Cody Balmer, who faced allegations of firebombing the Pennsylvania governor's residence in April, has officially admitted guilt to all charges leveled against him, which include attempted murder and terrorism.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Crime Alert hourly update breaking crime news Now. I'm Nicole
part And Cody Balmer, who faced allegations of fire bombing
the Pennsylvania Governor's residence in April, has officially admitted guilt
to all charges levied against him, which include attempted murder
and terrorism. The thirty eight year old resident of Harrisburg
appeared at the Dauphin County Courthouse for the hearing, which
(00:23):
kicked off around eight thirty am today. He was spotted
arriving dressed in a red jumpsuit with his hands restrained
and ankles shackled. During the session, Balmer entered a guilty
plea to various charges, including attempted murder of Governor Shapiro,
aggravated arson, burglary, and more than twenty counts of arson.
(00:44):
He was subsequently sentenced to a prison term of twenty
five to fifty years with no possibility of parole until
April thirteen, twenty fifty. He will be sixty three years old.
On the day of the incident, Balmer reportedly called nine
to one one confessing to igniting the fire at Governor
Josh Shapiro's residence using multiple Molotov cocktails around two am.
(01:08):
During the hearing on Tuesday, the court presented video evidence
showing Balmer launching the cocktails at the building and attempting
to force his way through doors to confront the governor inside.
After viewing the footage, Judge Deborah Crucillo remarked to Balmer
that was frightening to watch. Authorities noted that Balmber called
(01:29):
nine one one about an hour after the blaze started,
telling dispatchers Governor Josh Shapiro needs to know that Cody
Balmer will not take part in his plans regarding the
Palestinian people. In police reports, it was noted that when
asked how he would have reacted if Shapiro had confronted him,
Balmber claimed he would have attacked the governor with a hammer.
(01:50):
During the proceedings on Tuesday, the judge read a letter
from Governor Shapiro and his family which conveyed the lasting
impact of the attack. There's a separation of time before
and after the attack, the letter said, highlighting that some
family members still feel unsafe and public due to the incident.
The governor thanked the first responders and even shortly after
(02:12):
the attack, had a strong message for any form of violence.
Was targeted. This type of violence is not okay. Additionally,
a letter from Balmer's family was read in court, where
they depicted him as a brother, a parent, a son,
a partner, and a youth sports coach. They mentioned that
Bamber experienced his menic episodes and had previously been in
(02:34):
the hospital for mental health issues, but was released after
being deemed not a threat to himself or others. When
he first appeared in court to face the charges, Balmber
dismissed concerns about his mental health as mere rumors, saying
he knew exactly what he planned to do. Or Crime
and Justice News after this thirty seven year old woman
(03:01):
from Pennsylvania could spend the rest of her life behind
bars after confessing to the murder of a sixty six
year old man. Following the shooting, she used a chainsaw
bought by his money to dismember his body and burn
him in the backyard fire pit. On Monday, Erie County
Judge Daniel Brabender sentenced Marissa Jean Rodriguez to forty to
(03:24):
eighty years in a state correctional facility for the murder
of Michael Maisner. In twenty twenty three, Rodriguez entered a
guilty but mentally ill plea in August to several serious charges,
including third degree murder and abuse of a corpse. Originally
charged with first degree murder, her charge was reduced following
a plea agreement with prosecutors prior to imposing the maximum
(03:47):
sentence allowed by law. Judge Barbender remarked on the shocking
details of the case, This is probably the most disturbing
series of facts I've ever encountered in my courtroom, he stated.
According to local news report, the violence events started on
April twelve, twenty twenty three, when Maisoner's family, worried about
not hearing from him for a couple of weeks, visited
(04:09):
his home. While they found no sign of Maisner, they
discovered Rodrigas living in the attic. She was reportedly residing
there for several months before the murder. The following day,
authorities conducted a welfare check at Maisoner's residence. Inside, they
discovered sections of carpet and patting had been removed, suspected
(04:30):
human tissue, blood stains, and cleaning supplies. As reported by
the Eerie local news outlet, The investigators also noted a
strange riding on the wall in the fire pit, they
uncovered an eyeglass frame, a picture frame, remnants of the carpet,
charred human remains, and bone fragments that were later confirmed
through DNA testing to belong to Maisner. After killing Maisoner,
(04:54):
Rodrigus drove his Cadillac about forty miles to his house
in New York, where she was arrested the fallou day
on charges of auto theft. She was extradited back to
Pennsylvania to face murder charges. During interrogation, she reportedly acknowledged
that she was living in the attic for about three months,
but had no claim of what happened and how he died.
(05:16):
Adam Maisner, the victim's nephew, shared that his uncle had
allowed Rodriguez to stay with him in exchange for assistance
around the house. They noted him as a laid back guy,
someone who loved to enjoy the outdoors. He loved golfing
and riding his motorcycle, His family said. The authorities connected
Rodriguez to the murder through her Internet searches, which included
(05:37):
phrases like Mike Maisner, how to shoot someone? How long
does it take to burn a dead body? Can you
cut someone? Up with a chainsaw. Her online activity, investigators
found videos of her obtaining the pen for Messner's debit card,
images of a three point fifty seven revolver, disturbing videos,
and photos showing Maisner's lifeless body in a pool of blood.
(06:01):
The video also featured Rodriguez wearing the same shoes found
in the vehicle she drove to New York. According to
the complaint, she is said to have spent about six
hundred dollars of the man's money at Walmart shortly before
the murder, in the purchases the chainsaw that she would
later use to dismember his body. During a preliminary hearing
(06:21):
in August, Rodriguez reportedly interrupted a witness and said, well,
I'm guilty, later added, then I cut him up with
the chainsaw. Initially deemed incompetent to stand trial, in January,
a psychiatrist who reevaluated Rodriguez while she was in custody
diagnosed her with schizophrenia. The doctor noted her erratic comments
(06:43):
about the Bible and her belief that cats were her
best friend. Reports also indicate that she pinned disjointed letters
to her attorney while incarcerated, including one in which she
expressed confusion about her actions, saying in part, I don't
know why I acted the way I did the body.
It traumatized me. I'm still traumatized, she said. For the
(07:05):
latest crime injustice news, follow Crime Alert hourly update on
your favorite podcasting app with this crime Alert. I'm Nickel
Park
Crime Alert hourly update breaking crime news Now. I'm Nicole
part And Cody Balmer, who faced allegations of fire bombing
the Pennsylvania Governor's residence in April, has officially admitted guilt
to all charges levied against him, which include attempted murder
and terrorism. The thirty eight year old resident of Harrisburg
appeared at the Dauphin County Courthouse for the hearing, which
(00:23):
kicked off around eight thirty am today. He was spotted
arriving dressed in a red jumpsuit with his hands restrained
and ankles shackled. During the session, Balmer entered a guilty
plea to various charges, including attempted murder of Governor Shapiro,
aggravated arson, burglary, and more than twenty counts of arson.
(00:44):
He was subsequently sentenced to a prison term of twenty
five to fifty years with no possibility of parole until
April thirteen, twenty fifty. He will be sixty three years old.
On the day of the incident, Balmer reportedly called nine
to one one confessing to igniting the fire at Governor
Josh Shapiro's residence using multiple Molotov cocktails around two am.
(01:08):
During the hearing on Tuesday, the court presented video evidence
showing Balmer launching the cocktails at the building and attempting
to force his way through doors to confront the governor inside.
After viewing the footage, Judge Deborah Crucillo remarked to Balmer
that was frightening to watch. Authorities noted that Balmber called
(01:29):
nine one one about an hour after the blaze started,
telling dispatchers Governor Josh Shapiro needs to know that Cody
Balmer will not take part in his plans regarding the
Palestinian people. In police reports, it was noted that when
asked how he would have reacted if Shapiro had confronted him,
Balmber claimed he would have attacked the governor with a hammer.
(01:50):
During the proceedings on Tuesday, the judge read a letter
from Governor Shapiro and his family which conveyed the lasting
impact of the attack. There's a separation of time before
and after the attack, the letter said, highlighting that some
family members still feel unsafe and public due to the incident.
The governor thanked the first responders and even shortly after
(02:12):
the attack, had a strong message for any form of violence.
Was targeted. This type of violence is not okay. Additionally,
a letter from Balmer's family was read in court, where
they depicted him as a brother, a parent, a son,
a partner, and a youth sports coach. They mentioned that
Bamber experienced his menic episodes and had previously been in
(02:34):
the hospital for mental health issues, but was released after
being deemed not a threat to himself or others. When
he first appeared in court to face the charges, Balmber
dismissed concerns about his mental health as mere rumors, saying
he knew exactly what he planned to do. Or Crime
and Justice News after this thirty seven year old woman
(03:01):
from Pennsylvania could spend the rest of her life behind
bars after confessing to the murder of a sixty six
year old man. Following the shooting, she used a chainsaw
bought by his money to dismember his body and burn
him in the backyard fire pit. On Monday, Erie County
Judge Daniel Brabender sentenced Marissa Jean Rodriguez to forty to
(03:24):
eighty years in a state correctional facility for the murder
of Michael Maisner. In twenty twenty three, Rodriguez entered a
guilty but mentally ill plea in August to several serious charges,
including third degree murder and abuse of a corpse. Originally
charged with first degree murder, her charge was reduced following
a plea agreement with prosecutors prior to imposing the maximum
(03:47):
sentence allowed by law. Judge Barbender remarked on the shocking
details of the case, This is probably the most disturbing
series of facts I've ever encountered in my courtroom, he stated.
According to local news report, the violence events started on
April twelve, twenty twenty three, when Maisoner's family, worried about
not hearing from him for a couple of weeks, visited
(04:09):
his home. While they found no sign of Maisner, they
discovered Rodrigas living in the attic. She was reportedly residing
there for several months before the murder. The following day,
authorities conducted a welfare check at Maisoner's residence. Inside, they
discovered sections of carpet and patting had been removed, suspected
(04:30):
human tissue, blood stains, and cleaning supplies. As reported by
the Eerie local news outlet, The investigators also noted a
strange riding on the wall in the fire pit, they
uncovered an eyeglass frame, a picture frame, remnants of the carpet,
charred human remains, and bone fragments that were later confirmed
through DNA testing to belong to Maisner. After killing Maisoner,
(04:54):
Rodrigus drove his Cadillac about forty miles to his house
in New York, where she was arrested the fallou day
on charges of auto theft. She was extradited back to
Pennsylvania to face murder charges. During interrogation, she reportedly acknowledged
that she was living in the attic for about three months,
but had no claim of what happened and how he died.
(05:16):
Adam Maisner, the victim's nephew, shared that his uncle had
allowed Rodriguez to stay with him in exchange for assistance
around the house. They noted him as a laid back guy,
someone who loved to enjoy the outdoors. He loved golfing
and riding his motorcycle, His family said. The authorities connected
Rodriguez to the murder through her Internet searches, which included
(05:37):
phrases like Mike Maisner, how to shoot someone? How long
does it take to burn a dead body? Can you
cut someone? Up with a chainsaw. Her online activity, investigators
found videos of her obtaining the pen for Messner's debit card,
images of a three point fifty seven revolver, disturbing videos,
and photos showing Maisner's lifeless body in a pool of blood.
(06:01):
The video also featured Rodriguez wearing the same shoes found
in the vehicle she drove to New York. According to
the complaint, she is said to have spent about six
hundred dollars of the man's money at Walmart shortly before
the murder, in the purchases the chainsaw that she would
later use to dismember his body. During a preliminary hearing
(06:21):
in August, Rodriguez reportedly interrupted a witness and said, well,
I'm guilty, later added, then I cut him up with
the chainsaw. Initially deemed incompetent to stand trial, in January,
a psychiatrist who reevaluated Rodriguez while she was in custody
diagnosed her with schizophrenia. The doctor noted her erratic comments
(06:43):
about the Bible and her belief that cats were her
best friend. Reports also indicate that she pinned disjointed letters
to her attorney while incarcerated, including one in which she
expressed confusion about her actions, saying in part, I don't
know why I acted the way I did the body.
It traumatized me. I'm still traumatized, she said. For the
(07:05):
latest crime injustice news, follow Crime Alert hourly update on
your favorite podcasting app with this crime Alert. I'm Nickel
Park
Host
Nancy Grace
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