Crime Stories with Nancy Grace

Man beats girlfriend to death with toilet tank lid. Drunk driver cruises straight to jail.  For more crime and justice news go to crimeonline.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Christa Pike was 18-years-old when she thought her 19-year-old job corps classmate, Colleen Slemmer, was trying to steal her boyfriend, Tadaryl Shipp. Pike spent over 30-minutes beating Colleen Slemmer with her hands and feet, as well as a box cutter and a meat cleaver. Slemmer tried to escape. Shipp,17, caught her so Pike could continue the beating. Pike carved a pentagram into Slemmer's chest, used the box cutter to slice her throat. When she didn't die, Pike picked up a chunk of asphalt and slammed it onto Slemmer's head. The next day Pike brought a piece of Slemmer's skull to breakfast and told classmates what she had done. Convicted of murder and sentenced to death, Christa Pike now wants a judge to vacate her death sentence. Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack detail the story that Joe Scott says is the worst case he has ever seen.  Subscribe to Body Bags with Joseph Scott Morgan : Apple Podcasts Spotify iHeart Transcript Highlights  00:00:31 Joseph Scott Morgan says he has never seen a crime so vile  00:02:10 Woman on death row in Tennessee   00:05:16 Talk about dynamic between suspects and victim  00:10:09 Description of box cutter and meat cleaver   00:15:03 Discussion of pentagram carved into chest  00:20:56 Description of wounds to victim  00:25:15 Talk about how to occult and satanism factor into case  00:30:40 Description of taking piece of skull as a trophy  00:35:50 Discussion about letting murderer out of prison  00:39:15 Talk about sadistic murder See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fake German heiress Anna Sorokin conned her way into Manhattan society. Posing as Anna Delvey, a German heiress, she swindled banks, hotels, and friends out of more than $200,000. She forged checks to get money from banks and charmed people into paying for extravagant meals, and travel. Sorokin was convicted on a handful of grand larceny and theft of services charges. After serving her time, the 31-year-old was released from prison, now, fighting being deported, but again Sorokin falls on her feet. First, she landed a deal with Netflix for the rights to her life story, then began selling her artwork, and now, Sorokin says her home confinement and social media ban is “more restrictive” than jail. Sorokin is asking a federal judge to change the conditions of her house arrest. Joining Nancy Grace Today: Wendy Patrick – California Prosecutor, Author of “Why Bad Looks Good” and “Red Flags,” and Host of “Today with Dr. Wendy” on KCBQ in San Diego; X: @WendyPatrickPHD Dr. Donna Rockwell – Clinical Psychologist (Michigan/New York) Specializes in Celebrity Mental Health; Adjunct Faculty: Saybrook University: College of Integrative Medicine and Health Sciences, DonnaRockwell.com; CEO/Founder: “Already Famous with Dr. Donna” Jim Ellis – Certified Fraud Examiner, Former FBI Agent (29 years), JKE Texas Private Investigator Rebecca Rosenberg – Fox News Digital Crime Reporter; Author: “At Any Cost;” Twitter: @ReRosenberg See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two girls stab their best friend 19 times. Why? They wanted to appease the fictional horror character, Slender Man. Both girls serve time in a mental health facility. Anissa Weier was granted conditional release in September 2021. She was required to receive outpatient psychiatric treatment and was subject to GPS monitoring – though the monitoring was waived in September of last year. Now a Wisconsin judge will hear evidence in April to decide whether to release Morgan Geyser from the mental health facility where she’s being held. The 21-year-old Geyser requested conditional release from the Winnebago Mental Health Institute from Waukesha County Circuit Judge Michael Bohren back in January. This is similar to a petition that Geyser filed in 2022 for conditional release, but withdrew two months later. In the latest petition filed on January 16, Geyser is asking Judge Michael O. Bohren to consider whether she is no longer a threat to herself or others — a decision that will be based on a new round of medical exams. The judge appointed three psychiatric experts — one on behalf of Geyser, one on behalf of prosecutors, and the third as a court appointee — to examine her and produce reports on her current mental condition. Judge Bohren then set a hearing for April 10-11 to consider the reports and possibly rule on the release request. Joining Nancy Grace to discuss the case: Troy Slaten – Los Angeles Criminal Defense Attorney, Slaten Lawyers, APC; Twitter/X: @TroySlaten Dr. Daniel Bober – Forensic Psychiatrist, Chief of Psychiatry Memorial Regional Healthcare Systems, Assistant Clinical Professor at Yale University School of Medicine; Instagram: drdanielbober 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 Levi Page -  CrimeOnline Investigative Reporter   Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

DUI driver bites officer, tries to steal weapon. Thief breaks into several homes looking for one thing--hot chocolate.  For more crime and justice news go to crimeonline.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Friday, March 3rd: Pamela Turner waits for her stepson to get off the school bus. When Justin Turner doesn't, the stepmom calls the school.  The staff tells her that Justin was marked absent that day. The sheriff's office is called and deputies come to the Turner home. Justin Turner, 5, has been missing for hours. The search for Justin Turner includes multiple agencies and volunteers from the area. For two days, WCBD News video cameras follow the searches. Video shows volunteers side-by-side with police and sheriff's deputies, walking nearly shoulder to shoulder through fields, checking under back decks and sheds. The Channel 2 cameraman is filming as Victor Turner goes into a camper on their property, and quickly comes back out saying, "My son's in there." The body of Justin Turner is found hidden inside a cabinet in the pickup truck camper, parked close to the family home. An autopsy and forensic analysis are done on the 5-year-old, and investigators determine that the boy had been placed inside the camper shortly after his strangulation death. A forensic pathologist report indicates the boy died a short time after eating his last meal.  The Berkeley County Sheriff at the time, M.C. Cannon says accidental death is ruled out. The coroner's autopsy report reveals the boy was sexually assaulted with some kind of cylindrical object, and strangled to death. The case is officially ruled a homicide. Joining Nancy Grace Today: Amy Parsons - Cousin of Justin Turner; FB: Justice for Justin Lee Turner  James Shelnutt – Attorney – The Shelnutt Law Firm, P.C.; 27-year Atlanta Metro Area Major Case Detective and Former S.W.A.T. Officer; X: @ShelnuttLawFirm Dr. John Delatorre –  Licensed Psychologist and Mediator (specializing in forensic psychology); Psychological Consultant to Project Absentis: a nonprofit organization that searches for missing persons; X, IG, and TikTok – @drjohndelatorre Dr. Kenny Kinsey- Kenny Kinsey & Associates LLC, Forensic Expert in Murdaugh murder trial; Orangeburg County Chief Deputy, Crime Scene Reconstruction Expert, and Former SLED Special Agent; X: @DrKennethKinsey 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 Nick Reagan -  WCSC Journalist and Morning Breaking News Anchor; X Twitter: @NickReagan  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Alabama Judge seriously injured in stabbing and shooting attack by his son. Porsche employees aren't willing to accept a '$78 million dollar' check.  For more crime and justice news go to crimeonline.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Julia Niswender's roommates are gone for the weekend, but then one stops by the apartment on Monday to pick up some things for class.  She heads out without seeing or talking to Julia. The next day the roommate realizes she hasn't seen or talked to Julia in two days. The bedroom door is locked so she calls security at the apartment complex to check on her roommate. The guard shows up with police, and using a master key to open the door, walks into Julia Niswender's room. It appears as if a home invasion has taken place. Calling out for Julia and getting no reply, the officer walks toward the bathroom door, finding a pair of white latex gloves on the floor in front of the bathroom door. They are twisted and intertwined with each other.   Opening the bathroom door, officers discover Julia's lifeless, nude body, face down submerged in the bathtub filled with water. Her hands are pulled behind her back, her feet are together, and her cell phone is found underneath her body. Niswender's clothes have been cut off, except for a sleeve, and are left on the bathroom floor. Niswender's room looks like it has been tossed. Clothes are all over the floor of the room, drawers are left open, contents from a plastic organizer drawer have been dumped on the floor, and the contents of Niswender's purse is dumped out onto her bed.  A black-and-white zebra-striped pillowcase is missing from a pillow, her keys to the apartment are missing from a lanyard, and police note that it looks like a home invasion took place, but wrapped Christmas presents, an iPod, computer, and tv are not taken from the room. The night her body is found, officers note how her mother is pacing back and forth at the police station, while her stepfather seems stoic as he sits in the lobby. The first of several red flags that led investigators to take a closer look at Jim Turnquist. Looking at Turnquist, the police ask for his laptop, and he complies, they ask for a polygraph, and he complies twice, and passes twice. Investigators consult with the FBI and are encouraged to take a good look at Turnquist. Turnquist is named a Person of Interest, and he is charged, and not in the death of Julia Niswender, but in child pornography. There are 300,000 pictures on his laptop, 7 of which lead to charges of child porn. At trial, experts testified the 7 photos are in temp folders and could have been pop-up ads, and you can't even tell the age of the people in the pictures. Turnquist is acquitted of the child porn charges. The murder case of Julia Niswender turns cold. Joining Nancy Grace Today: Kim Turnquist - Julia’s mother, Facebook: Justice for Julia Niswender Madison Turnquist - Julia’s younger sister   Dale Carson – Criminal Defense Attorney (Jacksonville), Former FBI Agent, Former Police Officer, Author: “Arrest-Proof Yourself;” X: @DaleCarsonLaw Caryn L. Stark – Psychologist, Renowned TV and Radio Trauma Expert and Consultant; Instagram: carynpsych/FB: Caryn Stark Private Practice Jason Jensen – Private Investigator (Jensen Private Investigations), Cold Case Expert (Salt Lake City, UT), and Co-founder: “Cold Case Coalition;” Investigations; X: @JasonJPI, Facebook/Instagram: “Jensen Investigations”  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  Ronnie Dahl (Metro Detroit) Investigative Journalist, Private Investigator and Owner of Ronnie Dahl Investigations; FB & X: @ronniedahl IG: ronnie_dahl_investigations  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Father flips his car with 1-year-old son on board in police chase. Brother removed from the wedding venue after pushing the bride to the ground.  For more crime and justice news go to crimeonline.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

April 23, 1993: the owner of  Ajax Liquor store, Steve Weltig, is found dead on the floor on the floor of his shop. Investigators say it appears a struggle took place just before Weltig is shot in the head. Detectives work the case and develop a suspect sketch, but no real evidence leading to a killer is found and the case goes cold. The case is assigned to different investigators over the years. New leads are investigated, and evidence is collected. In 2015, reliable tips led detectives to Loril Harp. Harp's former wife contacted police and told them Loril Harp shot Weltig. She tells detectives she did not drive her former husband to the liquor store on the day of the murder. She was at home and when Harp came home that morning he immediately took a shower. She tells police her ex-husband tells her he just shot a man in an Arnold liquor store. A friend and former co-worker of Weltig's also tells Arnold police that Harp told him that he shot Weltig. Harp is brought in for an interview but investigators fail to gather enough evidence to seek charges for the murder. Twenty-seven years after the murder of Steve Weltig, another set of detectives take over the case. Looking back over the case file, they watch the 2015 interview with Loril Harp. In that interview, detectives leave the room for a few minutes. During the break, Loril Harp makes a call on his cell phone and what he says lights a fire under the investigation. Loril Harp tells the person on the phone that he is not under arrest,  but "I probably will be before I leave here." The detectives recognize this as a near admission that Loril Harp is expecting something after all these years. Harp is brought back in for a new interview. Investigators Cpl. Brett Acklermann and Detective Corporal Josh Wineinger spend hours talking to Loril Harp.  At 68 years old, Harp is in bad health and needs 24-hour nursing care. During his interview with the detectives, Loril Harp says he did not shoot Steve Weltig multiple times. Harp admits that he and Weltig got into a fight, and Harp says he hit Weltig a few times and left. Harp claims he went home and took a shower, right away. And the detectives begin talking about cleaning up the blood when Harp is asked if he had a little blood on him, Harp replies "I must have if I shot him." This phrase is all detectives need. Joining Nancy Grace Today Darryl Cohen – Former Assistant District Attorney (Fulton County, Georgia) Former Assistant State Attorney (Florida), and Defense Attorney: Cohen, Cooper, Estep, & Allen, LLC; Facebook: “Darryl B Cohen;” X: @DarrylBCohen Dr. Jorey L. Krawczyn  - Police Psychologist, Adjunct Faculty with Saint Leo University; Research Consultant with Blue Wall Institute, Author: Operation S.O.S. - Practical Recommendations to Help “Stop Officer Suicide” Detective Corporal Josh Wineinger -  Arnold Police Department  Dr. Kendall Crowns – Chief Medical Examiner Tarrant County (Ft Worth) and Lecturer: University of Texas Austin and Texas Christian University Medical School Tony Krausz  - Leader Newspaper Reporter; Facebook, IG, TikTok, YouTube & X: @myleaderpaper  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.