bag of fentanyl inside Willis' home. During the investigation, law enforcement initially said they did not suspect foul play. A toxicology report later confirmed that the men had cocaine, THC, and fentanyl in their systems. Police have since ruled the deaths as caused by "fentanyl and cocaine toxicity." As the case progressed, Willis moved out of the home and checked into rehab. A forensic analysis of Harrington’s phone uncovered text messages between Willis, McGeeney, Johnson, and others, linking Carson to the cocaine supply. DNA evidence identified Willis as a major contributor, and a second bag contained DNA matching Carson, confirming his role as the drug supplier.  After a recent court hearing Willis said he was confident in his case when asked by reporters   Joining Nancy Grace today: Jonathan Price - Brother of Ricky Johnson Derek Smith - Criminal Defense Attorney Dr. Heidi Green - Clinical Psychologist, Trauma Specialist, and Author: ‘The Path to Self-Love and World Domination; IG: @drheidigreen Barry Hutchison -  Former 26-year Law Enforcement Veteran and Detective, Owner & Chief Investigator for Barry & Associates Investigative Services located in Kansas & Missouri Dr. Kendall Crowns -  Chief Medical Examiner Tarrant County (Ft Worth), NEW Podcast --- launching on April 7th, Lecturer: Burnett School of Medicine at TCU (Texas Christian University) Eric Zahnd - Platte County Prosecutor in Missouri Alexis Tereszcuk - Crimeonline.com Investigative Reporter Dave Mack - CrimeOnline Investigative Reporter See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

John Paul Miller, a South Carolina pastor, whose wife, Mica Miller, died by suicide last year after she filed for divorce, has been federally indicted after being accused of posting her nude photo online and stalking her before her death.  Miller, 46, is charged with felony charges of cyberstalking and making false statements to federal investigators, according to authorities. John-Paul Miller and Mica Miller were married in 2017, and at the age of just 23, Mica Miller becomes stepmom to John-Paul Miller's five children. JP Miller is considerably older than his beautiful young wife, but they move forward like a match made in heaven. Outside the home, everybody seems happy, but inside the home, not so much. Mica Miller decides she has had enough of Pastor John-Paul Miller and files for divorce. Four months after filing for divorce, Mica Miller pulls back the divorce papers, only to file new divorce papers weeks later. After filing for divorce the second time, her tires are slashed twice in a week, and a mechanic finds a tracking device in Mica's car. Allegedly, Mica feels like she is being stalked by Miller and fears for her life. One morning during a church service, Pastor John-Paul Miller announces he got a call last night, and his wife has died by suicide. Mica's family and friends demand justice for Mica and ask law enforcement to investigate. Protest follows outside Solid Rock Church demanding justice for Mica. Joining Nancy Grace: Chris Melcher - Celebrity Lawyer and Partner at Walzer Melcher & Yoda (deep experience in complex family law litigation) Dr. Bethany Marshall-  Psychoanalyst, Author: "Deal Breaker," and featured in hit show "Paris in Love" on Peacock; Instagram & TikTok: drbethanymarshall, X: @DrBethanyLive  Dr. Kendall Crowns - Chief Medical Examiner Tarrant County (Ft Worth), Host of Podcast "Mayhem in the Morgue," and Lecturer: Burnett School of Medicine at TCU (Texas Christian University) Alexis Tereszcuk - Investigative Reporter, 'Crime Stories' Dave Mack - Investigative Reporter, 'Crime Stories' See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ernesto Cesar Torres, 74,  sentenced for sexually abusing an 11-year-old patient and prosecutors say dozens more victims have come forward. A jury reached a partial verdict in connection with Maya Hernandez, a California mother who left her son inside a hot car while she visited a Bakersfield spa. Sydney Sumner reports.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nick Reiner appears in a Los Angeles courthouse on Wednesday for the first time since he is accused of killing his parents, Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner. While in court, Nick Reiner, 32, appears to be wearing an all-blue vest. The only words he utters during the brief appearance are, “Yes, your honor.” His arraignment is pushed back to January 7, marking the second time it was delayed since his arrest Sunday in his parents' deaths. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's Office on Wednesday listed the couple's cause of death as multiple sharp force injuries. Many jump to the conclusion that the Reiners were bad parents to their middle child, and somehow responsible for their demise at their troubled son's hands. Critics highlight Nick Reiner’s early signs of addiction and meth. The teen reportedly entered rehab for around his 15th birthday. Joining Nancy Grace: Heather Michaels - Reiner Family Friend and Neighbor, Investigative Reporter, Producer and Social Justice Advocate; Instagram: HeatherMichaelsTV, Facebook: HeatherSMichaels Troy Slaten - Los Angeles Criminal Defense Attorney, Slaten Lawyers; X @TroySlaten Caryn Stark -  Forensic Psychologist, Renowned TV and Radio trauma Expert and Consultant; Instagram: carynpsych, FB: Caryn Stark Private Practice  Joseph Scott Morgan - Professor of Forensics: Jacksonville State University, Author of "Blood Beneath My Feet," and Host: "Body Bags with Joseph Scott Morgan;" X @JoScottForensic Jaclyn Roth - Editor-in-Chief of OK! Magazine; Instagram & Twitter: JRoth104 Sydney Sumner - Investigative Reporter, ‘Crime Stories’  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.