A Long Island mom, who lost everything including her 2 beloved dogs, when her neighbor allegedly torched her place - is demanding his charges be upgraded to attempted murder. Right now, the fellow tenant, who is free on bond - is facing an arson count.
A Utah mother & son are gunned down in cold blood...Now, unsealed warrants unveil clues that could lead to a killer...possibly even her own older son. Plus, some babies are being given some killer names in 2025! Jennifer Gould reports.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Crime alart hourly update, breaking crime news Now. I'm Jennifer Gould.
A New York woman's world was shattered and engulfed in flames,
allegedly by her own downstairs neighbor, who's accused of torching
her Plane View home, killing her two beloved dogs, Jamison
and Jack. Arianna Belford, a Long Island mom, stood outside
(00:22):
Nasau County Court demanding that Jaha Kiah's current arson charges
be upgraded to attempted murder. She argues that the deliberate
act endangered her entire family's lives in a raging inferno
that took one hundred firefighters from six departments to finally tame.
Ariana spoke to the media and everything that we all
(00:44):
own on the first floor. The second floor is completely gone.
Everything I have and dogs were killed. He killed his
own cat. He's an animal. The devastating blaze, which investigators
say originated in Kia's illegal basement apartment, engulfed the entire
home where Bellfort and her three kids slept. Two firefighters
(01:06):
suffered injuries as a result of the fire and were
transported to an area hospital for smoke inhalation and burns
to the hands. The fire not only claimed her cherished dogs,
but also tragically killed one of Kia's own cats, Yet
he was only charged with a single count of animal cruelty.
KEA forty was arrested and also faces charges of arson
(01:26):
and criminal mischief. However, Belfort and her growing legion of
supporters are adamant these charges are a mirror slap on
the wrist. The incident has sent shockwaves through the tight
knit Plaine View community, with neighbors rallying fiercely behind Bellefort.
Prosecutors alleged Kia intentionally ignited the blaze, though the motive
(01:47):
remains a mystery. Legal experts acknowledge that escalating the charges
to attempted murder would require compelling evidence of intent to
harm humans, a high legal bar. Bellefort's impassion fight for
justice has ignited a firestorm of support, drawing animal rights
activists and even state Assemblyman Jake Blumenkranz to her side.
(02:08):
Blumenkrans has announced he will introduce the Animal Justice Act,
a proposed statewide bill that would classify murdering an animal
as a Class A felony, carrying a potential sentence of
up to twenty five years to life. In prison official
site how many serial killers begin with animal cruelty. In
the meantime, Bellefort says Kia, whom she barely knows, has
(02:32):
shown no remorse while he's out free on bond. The
investigation continues more crime and justice news after this. A
quiet Utah County has been rocked by a chilling double homicide,
and now newly sealed search warrants expose a disturbing trail
(02:53):
of clues in the brutal killings of Jessica Lyman, forty
four and her eight year old son, Eli Payne. The
gruesome discovery made by Lyman's seventeen year old daughter on
March twenty eighth in their Saratoga Springs town home has
plunged investigators into a complex and deeply unsettling mystery involving
(03:14):
a masked figure, potential sexual assault DNA, and the chilling
behavior of a living teenage son. Responding to a frantic
nine one to one callar around ten fifteen in the morning,
police found Eli tragically cold and in rigor mortis alongside
his mom, both suffering fatal small caliber gunshot wounds to
(03:35):
the head. Eli was pronounced dead at the scene. Lyman
clinging to life, was rushed to Utah Valley Hospital, but
died of her injuries three days later. Two twenty two
caliber shell casings were found in the master bedroom, but
despite extensive searches, the murder weapon remains missing. The scene
grew even more disturbing when a doctor treating Lyman reported
(03:56):
finding what could be sperm on her Forensic teams later
conferred dried seminal fluid on the bed sheets, raising immediate
suspicions of a possible sexual assault. During the attack, Surveillance
footage from a neighbor's camera captured a truly unsettling image
of figure at two thirty in the morning near the home,
pausing chillingly to down a white mask before slipping into
(04:19):
a gap between houses on Willowbrook Lane, mere yards from
Lyman's home. Another clip reportedly showed someone leaving through a
fence gap at the same time and returning thirty minutes later,
never seen leaving again that night. The plot thickened immensely
when a white and brown mask strikingly similar to the
one in the video was later found in the bedroom
(04:42):
of Lyman's fifteen year old son. This fifteen year old
was home during the shootings, but inexplicably claimed to be
napping and unaware of any gunfire. That statement immediately raised
eyebrows among investigators because police hadn't mentioned firearms. Private investigator
Chris burt From spoke to ABC four News, if the
(05:02):
juvenile is involved in this, it is. It's not something
that we discussed. It's not something that is for public
consumption until charges are filed and adult charges. Text messages
from July twenty twenty four between Lyman and her fifteen
year old son, uncovered via a warrant for his cell phone,
painted a grim picture of a deeply strained relationship. The
(05:23):
teen sent hostile, profanity laced messages, including chilling threats like
quote unquote shut up which and quote I wish I
died in your stomach end quote. Further adding to this suspicion,
a search of his bedroom uncovered an empty beer can,
BB gun pistols, and handwritten notes. One note chillingly referenced roology, DNA,
(05:44):
and firearm testing, while another simply declared, quote this is
a murder story. End quote. Clothing belief to belong to
Jessica Lyman was also found in his room. No suspects
have been officially named and Sarah Toogas Springs police have
not publicly detailed the current status of the fifteen year
old son. Lyman's boyfriend referenced in Warrens as confirming her
(06:05):
ring camera email has not been named to suspect. The
Saratoga Springs Police Department's investigation remains active, with authorities urging
anyone with information to contact them at eight zero one
seven six six six' five zero. Three and, finally forget
sweet innocent baby, Names some expecting parents are taking a
(06:26):
truly twisted. TURN a new bombshell report From BabyCenter reveals
that names inspired by actual true crime, cyclepaths serial, killers
and con artists are trending for twenty twenty five. NEWBORNS
i kid you not so before you start side eyeing every.
Stroller experts say it's less about villain worship and more
(06:48):
about how binge worthy true crime docs and viral sensations
are kind of messing with our. Heads these dark monikers
are apparently just creeping into parents' brains from all the binge.
Watching so what chilling names are topping the? Charts, well for,
girls we're Seeing anna like the fake Heiress Anna Delvi
bell after the wellness Scammer aaron aka The Mushroom. Killer
(07:11):
on the boys, side Think Joe, Joe Exotic Tiger, King
luca From Don't blank With, cats and Even teddy as
in Ted. Bundy no word If luigi is on the,
list but let's just hope parents start drawing some inspiration
from fairy tales Or marvel heroes instead so these little
ones can have a superstart the life. Instead for the
(07:31):
latest crime and justice, news follow The Crime alert hourly
update on your favorite podcast app with This Crime. Alert
I'm Jennifer. Ruler
Crime alart hourly update, breaking crime news Now. I'm Jennifer Gould.
A New York woman's world was shattered and engulfed in flames,
allegedly by her own downstairs neighbor, who's accused of torching
her Plane View home, killing her two beloved dogs, Jamison
and Jack. Arianna Belford, a Long Island mom, stood outside
(00:22):
Nasau County Court demanding that Jaha Kiah's current arson charges
be upgraded to attempted murder. She argues that the deliberate
act endangered her entire family's lives in a raging inferno
that took one hundred firefighters from six departments to finally tame.
Ariana spoke to the media and everything that we all
(00:44):
own on the first floor. The second floor is completely gone.
Everything I have and dogs were killed. He killed his
own cat. He's an animal. The devastating blaze, which investigators
say originated in Kia's illegal basement apartment, engulfed the entire
home where Bellfort and her three kids slept. Two firefighters
(01:06):
suffered injuries as a result of the fire and were
transported to an area hospital for smoke inhalation and burns
to the hands. The fire not only claimed her cherished dogs,
but also tragically killed one of Kia's own cats, Yet
he was only charged with a single count of animal cruelty.
KEA forty was arrested and also faces charges of arson
(01:26):
and criminal mischief. However, Belfort and her growing legion of
supporters are adamant these charges are a mirror slap on
the wrist. The incident has sent shockwaves through the tight
knit Plaine View community, with neighbors rallying fiercely behind Bellefort.
Prosecutors alleged Kia intentionally ignited the blaze, though the motive
(01:47):
remains a mystery. Legal experts acknowledge that escalating the charges
to attempted murder would require compelling evidence of intent to
harm humans, a high legal bar. Bellefort's impassion fight for
justice has ignited a firestorm of support, drawing animal rights
activists and even state Assemblyman Jake Blumenkranz to her side.
(02:08):
Blumenkrans has announced he will introduce the Animal Justice Act,
a proposed statewide bill that would classify murdering an animal
as a Class A felony, carrying a potential sentence of
up to twenty five years to life. In prison official
site how many serial killers begin with animal cruelty. In
the meantime, Bellefort says Kia, whom she barely knows, has
(02:32):
shown no remorse while he's out free on bond. The
investigation continues more crime and justice news after this. A
quiet Utah County has been rocked by a chilling double homicide,
and now newly sealed search warrants expose a disturbing trail
(02:53):
of clues in the brutal killings of Jessica Lyman, forty
four and her eight year old son, Eli Payne. The
gruesome discovery made by Lyman's seventeen year old daughter on
March twenty eighth in their Saratoga Springs town home has
plunged investigators into a complex and deeply unsettling mystery involving
(03:14):
a masked figure, potential sexual assault DNA, and the chilling
behavior of a living teenage son. Responding to a frantic
nine one to one callar around ten fifteen in the morning,
police found Eli tragically cold and in rigor mortis alongside
his mom, both suffering fatal small caliber gunshot wounds to
(03:35):
the head. Eli was pronounced dead at the scene. Lyman
clinging to life, was rushed to Utah Valley Hospital, but
died of her injuries three days later. Two twenty two
caliber shell casings were found in the master bedroom, but
despite extensive searches, the murder weapon remains missing. The scene
grew even more disturbing when a doctor treating Lyman reported
(03:56):
finding what could be sperm on her Forensic teams later
conferred dried seminal fluid on the bed sheets, raising immediate
suspicions of a possible sexual assault. During the attack, Surveillance
footage from a neighbor's camera captured a truly unsettling image
of figure at two thirty in the morning near the home,
pausing chillingly to down a white mask before slipping into
(04:19):
a gap between houses on Willowbrook Lane, mere yards from
Lyman's home. Another clip reportedly showed someone leaving through a
fence gap at the same time and returning thirty minutes later,
never seen leaving again that night. The plot thickened immensely
when a white and brown mask strikingly similar to the
one in the video was later found in the bedroom
(04:42):
of Lyman's fifteen year old son. This fifteen year old
was home during the shootings, but inexplicably claimed to be
napping and unaware of any gunfire. That statement immediately raised
eyebrows among investigators because police hadn't mentioned firearms. Private investigator
Chris burt From spoke to ABC four News, if the
(05:02):
juvenile is involved in this, it is. It's not something
that we discussed. It's not something that is for public
consumption until charges are filed and adult charges. Text messages
from July twenty twenty four between Lyman and her fifteen
year old son, uncovered via a warrant for his cell phone,
painted a grim picture of a deeply strained relationship. The
(05:23):
teen sent hostile, profanity laced messages, including chilling threats like
quote unquote shut up which and quote I wish I
died in your stomach end quote. Further adding to this suspicion,
a search of his bedroom uncovered an empty beer can,
BB gun pistols, and handwritten notes. One note chillingly referenced roology, DNA,
(05:44):
and firearm testing, while another simply declared, quote this is
a murder story. End quote. Clothing belief to belong to
Jessica Lyman was also found in his room. No suspects
have been officially named and Sarah Toogas Springs police have
not publicly detailed the current status of the fifteen year
old son. Lyman's boyfriend referenced in Warrens as confirming her
(06:05):
ring camera email has not been named to suspect. The
Saratoga Springs Police Department's investigation remains active, with authorities urging
anyone with information to contact them at eight zero one
seven six six six' five zero. Three and, finally forget
sweet innocent baby, Names some expecting parents are taking a
(06:26):
truly twisted. TURN a new bombshell report From BabyCenter reveals
that names inspired by actual true crime, cyclepaths serial, killers
and con artists are trending for twenty twenty five. NEWBORNS
i kid you not so before you start side eyeing every.
Stroller experts say it's less about villain worship and more
(06:48):
about how binge worthy true crime docs and viral sensations
are kind of messing with our. Heads these dark monikers
are apparently just creeping into parents' brains from all the binge.
Watching so what chilling names are topping the? Charts, well for,
girls we're Seeing anna like the fake Heiress Anna Delvi
bell after the wellness Scammer aaron aka The Mushroom. Killer
(07:11):
on the boys, side Think Joe, Joe Exotic Tiger, King
luca From Don't blank With, cats and Even teddy as
in Ted. Bundy no word If luigi is on the,
list but let's just hope parents start drawing some inspiration
from fairy tales Or marvel heroes instead so these little
ones can have a superstart the life. Instead for the
(07:31):
latest crime and justice, news follow The Crime alert hourly
update on your favorite podcast app with This Crime. Alert
I'm Jennifer. Ruler
Host
Nancy Grace
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