April 29, 2025 • 6 mins
A firefighter-paramedic is stabbed to death inside an ambulance in Missouri while trying to help a woman on the highway. Rampant masturbation at a Seattle park sparks a lawsuit from frustrated residents demanding the city crack down on illegal behavior. Drew Nelson reports.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Crime Alert hourly update, breaking crime news Now.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
I'm Drew Nelson.
Speaker 3 (00:04):
A firefighter paramedic is stabbed to death inside an ambulance
in Missouri while trying to help a woman found on
the highway. Early Sunday, Kansas City police and fire crews
answered a welfare call for a woman walking along Highway
one point fifty two. Officers found Schanetta Bassel, H. Thirty
eight and call it EMS for further help. Firefighter paramedic
Graham Hoffman, H. Twenty nine and his partner placed Bassell
(00:27):
in their ambulance to take her to Saint Luke's Hospital.
En route, around one twenty five am, Bassell allegedly pulled
a knife and stabbed Hoffman in the chest, piercing his heart.
Additional police and fire units rushed to the singing cruise
fought to save Hoffman's life while speeding to North Kansas
City Hospital. Doctors continued life saving efforts there, but Hoffman
died in the ICU. Police recovered the knife inside the ambulance.
(00:51):
Bassell was arrested at the scene and remains dale on
a one million dollar bond. She is charged with first
degree murder, armed criminal action, assault, and resisting arrest four
days before the stabbing, but Sale had been arrested after
allegedly biting a Platte City police officer during another violent encounter.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
She had posted a ten.
Speaker 3 (01:08):
Thousand dollars bond and was released shortly before the deadly attack.
Court records said she should be considered quote a danger
to the public.
Speaker 4 (01:15):
I think it's hetting everybody pretty hard, but at some
point it's going to impact us all, and we're all
feeling it. I know. I was, definitely because it was tough.
He was a good guy, really missing.
Speaker 3 (01:24):
Firefighter Graham Hoffman had been with the Kansas City Fire
Department since twenty twenty two. Before that, he served with
the Belton Fire Department.
Speaker 4 (01:31):
Incredible to watch him. He turned out to be phenomenal always.
Patients loved him, peers loved him. He was just amazing
in every way.
Speaker 3 (01:39):
K cfd EMS Division Chief Paul Pikowski there he trained Hoffman.
Speaker 2 (01:44):
Speaking to KSE TV.
Speaker 4 (01:45):
He said his name, but it didn't really click and
I called back and said who was it? And then
it was like, oh great, that was one of my
kids that I taught, and that just that that hurt.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
Peikowski said.
Speaker 3 (01:57):
Hoffman worked hard, often ran between three thousand, five hundred
and four thousand calls in the past three years and
never once received a complaint.
Speaker 4 (02:06):
From his appearance, you would look at him and go,
this is a man that takes his job very seriously.
Speaker 3 (02:10):
Kansas City Fire Chief Ross Grundisson described Hoffmann as quote
an excellent paramedic who treated patients with quote the highest
level of skill and compassion. Mayor Quentin Lucas calls his
death a senseless act and said, quote Graham was twenty
nine years old, someone who had an exceptional life ahead
of him and died doing something that was so impactful
(02:30):
and important to all.
Speaker 2 (02:31):
Of us serving the community.
Speaker 3 (02:33):
Case CFD members are wearing black bands on their badges
for the next thirty days. Fire station flags will fly
at half staff to honor him.
Speaker 2 (02:42):
More crime and justice news. After this.
Speaker 3 (02:51):
Rampant masturbation at a Seattle park sparks a lawsuit from
frustrated residents demanding the city crackdown.
Speaker 2 (02:58):
On illegal behavior.
Speaker 3 (02:59):
Neighbors are around Denny Blaine Park filed a lawsuit against
the City of Seattle, claiming the park has turned into
a hot spot for public loudness, including daily incidents of
men openly masturbating in broad daylight.
Speaker 2 (03:11):
Lee Keller, who.
Speaker 3 (03:12):
Is a spokesperson for the group Denny Blaine for All,
says quote it's bad activity, it's illegal, it's illicit. It's
masturbation multiple times a day by men sitting on the wall,
sitting at the park in view of the homes and
view of everything, and it's non ending and it's really troubling.
Denny Blaine Park has long been known as an unofficial
nude beach and safe space for LGBTQ community members. Public
(03:36):
nudity is not illegal in Washington. Sophie Amity Debs, the
co leader of Friends of Denny Blaine, points out that
the lawsuit could end nude use of.
Speaker 2 (03:44):
The park entirely.
Speaker 3 (03:45):
The lawsuit claims that city leaders have long known about
the problems at Denny Blaine but failed to act. Neighbors
say they've collected video evidence showing frequent public sex acts, masturbation,
and indecent exposure. Some residents say they fear lee being
their homes and have seen people seemingly casing their houses
while half dressed. City officials have floated plans for quote
(04:07):
unquote public masturbation deterrent infrastructure, but residents are arguing that
more real enforcement is needed. In the meantime, friends of
Denny Blaine are planning a free bystander intervention training at
the park on May eighteenth, teaching people how to safely
respond to illegal behavior. Bridget Lee Pendel Williamson was last
(04:29):
confirmed alive April of nineteen ninety seven, when police arrested
her for prostitution in San Francisco, California. She had been
seen near Capp Street between sixteenth and nineteenth Streets, an
area known for homelessness and drug use. She never showed
up for a subsequent court date. Bridget, who was twenty three,
had a long history of traveling between California, Vermont, Oregon,
(04:51):
New York, and Arizona. Before falling into addiction. She had
been a nurse in Vermont and a student at Barbazon
Modeling School. Her family said she be and using heroin, cocaine,
and LSD after following the band The Grateful Dead in
the early nineteen nineties. In two thousand and four, her sister,
Jacqueline Horn, was searching the streets for handing out missing
(05:11):
posters and showing photos, trying to find anyone who recognized Bridget.
Some told her they thought Bridget might be a woman
nicknamed the Crier, a homeless woman often seen weeping openly
in the streets. A photograph from the San Francisco Chronicle
could not help confirm if it was Bridget. Bridget had
many distinctive marks, including a yellow rose tattoo on her buttock,
(05:32):
a blue cat tattoo above her pubic area, tribal bracelet,
tattoos around both arms, scars.
Speaker 2 (05:38):
On her chin and inner arms.
Speaker 3 (05:40):
She was white, between five five and five seven, and
between one hundred and one hundred forty pounds, blonde or
brown hair, with brown or blue eyes.
Speaker 2 (05:48):
Bridget would be fifty one today.
Speaker 3 (05:50):
Anyone with information should contact Santa Cruz County Sheriffs at
eight three one four five four twenty two forty two.
For the latest crime and justice news. Follow crime alertly
update on your favorite podcast app with this crime alert.
Speaker 2 (06:03):
I'm Drean Nelson.
Speaker 1 (06:10):
How could a beautiful, young first grade teacher be stabbed
twenty times, including in the back, allegedly die of suicide? Yes,
that was the medical examiner's official ruling after a closed
door meeting. He first named it a homicide. Why what
happened to Ellen Greenberg? A huge American miscarriage of justice.
(06:35):
For an in depth look at the facts, see what
happened to Ellen on Amazon. All proceeds to the National
Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
Crime Alert hourly update, breaking crime news Now.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
I'm Drew Nelson.
Speaker 3 (00:04):
A firefighter paramedic is stabbed to death inside an ambulance
in Missouri while trying to help a woman found on
the highway. Early Sunday, Kansas City police and fire crews
answered a welfare call for a woman walking along Highway
one point fifty two. Officers found Schanetta Bassel, H. Thirty
eight and call it EMS for further help. Firefighter paramedic
Graham Hoffman, H. Twenty nine and his partner placed Bassell
(00:27):
in their ambulance to take her to Saint Luke's Hospital.
En route, around one twenty five am, Bassell allegedly pulled
a knife and stabbed Hoffman in the chest, piercing his heart.
Additional police and fire units rushed to the singing cruise
fought to save Hoffman's life while speeding to North Kansas
City Hospital. Doctors continued life saving efforts there, but Hoffman
died in the ICU. Police recovered the knife inside the ambulance.
(00:51):
Bassell was arrested at the scene and remains dale on
a one million dollar bond. She is charged with first
degree murder, armed criminal action, assault, and resisting arrest four
days before the stabbing, but Sale had been arrested after
allegedly biting a Platte City police officer during another violent encounter.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
She had posted a ten.
Speaker 3 (01:08):
Thousand dollars bond and was released shortly before the deadly attack.
Court records said she should be considered quote a danger
to the public.
Speaker 4 (01:15):
I think it's hetting everybody pretty hard, but at some
point it's going to impact us all, and we're all
feeling it. I know. I was, definitely because it was tough.
He was a good guy, really missing.
Speaker 3 (01:24):
Firefighter Graham Hoffman had been with the Kansas City Fire
Department since twenty twenty two. Before that, he served with
the Belton Fire Department.
Speaker 4 (01:31):
Incredible to watch him. He turned out to be phenomenal always.
Patients loved him, peers loved him. He was just amazing
in every way.
Speaker 3 (01:39):
K cfd EMS Division Chief Paul Pikowski there he trained Hoffman.
Speaker 2 (01:44):
Speaking to KSE TV.
Speaker 4 (01:45):
He said his name, but it didn't really click and
I called back and said who was it? And then
it was like, oh great, that was one of my
kids that I taught, and that just that that hurt.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
Peikowski said.
Speaker 3 (01:57):
Hoffman worked hard, often ran between three thousand, five hundred
and four thousand calls in the past three years and
never once received a complaint.
Speaker 4 (02:06):
From his appearance, you would look at him and go,
this is a man that takes his job very seriously.
Speaker 3 (02:10):
Kansas City Fire Chief Ross Grundisson described Hoffmann as quote
an excellent paramedic who treated patients with quote the highest
level of skill and compassion. Mayor Quentin Lucas calls his
death a senseless act and said, quote Graham was twenty
nine years old, someone who had an exceptional life ahead
of him and died doing something that was so impactful
(02:30):
and important to all.
Speaker 2 (02:31):
Of us serving the community.
Speaker 3 (02:33):
Case CFD members are wearing black bands on their badges
for the next thirty days. Fire station flags will fly
at half staff to honor him.
Speaker 2 (02:42):
More crime and justice news. After this.
Speaker 3 (02:51):
Rampant masturbation at a Seattle park sparks a lawsuit from
frustrated residents demanding the city crackdown.
Speaker 2 (02:58):
On illegal behavior.
Speaker 3 (02:59):
Neighbors are around Denny Blaine Park filed a lawsuit against
the City of Seattle, claiming the park has turned into
a hot spot for public loudness, including daily incidents of
men openly masturbating in broad daylight.
Speaker 2 (03:11):
Lee Keller, who.
Speaker 3 (03:12):
Is a spokesperson for the group Denny Blaine for All,
says quote it's bad activity, it's illegal, it's illicit. It's
masturbation multiple times a day by men sitting on the wall,
sitting at the park in view of the homes and
view of everything, and it's non ending and it's really troubling.
Denny Blaine Park has long been known as an unofficial
nude beach and safe space for LGBTQ community members. Public
(03:36):
nudity is not illegal in Washington. Sophie Amity Debs, the
co leader of Friends of Denny Blaine, points out that
the lawsuit could end nude use of.
Speaker 2 (03:44):
The park entirely.
Speaker 3 (03:45):
The lawsuit claims that city leaders have long known about
the problems at Denny Blaine but failed to act. Neighbors
say they've collected video evidence showing frequent public sex acts, masturbation,
and indecent exposure. Some residents say they fear lee being
their homes and have seen people seemingly casing their houses
while half dressed. City officials have floated plans for quote
(04:07):
unquote public masturbation deterrent infrastructure, but residents are arguing that
more real enforcement is needed. In the meantime, friends of
Denny Blaine are planning a free bystander intervention training at
the park on May eighteenth, teaching people how to safely
respond to illegal behavior. Bridget Lee Pendel Williamson was last
(04:29):
confirmed alive April of nineteen ninety seven, when police arrested
her for prostitution in San Francisco, California. She had been
seen near Capp Street between sixteenth and nineteenth Streets, an
area known for homelessness and drug use. She never showed
up for a subsequent court date. Bridget, who was twenty three,
had a long history of traveling between California, Vermont, Oregon,
(04:51):
New York, and Arizona. Before falling into addiction. She had
been a nurse in Vermont and a student at Barbazon
Modeling School. Her family said she be and using heroin, cocaine,
and LSD after following the band The Grateful Dead in
the early nineteen nineties. In two thousand and four, her sister,
Jacqueline Horn, was searching the streets for handing out missing
(05:11):
posters and showing photos, trying to find anyone who recognized Bridget.
Some told her they thought Bridget might be a woman
nicknamed the Crier, a homeless woman often seen weeping openly
in the streets. A photograph from the San Francisco Chronicle
could not help confirm if it was Bridget. Bridget had
many distinctive marks, including a yellow rose tattoo on her buttock,
(05:32):
a blue cat tattoo above her pubic area, tribal bracelet,
tattoos around both arms, scars.
Speaker 2 (05:38):
On her chin and inner arms.
Speaker 3 (05:40):
She was white, between five five and five seven, and
between one hundred and one hundred forty pounds, blonde or
brown hair, with brown or blue eyes.
Speaker 2 (05:48):
Bridget would be fifty one today.
Speaker 3 (05:50):
Anyone with information should contact Santa Cruz County Sheriffs at
eight three one four five four twenty two forty two.
For the latest crime and justice news. Follow crime alertly
update on your favorite podcast app with this crime alert.
Speaker 2 (06:03):
I'm Drean Nelson.
Speaker 1 (06:10):
How could a beautiful, young first grade teacher be stabbed
twenty times, including in the back, allegedly die of suicide? Yes,
that was the medical examiner's official ruling after a closed
door meeting. He first named it a homicide. Why what
happened to Ellen Greenberg? A huge American miscarriage of justice.
(06:35):
For an in depth look at the facts, see what
happened to Ellen on Amazon. All proceeds to the National
Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
Host
Nancy Grace
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