Crime Alert 10.22.24 | Grandmother Found Bludgeoned Dead with Hammer

Sibling fight turns deadly. Furry fan did not want to miss the game! For more crime and justice news go to crimeonline.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Libby German's and Abby Williams' families were informed that crime scene photos, including some very gruesome images of the girls, would be shown during testimony. Although the photos have not been made public, they were shown to the jury, and members of the gallery could also see them. As the photos were displayed, Crime Scene Investigator Sergeant Jason Page described what was captured in the 42 crime scene photos, including more than 20 images of Libby and Abby. Sgt. Page took the crime scene photos presented in court. Referring to the area as "ground zero," Page explained that the taped-off section was roughly the size of a football field, though most of the physical evidence was concentrated within 30 to 40 feet of the girls' bodies. The photos clearly showed a significant amount of blood at the scene, with Sgt. Page testifying that there was enough blood to soak into the ground beneath the leaves. One of the photos depicted Libby and Abby lying less than five feet apart, their feet angled toward each other. Fourteen-year-old Libby was nude, her pale skin stained with blood on her hands, thigh, chest, throat, and face. She was covered with twigs, which crisscrossed her throat, and a heavy bough lay lengthwise across her left side. Thirteen-year-old Abby, lying to Libby's right, was dressed in some of Libby's clothing in addition to her own. Sgt. Jason Page noted that her jeans appeared damp. During the photo presentation, an image unexpectedly flashed on the screen without warning or introduction. It was a close-up of Libby German's bloodied face. The image startled the courtroom, causing audible gasps from the families in the gallery, and prompted an apology from State Attorney James Luttrull Jr., who said he had intended to provide a lead-in to the picture. Anticipating the prosecution's introduction of audio and video recordings from Libby German's phone, Richard Allen's defense team filed a motion requesting that the judge prevent the jury from seeing or hearing the recordings that were provided to the defense. The defense team argued that the audio and video supplied by the state had been manipulated, with the audio enhanced and sections of the recording looped. The defense is not asking to block the jury from seeing or hearing the recordings but is seeking guidelines on how the jurors will view and listen to them. They also want specific limits on the questions that can be asked of witnesses regarding the recordings. The request aims to prevent questions that would lead witnesses to interpret the words and sounds. The defense stated, "It is up to the jury to determine what words or sounds exist on the recordings." Richard Allen's defense team claims that the audio and video clips from Libby German's phone, provided by the state, had been enhanced and that certain sounds were looped, repeating a phrase spoken by either Libby or Abby, along with an audio clip of a man's voice. The defense argues that these enhancements are "investigatory tools" and that "interpreting the words and sounds on the enhanced video requires a completely subjective analysis JOINING NANCY GRACE TODAY: Phillip Dubé  – Court-Appointed Counsel, Los Angeles County Public Defenders: Criminal & Constitutional Law, Forensics & Mental Health Advocacy Dr. Bethany Marshall – Psychoanalyst (Beverly Hills); X: @DrBethanyLive/ Instagram & TikTok: drbethanymarshall; Appearing in “Paris in Love” on Peacock; BOOK: “Deal Breaker: When to work on a relationship and when to walk away” Sheryl McCollum  – Forensics Expert & Cold Case Investigative Research Institute Founder; Host of Podcast: “Zone 7;” X: @149Zone7 Joe Scott Morgan – Professor of Forensics: Jacksonville State University, Author, “Blood Beneath My Feet,” and Host: “Body Bags with Joseph Scott Morgan;” Twitter/X: @JoScottForensic Barbara MacDonald - Court TV Documentary Producer, Co-Host/Producer of HLN’s “Down The Hill Podcast” and Documentary, X: @NewsyBarbara   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Neighbor finds grandmother bludgeoned dead with a hammer in quiet neighborhood. Man takes an Uber to commit a crime, tells driver about his plans.  For more crime and justice news go to crimeonline.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The trial of Richard Allen is underway at the Carroll County Courthouse, where seating is limited to 72 seats. Cameras are prohibited in the courtroom, but the judge has designated 12 seats for media coverage. On the first day, after jurors arrived, journalists' cameras outside the courthouse were confiscated. Judge Fran Gull has warned the media not to follow or photograph jurors, who will be sequestered for the month-long trial. Citizens hoping to attend the trial have been camping out, and for the first two days of testimony, anyone arriving after 2:30 a.m. could not secure a seat. Despite years of coverage on the murders of Libby German and Abby Williams, police have never disclosed how the girls were killed. During his opening statement, Prosecutor Nick McLeland informed the jury, "You're going to see the crime scene. It was a gruesome scene. Libby was completely naked. Her throat was cut, blood all over. Abby's throat was also cut." The prosecution focused its case on three key points: the "Bridge Guy," the unspent bullet found at the crime scene, and the brutal murders of Libby and Abby near the Monon High Bridge. Prosecutor McLeland outlined a timeline, stating that Libby posted a photo of Abby on Snapchat while they crossed the Monon High Bridge. After noticing a man behind them, Libby started recording on her phone at 2:13 p.m. on February 13, 2017. McLeland said the man pulled a gun and ordered the girls "down the hill." The girls complied, and the phone video then stopped recording. McLeland added that Richard Allen admitted to being on the trail that day. Investigators later found a gun at his house, and testing showed that an unspent round found between the girls at the crime scene had been cycled through that gun. McLeland also stated that Allen voluntarily confessed to the crime to both his wife and mother while in jail. JOINING NANCY GRACE TODAY:  Matthew Murphy - Former Orange County Homicide Prosecutor, ABC Legal Analyst, Criminal Defense Attorney, Matt Murphy Law, APC, and Author, The Book of Murder; X; @mattmurphylaw Dr. Bethany Marshall  – Psychoanalyst, Author – “Deal Breaker,”  featured in hit show: “Paris in Love” on Peacock;, Instagram & TikTok: drbethanymarshall, X: @DrBethanyLive Sheryl McCollum – Cold Case Investigative Research Institute Founder & Host of New Podcast: “Zone 7;” X: @149Zone Joe Scott Morgan – Professor of Forensics: Jacksonville State University, Author, “Blood Beneath My Feet,” and Host: “Body Bags with Joseph Scott Morgan;” X: @JoScottForensic Susan Hendricks – Journalist, Author: “Down the Hill: My Descent into the Double Murder in Delphi’;” IG: @susan_hendricks X @SusanHendicks See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Man strangles his 1yo because the boy isn't listening and dad "can't take it anymore." Florida artists suing each other over nothing...literally.  For more crime and justice news go to crimeonline.comSee 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 one of our top stories this week.  One man is dead, and nine others are hurt after a mass shooting erupts on Jefferson Street in Nashville, Tennessee, following the Tennessee State University homecoming festivities. Stay informed, stay safe, and stay ahead with "Crime Alert Hourly Update.” See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Crystal Rasch is missing and her husband is using her bank card to purchase cleaning supplies. He also fails to report his estranged wife missing. Joseph Scott Morgan  explains the cleaning materials used as well as the type of experts that have to be brought in when investigators suspect a victim has been cremated in a backyard burn pile. Dave Mack will help uncover the relationship that left Crystal Rasch identified by a single tooth and her husband in jail. The trial has yet to happen but this is the first part of the story of Crystal and Zachariah Rasch.    Transcribe Highlights00:13.30 Introduction - back from London 01:00.71 Strangers in London tell Joe to watch for "pickpockets" 05:03.49 The married couple had separate bank accounts 09:55.96 Working a case from back to front 15:08.97 CCTV Records coupled with receipts from purchases 20:29.75 Wife missing, husband admits spending her money with her card 25:57.18 List of searches done on phone, gunshot wound to head vs chest 29:51.13 Search warrant explanation 35:07.58 Evidence found in a car, what to take out 39:31.91 Relationships between law enforcement and experts 44:02.09 Investigators find a toothSee 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 one of our top stories this week.   Father catches daughter in car with man charged with stalking and raping her.  Stay informed, stay safe, and stay ahead with "Crime Alert Hourly Update.” See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Steven Schwally, the former marine who plowed his vehicle through a nail salon killing four says behind bars, "his goose is cooked." Shocking video released of the moments leading up to a devastating crash that claimed four lives at a nail salon on Long Island.  The horrific footage appears to show the ex-marine visibly disheveled, buying liquor, before getting behind the wheel of his SUV and allegedly turning his vehicle into a deadly battering ram.  Stephen Schwally is seen on video speeding through a parking lot at close to 80-miles-per-hour, almost hitting pedestrians in a crosswalk before charging at full-speed into the Hawaii Nail & Spa. The video appears to show no deceleration from Schwally's vehicle, and the sound of screams can be heard from the salon as customers are seen running out of other businesses to see what is happening.  Inside Hawaii Nail & Salon, four people are dead, 9 others injured, some very seriously. One of those killed is NYPD Officer, Emilia Rennhack. The 30-year-old was assigned to the 102nd precinct in Queens where her husband, Carl Rennhack, is a detective. The Rennhacks were a month away from celebrating their one-year anniversary. Emilia Rennhack was getting her nails done for a friend's upcoming wedding.  41-year-old Yan Xu, and 50-year-old  Meizi Zhang both worked at Hawaii Nail & Salon and were also killed in the crash. Yan Xu's family is seeking help in a fundraiser on GoFundMe to raise money for the care of her elderly father and her 12-year-old son, who has polio.  Kenny Chen, the manager of Hawaii Nail & Salon is among the 4 killed when the SUV crashed through the salon at nearly 80 miles per hour. Chen's wife was also at the salon at the time, and she is critically injured. She has already had one surgery with more to come, doctors say her recovery will take at least two years.  The Chen's have two children, ages ten and five, and with their father dead and the mother facing multiple surgeries and years of recovery, a GoFundMe is set up by a nephew who says with the salon their only source of income, with Kenny Chen dead and his wife critically injured, they don't know where to turn for help.  Joining Nancy Grace today:  Ben Powers - Criminal Defense Attorney, Facebook: Legal Powers PLLC, https://legalpowers.com Joseph Tremblay  - Principal engineer and accident reconstructionist at Veritech consulting engineering, www.veritecheng.com Erica Linn - National Ambassador with Mother’s Against Drunk Driving and a member of the Regional Advisory Board for MADD in New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania  Dr. Kendall Crowns - Chief Medical Examiner Tarrant County, Lecturer: Burnett School of Medicine at TCU  Lauren Conlin  - Podcaster/Reporter/Host- The Outlier Podcast & Co-Host of Primetime Crime on YouTube. Website: www.popcrime.tv & primetimecrimeshow.com X- @Conlin_Lauren, Instagram- @LaurenEmilyConlin, YouTube: @PopCrimeTV  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jose Ibarra is indicted on nine felony counts and one misdemeanor. The misdemeanor charge is for interfering with a call for emergency help. The felony charges include malice murder, three felony murder charges, kidnapping, aggravated assault with intent to rape, aggravated battery, tampering with evidence and peeping tom. Unlike many states, Georgia doesn't have degrees of murder. Malice murder requires intent, while felony murder has a lower burden of proof and does not require intent to kill. Ibarra has pleaded not guilty to the charges The defense for Jose Ibarra aims to challenge the evidence prosecutors plan to use at trial and have filed motions attempting to incriminate evidence that was seized through a search warrant at Ibarra's home. The defense is also challenging DNA and fingerprint evidence that the prosecution says will prove Jose Ibarra murdered Laken Riley. Hearing the motions in the Clarke County Courthouse, Judge Patrick Haggard, will have to make his rulings before the case goes to trial in mid-November.  The judge has set another hearing for November first where the defense is challenging critical fingerprint identification, DNA, and social media evidence.  Defense Attorney Dustin Kirby tells the judge he needs more time to study the DNA data he recently received. Joining Nancy Grace today:  Andrew Stoltmann  - Chicago Attorney and adjunct law professor for Northwestern University, co-author, "Waging War on Wall Street: My Battles Suing Banks and Brokerage Firms;' X: @Stoltmann1971 Dr. Chloe Carmichael – Clinical Psychologist, Women’s Health Magazine Advisory Board;’ Author: ‘Nervous Energy: Harness The Power of Your Anxiety;’ X: @DrChloe Chris McDonough  – Director at the Cold Case Foundation, Former Homicide Detective; Host of YouTube channel: “The Interview Room” Sheryl McCollum – Cold Case Investigative Research Institute Founder & Host of New Podcast: “Zone 7;” X: @149Zone Joe Scott Morgan – Professor of Forensics: Jacksonville State University, Author, “Blood Beneath My Feet,” and Host: “Body Bags with Joseph Scott Morgan;” Twitter/X: @JoScottForensic Jason Dennis – Anchor: WTVM News leader 9 and WXTX; Facebook: Jason Dennis WTVM/Instagram: @jdennistv/X: @JasonDennisWTVM See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.