Crime Stories with Nancy Grace

In this episode of Body Bags, hosts Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack discuss the tragic saga of America Thayer, a domestic violence victim from Minnesota, whose horrific demise parallels historical methods of capital punishment. They explore the gruesome details of her death, shedding light on a disturbing trend of bystander apathy in today's digital world, the intricate mysteries of the crime scene, the decoding of brutal injury patterns inflicted by seemingly innocuous farming tools, and the critical role that evidence preservation plays in court.  Subscribe to Body Bags with Joseph Scott Morgan : Apple Podcasts Spotify iHeart Time-codes:  00:00: Introduction. 00:35: King Charles I. 01:35: Decapitation as a homicide method. 02:35: Joe’s experiences with complex cases involving dismemberments. 04:56: America Thayer's abusive relationship. 07:45: Jo reveals the shocking public execution details of America Thayer, drawing historical parallels. 10:00: Afternoon timing of the crime and its filming by bystanders. 13:42: Machete's typical uses, design, and historical agricultural significance. 15:30: How the murder and decapitation could have occurred within a car's confined space. 18:35: The systematic procedure of crime scene documentation. 19:20: The gruesome crime scene specifics inside America Thayer's car. 23:10: Was America Thayer dead before decapitation? 24:20: Explanation of the morgue process: including body cleaning and external injury identification. 26:45: The role of autopsy photographs in court proceedings. 27:15: America Thayer’s cause of death. 31:50: National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233 or visit thehotline.org. 32:20: Outro of the episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The adoptive parents of 3-year-old Orson West and 4-year-old his brother Orrin, send the boys outside to play just days before Christmas. Mom is inside wrapping presents. The brothers haven't been seen since. The dad was outside collecting firewood when he says he couldn't see the boys. After confirming the boys weren't inside the home, a frantic search began. Just over a year later, the adoptive parents arrested on murder charges.  Now a jury convicts Trezell and Jacqueline West of killing their adoptive son Orrin West.   .Joining Nancy Grace Today:  Marc Klaas - Founder, Klaas Kids Foundation www.klaaskids.org Kathleen Murphy - Family Attorney (North Carolina), www.ncdomesticlaw.com, Twitter: @RalDivorceLaw Dr. Angela Arnold - Psychiatrist, (Atlanta GA) www.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 Sheryl McCollum - Forensic Expert & Cold Case Investigative Research Institute Founder, ColdCaseCrimes.org, Twitter: @ColdCaseTips Bayan Wang, Reporter/Anchor, KMGH-TV, Instagram: @bayanwang, Twitter: @bayanwang See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nancy Grace speaks with Irv Brandt,  Senior Inspector, US Marshals Service, International  Investigatons Branch about his Jack Solo book series. In Solo Shot: Curse of the Blue Stone, our rugged inspector is assigned to Interpol to protect a priceless stone, on loan to the British Museum.  Events turn dire when Jack Solo is accused of stealing the very stone he is tasked with keeping safe.   Solo Shot: Curse of the Blue Stone now available on Amazon. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A 7-year-old girl drowns in a hotel pool while her mother drinks in the hotel bar.  Katlyn Pineda was found lifeless in the Marriott Melville Long Island pool last year. She remained in a coma on a ventilator and feeding tube for a year, until she died on May 1, 2023. Mom Erica Baez, 41, told investigators the girl had been alone for five minutes. The girl had actually been alone for at least half an hour while Baez ate and drank in the hotel bar. Baez then checked on the girl and went upstairs to check on her 5-month-old son, also left alone. She then went back to the bar. Prosecutors say after another 30 minutes, Baez found Katlyn in the water. Hotel staff say Baez was told that there was no lifeguard on duty and that she was required to be with her daughter.  The little girl suffered “irreversible” brain damage from lack of oxygen. After being in a long-term care facility in New Jersey for a year, she died.   Joining Nancy Grace Today James Shelnutt – Attorney – The Shelnutt Law Firm, P.C.; 27-year Atlanta Metro Area Major Case Detective and Former S.W.A.T. Officer; Twitter: @ShelnuttLawFirm Dr. Angela Arnold – Psychiatrist, Atlanta GA.; 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; Voted My Buckhead’s Best Psychiatric Practice of 2023 Andrea Zaferes - Aquatic Death and Abuse investigator, Vice President of Lifeguard Systems; Twitter: @AZTeamLGS Dr. Jan Gorniak- Medical Examiner, Clark County Office of the Coroner/Medical Examiner (Las Vegas, NV);  Board Certified Forensic Pathologist  Ashe Short - Senior Editor for The Daily Wire; Twitter @AsheSchow  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Woman refuses ride from drunk co-worker still dies at his hands. Woman found with baby raccoon in her backpack.  For more crime and justice news go to crimeonline.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nancy Grace talks with author May Cobb about her new book, A LIKEABLE WOMAN. This thriller follow's  Kira’s journey back in her affluent hometown. Initially, it's a party invitation that brings Kira home, but  the secrets of her mother’s death weigh on the woman's mind and heart. And now, the enticement of an unpublished memoir written by Kira's mom brings resolution and danger.  A LIKEABLE WOMAN by May Cobb, available July 11, 2023.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Manhattan corporate attorney is accused of serial rape and arrested in New Jersey. Matthew Nilo, 35, is charged with sexually assaulting four women 15 years ago. The first victim reported being abducted at gunpoint, driven to Terminal Street in Charleston, and raped. A fourth woman was attacked while she was jogging.  Investigators turned to forensic investigative genealogy, and after identifying Nilo as a person of interest, he was placed under surveillance. FBI agents obtain eating utensils and drinking glasses Niko used at a  corporate event. A DNA profile, which matched the rape suspect,  was obtained from one of the glasses.   Nilo has pleaded not guilty.  Joining Nancy Grace Today: Jean Fisher - Former Chief Deputy prosecutor in Ada County, Boise, ID; Former Special Crimes Chief Deputy (specializing in murder, crimes against children, and sexual assault); Director of Curriculum in Building Hope Today Dr. Shari Schwartz - Forensic Psychologist (specializing in Capital Mitigation and Victim Advocacy); Twitter: @TrialDoc; Author: "Criminal Behavior" and "Where Law and Psychology Intersect: Issues in Legal Psychology" Robert Crispin - "Crispin Investigations" 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; Facebook: Crispin Special Investigations, Inc.    Michael Brophy - Brophy Professional Genealogy & Heir Searching, Professional Genealogist based in Boston; Twitter: @brophy123, Facebook: @brophygenealogy  Rachel Countryman - Forensic nurse expert for Godoy Medical Forensics, Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE); Twitter: @GodoyForensics  Bob Ward- Reporter for Boston 25 News; Twitter: Bward3, Facebook: Bob Ward Boston 25  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Father faces charges after verbal abuse leads to teen daughter's suicide attempt. Neighbor takes anti-theft protection to criminal levels.  For more crime and justice news go to crimeonline.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bus driver and passenger engage in a shootout. Newly released inmate winds up back in jail on the same day.  For more crime and justice news go to crimeonline.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The search for Ricky Griffis began two days after his last contact with his mother. When Alice Mabe texted her 46-year-old son, asking if he was coming home that night, he said "no." He didn’t come home the next night either. And then he didn’t show up for work.   Griffis was seen leaving an acquaintance’s place of business on July 5th. Several texts were exchanged with the acquaintance. The next day his car was found near the Coopersville strip mines. That morning, Griffis sent his family a strange text around 9 a.m. It said he was stuck in the woods, but Griffis’ cell phone was found in the vehicle, along with his wallet. Joining Nancy Grace Today: Cheyanne Carney - Sister of Ricky Griffis 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; Twitter: @WendyPatrickPHD Dr. Lisa Long - Forensic Psychologist and Owner of Dr. Long and Associates; Instagram: @dr.lisalong, Facebook: DrLisaLong/  Brian Fitzgibbons - VP Operations at USPA Nationwide Security; Instagram: @uspa_nationwide_security; Kingsman Philanthropic's 2022 rescue missions of women and children in Ukraine; Iraq War Veteran Toney Wade - Commander, Cajun Coast Search and Rescue Team; Facebook.com/CajunCoastSAR Phil Pendleton - News Reporter and Multimedia Journalist for WKYT (CBS News affiliate based in Lexington, KY); Twitter: @philtvnews, Facebook: Phil Pendleton WKYT  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.