Husband Beats Wife, Dog to Death with Clothing Iron | Crime Alert 04.09.25

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: A wife and mother shocks a courtroom blaming her adult son for the death of her husband and his father.    A big ruling ahead of Bryan Kohberger's trial  A Florida teen accused of spiking mom's drink with bleach.    Stay informed, stay safe, and stay ahead with "Crime Alert Hourly Update.” See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

11:16 p.m. Saturday. Princeton police respond to a 911 call about a dead body and a fire in an apartment building. The caller remains cryptic, refusing to answer the dispatcher’s questions about who is dead, why they are dead, or who owns the apartment. Police and first responders surround the building, but nothing prepares them for what they find inside. Matthew Hertgen, 31, answers the door. Inside, officers see a bloody, unresponsive young man with blunt force and laceration injuries covering his body. He is pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators note that one of his eyes has been removed. Nearby, they find a bloody plate, fork, and knife. Officers also discover a bloody golf club and what appears to be the charred remains of a cat. The victim is identified as 26-year-old Joseph Hertgen. Matthew Hertgen is immediately arrested for the murder of his younger brother. The discovery of the bloody plate leads police to believe that, in addition to beating Joseph to death, Hertgen ate his eye. Princeton police have not disclosed a possible motive for the attack. Hertgen is also charged with animal cruelty and possession of a weapon during a violent crime. The Princeton community is stunned. Residents describe Joseph’s death as devastating and tragic. A police source says no one could have foreseen such violence. Matthew Hertgen, they say, came from what appeared to be a stable, all-American family, with no signs he was capable of such brutality—especially against his own brother. Joining Nancy Grace today: Sam Bassett - Criminal Defense Attorney at Minton, Bassett, Flores & Carsey, Former President of the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Educational Institute, Long-Time Faculty member of the Texas Criminal Trial College (Huntsville, TX),  MBFC.com, Facebook: MintonBassett, Instagram: @MBFC_Law Dr. Jeff Kieliszewski - Forensic Psychologist, Author: “Darksides;" YouTube: "Dr. Jeff Kieliszewski, Forensic Psychologist" Fil Waters - Former homicide detective for the Houston Police Department, President & CEO of Kindred spirits Investigations & Security, Inc. Dr. Jan Gorniak  -  Former Medical Examiner, Clark County Office of the Coroner/Medical Examiner (Las Vegas, NV), Board Certified Forensic Pathologist, World Peace Forensic Consulting, LLC Karen Wall - Senior Local Editor at Patch Media [covering the Jersey Shore region], Website: patch.com; X: @karenwall1966, Facebook: karen.e.wall, See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sam Haskell IV, 35, is accused of killing and dismembering his wife and her parents, then attempting to dispose of their remains in ordinary black garbage bags. After Haskell’s arrest, many of his friends and co-workers expressed surprise, not knowing he was married with children. When friends saw the couple out together, Haskell never stopped to introduce Mei and did not greet her either. Tremain Hayhoe, a friend of Sam Haskell IV, joins Crime Stories, explaining that on one of the few occasions Haskell invited him to his home, he barely acknowledged Mei or their newborn son. Bella Snow also joins Crime Stories, telling Nancy Grace about her dating relationship with Haskell and his pattern of casting Asian actresses Joining Nancy Grace today: Tremain Hayhoe - Friend, Actor, Director, Producer, Writer; YouTube: @hayhoestudios Bella Snow - Friend, Digital Creator/ Model; YouTube: @Bellasnow/Instagram: @Bella.c.snow/Tiktok: @Bella.c.snow Neama Rahmani - Former Federal Prosecutor, Now a Trial Attorney; President of West Coast Trial Lawyers, Author: “Harvard to Hashtag;" INSTAGRAM: @Neamarahmani, X: @NeamaRahmani Dr. Judy Ho - Clinical and Forensic Neuropsychologist, Author of 'The New Rules of Attachment;' and 'Stop Self-Sabatoge;' IG & X: @drjudyho; FB: doctorjudyho Bill Garcia - Owner of Bill Garcia Investigative Services; Facebook: Bill Garcia Investigative Services, Instagram @BGISInternational Dr. Kendall Crowns - Chief Medical Examiner Tarrant County (Ft Worth), NEW Podcast: "Mayhem in the Morgue" [launching soon], Lecturer: Burnett School of Medicine at TCU (Texas Christian University) Gigi McKelvey - Journalist, Host of the Podcast “Pretty Lies and Alibis;" Facebook, IG, TikTok: @PrettyLiesAndAlibis/ X: @PrettiesLiesAlibi      See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A 9-year-old girl gives police dispatcher critical information to help save her family, who is downstairs with a man that broke into their house. Florida man trades pink wig and thong for an orange jump suit! For more crime and justice news go to crimeonline.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As Bryan Kohberger’s trial approaches, his defense team continues to file a series of motions aimed at removing the death penalty as a possible outcome. Sources now allege that the decision to plead not guilty came at the urging of his mother, Maryann Kohberger, who reportedly believes he should fight the charges. A conviction could put him on a path toward capital punishment. In court, an Idaho judge denied Kohberger’s request to allow defense experts to testify against the prosecution’s claims about his movements and Amazon purchase history. Prosecutors say evidence shows Kohberger bought a knife and sheath online in the months leading up to the killings. Court filings also state he searched for a replacement knife after the murders. Joining Nancy Grace today, Joshua Ritter - Criminal Defense Attorney, Former Prosecutor, Host of Courtroom Confidential on YouTube; website: joshuaritter.com; Twitter, Instagram & TikTok: @joshuaritteresq, YouTube: CRConfidential Dr. Bethany Marshall - Psychoanalyst, Author: "Deal Breaker,"   featured in hit show: "Paris in Love" on Peacock www.drbethanymarshall.com , Instagram & TikTok: drbethanymarshall, Twitter: @DrBethanyLive  Chris McDonough - Director At the Cold Case Foundation, Former Homicide Detective,  Host of YouTube channel, "The Interview Room."   www.coldcasefoundation.org/chris-mcdonough Joseph Scott Morgan - Professor of Forensics: Jacksonville State University, Author, "Blood Beneath My Feet", Host: "Body Bags with Joseph Scott Morgan", @JoScottForensic   Sydney Sumner - Crime Online Investigative Reporter See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

7 years after the crime, the man who severely injured a North Carolina Pastor and killed his wife is finally sentenced. Surveillance video proves kidnapping claims false! For more crime and justice news go to crimeonline.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jaclyn Diiorio, 26, a hairstylist, and her police officer boyfriend broke up after dating for nearly a year. The relationship had been contentious, with both filing protective orders. After the breakup, Diiorio began dating again and turned to Tinder. During conversations with a match, Diiorio said she wanted her ex dead and asked if he could carry it out, noting that her ex was a Philadelphia police officer. The Tinder date was a police informant and contacted county prosecutors. Detectives notified Philadelphia police, who then informed the officer and identified him as the target. The officer told investigators he met Diiorio when she cut his hair. Authorities arrested Diiorio in Gloucester Township, New Jersey, after the informant reported that she offered him $12,000 to kill her ex and his 19-year-old daughter.  Joining Nancy Grace today: Greg Morse - of Morse Legal; Current CJA Counsel (Southern District of Florida); Former West Palm Beach Public Defender’s Office; Author: “The Untested” Dr. Shari Schwartz - Forensic Psychologist (specializing in Capital Mitigation and Victim Advocacy),  Author: "Criminal Behavior" and "Where Law and Psychology Intersect: Issues in Legal Psychology;" X: @TrialDoc John Pizzuro -  Former New Jersey State Police Investigator, Currently the CEO of RAVEN, an organization focused on eliminating child exploitation and trafficking Baron Li - Shot nine times by teenage hitmen hired by his ex-wife: Now, he channels his second chance at life into powerful advocacy for father’s rights and foster care. Socials: FB/Insta/TikTok @baronbli.ckmd YT: @RealAsian50Cent, Rodrigo Torrejón - Crime and Courts Reporter at The Philadelphia Inquirer; X/Twitter: @rodrigotorrejon, Instagram: @rodtorrejon  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Wife of 'Ghost Adventures' star hires a hitman with her incarcerated lover to take out her husband! Karaoke singer pulls a gun on another reveler when his song doesn't play! For more crime and justice news go to crimeonline.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ellen Greenberg was found dead in her apartment by her live-in fiancé, Sam Goldberg. She had been stabbed more than 20 times in the back, neck, and torso. Her death was initially ruled a homicide, but after a closed-door meeting, officials changed the ruling to suicide. For more than 14 years, Ellen’s parents, Josh and Sandee Greenberg, have fought to overturn that decision. Now, after settling two lawsuits, the Philadelphia Medical Examiner’s Office will reopen the investigation. The decision follows a sworn statement from a former pathologist admitting he was wrong to change the ruling from homicide to suicide. The Greenberg's do not believe Ellen commits' suicide and neither does  Nancy Grace. Her book, What Happened to Ellen? An American Miscarriage of Justice is out today. Joining Nancy Grace today: Sandee Greenberg - Ellen Greenberg's Mother, Twitter: @justice4ellentw, Facebook: @justice4ellenFB, GoFundMe: www.gofundme.com/f/justice-for-ellen;Facebook: #Justice For Ellen Benee Knauer  -  Author of "What Happened To Ellen?: An American Miscarriage of Justice"  Guy D’Andrea - Former Prosecutor in Ellen Greenberg Case, Attorney at Laffey Bucci D’Andrea Reich & Ryan  Caryn Stark -  Forensic Psychologist, Renowned TV and Radio Trauma Expert and Consultant; Instagram: carynpsych, FB: Caryn Stark Private Practice  Tom Brennan - PI Consultant for Ellen Greenberg's Family 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  John Luciew - Journalist for PennLive.com and The Patriot-News of Harrisburg, Pa.[ Specializes in true crime and cold case investigations for PennLive.com], Author: “Kill the Story;" X: @JohnLuciew        See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

20 elementary school staffers charged with abuse for "safety" holds targeting pressure points. Stolen pup tracked down and safely returned to her owner! For more crime and justice news go to crimeonline.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.