String of Unexplained Bodies Discovered Across Minneapolis Sparks Investigation | Crime Alert 08.22.26

Billy Schmidt, a 22-year-old Penn State student, ambushed as he headed home from a local bar after watching the NBA finals. Two individuals allegedly stole his phone, Surveillance footage shows Schmidt confronting the men, saying, “Give me back my phone.”  One of the men shot him in the chest, killing him.   The shooting occurred around 1:30 a.m. on Durfor Street, just steps from Schmidt’s home. Witnesses and video footage indicate that Schmidt pursued the suspects after the theft. One suspect threw the phone, while another turned and fired the fatal shot. Schmidt was rushed to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center but was pronounced dead shortly after.    Authorities recovered the phone and a single spent shell casing from the scene. Surveillance footage from neighbors has been collected to help identify the suspects.  Now, 19-year-old Kadafi Fleming and his 16-year-old brother, Azubayer have been arrested.  Colorado weeks ago.   Joining Nancy Grace today:  Anna Schmidt - Sister   Bill Schmidt - Father Matt Mangino  - Attorney, Former District Attorney (Lawrence County), Author: "The Executioner's Toll: The Crimes, Arrests, Trials, Appeals, Last Meals, Final Words and Executions of 46 Persons in the United States" Dr. Geri Lynn Utter  -  Clinical Psychologist specializing in psychological evaluations and risk assessments for individuals involved in the criminal justice system, Author of “Mainlining Philly: Survival, Hope and Resisting Drug Addiction,”  “Aftershock: How Past Events Shake Up Your Life Today,” Producer of “Utter Nonsense,” a documentary of exploration of addiction and severe mental illness, available on Apple TV and Prime Video, website:drgerilynnutter.com, Instagram & Facebook: DrGeriLynnUtter  Joseph Giacalone - NY/PA - fmr. NYPD Sergeant SDS, Author: “The Cold Case Handbook,”  “The Criminal Investigative Function: A Guide for New Investigators 4th Edition” Podcast host of "True Crime with the Sarge", YouTube: Joseph Giacalone, Twitter: @JoeGiacalone,www.josephGiacalone.com  Thomas Coyne   - Medical Examiner, University of Florida,  District Eight Medical Examiner, State of Florida, toxicologist, forensic pathologist and neuropathologist  Dave Mack - Investigative Reporter, 'Crime Stories' See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Retired Pastor John Bridges has been married 5 times. His first four wives all died, and police are now investigating the deaths of his first two wives, Joyce Bridges and Astrid Bridges, who died 21 years apart. Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack discuss the cases and how after decades, these two deaths, that were originally ruled "accidental", are now ruled "homicides". Highlights 00:01.360  Everybody's Got a Story 00:33.800  The Five-Times Married Pastor 02:06.400  The Exhumation Process 04:57.560  Mabel's Mysterious Death in 1972 12:27.400  Astrid's Fatal Fall in 1993 13:35.640  Reopening the Cases After 20 Years 25:12.840  The Role of Water in Forensic Analysis 32:45.840  Investigating Husbands with Multiple Wives 44:25.640  Closing Thoughts and Call for InformationSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Authorities in Minneapolis are investigating a baffling series of unexplained deaths after multiple bodies were discovered along local waterways and shorelines within days of each other. In Massachusetts, a multi-agency manhunt is underway for an award-winning first responder advocate sought for questioning following the death of her police officer husband. Meanwhile, a South Florida woman accused of posing as a bank representative to scam an elderly resident allegedly smuggled thousands of dollars in cash inside her body while being processed at jail. Sydney Silvagni reports. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are wedding bells are ringing for family annihilator Chris Watts? Lizzie Henderson,39, is reportedly waiting for approval of her application to marry Watts within thewalls of the Dodge Correctional Institution, but according to family members, she’salready embodying the role of Watts’ wife. She’s sporting a wedding ring andinitiating the process of changing her last name. Last year, the realtor moved withher elderly mother from Cleveland to Waupun to be closer to Watts.  Other jail visitors claim the couple takes advantage of all 10 seconds they areallowed to embrace at the end of visits.  Joining Nancy Grace today Franz  Borghardt  - Criminal Defense Attorney, Founder of Borghardt Law Firm, Former Prosecutor, website: www.borghardtlawfirm.com, Insta/FB: BorghardtLawFirm Dr. Geri-Lynn Utter - Clinical Psychologist specializing in psychological evaluations and risk assessments for individuals involved in the criminal justice system, Author of “Mainlining Philly: Survival, Hope and Resisting Drug Addition,” and “Aftershock: How Past Event Shake Up Your Life Today”, and Producer of “Utter Nonsense,” a documentary of exploration of addition and severe mental illness, available to stream on Apple TV and Prime Video, website: drgerilynnutter.com, Instagram & Facebook: DrGeriLynnUtter Cheryln Cadle  - Author of "The Murders of Christopher Watts” and “The Many Faces of Christopher Watts: A 5-year Update”, website: www.cherylncadle.com,  Dr. Kendall Crowns - Chief Medical Examiner Tarrant County (Ft Worth), Host of Podcast "Mayhem in the Morgue”, Lecturer: Burnett School of Medicine at TCU (Texas Christian University)  Ruth Bashinsky -  Investigative and Crime Reporter Daily Mail  Dave Mack  - Investigative Reporter, 'Crime Stories' See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's been 73 days since Brooke Hanlon was found murdered in the master bedroom of her home. No suspect has been named, nor has an arrest been made.  Brooke, a 35-year-old psychotherapist and mother, found stabbed to death inside her New Jersey  home.  Her death has been ruled a homicide, caused by multiple sharp force injuries  Husband James 'Conor' Hanlon calls 911 around 4:30 PM after finding his wife bloddied and unconscious on the second floor of the home. He described a major laceration to her chest area to the operator saying "there's blood everywhere". No suspects have been publicly named.  TIPLINE: Chester Police at 908-879-5100Crimestoppers at 973-267-2255.  $1,000 reward for information leading to an arrest   Joining Nancy Grace: Mark Astor - Criminal Defense Attorney at Astor Simovitch Law,  Host: 'The Journey by Mark Astor,' Website: mentalhealthaddictionlawfirm.com  Dr. Bethany Marshall - Psychoanalyst,  Author: "Deal Breaker," featured on "Paris in Love" on Peacock and "The Valley, Persian Style" on Bravo.   Host: "On The Couch with Dr. Bethany Marshall"  Website: drbethanymarshall.com, Instagram FB & TikTok: drbethanymarshall, Twitter:@DrBethanyLive Carl DeFazio  -  PI at 'Carl DeFazio Private Investigations' in New Jersey, Author: "Let Me Handle This: A Private Investigator's Story"   Lisa J. Miller - Former Detective, Former Chief Investigator, Senior Executive Colorado AGs Office. X: @LisaJMillerCO  Dr. Kendall Crowns -  Chief Medical Examiner Tarrant County (Ft Worth), Host of Podcast "Mayhem in the Morgue”, Lecturer: Burnett School of Medicine at TCU (Texas Christian University)  Vanessa Walsh - Host of the podcast, Unmasked True Crime. Facebook and YouTube: UnmaskedTrueCrime, X: CrimeUnmasked  Dave Mack - Investigative Reporter, 'Crime Stories' See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Philadelphia police have issued an arrest warrant for a suspect accused of wearing a horror mask and terrorizing Center City pedestrians. In South Florida, a mother faces severe felony charges after allegedly setting a kitchen fire and pouring hot candle wax on her young daughters. Meanwhile, California cold case investigators have utilized forensic genetic genealogy to identify the fifty-year-old desert remains of a teenager missing since 1973. Sydney Silvagni reports. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is there a mysterious witness coming forward online to what happened to Nolan Wells, or is it just malicious trolls?  New social postings seen to threaten to out someone as having a fight with Nolan on Horn Island. Shortly after that post, someone else claimed to have been hacked and that posting under her name were not real. What's the truth about Nolan Wells?  Joining Nancy Grace today: Brandon Tatum - Former Police Officer with the Tucson Police Dept., Host of "The Officer Tatum" on Youtube,   @TheOfficerTatum  X: TheOfficerTatum  Insta: theofficertatum Philip Dubé - Former Court-Appointed Counsel, Los Angeles County Public Defenders: Criminal & Constitutional Law, Forensics & Mental Health Advocacy  Ben Dobrin -  Emergency Response Diving Instructor and Instructor Trainer, Police Diver,  Emergency Services Diver Jeff Schettler  -  Former police K9 handler, Author of 5 books:  "Two Weeks to Operational Tracking" "Red Dog Rising, K9 Trailing" "The Straightest Path" "Tactical Tracker Teams" "The Tao of Trailing,"www.GAK9.com, www.TTTK9.com,  https://www.facebook.com/georgiak9  Joseph Scott Morgan  - Professor of Forensics: Jacksonville State University, Author, "Blood Beneath My Feet", YouTube Host: "Body Bags with Joseph Scott Morgan", @JoScottForensic     Susan Hendricks  - Investigative Journalist, Author: “Down the Hill: My Descent into the Double Murder in Delphi", IG @susan_hendricks X @SusanHendicks  Dave Mack  - Investigative Reporter, 'Crime Stories See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Massachusetts judge rules that a former psychiatric hospital worker who posted a viral TikTok will not be permitted to testify at Lindsay Clancy's trial. A California chiropractor receives a six-year prison sentence following his conviction for sexually abusing patients during treatment sessions. Minnesota authorities investigate a horrific murder-suicide at a daycare facility that left a mother, child, and the suspect's mother dead. Sydney Silvagni reports. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Actress and singer Hayden Panettiere was found unresponsive at a home in Greenville, South Carolina, around 1:50 p.m. . Emergency personnel administered medical assistance, but she was pronounced dead at the scene. The preliminary investigation by Greenville police and the county coroner’s office indicated no signs of foul play or suspicious circumstances. A NARCAN pen was found nearby. The exact cause of death has not been publicly disclosed, though reports suggest an apparent overdose may have been involved. Will this play out as the Matthew Perry investigation did with those who provided drugs being charged?    JOINING NANCY GRACE TONIGHT: Renee Rockwell  - Criminal Defense Attorney, Facebook: Renee.Rockwell  Caryn Stark -  Forensic Psychologist, renowned TV and Radio trauma expert and consultant, www.carynstark.com, Instagram: carynpsych, FB: Caryn Stark Private Practice Rob Shuter  - Host: Naughty But Nice Podcast, can be found at robshuter.substack.com, Former publicist of Sean Combs, Author: "The 4 Word Answe", IG: @naughtygossip   Thomas Coyne - Medical Examiner, University of Florida.  District Eight Medical Examiner, State of Florida. Toxicologist.  Forensic Pathologist and Neuropathologis  Eileen Reslen - Senior Showbiz Exclusives Reporter for the Daily Mail, TikTok: @eileenreslen, instagram:eileenreslen,X:eileenreslen  Dave Mack - Investigative Reporter, 'Crime Stories'   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lindsey Clancy's trial continue as the prosecution rest and the defense opens their case. Today Massachusetts State Police investigator Kyle Pavao,  who examined Clancy's Microsoft Surface Pro discussed internet searches related to suicide methods.   Testimony focuses on evidence related to Clancy’s actions and her mental health. The jury heard testimony about Clancy saying she hear a male voice telling her to kill her children.  Joining Nancy Grace: Marie Pereira  -  Criminal Defense Attorney, Domestic Violence Expert (Domestic violence expert certified advocate, batterers prevention), Registered Nurse Dr. Geri-Lynn Utter  - Clinical Psychologist specializing in psychological evaluations and risk assessments for individuals involved in the criminal justice system, Author of “Mainlining Philly: Survival, Hope and Resisting Drug Addition,” and “Aftershock: How Past Event Shake Up Your Life Today”, and Producer of “Utter Nonsense,” a documentary of exploration of addition and severe mental illness, available to stream on Apple TV and Prime Video, website:drgerilynnutter.com, Instagram & Facebook: DrGeriLynnUtter,  Traci Brown - Boulder, CO - Body language expert, Author: “How to Detect Lies, Fraud and Identity Theft”, www.BodyLanguageTrainer.com, Twitter: @Tracibrown37 Dr. Kendall Crowns - Chief Medical Examiner Tarrant County (Ft Worth), Host of Podcast "Mayhem in the Morgue”, Lecturer: Burnett School of Medicine at TCU (Texas Christian University) Shannon Hill - Host, Shannon Hill News on Instagram, Tiktok and YouTube  Dave Mack  - Investigative Reporter, 'Crime Stories' ON PHONE  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.