Florida Teens to be Tried as Adults for Luring Classmate to Shooting Death | Crime Alert 6AM 12.26.25

Two Florida teens indicted in connection with the death of Danika Troy, a 14-year-old Pace girl found murdered earlier this month. A reserve police officer and his wife have been arrested and charged with subjecting their biological and foster children to “cruel and unusual punishment.” A man charged with shooting his grandfather dead two years ago at the behest of his mother has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and will testify against the mother. Sydney Sumner reports.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Non-Christian Historical Sources: writings by non-Christian sources from the time of Jesus to provide independent confirmation of his existence….like:Tacitus, a Roman historian, who in his Annals (written around 116 AD) mentions the execution of "Christus" (Jesus) under Pontius Pilate during the reign of Emperor Tiberius. Josephus, a Jewish historian, who in Antiquities of the Jews at about 93-94 AD makes two references to Jesus. One is a more disputed passage (the Testimonium Flavianum), but it still provides evidence of Jesus' existence, his role as a teacher, and his crucifixion. Pliny the Younger, a Roman governor, who in a letter to Emperor Trajan around 112 AD mentions early Christians worshiping Christ as a god and gathering regularly for worship.These references from non-Christian authors confirm the existence of Jesus and suggest that he was known for his teachings and crucifixion.  The Pilate Inscription: In 1961, archaeologists uncovered a stone inscription in Caesarea Maritima that mentions Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor who ordered Jesus’ crucifixion. This find supports the biblical account of Pilate's role in Jesus’ trial. The James Ossuary: A first-century bone box inscribed with "James, son of Joseph, brother of Jesus" was discovered in 2002. While its authenticity has been debated, it could provide indirect evidence of Jesus’ historical existence, especially if it refers to the biblical James, the brother of Jesus. Early Christian Writings: Early Christian writers such as Clement of Rome, Ignatius of Antioch, and Polycarp—who were contemporaries or immediate followers of the apostles—wrote about Jesus as a real person who had lived, died, and risen from the dead. These writings, which are part of the early Christian tradition, serve as additional evidence that Jesus was a historical figure.  Joining Nancy Grace:  Billy Hallowell - TV Host at CBN News (Christian Broadcasting Network), Has a new documentary out titled "Investigating the Supernatural: Miracles" , Host of 2 podcasts: “Jesus and the Prophecies of Christmas” and “Quickstart”, Author of “Playing with Fire: A Modern Investigation into Demons, Exorcism, and Ghosts,” and “The Armageddon Code: One Journalist’s Quest for End-Times Answers” and more. Website: www.billyhallowell.com, @BillyHallowell on all social platforms Guy Powell - Host of the podcast “The Backstory on the Shroud of Turin [TUR-in]; Board member of STERA (The Shroud of Turin Education and Research Association), Board member of SEEC (The Shroud Educational Endeavous Corporation, President of ProRelevant; Author of “The Only Witness:  A history of the Shroud of Turin”; website: www.guypowell.com;  YouTube: Guy.R.Powell.ShroudofTurin; Facebook: AHistoryOfTheShroudOfTurin; IG: @guy.r.powell; TikTok: @guy.r.powell;  Dr. Robert “Bobby” Duke [dook] (Southern CA and Washington D.C.) Chief Curatorial Officer and the Director of the Scholars Initiative at Museum of the Bible, Author of “Biblical Hebrew and Aramaic Dictionary” and “The Social Location of the Visions of Amram”, website: www.museumofthebible.org, Facebook: MuseumofBible, Twitter: @museumofBible Dr. J. Daniel “Danny” Hays [hays] (Arkadelphia, AR) Professor of Biblical Studies Emeritus at Ouachita Baptist University, Author of “A Christian’s Guide to Evidence for the Bible: 101 Proofs from History and Archaeology” and “The ICHTHUS Christagram and Other Early Christian Symbols” and 15 other books; Twitter (X): @Haysdanny Dr. Robert Van Voorst -Professor Emeritus of New Testament at Western Theological Seminary; Author “Jesus Outside the New Testament: An Introduction to the Ancient Evidence” Bishop Dr. LaDonna Osborn [la-DAWN-ah OZ-born] (Tulsa, OK) President and CEO of Osborn Ministries International, Author “God’s Big Picture”,  she has ministered in over 100 nations, among people of many cultures and most major religons, website: www.Osborn.org, Facebook: Dr. LaDonna Osborn See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A teen is left paralyzed; his leg amputated after a city worker driving a garbage truck - crushes the kid on his way to class. But she won't spend a day behind bars for the double-run over devastation.  A notorious thug blinds a granny in a savage Seattle attack. The career criminal was walking free due to major justice system failures. Plus, a burglary sends a mama bear on a collision course in Cali! Jennifer Gould reports. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Danielle Bell is very outgoing, a cheerleader with lots of friends, and loves spending time with her older sister, Bonnie, taking pictures at the beach. Danielle's home life with her mother, Susan, is not strict and she often doesn't know where her daughter is or who she is hanging with most days.  Susan's older daughter, Bonnie, says Susan is a known to be struggling in her daily life, which is why plans were made for Danielle to move in with her father, Matt Bell. Danielle meets Alfredo Sanchez, and begins to change. Friends don't like Sanchez, he scares them, and they don't like the idea he is 24 and Danielle is just 14. Danielle begins to drift from her friends, spending more time with Sanchez and his much older friends. Danielle tells her mother and a few friends she is pregnant with Sanchez baby and also shares to not repeat because Sanchez says he will kill her if she tells anyone. On Friday night, September 28, Danielle is at Heritage Park in Cantonment near the Sanchez home, hanging out with Sanchez and some of his friends when they decide to go to a party at the home of Sanchez friend, Robert Bassett. Danielle gets in a white Lincoln town car with Sanchez younger brother, Alex, and drives to 588 Cedar Tree Lane. A missing person report is filed on the night of September 30th and investigators immediately begin searching. Danielle is seen getting into a White Lincoln Town Car around 11:30pm. Witnesses report seeing Danielle at the home of Robert Bassett and that sighting is allegely the last time Danielle was seen alive, ever. Joining Nancy Grace: Bonnie Bell, Danielle Bell's Sister Matt Bell, Danielle Bell’s Father Dr. Shari Schwartz - Forensic Psychologist (specializing in Capital Mitigation and Victim Advocacy),  www.panthermitigation.com, Twitter: @TrialDoc, Author: "Criminal Behavior" and "Where Law and Psychology Intersect: Issues in Legal Psychology" Tom Rawlings  - President of Child Welfare & Justice Transformation. Former juvenile court judge, state child advocate, and former Director of Georgia Division of Family and Children Services (DFACS). Board-certified Child Welfare Law Specialist (Child welfare and child protection consultant and attorney, equipping organizations in the US and abroad to protect children from abuse and exploitation) AUTHOR OF “Protecting Other People’s Children: 120 Days to Create a Strong Child Safety Policy,” website: CWJT.US. https://tomrawlings.substack.com, X @tcrawlings See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Florida woman was arrested and charged with murder for killing two of her ex-husbands on the same day.  Drew Nelson reporting. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Deep in the Maine woods near the Canadian border, the Damron family sets up a homestead on 20 acres of land with a Yurt they use as a home. The family of eight consists of father and mother, Dale and Lisa Damron, their five children, and 80-year-old Richard Turgeon. Turgeon is not a blood relative but has lived with the family for so long that the children call him grandpa. After two winters in the yurt with no running water, no indoor plumbing and power supplied by generator, Dale and Lisa Damron, and the youngest children move into a trailer offered to them by friend, Andrew Losiewicz, a mile away up the driveway from the Yurt, while 13-year-old Stefanie and her 18-year-old sister, Star, live with grandpa Richard Turgeon, in the yurt. After a serious argument about chores around the yurt, Stefanie goes for a walk in the woods to calm herself. Not uncommon, as Stefanie knows the woods like the back of her hand. Lisa and Dale Damron are in town on a job interview when Star calls to tell them about the argument and Stefanie running into the woods. It is 3 p.m., and the Damron thinks Stefanie will return shortly. As the sun goes down and Stefanie hasn’t returned, the Damrons are concerned and take to the woods, calling out for Stefanie. When Stefanie hasn’t returned the next morning, the Damron report her missing to the Maine State Police, and organized searches begin. Investigators conduct a neighborhood canvas and video search, K9 teams and volunteers conduct grid searches over the Damrons’ property for days, and the FBI’s Child Abduction Rapid Deployment—or CARD team is brought in to look for Stefanie’s activity online. Stefanie’s Father, Dale Damron, says he didn’t think Stefanie could get online and wasn’t aware the flip phone they got for “grandpa” Richard Turgeon could access the internet. A quick check of the phone and the FBI realizes Stefanie could have been using the flip phone to get online. Joining Nancy Grace: Franz Borghardt - Criminal Defense Attorney, Founder of Borghardt Law Firm, Former Prosecutor, and Adjunct Professor at Louisiana State University, Teaching Criminal Litigation; Instagram and Facebook: BorghardtLawFirm,  Dr. Jeff Kieliszewski - Forensic Psychologist, Author: “Darksides;" YouTube: "Dr. Jeff Kieliszewski, Forensic Psychologist" Brian Fitzgibbons - Director of Operations for USPA Nationwide Security (leads a team of investigators specializing in locating missing persons), Former Marine and Iraq War Veteran; Instagram: @uspa_nationwide_security Christie Rand - Volunteer Searcher for Stefanie Damron Chris Carson Sr.  - Neighbor of Stefanie Damron Family Dave Mack - Investigative Reporter, ‘Crime Stories’   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Investigators in Virginia have announced a breakthrough in the nearly 35-year-old murder of 18-year-old Laurie Ann Powell, finally identifying the individual responsible for her death in 1988. Police have arrested a suspect in a 1997 Long Island homicide that was once considered potentially linked to the Gilgo Beach serial killings, providing long-awaited clarity for a decades-old investigation. Two members of the West Virginia National Guard were shot while on duty in Washington, D.C., in an incident that occurred close to the White House, raising questions about security for personnel assigned to federal locations. An internal affairs review has concluded that the 2023 death of a 19-year-old Rutland, Vermont police trainee could have been prevented, citing failures by supervising officers to adhere to department pursuit policies.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.