Children's Author Abuses Three Adopted Children | Crime Alert 6AM 04.14.25

Karmelo Anthony's bond hearing allowed him to walk free after the judge lowered his bond from $1,000,000 to $250,000. This occurred after the family hired new counsel, Mike Howard, a Dallas criminal defense attorney. The defense used the hearing to discuss the character of the accused killer, Karmelo Anthony, highlighting his role as captain of both his high school football and track teams. Described as the oldest of three children, Anthony had never been arrested prior to the murder. His father testified that he worked at Foot Locker, as well as a second job at an H-E-B supermarket, before the stabbing. Prosecutors questioned Andrew Anthony, father of the accused, about why Karmelo Anthony's bond should be reduced, given that the family had already raised over $400,000 from a crowdfunding site. Anthony stated that he has no access to the donated funds and cannot afford to pay the million-dollar bond. Anthony's lawyers argued that the money is not intended for bail but should be used for his legal defense. As the defendant walks free, we learn that the family of Austin Metcalf is dealing with threats and swatting incidents. Metcalf's mother's home was targeted with a false report claiming someone had been shot in the mouth. She was not home when police arrived. Joining Nancy Grace today: Lisa Herrick - Board-certified Juvenile Attorney, Partner at Varghese Summersett, and Former Juvenile Prosecutor; Instagram & Twitter: versustexas, TikTok: lisa_herrick_attorney, Facebook and Youtube: Varghese Summersett 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 Douglas Griffin - Senior Police Officer and President of the Houston Police Officer’s Union, Served 29 years Specializing in the Gang Task Force and Divisional Gang Unit  Dr. Kendall Crowns - Chief Medical Examiner Tarrant County NEW Podcast, May projected launch date, Lecturer: Burnett School of Medicine at TCU (Texas Christian University)   Katy Barber - Senior Digital Content Producer at My San Antonio Dave Mack - CrimeOnline Investigative Reporter See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A mom who leaves her children alone nearly 24/7 to live with her boyfriend finds two-year-old girl dead. Sisters brawl at father's funeral, just feet from his casket! For more crime and justice news go to crimeonline.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oscar Hernandez is out playing soccer at Whitsett fields when he meets Coach Mario Garcia-Aquino.  Garcia-Aquino approaches Oscar about joining the Huacane Club, telling the boy he’s impressed with his skills. When Garcia-Aquino offers him one on one lessons without charge, Oscar jumps at the chance!  On a Friday afternoon, Coach Garcia-Aquino gives his star student a call, inviting Oscar Hernandez to make some money doing a few odd jobs at his Lancaster home. The teen is immediately interested. Before the 13-year-old gets permission from family, he grabs the next train to Lancaster, a 2-hour trip. Oscar facetimes his brother Josue from the train, telling him Coach will drop him back at home tomorrow morning. Later that night, Josue tries to call Oscar again, but it’s not his little brother that answers, but Coach Garcia-Aquino. Coach tells Josue that Oscar can’t come to the phone because his hands are dirty. Josue tries to ask exactly what time he can expect Oscar home, but the coach waves him off, once again promising he’ll bring Oscar home at a reasonable time Saturday. Saturday morning comes and goes, and Oscar still isn’t home. The teen isn’t answering his phone either. It’s already dark when the Hernandez family finally gets Coach Garcia-Aquino on the phone. The coach says he dropped Oscar off that afternoon in North Hollywood, but strangely, he claims he can’t remember exactly where Oscar got out of the car. The Hernandez’s pray Oscar will come home that night but when he does not, first thing Sunday morning, they report the teen missing.  Joining Nancy Grace today: Philip Dubé  - Court-Appointed Counsel, Los Angeles County Public Defenders: Criminal & Constitutional Law; Forensics & Mental Health Advocacy   Caryn Stark -  Psychologist, Renowned TV and Radio Trauma Expert and Consultant; Instagram: carynpsych, FB: Caryn Stark Private Practice Moses Castillo - Private Investigator for the Dordulian Law Group, Former Supervisor Detective-Los Angeles Police Department Dr. Michelle Dupre - Forensic Pathologist and former Medical Examiner, Author: “Homicide Investigation Field Guide” & "Investigating Child Abuse Field Guide", Ret. Police Detective Lexington County Sheriff’s Department  Sierra Van Der Brug - Crime and Safety Reporter at the Los Angeles Daily News; IG: @sierravanderbrug  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A children's book author and her husband abuse and neglect their three adopted children. New York drug counselor is dealing crack under the table! For more crime and justice news go to crimeonline.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Luigi Mangione will be facing lethal injection if he is convicted in the murder of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Mangione has asked for a laptop to assist in his defense.  Mangione was arrested in Altoona, Pennsylvania, apprehended at a McDonald's, where an employee believed he resembled the man who shot Thompson and called the police. Police say the man had a gun with a suppressor and fake IDs — including one for New Jersey which reportedly was used at the hostel in New York, and a hand-written manifesto. Reportedly, it outlined complaints about the healthcare industry.    JOINING NANCY GRACE TODAY: Jason Oshins - NY Defense Attorney Dr. Bethany Marshall - Psychoanalyst, Author: "Deal Breaker,”  featured in hit show: "Paris in Love" on Peacock www.drbethanymarshall.com/ , Instagram & TikTok: drbethanymarshall, Twitter: @DrBethanyLive Tom Smith - Former NYPD Detective,     Co-Host of the GOLD SHIELDS Podcast, https://thegoldshieldshow.com, FB & Instagram: @thegoldshieldshow Sheryl McCullom - Cold Case Investigative Research Institute Founder, ColdCaseCrimes.org, Host of new podcast: Zone 7, Twitter: @ColdCaseTips  Ben Dobrin  - Virginia Beach Emergency Medical Services EMS Marine Dive Team and EMS Search and Rescue, Professor of Social Work: Virginia Wesleyan University  Joseph Scott Morgan - Professor of Forensics: Jacksonville State University, Author, "Blood Beneath My Feet", Host: "Body Bags with Joseph Scott Morgan", @JoScottForensic   Lauren Conlin - Podcaster/Reporter/Host- 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.

Jessie Marie Peterson, 31, an attorney with Type 1 diabetes, was admitted to the hospital for a diabetes-related illness. Two days later, she called her mother around 2:30 p.m., asking to be picked up and taken home. When her mother arrived two hours later, hospital staff told her that Peterson had checked herself out against medical advice. Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack examine what really happened to Peterson and why the hospital claimed she left when records show she was pronounced dead at 4:27 p.m. at the medical center. While her family spent more than a year searching for her, her body had been in a storage facility. Transcript Highlights 00:05.18 Introduction 01:59.25 Hospital tells family patient left AMA 06:53.65 Family is looking for Jessie Peterson, attorney 11:48.34 Jessie is ready to leave hospital, accomplished woman 16:11.54 Lawsuit filed 21:10.19 She calls her mother at 2:30, two hours later she is gone 25:20.07 Hospital claims she left AMA 30:22.43 Mother begins looking for Jessie 35:15.51 Jessie Marie Peterson was dead and for a year the family is looking for Jessie 40:06.21 Body is placed into cold storage 45:08.31 Her body is found after a year, remains are not viewable 49:01.24 ConclusionSee 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 some of our top stories this week: Teen Oscar Omar Hernandez's  body found over 70 miles away, dumped in a wooded area off a road near Leo Carillo State Beach. A judge gives the Menendez brothers a flicker of hope in their 35-year battle for freedom, rejecting Los Angeles County DA Nathan Hochman's bid to block their resentencing.  77-year-old mom freezes to dead, after being abandoned in the snow by family. \ Taylor Swift fighting another copyright battle.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sudiksha Konanki, a 20-year-old University of Pittsburgh student, traveled to the Dominican Republic with five college friends on March 3, staying at the all-inclusive Riu República resort in Punta Cana. Days later, on March 6, she disappeared under mysterious circumstances. On the night of her disappearance, Konanki and her friends were dancing at a disco when parts of the resort experienced a 25-hour power outage. At some point, the group decided to take a moonlit walk on the beach. Surveillance footage captured Konanki walking toward the beach with five women and two men around 4:15 a.m. Approximately an hour later, five women and one man were seen leaving the beach, while Konanki remained behind with 24-year-old Joshua Riibe, a U.S. college student from Minnesota. The next morning, Konanki’s friends went on an excursion she had not signed up for and only realized she was missing later that afternoon. When they confronted Riibe, he claimed he had fallen asleep on the beach after passing out and assumed Konanki had left before him. By this time, she had been missing for over 12 hours. Dominican authorities launched an extensive search by land, air, and sea. They discovered her clothes near the beach but found no evidence of foul play. Riibe was questioned multiple times by investigators, including Dominican Attorney General Yeni Berenice Reynoso. His passport was confiscated, and he was monitored by police as a key witness. Riibe stated that he and Konanki were swept into the ocean by a large wave but managed to return to shore. He last saw her in knee-deep water before vomiting and falling asleep on a lounge chair. Konanki’s parents, Subbarayudu and SreeDevi Konanki, have since requested that Dominican authorities declare their daughter legally deceased. In their letter to officials, they acknowledged Riibe’s account and expressed their belief that she likely drowned. Despite ongoing investigations, no evidence of foul play has been uncovered. Riibe has since returned to the United States after restrictions on his travel were lifted. The case remains open as Dominican authorities continue their investigation into Konanki’s disappearance. Joining Nancy Grace:  Sheriff Mike Chapman - Loudoun County, Virginia, Hometown Sheriff Eric Faddis - Partner at Varner Faddis Elite Legal, Former Felony Prosecutor and Current Criminal Defense and Civil Litigation Attorney; Instagram: @e_fad @varnerfaddis; TikTok: @varnerfaddis Dr. Chloe Carmichael  - Clinical Psychologist, Author: "Nervous Energy: Harness The Power of Your Anxiety;" X: @DrChloe Irv Brandt -  Former Senior Inspector, US Marshals Service International Investigations Branch, Chief Inspector, DOJ Office of International Affairs; Country Attache, US Embassy Kingston, Jamaica, and Author: “SOLO SHOT: CURSE OF THE BLUE STONE” [available on Amazon] Ben Dobrin -  Emergency Response Diving Instructor and Instructor Trainer, Police Diver, and Emergency Services Diver Joseph Scott Morgan  -  Professor of Forensics: Jacksonville State University, Author, "Blood Beneath My Feet," and Host: "Body Bags with Joseph Scott Morgan;" X: @JoScottForensic Emily Leayman  -  Northern Virginia Local Editor for Patch.com; X: @EmilyLeayman  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It has been eight years since the Buckner family has seen or heard from Shapammala Latrisha Buckner. She was 20 years old when she disappeared from the Houston apartment she shared with her boyfriend, shortly after a neighbor and a family member received concerning texts from her. They believe she was involved in an altercation just before she vanished, but police have released few details about the circumstances of her disappearance. After reports of a disturbance the night before, Shapammala’s landlord stopped by to check on her. When no one answered, the landlord found her door unlocked and called Shapammala’s emergency contact. Family members arrived and found all of her belongings—including her phone, purse, ID, and keys—still inside. It was highly unusual for her to go anywhere without those items. After several days with no sign of her or any communication, Shapammala was reported missing. She was last seen at home the evening of March 21. Late Tuesday night, a neighbor heard what sounded like an altercation next door. Knowing Shapammala should have been home alone, the neighbor texted to check on her. Shapammala responded that she wasn’t okay and needed help. When the neighbor asked if she should call police, Shapammala said yes—but authorities did not make contact with her that night. Shapammala’s aunt also received a call from her, claiming she was being attacked in her home. The aunt rushed to the apartment, but someone else answered the door and refused to let her inside, claiming Shapammala wasn’t there. Shapammala did not respond to any more texts or calls that night. Houston Police and Texas EquuSearch searched the area for Shapammala, believing she may have left the apartment on foot. However, the searches turned up no further clues. Investigators interviewed the neighbor and aunt, then spoke with several more possible witnesses. Shapammala’s boyfriend was confirmed to have been on base that night, far from their Houston apartment. Joining Nancy Grace today: Monica Revis - Cousin  Billy Revis - Uncle Matthew 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. Angela Arnold - Psychiatrist, 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 Brian Fitzgibbons -  Director of Operations for USPA Nationwide Security; Instagram: @uspa_nationwide_security Sydney Sumner  - CrimeOnline Investigative Reporter  Andy Kahan  - Director of Victim Services and Advocacy at Crime Stoppers of Houston See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kansas nanny comes face to face with 'monster' while trying to prove nothing is under the bed. All the pressure on this suspect results in diamonds! For more crime and justice news go to crimeonline.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.