Crime Alert 05.08.24

On Saturday evening, a large group of family members are wrapping up their day at Looking Glass Valley Park in Watertown Township, a suburb of Lansing, Michigan. The group of 16 packs up and starts the short walk back to their grandparents’ home down South Waucousta Rd. Just before 6:30 p.m., an oncoming car plows through the family. Instead of offering aid, the driver takes off. Within minutes of the crash, at least 8 ambulances arrive. Two people die of their injuries,13 people are transported to the hospital via ambulance, more than half of them children. Three minutes after the crash, Clinton County Sheriffs notice a car with significant damage to the front passenger side swerving off the road and over the center line. The driver identifies herself as Ashley Monroe. Officers immediately suspect alcohol may be a factor in the crash. A breathalyzer test performed at the Clinton County Jail revealed Monroe had a blood alcohol content of .183, over twice the legal limit. The two victims who died at the scene of the crash have been identified as Jonathan Esch, 30, and Daniel Harris, 42. The surviving victims include six women, one still in critical condition, and eight children, including two six-year-olds and three toddlers. The alleged drunk driver, Ashley Monroe, is now facing eleven charges related to the crash. Monroe is charged with 8 counts of DUI causing serious injury or death, and 3 counts of leaving the scene of a damaging or deadly crash. At Monroe’s arraignment, her defense attorney reveals she is pregnant with her 5th child. Through a public defender, Monroe pleads not guilty to all counts. Monroe remains behind bars at the Clinton County Jail, held on a $1,000,000 bond. Joining Nancy Grace Today:  Ray Giudice – Criminal Defense Attorney in Atlanta, GA; X: @raygiudice Dr. Bethany Marshall - Psychoanalyst drbethanymarshall.com, Instagram & TikTok: @drbethanymarshall, Twitter: @DrBethanyLive, Appearing in the latest season of “Paris in Love” on Peacock – BOOK: "Deal Breaker: When to work on a relationship and when to walk away" Sheryl McCollum – Cold Case Investigative Research Institute Founder; Host of Podcast, “Zone 7 “ Dr. William Morrone – Chief Medical Examiner, Bay County Michigan; Author: “American Narcan: Naloxone & Heroin-Fentanyl Associated Mortality” Erin Bowling- Multi-media journalist for WILX News 10 in Lansing, MI, Facebook: WILX-Erin Bowling, X: @wilxTV10, wilx.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Teen killed on walk with friend. Veteran runs off burglar at his jewelry store.  For more crime and justice news go to crimeonline.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In November of last year, R&B singer Cassie filed an explosive lawsuit, accusing her ex, Sean "Diddy" Combs of abuse, rape, and other sexual misconduct. Combs settled the suit for an undisclosed amount just a day after Cassie Ventura filed. Combs said the settlement was in no way an admission of wrongdoing, "We have decided to resolve this matter amicably, I wish Cassie and her family all the best." 5 more lawsuits followed Ventura's, and federal authorities raided the rapper's homes based on the allegations of sex trafficking they contained. Now, a 2016 video from the Century City InterContinental hotel has surfaced, showing Combs brutally beating Ventura as she tried to leave the hotel without him. Ventura is seen leaving the room with her bags, and moments later Combs follows her into the hallway, wearing only a towel. Combs throws Ventura to the ground, kicks her, and drags her back to the room by her hoodie.  Faced with proof of his abuse, Combs quickly changed his tune and took to social media with an apology video. Many have called the video completely disingenuous, and Combs' legal team is said to be bracing for the possibility of more footage of bad behavior coming to light.  Is Diddy Done?  Joining Nancy Grace Today:  Sam Dordulian – Sexual Assault Attorney, Former Los Angeles County Sex Crimes Prosecutor, and Founder of Dordulian Law Group; X: @DordulianLaw Dr. John Delatorre –  Licensed Psychologist and Mediator (specializing in forensic psychology); Psychological Consultant to Project Absentis: a nonprofit organization that searches for missing persons; Twitter, IG, and TikTok – @drjohndelatorre Robert Crispin – Private Investigator, Former Federal Task Force Officer for United States Department of Justice, DEA and Miami Field Division, Former Homicide and Crimes Against Children Investigator, “Crispin Special Investigations” CrispinInvestigations.com, Facebook: Crispin Special Investigations, Inc. Shannon Henry –  President & Founder of SASS Go (Surviving Assault Standing Strong: a nonprofit on a mission to eradicate abuse, trafficking and violence against women and girls globally) Case Consultant, and Adjunct Professor at the University of South Carolina in the Department of Education; @sassgoglobal on FB, Instagram, X, and TikTok Kayla Brantley – Reporter, DailyMail.com; X: @_KaylaBrantley, Instagram: @KaylaBrantley See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mom shot at son's graduation ceremony. This smuggler is Optimus Prime-d for crime.  For more crime and justice news go to crimeonline.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sammy Teusch, 10, is the baby of the Teusch family. Now in fourth grade, Sammy loves playing outside with his brothers, his beloved dog Daisy, and best friend, Judah, who lives next door. Wherever Sammy goes, people comment on his big smile that pushes his glasses up his cheeks. While friends and family know Sammy Teusch as smart, funny, charming, and empathetic, several children at school focus on Sammy’s physical appearance. They pick on Sammy for his glasses and crooked teeth in elementary school and the bullying only intensifies in intermediate school.  On the bus home, Sammy is attacked and beaten with his own iPad. The bullies hit Sammy over the head with the tablet several times, and the boy arrives home with broken glasses, a black eye, and scratches on his face and neck. Days later, Sammy is cornered in the bathroom and beaten up again—with more threats of violence when he returns to school on Monday. Parents, Sam and Nichole Teusch call Greenfield-Central 20 times to raise concerns about Sammy’s wellbeing and physical safety. They also receive several calls. Teachers report that Sammy is fearful at school and hides under his desk and in closets. The school says they are working to resolve the bullying, but nothing gets better for Sammy.  On a quiet Sunday morning, Sam Teusch cooks a pancake and egg breakfast for his wife and four children. Teusch goes to wake Sammy up to eat, but he instead finds the little boy unresponsive and not breathing. Sam Teusch calls for help and performs CPR on Sammy, but Sammy Teusch dies. The 10-year-old took his own life.  Joining Nancy Grace Today:  Tyler Mills - Sammy's brother Sam Teusch - Sammy's Dad  Hunter Brown - Dad of McKenna Brown Stacey Honowitz – Assistant State Attorney (Florida), Sex Crimes & Child Abuse Unit; Author: “My Private Parts are Private.” “Genius with a Penis – Don’t Touch!” and “The Bully at School is Really Uncool;” Instagram: @staceybhonowitz Caryn L. Stark – Psychologist, Renowned TV and Radio Trauma Expert and Consultant; Instagram: carynpsych/FB: Caryn Stark Private Practice Lauren Conlin – Investigative Journalist, Host of The Outlier Podcast, and also Host of “Corruption: What Happened to Grant Solomon; X- @Conlin_Lauren/ Instagram- @LaurenEmilyConlin/YouTube- @LaurenConlin4    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Furniture store Arson kills two. Teens wreak havoc at California maid service.  For more crime and justice news go to crimeonline.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lisa and David Hernandez had been separated for a year before he starts stalking her, showing up at her job uninvited and unwelcome. He sends his estranged wife a bouquet of flowers with Lillies, "the Death Flower", knowing she is extremely allergic to them. On this episode of Body Bags, Joseph Scott Morgan will explain how someone can be killed by a blunt force instrument and a sharp-edged instrument at the same time and Dave Mack will fill in the story with the creepy stalking that David Hernandez allegedly did to his wife. Subscribe to Body Bags with Joseph Scott Morgan : Apple Podcasts Spotify iHeart Transcribed Highlights00:02:00 Introduction of Lisa Hernandez  05:12.52 Discussion of "Death Flower"  08:50.91 Talk about a tool as a weapon14:17.46 Discussion of skull injury 19:46.20 Discussion of suspect knowing victim allergies 24:28.29 Talk about a "staged" scene29:19.40 Discussion of allergic reaction 32:32.27 Discussion of blunt force and sharp force 36:26.87 Talk about tossing weapon / tool into lake41:22.33  Discussion of Searching the bottom of a lakeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Marlen Ochoa-Lopez was murdered before her baby was cut out of her body, according to police. The teen mom went missing as she tried to pick up baby clothes from someone she met online in a motherhood forum.  Now the mother/daughter duo who killed Ochoa-Lopez will spend decades behind bars.    Clarisa Figueroa, 51, told a judge she understood that she would be in jail for the rest of her life, as the judge sentenced her to 50 years behind bars. Both Figueroa and her daughter, Desiree Figueroa, were charged with first-degree murder for the brutal slaying of Ochoa-Lopez.  Prosecutors said they lured Ochoa-Lopez to their home on April 23, 2019, with the promise of baby supplies. The duo then strangled Ochoa-Lopez when she arrived and cut the baby from her womb, in an attempt to keep the infant as their own.  Two months later, the infant, Yovanny Lopez, passed away from brain damage, along with complications from a prolapsed umbilical cord and placenta. In January, Desiree Figueroa pleaded guilty to murder and took a plea deal, which allowed her to receive 30 years in prison in exchange for testimony against her mother.  Joining Nancy Grace Today  Troy Slaten - Los Angeles Defense Lawyer Steven Lampley - Former Detective Dr. Bethany Marshall -  Psychoanalyst Dr. Kris Sperry - Retired Chief Medical Examiner for the State of Georgia   Dave Mack - Crimeoneline.com Investigative Reporter See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kouri Richins defense team has a strategy to argue every piece of evidence the prosecution has, in an effort to have the case against her dismissed. The prosecutors are working hard to not let that happen during the preliminary hearing. As both sides are preparing to provide the court with their evidence, the prosecution says they need at least three full days to present their case for the judge. Noting the amount of time that will be needed to conduct the hearing, the judge moved the case to June 18 to June 21. The Kouri Richins defense will be to stand up to each piece of evidence and have the case dismissed before ever getting to trial  The judge allows prosecutors to introduce evidence that Kouri looked into getting a divorce and had a law firm on retainer.  After receiving a consultation. Kouri allegedly tells her bother that she ended the consultation because she didn't want half of everything and wants to walk away clean and free.  However, the court may reasonably infer the opposite is true as it appears Kouri Richins didn't want half of everything. Prosecutors say she wanted everything and to that end, planned to cause Eric Richins' death  The investigation into the death of Eric Richins show text messages between Kouri Richins and her mother, Lisa Darden, show great disdain for Eric on Lisa Darden's part. Investigators include in their report that right before her significant other dies, Lisa Darden is added to her will.   The detective writes, based on Lisa Darden’s proximity to her partner’s suspicious overdose death, and her relationship with Kouri, it is possible she was involved in planning and orchestrating Eric’s death."   JOINING NANCY GRACE TODAY:  Greg Skordas - Friend and Spokesperson for victim Eric Richins Troy Slaten - Criminal Defense Attorney, Slaten Lawyers, APC; Twitter @TroySlaten Dr Ernest Chiodo - Toxicologist, Physician, Biomedical Engineer, Attorney, Author: “Toxic Tort: Medical and Legal Elements”, www.ernestpchiodo.com,  Justin Boardman - Former Detective, West Valley City Police Department Special Victim’s Unit, Boardman Training & Consulting  Elaine Aradillas - Investigative Journalist Previously worked at People magazine and The Messenger.  X/Twitter: @elaineja  Instagram: @the_elaine  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mom tries to keep first responders from helping toddler overdosing on meth. Thieves steal car, but return ashes.   For more crime and justice news go to crimeonline.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.