Crime Stories with Nancy Grace

Pamela Hargan and her daughter Helen were found dead in their home in McLean, Virginia, the victims of an apparent murder-suicide, in July 2017. Once police investigated further, they realized that the crime scene had been staged and this was a homicide that they were looking at. Eventually, police narrowed it down to one prime suspect - Pamela’s oldest daughter Megan. In this episode of Body Bags, forensics expert Joseph Scott Morgan and Jackie Howard discuss how the police realized the crime scene was staged, the significance of where the gun was found, blood spatter patterns, how they came to suspect Pamela’s oldest daughter Megan, and much more. Subscribe to Body Bags with Joseph Scott Morgan : Apple Podcasts Spotify iHeart Show Notes: 0:00 - Intro 1:32 - Background and overview of the case 3:35 - How did the police know that the crime scene had been staged? 7:05 - The significance of the location where the gun was found 10:08 - The forces of gravity and homicide v. suicide investigations 15:45 - Gunshot residue 19:30 - Blood spatter pattern 25:20 - After recreating the crime scene, what did they discover about Pamela’s death? 29:55 - What happens when someone is shot in the head? 34:30 - Pamela’s oldest daughter, Megan, is charged with the murder 38:35 - Megan’s phone call to her boyfriend 40:00 - After the police realized the crime scene was staged, how did they start investigating the case as a homicide? 44:25 - Wrapping up and final details of the caseSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Woman runs down man she accuses of trying to hit a cat. Thief stumbles upon a real-life "Bat-Mobile".See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Georgia police say the murder of Athens mom Debbie Collier is not a random event. Detectives say this is a targeted event. Collier went missing after sending a bizarre text to her daughter. The bizarre message reportedly sent by Debbie Collier to her daughter, Amanda Bearden, along with $2,385 through Venmo says, “They are not going to let me go love you there is a key to the house in the blue flower pot by the door.” After receiving the message, Collier’s daughter tried to call her mom but could not get through. Collier was found the next day in a ravine, naked, her body burned. Police tracked a rental vehicle Collier was using to a wooded area 60 miles away from the family’s Athens home. Collier's husband told police that he last saw his wife at about 9 p.m. on Friday, September 9, as he was going to bed. The husband went to work on Saturday morning and told investigators that his wife’s vehicle was still in the driveway at that time. The New York Post reports that the couple’s neighbor said they heard some sort of commotion going on at Collier’s home the night before she vanished. Anyone with information on the case should contact Habersham Sheriff’s Investigators Cale Garrison at 706-839-0559 or George Cason at 706-839-0560. Joining Nancy Grace Today: Renee Rockwell - Atlanta Criminal Defense Attorney, Facebook: "Renee.Rockwell" Caryn Stark - NYC Psychologist, CarynStark.com, Twitter: @carynpsych, Facebook: "Caryn Stark" Derek Ellington - Certified Forensic Examiner, Licensed Private Investigator, Ellington Digital Forensics www.ellington.net Joe Scott Morgan - Professor of Forensics: Jacksonville State University, Author, "Blood Beneath My Feet", Host: "Body Bags with Joseph Scott Morgan" Michael Ruiz - Reporter, Fox News Digital, Twitter: @MikeRreports See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lisa Banes' killer pleads guilty to all charges. Family fun center is plagued by crime.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Questions are being raised about the impact of the new Netflix documentary, "Sins of Our Mother," on Lori Vallow's chances of a fair trial. Vallow's attorneys point to media coverage surrounding the case making it impossible for that to happen. To that point, Vallow's attorneys asked the judge to ban cameras from the courtroom, saying that the privilege had been abused by repeated "zooming in on Vallow Daybell's face" during a hearing. They raised the possibility of documents being scrutinized that way as well. Jim Archibald and John Thomas also claimed the cameras and microphones could potentially be used to overhear private conversations between the attorneys and client. Seventh District Judge Steven Boyce has now ruled that cameras, both video and stills will no longer be allowed from the courtroom. Joining Nancy Grace Today: David Leroy - Attorney at Law (Boise, ID), Former Idaho Attorney General, Former Idaho Lieutenant Governor & Former Prosecutor (Ada County), DLeroy.com, Facebook.com/BoiseCriminalDefense, Dr. Angela Arnold - Psychiatrist, Atlanta GA, AngelaArnoldMD.com, 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 Joe Scott Morgan - Professor of Forensics: Jacksonville State University, Author, "Blood Beneath My Feet", Host: "Body Bags with Joseph Scott Morgan" Rhasaan Orange - Trial Consultant, Wittech.com Nate Eaton - News Director, EastIdahoNews.com Facebook: "Nate Eaton - Reporter", Instagram: @n.eaton See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Maybe its time for this couple to pump the breaks on their relationship. How could this man stand, let alone drive?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Florida boy, JoJo Morales, 6, missing after being kidnapped by his religious fanatic dad. Police believe 45-year-old Jorge Morales planned his disappearance act for more than a year, before taking his autistic son. The senior Morales' mother, 68-year-old Lilliam Pena Morales, is also missing. Mom Yanet Concepcion arrived at her ex-husband's home to pick up her son, finding it empty. Last week, a private investigator working the case found an abandoned SUV containing items belonging to the little boy — in Maine very near the Canadian border. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement has issued an Amber Alert for JoJo, and US Marshals have offered a $10,000 reward. Joining Nancy Grace Today: Yanet Concepcion - Victims Mother, GoFundMe.com/f/wepca-10000 Randy Kessler - Atlanta Trial Lawyer, Emory Law School Professor, Past Chair ABA Family Law Section, Author: "Divorce, Protect Yourself, Your Kids and Your Future", www.KSFamilyLaw.com, Instagram: @rkessler23, Twitter: @GADivorce Dr. Shari Schwartz - Forensic Psychologist (specializing in Capital Mitigation and Victim Advocacy), PantherMitigation.com, Twitter: @TrialDoc, Author: "Criminal Behavior" and "Where Law and Psychology Intersect: Issues in Legal Psychology" Joe Carillo - Private Investigator, Leverage Investigations, LeveragePI.com, Facebook.com/Leveragepi, Founder: Bringing Them Hom Project, bringingthemhomeproject.com Marc Klaas - Founder, KlaasKids Foundation, www.klaaskids.org, Twitter: @PollyDad David Neal - Staff Writer, Miami Herald, Twitter: @DavidJNeal, Instagram: @Natalyasdad See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Man shoots couple over puppy poop. This remorseful eluder is pretty cute!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A judge has been asked to set aside his ruling that an Iowa teen must pay restitution to her rapist's family after she stabbed him dead. Pieper Lewis,15, was reportedly being sex trafficked when she killed Zachary Brooks. According to Lewis, her boyfriend pulled a knife on her and forced her to go to Zachary Brooks’ apartment in June 2020. Lewis claimed Brooks, 37, had raped her multiple times in the weeks leading up to the slaying. Once at the apartment, Brooks allegedly made Lewis get undressed, drink alcohol, and smoke marijuana while they watched a movie. Lewis admitted to stabbing Brooks 30 times, but she claimed she did not plot to kill him. Instead, she stated that she became enraged after she woke up to Brooks raping her and ignoring her pleas to stop. Lewis pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and willful injury. She was sentenced to five years of probation and was also ordered to pay $150,000 to the slain man’s family. Polk County prosecutors never denied allegations that Pieper was trafficked and a rape victim. The Des Moines Register reported that state law requires individuals convicted of homicide to pay $150,000. Polk County District Judge David M. Porter ordered the judgment, to be Brooks’ estate, after rejecting defense attorneys’ argument that he was 51 percent responsible for the deadly incident. Joining Nancy Grace Today: Kathleen Murphy - Family Attorney (North Carolina), NCDomesticlaw.com, Twitter: @RalDivorceLaw Dr. Carolyn West - Professor of Clinical Psychology, University of Washington Tacoma, Award-winning author: " Violence in the Lives of Black Women: Battered, Black, and Blue", Filmmaker: “Let Me Tell Ya’ll ‘Bout Black Chicks: Images of Black Women in Pornography", Keynote Speaker, DrCarolynWest.com Greg Scheffer - Former Phoenix Police Department Detective, 22 Years Specializing in Child Sexual Exploitation, Crimes Against Children, Domestic Violence and Adult Sex Crimes Joe Scott Morgan - Professor of Forensics: Jacksonville State University, Author, "Blood Beneath My Feet", Host: "Body Bags with Joseph Scott Morgan" Phillip Joens - Breaking News Reporter, Des Moines Register (Des Moines, IA), DesMoinesRegister.com, Twitter: @Philip_Joens See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A family meal turns into a brawl.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In April 2020, Katie and John Palmer, walking in their Denison, TX neighborhood are struck from behind by an F-250. The couple is knocked about 75 feet. John Palmer, who suffers a broken back, crawls over to his wife, watching her take her last breath. The driver was later identified as Cory Foster, one of the Palmer's neighbors. Foster tells cops that fog and sun glare prevent him from seeing the couple. Cops push for a breathalyzer test and Foster blows a .06 BAC, but no blood test was conducted. House Bill 558 passed after Katie Palmer's death. This bill ensures that drivers are blood tested when involved in any accident that causes serious bodily harm or kills a pedestrian. The legal limit in Texas, is .08 BAC. After questioning, a trooper takes Foster home. A grand jury has twice declined to charge Cory Foster. The Palmer family has a civil suit pending against Cory Foster. A jury trial is set for October 17th. Joining Nancy Grace Today: John David Palmer - Victim, Katie's Husband, Facebook: "Justice For Katie Palmer", Twitter: @for_palmer and @palmerjohndavid Wendy Patrick - California prosecutor, author “Red Flags” www.wendypatrickphd.com 'Today with Dr. Wendy' on KCBQ in San Diego, Twitter: @WendyPatrickPHD Dr. Angela Arnold - Psychiatrist, Atlanta GA, AngelaArnoldMD.com, 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 Joe Scott Morgan - Professor of Forensics: Jacksonville State University, Author, "Blood Beneath My Feet", Host: "Body Bags with Joseph Scott Morgan" Nicole Partin - CrimeOnline.com Investigative Reporter, Twitter: @nicolepartin See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Toddler gets a hold of deadly weapon. This guy ruins his chances of a second date.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr. Amie Harwick, a sex therapist and former fiancé of actor Drew Carey, is found unresponsive under a balcony in her Hollywood Hills home on the morning of February 15th, 2020. She is rushed to the hospital, but unfortunately, passes away. The evidence at the crime scene and on Harwick’s body indicated signs of a struggle and her having been thrown from the balcony. In this episode of Body Bags, forensics expert Joseph Scott Morgan and Jackie Howard discuss blunt force trauma, the difference between falling/being thrown from a great height, how to tell in what order injuries occur, and why a nicotine syringe became a major factor in this case. Subscribe to Body Bags with Joseph Scott Morgan : Apple Podcasts Spotify iHeart Show Notes: 0:00 - Intro 1:25 - Background and overview of the case 3:45 - Where do you start with a case like this? 5:10 - Amie Harwick being thrown from her balcony 7:30 - How do we know she was thrown off the balcony? 15:45 - Do the injuries differ depending on whether you are thrown from a great height or fall from one? 19:00 - Blunt force trauma 20:10 - How does the M.E. go about examining all the injuries? 25:50 - Is it possible that Amie was beaten and that caused the injuries to her liver, not the fall? 29:40 - How can you tell what order the injuries happened in? 32:00 - If Amie fell, and was not thrown, would her death still be considered blunt force trauma? 34:00 - Suspects in Amie’s case 34:55 - How investigators suspect the murder played out 36:40 - Finding a nicotine filled syringe and what that signifies 42:10 - Harwick’s ex-boyfriend, Gareth Pursehouse, becomes the prime suspect 44:45 - Pursehouse has been charged with murder, first degree residential burglary, and special circumstance allegation of lying in wait.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New details are coming out surrounding the death of Georgia mom Debbie Collier, who went missing after sending a bizarre text to her daughter. Body cam footage of daughter Amanda Bearden's on-again/off-again boyfriend has been released after Bearden called the police. Andrew Giegerich was arrested for violating a no-contact order. Giegerich also reportedly wrote a threatening handwritten message, contained in police evidence files, stating, "If you or your family ever come near me again I will hurt them." Also made public is Amanda Bearden's own arrest record for battery, and for faking a drug test. The bizarre message reportedly sent by Debbie Collier to her daughter, Amanda Bearden, along with $2,385 through Venmo says, “They are not going to let me go love you there is a key to the house in the blue flower pot by the door.” After receiving the message, Collier’s daughter tried to call her mom but could not get through. Collier was found the next day in a ravine, naked, her body burned. Police tracked a rental vehicle Collier was using to a wooded area 60 miles away from the family’s Athens home. Collier's husband told police that he last saw his wife at about 9 p.m. on Friday, September 9, as he was going to bed. The husband went to work on Saturday morning and told investigators that his wife’s vehicle was still in the driveway at that time. The New York Post reports that the couple’s neighbor said they heard some sort of commotion going on at Collier’s home the night before she vanished. Anyone with information on the case should contact Habersham Sheriff’s Investigators Cale Garrison at 706-839-0559 or George Cason at 706-839-0560. Joining Nancy Grace Today: Renee Rockwell - Criminal Defense Attorney, Facebook: "Renee.Rockwell" Caryn Stark - NYC Psychologist, CarynStark.com, Twitter: @carynpsych, Facebook: "Caryn Stark" Joe Scott Morgan - Professor of Forensics: Jacksonville State University, Author, "Blood Beneath My Feet", Host: "Body Bags with Joseph Scott Morgan" Cody Alcorn - Reporter, 11Alive WXIA (Atlanta, GA), Facebook.com/CodyAlcornNews See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Electricity usage habits lead to double murder. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Richard Dabate tells Connecticut State Police that a masked intruder broke into his home, shot his wife, Connie, and tied him to a chair. Investigators say however that data from the Fitbit tracker Connie was wearing contradicts those statements. Police put together a detailed digital timeline. Dabate told police his wife came home during the intrusion. He told her to run and said the intruder chased her to the basement and shot her. Connie's Fitbit, however, logged more than 1200 steps in the house. Richard Dabate, charged with murder, tampering with evidence, and making false statements, now convicted by a jury. Joining Nancy Grace Today: Dr. Daniel Bober - Forensic psychiatrist Joe Scott Morgan - Professor of Forensics: Jacksonville State University, Author, "Blood Beneath My Feet", Host: "Body Bags with Joseph Scott Morgan" Ashley Wilcott - Judge and trial attorney, anchor at Court TV, www.ashleywillcott.com Ninette Sosa - Crime Online Investigative Reporter. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A 3-year-old Illinois boy is not expected to survive after being thrown off a Chicago pier into Lake Michigan. Police say the boy's aunt “stole the keys” to the family’s truck before sneaking “out of the residence without anyone knowing that she had left.” Security footage captured the incident as Victoria Moreno, 34, pushed the child into the water and made no attempts to rescue him. Fire officials said the child was taken to Lurie Children’s Hospital, in cardiac arrest. He’s been placed on a ventilator. Police added that the child had lung bleeding, a swollen brain, and had to have a heart infusion. Joining Nancy Grace Today: Ashton King - Witness, Mother of Three, Called 911 & Threw in Life Preserver, Spoke to Victim's Aunt, Small Business Owner/Entrepreneur Irv Miller - Criminal Defense Attorney, The Miller Firm, Legal Analyst: CBS2 Chicago WBBM-TV Dr. Bethany Marshall - Psychoanalyst (Beverly Hills, CA), DrBethanyMarshall.com, New Netflix show: 'Bling Empire' (Beverly Hills) Dr. Free N. Hess - Pediatrician/Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Child Safety Expert & Consultant, Founder of PediMom.com Robert Farley - Former Detective, Cook County Sheriff's Police Department (Chicago, IL), Deputy United States Marshal, Commanding Officer, Child Exploitation Unit, Consultant in Crimes Against Children, Farley International, RFarley.com Tia Ewing - Reporter, FOX 32 Chicago, Facebook.com/TVNewsStar, Twitter: @TIA_EWING, Instagram: @TiaOnTV, tiaewing.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dog attack leads to charges. Checker's employees so terrified cops get involved. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Georgia mom goes missing after sending a bizarre text to her daughter. Debbie Collier sends her daughter, Amanda Bearden, $2,385 using Venmo and included a message that read, “They are not going to let me go love you there is a key to the house in the blue flower pot by the door.” After receiving the message, Collier’s daughter tried to call her mom but could not get through. Collier was found the next day in a ravine, naked, her body burned. Police tracked a rental vehicle Collier was using to a wooded area 60 miles away from the family’s Athens home. Collier's husband told police that he last saw his wife at about 9 p.m. on Friday, September 9, as he was going to bed. The husband went to work on Saturday morning and told investigators that his wife’s vehicle was still in the driveway at that time. The New York Post reports that the couple’s neighbor said they heard some sort of commotion going on at Collier’s home the night before she vanished. Anyone with information on the case should contact Habersham Sheriff’s Investigators Cale Garrison at 706-839-0559 or George Cason at 706-839-0560. Joining Nancy Grace Today: Renee Rockwell - Criminal Defense Attorney, Facebook: "Renee.Rockwell" Caryn Stark - NYC Psychologist, CarynStark.com, Twitter: @carynpsych, Facebook: "Caryn Stark" Joe Scott Morgan - Professor of Forensics: Jacksonville State University, Author, "Blood Beneath My Feet", Host: "Body Bags with Joseph Scott Morgan" Cody Alcorn - Reporter, 11Alive WXIA (Atlanta, GA), Facebook.com/CodyAlcornNews See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Homeowners attacked with their own weapon. Physical altercation turns bizarre. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The family of 21-year-old Allison Rice lays the college student to rest today. Rice was found shot dead in her car, just three miles from campus. The LSU student was stopped at a railroad crossing for a train when witnesses say the killer or killers walked up to Rice's car and started shooting. Police say she may have been in the middle of turning around when the shots were fired. Police also say there’s no sign anything was stolen from Rice's car. No suspect has been named. Joining Nancy Grace Today: Wendy Patrick - California prosecutor, author “Red Flags” www.wendypatrickphd.com 'Today with Dr. Wendy' on KCBQ in San Diego, Twitter: @WendyPatrickPHD Dr. Angela Arnold - Psychiatrist, Atlanta GA, AngelaArnoldMD.com, 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 Mona Kay - Private Investigator, "Mona K Investigations" (Omaha, NE), Twitter: @monakay Dr. Michelle DuPre - Former Forensic Pathologist, Medical Examiner and Detective: Lexington County Sheriff's Department, Author: "Homicide Investigation Field Guide" & "Investigating Child Abuse Field Guide", Forensic Consultant, DMichelleDupreMD.com Chris Nakamoto - Chief Investigative Reporter, WBRZ-TV, Facebook: "Chris Nakamoto WBRZ", Twitter: @ChrisNakamoto See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Real life Big Bad Wolf attacks Grandma. Chick-fil-A really has the best service!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Alleged kidnapping is even more sinister. This airport trouble maker sounds full of herself!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nicolas Cruz pleaded guilty to killing 17 people, including students and teachers at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. The penalty phase of the trial is underway with jurors being asked to decide whether Cruz should spend the rest of his life in prison or be sentenced to death. So far there have been 11 days of defense testimony, including the shooter's biological sister, who did not grow up in the same household as Cruz. During her testimony, she was asked about her mother's use of heavy use of alcohol while pregnant and her knowledge of a reality show based on another brother, Zachary Cruz. A heated exchange between the judge and the defense has resulted in a motion being filed by the defense for Judge Elizabeth Scherer to remove herself from the case. When the defense suddenly rested its case without notice, Scherer called the defense decision "the most uncalled for, unprofessional way to try a case." The defense had indicated an intention to call 40 witnesses but rested after only 25. The sudden announcement meant prosecutors weren't ready to start their rebuttal case. Joining Nancy Grace Today: Dale Carson - High Profile Attorney (Jacksonville), Former FBI Agent, Former Police Officer (Miami-Dade County), Author: "Arrest-Proof Yourself, DaleCarsonLaw.com Dr. Bethany Marshall - Psychoanalyst (Beverly Hills, CA), DrBethanyMarshall.com, New Netflix show: 'Bling Empire' (Beverly Hills) Sheryl McCollum - Forensic Expert, Founder: Cold Case Investigative Research Institute in Atlanta, GA, ColdCaseCrimes.org, @ColdCaseTips ME - Dr. Priya Banerjee, M.D. - Board Certified Forensic Pathologist, Anchor Forensic Pathology Consulting, Assistant Medical Examiner Andy Kahan - Director of Victim Services and Advocacy at Crime Stoppers of Houston, crime-stoppers.org, Facebook: "Andy Kahan and Crime Stoppers of Houston", Twitter: @AKahanCrimeSto1, Instagram: @AndyVictimAdvocate David Ovalle - Crime Reporter, Miami Herald, Twitter: @davidovalle305, MiamiHerald.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A home intruder is finally caught. This isn't on my bucket list!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A jury find Missouri husband Beau Rothwell guilty of killing his pregnant wife missing. Jennifer Rothwell's car is found abandoned just a mile from home. Beau Rothwell tells police he last saw Jennifer Rothwell, 28, that morning as she left for work. Days later, Jennifer Rothwell's body is found in a wooded area along Highway 61 near Troy. An autopsy stated that she suffered blunt force trauma to the head. The day after Jennifer Rothwell went missing, Beau Rothwell is arrested. Police believe he killed his wife — who was six weeks pregnant — sometime on November 11. Search warrants alleged that Jennifer Rothwell used the internet to search, “What to do if your husband is upset you are pregnant.” The same documents also stated that Beau Rothwell cleaned up some blood and left a small window to the garage open, despite freezing temperatures, to “dissipate the odor.” Beau Rothwell reportedly told authorities where his pregnant wife’s remains were located. Turns out Beau Rothwell was having an affair and made a pro/con list on whether to stay in the marriage. Joining Nancy Grace Today: Matthew Mangino - Criminal Defense Attorney (New Castle, PA), Former District Attorney (Lawrence County), Former Parole Board Member, Author: "The Executioner's Toll", Twitter: @MatthewTMangino, MattMangino.com Dr. Bethany Marshall - Psychoanalyst (Beverly Hills, CA), DrBethanyMarshall.com, New Netflix show: 'Bling Empire' (Beverly Hills) Dr. Tim Gallagher - Medical Examiner State of Florida PathcareMed.com, Lecturer: University of Florida Medical School Forensic Medicine, Founder/Host: International Forensic Medicine Death Investigation Conference John Guard - Chief Deputy – Pitt County Sheriff’s Office (Greenville, NC), Specializes in Investigating Domestic Violence Cases Kristy Mazurek - Emmy Award-winning Investigative Reporter, President: "Successful Strategies" See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

First responders arrive at a “battle scene” in 77-year-old Barbara Steele's West Virginia home. Her body is beaten, eviscerated, and positioned on a makeshift altar by 28-year-old Joshua Drennen, who after leaving her residence, continues his string of assaults on unsuspecting civilians, until immobilized by a Charleston police officer. In this episode of Body Bags, forensics expert Joseph Scott Morgan and Jackie Howard discuss the antique item used in the physical attacks and injuries sustained by Barbara Steele and two other individuals in the community. Subscribe to Body Bags with Joseph Scott Morgan : Apple Podcasts Spotify iHeart Show Notes: 0:00 - Intro 2:46 - Description of an antique iron owned and utilized by 77-year-old Barbara Steele 6:47 - Police are alerted to a criminal act committed by Joshua Drennen inside Barbara Steele’s home 8:03 - Joe describes the crime scene, the assault on Barbara Steele’s vehicle, and her participation within the community. 10:45 - Jackie and Joe discuss the continued acts of violence by Joshua Drennen against a woman inside her parked vehicle 9:23 - An explanation of cubing injuries to a body from an explosion of safety glass and how investigators use that information to determine a body’s position within a vehicle 13:31 - Joshua Drennen’s continued acts of violence throughout the community 17:29 - Charleston Police Patrolman Terrence Casto stops the threat by Joshua Drennen 18:24 - Joe describes the violent crime scene and the horrendous blunt force trauma Barbara Steele’s body experienced 26:21 - Beyond the trauma to her face and head, the police noticed Barbara's body had been eviscerated, as well as sexually assaulted post-mortem 31:33 - Joe and Jackie discuss the way Barbara Steele’s body was positioned and items located near her after the attack 35:49 - Why Barbara Steele and the woman in the parking lot? 37:24 - Overview of Joshua Drennen’s trial and convictionSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jess Brooks calls 911 after finding her daughter lying face down in her bloody living room. Reagan Simmons Hancock, 21, and nearly 8 months pregnant with her second child, has a large slice across her stomach and the baby is gone. On a nearby roadway, a Texas State Trooper pulls over a car for speeding, and inside he finds Taylor Parker giving CPR to a newborn. Parker tells the trooper that she gave birth on the side of the road, but the baby isn't breathing. Parker and the newborn are rushed to a hospital, where the baby died. It's also where Parker, who had seemingly just given birth, refused to be checked out by doctors. Now, Parker is on trial and charged with the murder of Hancock and the unborn child, and kidnapping. Joining Nancy Grace Today: Dale Carson - High Profile Attorney (Jacksonville), Former FBI Agent, Former Police Officer (Miami-Dade County), Author: "Arrest-Proof Yourself, DaleCarsonLaw.com Dr. Bethany Marshall - Psychoanalyst (Beverly Hills, CA), DrBethanyMarshall.com, New Netflix show: 'Bling Empire' (Beverly Hills) Dr. Michelle DuPre - Former Forensic Pathologist, Medical Examiner and Detective: Lexington County Sheriff's Department, Author: "Homicide Investigation Field Guide" & "Investigating Child Abuse Field Guide", Forensic Consultant, DMichelleDupreMD.com Sheryl McCollum - Forensic Expert, Founder: Cold Case Investigative Research Institute in Atlanta, GA, ColdCaseCrimes.org, @ColdCaseTips Jax Miller - News Writer, Oxygen.com, True Crime Author, Author: "Hell in The Heartland: Murder, Meth, and The Case of Two Missing Girls", Facebook: "RealJaxMiller", Twitter/Instagram: @RealJaxMiller See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This man swims away from cops. A new kind of smuggler caught in Texas.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Texas bull rider Ouncie Mitchell was shot and killed outside a Utah apartment complex. Mitchell, whose real name is Demetrius Omar Lateef Allen, was in town to compete at an event at the state fair. After the competition Mitchell and a female friend when to a downtown bar, where they argued. The friend, LaShawn Denise Bagley, left the bar, leaving Mitchell to find his own way back. Mitchell gets a ride, calling and texting Bagley during the trip to let her know he is on his way to get his things. Once he and the driver arrived, shots were fired through a window and the glass door of the apartment, hitting Mitchell once in the torso. Bagley was arrested for murder and felony discharge of a firearm. Joining Nancy Grace Today: Brad M. Micklin, Esq - Lead Attorney, Managing Member, The Micklin Law Group, LLC (Nutley, NJ) Dr. Mindy B. Mechanic - Professor of Psychology (Emeritus) at California State University Fullerton, Forensic Psychologist Focusing on Trauma/victimization, Intimate Partner Violence, Sexual Assault and Stalking John Guard - Chief Deputy – Pitt County Sheriff’s Office (Greenville, NC), Specializes in Investigating Domestic Violence Cases Dr. Tim Gallagher - Medical Examiner State of Florida PathcareMed.com, Lecturer: University of Florida Medical School Forensic Medicine, Founder/Host: International Forensic Medicine Death Investigation Conference Ashley Imlay - Reporter, KSL (Salt Lake City, UT), KSL.com, Twitter: @ashley_imlay See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Trusted neighbor turned spying creep! This man pulls a weapon on cops.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jeff German, a Las Vegas Review-Journal Investigative Reporter, is found dead outside his home. Days later, cops release surveillance video of a possible suspect in a wide-brimmed straw hat, an orange safety shirt, and black pants walking near the scene. More investigation revealed that German's reporting put him at odds with elected Public Administrator, Robert Telles. Earlier this year, German reported that Telles created a toxic work environment and was having an extra-marital affair with an employee. These claims seem to have cost Telles his re-election bid. Investigators searched Robert Telles' home, towing a red SUV, and finding shoes with apparent blood on them. A straw hat matching the one shown in the video was also found. Both articles had been cut up in an effort to destroy evidence, but DNA under German's fingernails told police everything they needed to know. Telles has been arrested for German's murder, and held without bail. Joining Nancy Grace Today: Matthew Mangino - Attorney, Former District Attorney (Lawrence County), Former Parole Board Member, Author: "The Executioner's Toll: The Crimes, Arrests, Trials, Appeals, Last Meals, Final Words and Executions of 46 Persons in the United States", MattMangino.com, Twitter: @MatthewTMangino Caryn Stark - NYC Psychologist, CarynStark.com, Twitter: @carynpsych, Facebook: "Caryn Stark" Lisa M. Dadio - Former Police Lieutenant, New Haven Police Department, Annie Le Lead Detective, Senior Lecturer, Director of the Center for Advanced Policing and Graduate Program Coordinator, Investigations program, University of New Haven (West Haven, CT) Dr. Michelle DuPre - Former Forensic Pathologist, Medical Examiner and Detective: Lexington County Sheriff's Department, Author: "Homicide Investigation Field Guide" & "Investigating Child Abuse Field Guide", Forensic Consultant, DMichelleDupreMD.com Vanessa Murphy - Investigative Reporter, KLAS-TV 8newsnow.com, Instagram: @vanessareporting, Twitter: @Vanessa_Murphy, Facebook: "VanessaMurphyInvestigates" Dr. Kristen Mittelman - Chief Development Officer, Othram Inc., DNAsolves.com, Twitter: @OthramTech See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This man asks a mom a sickening question. Retiree row breaks out on the golf course. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Three young children found dead on a New York beach were allegedly drowned by their mother. Police say 30-year-old Erin Merdy reportedly confessed to the murders. A 90-minute search was launched early Monday after several of Merdy's relatives called police, concerned that Merdy may have done something to her children. The children ages, 7, 4, and 3 months, were found lying in the sand. Merdy, meanwhile, was nearly two miles away on the Brighton Beach boardwalk. Merdy was soaking wet, barefoot, and walking in her bathrobe. Speculation is that Merdy may have been drinking or suffering postpartum depression. No confirmation of either has yet been made. Joining Nancy Grace Today: John W. Dill, Esquire - Personal Injury Lawyer, Winter Park, Florida, Author: "The Method: Proven Techniques for Winning Jury Trials", www.JohnWDill.com, Twitter/IG @JohnWDillESQ, Represented Zenaida Gonzalez in Defamation Suit against Casey Anthony Dr. Angela Arnold - Psychiatrist, Atlanta GA, AngelaArnoldMD.com, 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 Robert Crispin - Private Investigator, Former Federal Task Force Officer for United States Department of Justice, DEA and Miami Field Division, Former Homicide and Crimes Against Children Investigator, “Crispin Special Investigations” CrispinInvestigations.com, Facebook: Crispin Special Investigations, Inc. Dr. Katherine Maloney, M.D. - Deputy Chief Medical Examiner, Erie County Medical Examiners Office, (Buffalo NY), www.nickelcityforensics.com Gabrielle Fonrouge - National Correspondent and Investigative Reporter, NY Post, Twitter: @FonrougeGab, GabrielleFonrouge.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Nevada tenant is brutally murdered by their landlord. Did this cat survive its encounter with a drunk driver?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The suspect in the brutal attack on Memphis mom Eliza Fletcher is now charged with a rape occurring a year before Fletcher's murder. Cleotha Abston Henderson appeared in court indicted on charges of unlawful possession of a weapon, aggravated rape, and kidnapping in relation to the September 21, 2021 incident. A sexual assault kit was submitted to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation two days after the alleged rape, but no request was made for expedited analysis. The kit sat for months in line with other cases waiting for testing. The kit was finally processed and once the initial report was completed, the information was then entered into the FBI DNA database on 29 August. A positive match came back three days after Fletcher was kidnapped. Joining Nancy Grace today: Matthew Mangino - Attorney, Former District Attorney (Lawrence County), Former Parole Board Member, Author: "The Executioner's Toll: The Crimes, Arrests, Trials, Appeals, Last Meals, Final Words and Executions of 46 Persons in the United States", MattMangino.com, Twitter: @MatthewTMangino Caryn Stark - NYC Psychologist, CarynStark.com, Twitter: @carynpsych, Facebook: "Caryn Stark" Lisa M. Dadio - Former Police Lieutenant, New Haven Police Department, Annie Le Lead Detective, Senior Lecturer, Director of the Center for Advanced Policing and Graduate Program Coordinator, Investigations program, University of New Haven Rachel D. Fischer - Registered Nuse, Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE), Expert Witness, Private Investigator, Author: "Taking Back the Pen", Forensic Nursing Consulting and Education LLC, LegalRNConsult.org Dr. Kristen Mittelman - Chief Development Officer, Othram Inc., DNAsolves.com, Twitter: @OthramTech Dave Mack - Crime Online Investigative Reporter See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mississippi man makes threats from 3000 feet. This driver waives his right to remain silent.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Christian Obumseli, boyfriend of OnlyFans model Courtney Clenney is found by police in their Miami apartment fatally stabbed. The pair have been dating for approximately two years and have a reportedly “tumultuous” relationship. Courtney Clenney claims to have been acting out of self defense, but the physical evidence may seem to suggest something else. Courtney Clenney has since been charged with second degree murder. In this episode of Body Bags, forensics expert Joseph Scott Morgan and Jackie Howard discuss the details of the stabbing, the physical evidence found at the crime scene, the injuries sustained by Christian Obumseli that led to his death, and how witness testimony will play into this ongoing case. Show Notes: 0:00 - Intro 2:09 - Courtney Clenney’s OnlyFans account and relationship with Christian Obumseli 3:44 - Video and pictures of Courtney Clenney covered in blood 5:00 - Courtney Clenney and Christian Obumseli’s lavish lifestyle 7:32 - The 911 call and the physical evidence of the crime scene 12:02 - What are the police seeing at the crime scene? 18:58 - What it means for blood to “leech out” 22:03 - How the blood appeared on Courtney Clenney 25:36 - The timeline of the crime 29:05 - Injuries sustained by Christian Obumseli 35:34 - Knowing what we know now, is Courtney Clenney’s claim that she threw the knife while acting in self defense possible? 40:51 - If what Courtney Clenney claims happened is true, would the remaining blood patterns be different? 44:20 - How will the video evidence and witness statements of assault play into the case? 48:28 - How do you approach a “he said, she said” court case? 51:14 - Final thoughts and wrapping up the show See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Alex Murdaugh's attorney accuses prosecutors of “hiding the ball” and not handed over any evidence they have in the deaths of Murdaugh’s wife and son. Attorney Dick Harpootlian and attorney Jim Griffin filed a motion to compel prosecutors to reveal evidence. It's been more than a month since Murdaugh was indicted by a state grand jury of murdering is wife and son. Harpootlian said the motion asked Judge Clifton Newman to order that evidence be turned over to the defense “immediately without delay.” Part of that evidence, according to FITSNews, is high-velocity spatter found on a shirt worn by Murdaugh that may show he was present at the time his wife and son were murdered. In the last days, Judge Clifton Newman ordered the evidence released, along with a temporary protective order in place, that is to ensure only lawyers and people testifying will be able to see the evidence. Joining Nancy Grace Today: Susan E. Williams, South Carolina Criminal Defense Attorney, Former Prosecutor (Summerville), swilliams-law.net, Instagram: @carolinaladylawyer, Twitter: @ATTYswilliams Dr. Shari Schwartz - Forensic Psychologist (specializing in Capital Mitigation and Victim Advocacy), www.panthermitigation.com, Twitter: https://twitter.com/TrialDoc, Author: "Criminal Behavior" and "Where Law and Psychology Intersect: Issues in Legal Psychology" Bobby Chacon - 27 years former FBI Agent, BobbyChacon.com, Instagram/Twitter: @BobbyChaconFBI, Writer and Co-producer: Audible Original Series, "After the Fall" Joe Scott Morgan - Professor of Forensics: Jacksonville State University, Author, "Blood Beneath My Feet", Host: "Body Bags with Joseph Scott Morgan", Matt Harris - Morning Show Host of The Matt and Ramona Show on 107.9 WLNK (Charlotte, NC), Podcast Host: "The Murdaugh Family Murders: Impact of Influence" See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Raymond "RJ" McLeod, Jr. is arrested in El Salvador on murder charges. The ex-Marine had been on the run for six years after the brutal death of 30-year-old Krystal Mitchell. The young mom was found beaten and strangled in a San Diego condominium in June 2016. The pair had been dating just a few weeks when they took a vacation trip. By the time police arrived at the apartment when Mitchell and McLeod were staying with his friends, McLeod had fled in Krystal’s car, which was found at the San Diego airport. McLeod then rented a car at the airport and drove into Mexico. From there he traveled to Belize, and on into El Salvador. McLeod was reportedly working as a teacher. Joining Nancy Grace Today: Josephine Wentzel - Victim's Mother, Founder, "Angels of Justice", Author: "THE CHASE: In Hot Pursuit of My Daughter’s Killer", AngelsofJustice.org, Victim Advocate: The Cold Case Foundation, Twitter: @ANGELSOFJUSTIC2, Matthew Mangino - Attorney, Former District Attorney (Lawrence County), Former Parole Board Member, Author: "The Executioner's Toll: The Crimes, Arrests, Trials, Appeals, Last Meals, Final Words and Executions of 46 Persons in the United States", MattMangino.com, Twitter: @MatthewTMangino Dr. Michael Bourke - Clinical and Forensic Psychologist, Former Chief of the United States Marshals Service’s Behavioral Analysis Unit, MichaelBourkePHD.com Frankie Sanchez - Regional Chief of US Marshal Task Force, Los Angeles Dr. Kendall Crowns – Chief Medical Examiner Tarrant County (Ft Worth), Lecturer: University of Texas Austin and Texas Christian University Medical School Dave Mack - Crime Online Investigative Reporter See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We warn our children that people offering ice cream could want to kidnap them, but what about warning the ice cream man? This man was "hot-n-ready" for his arrest.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Four people are shot and killed, and three others are wounded in a citywide spree. Memphis police were on the lookout for a suspect who live-streamed not only his intent but the actual shootings. Repeat offender Ezekiel Kelly, 19, is also accused of two armed carjackings in his attempt to evade police. Incidents happened at least eight different crime scenes. Kelly was arrested after crashing a stolen car. Joining Nancy Grace Today: Darryl Cohen - Former Assistant District Attorney (Fulton County, Georgia) Former Assistant State Attorney (Florida), Defense Attorney, Cohen, Cooper, Estep, & Allen, LLC, CCEAlaw.com, Facebook: "Darryl B Cohen", Twitter: @DarrylBCohen Dr. Angela Arnold - Psychiatrist, Atlanta GA AngelaArnoldMD.com, 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 Joe Scott Morgan - Professor of Forensics: Jacksonville State University, Author, "Blood Beneath My Feet", Host: "Body Bags with Joseph Scott Morgan" Jonathan Serrie - Fox News Correspondent, Twitter: @jonathanserrie Dave Mack - Crime Online Investigative Reporter See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Drag race turns deadly in Baton Rouge. Cops follow through on Florida woman's bizarre request.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A decomposing body found in the tall grass behind a vacant building has been identified as Memphis teacher Eliza Fletcher. The mom of two vanished last Friday during an early morning jog. Less than a mile from the kidnapping site, officers combing the area noticed footprints, tire tracks and “an odor of decay.” A pair of purple Lululemon running shorts matching what Fletcher was last seen wearing, was found in a nearby trash can. Cleotha Abston, 38, was caught on video forcing Fletcher into a vehicle. He was also seen at around 7:30 a.m. at his brother's home, cleaning the vehicle and washing his clothes. Abston has been charged with first-degree murder, especially aggravated kidnapping, and tampering with evidence. Joining Nancy Grace today: Matthew Mangino - Attorney, Former District Attorney (Lawrence County), Former Parole Board Member, Author: "The Executioner's Toll: The Crimes, Arrests, Trials, Appeals, Last Meals, Final Words and Executions of 46 Persons in the United States", MattMangino.com, Twitter: @MatthewTMangino Dr. Angela Arnold - Psychiatrist, Atlanta GA, AngelaArnoldMD.com, 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 Jennifer Coffindaffer - Former FBI Agent, Law Enforcement Network Analyst, Expert Witness, Self-Defense/Firearms Instructor, Firearms Beyond International, firearmsbeyondinternational.com, Twitter: @CoffindafferFBI Dr. Kendall Crowns – Chief Medical Examiner Tarrant County (Ft Worth), Lecturer: University of Texas Austin and Texas Christian University Medical School Dave Mack - Crime Online Investigative Reporter See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

These teachers are some bad apples. A drunk man doesn't realize he's a long way from home. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Police have been searching for a missing Mom and two teens from Springfield, Missouri for twenty years. The Springfield Three are friends Suzanne Street, Stacy McCall, and Streeter's mother, Sherrill Levitt. The women went missing from Levitt's home. All of their personal belongings, including cars and purses, were left behind. Police say there were no signs of a struggle other than a broken globe on a porch light. Joining Nancy Grace Today: Nicole Deborde Hochglaube - Criminal Defense Lawyer (Houston TX), Former Prosecutor, Twitter: @debordelaw, HoustonCriminalDefense.com Dr. Shari Schwartz - Forensic Psychologist specializing in Capital Mitigation and Victim Advocacy (Miami Beach, FL), Panthermitigation.com, Twitter: @TrialDoc, Author: "Criminal Behavior" and "Where Law and Psychology Intersect: Issues in Legal Psychology" Rick Bookout - Former Springfield Police Officer (first officer on scene) Joe Scott Morgan - Professor of Forensics: Jacksonville State University, Author, "Blood Beneath My Feet", Host: "Body Bags with Joseph Scott Morgan" Anne Roderique-Jones - Writer and Host, Podcast: "The Springfield Three: A Small-Town Disappearance" anneroderiquejones.com, Instagram: @anniemarie_, Twitter: @AnnieMarie_ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A little girl's disappearance goes unreported for years. This firefighter is confused about his job responsibilities. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The little boy found dead in a suitcase has now been laid to rest, in an unmarked grave. The mushroom hunter who found the "Fabulous Vegas" suitcase , Jeff Meredith, says he will not rest until the boy has a name. Investigators say child died from an electrolyte imbalance. The medical examiner says that the imbalance was most likely due to a “viral gastroenteritis” caused by excessive vomiting or diarrhea. State police are still working to identify the boy, believed to be about 5 years old. Toxicology tests came back negative and the boy had no severe injuries. Police do not believe the boy was alive when he was placed inside the suitcase. The little boy is described as just under 4 feet tall and about 40 pounds, with a slim build and a short haircut. Indiana State Police have set up a national tip line at (888) 437-6432. Joining Nancy Grace today: Kathryn Marsh - Special Victims Liaison for the State’s Attorney's Office (Charles County, MD), Co-Founder: Right Response Consulting, "No Grey Zone" Podcast", RightResponseConsulting.com, Instagram/Twitter: @nogreyzoneRRC Dr. Alan Blotcky PhD - Clinical and Forensic Psychologist (Birmingham, AL) specializing in Criminal, Child Custody and Abuse, Clinical Associate Professor at University of Alabama at Birmingham Karen L. Smith - Forensic Expert (Los Angeles, CA), Lecturer at the University of Florida, Host of Shattered Souls Podcast, @KarensForensic, barebonesforensic.com Dr. Michelle DuPre - Former Forensic Pathologist, Medical Examiner and Detective: Lexington County Sheriff's Department, Author: "Homicide Investigation Field Guide" & "Investigating Child Abuse Field Guide", Forensic Consultant, DMichelleDupreMD.com Max Lewis - Reporter, FOX59 (Indianapolis), Twitter/Instagram: @MaxLewisTV, Facebook.com/MaxLewisTV See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Incidents like this are known as the "kiss of death." A drunk disrupts an investigation.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cops are asking for the public's help in finding two missing teens. Kaylee Jones has been missing from her Georgia home for more than two months. Daniel and Brenda Jones fear their daughter has been sex trafficked. The 16-year-old, who is autistic, disappeared after the parents took away her phone. It had been discovered the girl has been chatting with several men online. In a separate case out of Alabama, 17-year-old Tarasha Benjamin disappeared after going to a flea market. Benjamin left that Saturday morning with a friend. Then Benjamin borrowed the friend's car. It was found a mile from the flea market with the driver's side windows smashed. Benjamin has been missing since 2010. Joining Nancy Grace today: Daniel Jones - Victim's Father, Facebook: "Where is Kaylee Jones" Dale Carson - High Profile Attorney (Jacksonville), Former FBI Agent, Former Police Officer, Author: "Arrest-Proof Yourself, DaleCarsonLaw.com Dr. Shari Schwartz - Forensic Psychologist (specializing in Capital Mitigation and Victim Advocacy), www.panthermitigation.com, Twitter: https://twitter.com/TrialDoc, Author: "Criminal Behavior" and "Where Law and Psychology Intersect: Issues in Legal Psychology" Sheryl McCollum - Forensic Expert, Founder: Cold Case Investigative Research Institute in Atlanta, GA, ColdCaseCrimes.org, @ColdCaseTips Nicole Partin - CrimeOnline.com Investigative Reporter, Twitter: @nicolepartin John W. Dill, Esquire - Personal Injury Lawyer, Winter Park, Florida, Author: "The Method: Proven Techniques for Winning Jury Trials", www.JohnWDill.com, Twitter/IG @JohnWDillESQ, Represents Michelle Parker's family Caryn Stark - NYC Psychologist, CarynStark.com, Twitter: @carynpsych, Facebook: "Caryn Stark" Joseph Scott Morgan - Professor of Forensics: Jacksonville State University, Author, "Blood Beneath My Feet", Host: "Body Bags with Joseph Scott Morgan" Dave Mack - Crime Online Investigative Reporter See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.