Breaking crime news as it happens throughout the day! Follow "Crime Alert Hourly Update" now on your favorite podcast app: https://link.chtbl.com/Crime_Alert
Our lead story this weekend: White parents, who adopted five black children, sentenced to years in prison for horrific "slave labor" abuse.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Crime Alert hourly update, Breaking crime News Now Crime Alert.
I'm Jackie Howard, and.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
With these children, where we're going through is frankly horrifying
and despicable. There's no other way to describe it.
Speaker 1 (00:10):
Conall County Assistant Prosecutor Deborah Russnik describes to KGn STV
the treatment of three of five adopted black children aged
five to sixteen by their adoptive white parents. Forced to
work during hard labor, The oldest girl and her teenage
brother were locked in a shed when they were rescued.
Now those parents, gene K Whitefeather sixty three and Donald
(00:33):
Lance sixty five, will spend years locked up themselves in prison.
White Feather was sentenced to two hundred and fifteen years.
Her husband received one hundred and sixty years. This case
began when law enforcement followed up on a call for
a welfare check. Conall County Sheriff's deputies went to the
Sissamville home after a neighbor reported seeing Lance lock a
(00:54):
girl and her teenage brother in a shed and leave.
Deputy H. K. Berdett called out to the in the shed,
and one of them replied, ma'am, I'm unable to open
the door from the inside. A crowbar had to be
used to get them out. Later, the deputy testified in
court about opening the door.
Speaker 2 (01:11):
I was repulsed, for the lack of a better term.
As soon as the door was opened, the heat from
inside hit us. The smell was it made my eyes water.
Speaker 1 (01:24):
Conditions inside the shed were unimaginable.
Speaker 2 (01:27):
There was a table in one chair, no running water,
no circulating air, no beds. Very The toilet for the
children was it looked like a hospital pan or like
a camping toilet.
Speaker 1 (01:44):
The children said they slept on the concrete floor and
had been locked in for at least twelve hours before
they were found and indictman alleged the children were forced
labor because.
Speaker 3 (01:53):
Of their race.
Speaker 1 (01:54):
The parents were charged with human trafficking, child neglect, forced labor,
and other crimes. Coming up after this some of our
top stories this week.
Speaker 4 (02:09):
I'm Jennifer Gould. Milwaukee's historic Concordia neighborhood is buzzing over
the arrest of a real estate broker accused of turning
his home into a center of human trafficking, enslavement, and
sexual assault. Here's the court commissioner addressing the defendant.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
Given that there are potential penalties and excess at one
hundred years. Hubbled at what is alleged in this complaint,
I do you find that more significant cash fail is appropriate.
Speaker 4 (02:35):
The criminal complaint details harrowing accounts from two women who
claim they were held captive by Austin Cronister and subjected
to physical and sexual violence over several years at the
so called House Saint Pierre. Documents state Cronister and forced
a rigid system of control, compelling the victims to sign
(02:56):
contracts outlining strict rules of obedience and sex upon demand.
The victims were allegedly required to wear callers as a
symbol of their subjugation, and assigned slave numbers. Both women
reported being branded, also with identical tattoos. One victim described
a pattern of physical abuse, indicating beatings, including choking and kicking,
(03:21):
whenever she failed to comply with Cronister's demands or household tasks.
She also alleged that her finances and personal documents, including
her birth certificate and social Security card, were controlled by
a third party. A particularly disturbing allegation detailed an incident
where Cronister allegedly rendered her unconscious during a non consensual
(03:44):
sexual encounter. She escaped in twenty twenty after more than
three years. The second victim reported a similar experience, including
a violent assault in twenty twenty three when she tried
to leave the residents. She told police that the thirty
eight year old beat her on conn and then sexually
assaulted her. The complaint also alleges that Cronister hosted BDSM
(04:06):
parties at the house, with one victim describing a sex
dungeon in the basement. Christian Saint Pierre, a Milwaukee defense
attorney and co owner of the property, is named in
the complaint as well, but has not been charged. Victims
alleged she played a role in their captivity by monitoring
their activities, controlling their mail, and storing their personal documents.
(04:28):
They also claim she required residents to adopt Saint Pierre
as their surname, and that she herself wore a caller.
Milwaukee Police Department officers executed a search warrant at the residents,
seizing evidence, including contracts and items related to the alleged
BDSM activities. Cronister was arrested and remains in custody at
(04:51):
the Milwaukee County Jail. He faces charges of human trafficking,
false imprisonment, and two counts of second degree sexual assault
with domestic assessments. If convicted on all charges, he would
face a maximum sentence of one hundred and eleven years
in prison.
Speaker 3 (05:08):
I'm Drew Nelson. An eleven year old boy is found
stab to death at a California motel and his mother
is arrested after admitting to the crime.
Speaker 1 (05:16):
We're not quite sure what mom's reason was to stab
and kill her son. You know, Fortunately, you know she's
getting the medical treatment that she needs.
Speaker 3 (05:25):
Santa Annam Police spokesperson Natalie Garcia says on Wednesday morning,
police responded to a nine to one one call at
a laking to end. The caller, who was the mother
in this case, told police that she had killed her son.
Officers arrived around nine thirty am and immediately took her
into custody. Inside the room, police found the boy lying
dead on a bed. He had several stab wounds. Investigators
(05:47):
located a knife at the scene that they believe was
the murder weapon. The mother, identified as forty eight year
old Saretha rama Raju, was calm and cooperative when police arrived.
Rama Raju was taken to a hospital where she was
reported to be in stable condition in custody. According to
officer Garcia, Ramiraju is facing charges including murder, child endangerment, torture,
(06:07):
and aggravated mayhem. The motive remains unclear. Guests at the
hotel reported hearing banging noises and a brief yell earlier
that morning. Alyssa Witherral is a witness.
Speaker 2 (06:18):
After the scream, it kind of got a little quieter.
There were still some wrestling around, but it did get quieter,
so we just thought they went to bed or the
kids calmed down.
Speaker 3 (06:27):
KABC reports the name of the eleven year old victim
has not been released by authorities. He lived in Irvine
with his mother, and the two had been staying on
and off at that Lakitta Inn in Santa Anna during
the weeks before his death. An impromptum memorial has appeared
outside the hotel, including candles, flowers, a little red balloon,
and a teddy bear placed near a small cross. The
(06:48):
investigation is ongoing. Police are seeking additional information and witnesses.
Speaker 2 (06:54):
I'm Nicole Parton, a grandmother in Georgia, was reportedly murdered
by an unknown assailant who fallowed her from a local
Dollar General to her home, ultimately choking her to death
by applying his full weight on her neck while she
lay on the ground. Family members and police have described
the crime as quote horrific and mind blowing. The suspect,
(07:15):
twenty one year old Hector Reevas, is accused of killing
fifty two year old Camellia Williams sometime between eleven pm
on March twelve and one am on March thirteen, As
detailed in an arrest warrant obtained by an Atlanta affiliate
of ABC. WSB, Authorities in Cobb County alleged that Revas
strangled Williams before abandoning her body in a yard near
(07:39):
her residence in Marietta, where it was discovered the following
Thursday morning, leaving her family in disbelief. Camellia's brother, in
an interview with WSB, spoke about the devastation of losing
his sister, except.
Speaker 1 (07:55):
That's halt to believe that this truly happening.
Speaker 2 (08:02):
Absorder right now. According to the victim's brother and other
family members, Camillia, a native of Louisiana, contacted a relative
the night before her death, expressing concern that a man
believed to be Revus, was following her. She didn't know him,
stated Tony Williams, her brother. The night prior, while at
the dollar store, she informed one of my nieces, a
(08:25):
man was telling me followed me home, she believed. Law
enforcement has indicated that the suspect has yet to provide
a motive, but has confessed to the crime. He reportedly
detailed the incident to investigators, stating he used his knees
during the attack after struggling to apply a chokehold. I
(08:45):
can't fathom what would drive someone to commit such an
act of violence, said Danielle Williams, Camilla's niece, when speaking
to local NBC affiliate WXIA. What he did was truly horrific.
It's mind blowing, she said. Some of us is currently
in custody facing charges of felony murder. He has been
denied bail and is awaiting the next court appearance for
(09:07):
the latest crime Injustice news. Follow Crime Alert hourly update
on your favorite podcasting app with this crime Alert. I'm
Nicole Partner
Crime Alert hourly update, Breaking crime News Now Crime Alert.
I'm Jackie Howard, and.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
With these children, where we're going through is frankly horrifying
and despicable. There's no other way to describe it.
Speaker 1 (00:10):
Conall County Assistant Prosecutor Deborah Russnik describes to KGn STV
the treatment of three of five adopted black children aged
five to sixteen by their adoptive white parents. Forced to
work during hard labor, The oldest girl and her teenage
brother were locked in a shed when they were rescued.
Now those parents, gene K Whitefeather sixty three and Donald
(00:33):
Lance sixty five, will spend years locked up themselves in prison.
White Feather was sentenced to two hundred and fifteen years.
Her husband received one hundred and sixty years. This case
began when law enforcement followed up on a call for
a welfare check. Conall County Sheriff's deputies went to the
Sissamville home after a neighbor reported seeing Lance lock a
(00:54):
girl and her teenage brother in a shed and leave.
Deputy H. K. Berdett called out to the in the shed,
and one of them replied, ma'am, I'm unable to open
the door from the inside. A crowbar had to be
used to get them out. Later, the deputy testified in
court about opening the door.
Speaker 2 (01:11):
I was repulsed, for the lack of a better term.
As soon as the door was opened, the heat from
inside hit us. The smell was it made my eyes water.
Speaker 1 (01:24):
Conditions inside the shed were unimaginable.
Speaker 2 (01:27):
There was a table in one chair, no running water,
no circulating air, no beds. Very The toilet for the
children was it looked like a hospital pan or like
a camping toilet.
Speaker 1 (01:44):
The children said they slept on the concrete floor and
had been locked in for at least twelve hours before
they were found and indictman alleged the children were forced
labor because.
Speaker 3 (01:53):
Of their race.
Speaker 1 (01:54):
The parents were charged with human trafficking, child neglect, forced labor,
and other crimes. Coming up after this some of our
top stories this week.
Speaker 4 (02:09):
I'm Jennifer Gould. Milwaukee's historic Concordia neighborhood is buzzing over
the arrest of a real estate broker accused of turning
his home into a center of human trafficking, enslavement, and
sexual assault. Here's the court commissioner addressing the defendant.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
Given that there are potential penalties and excess at one
hundred years. Hubbled at what is alleged in this complaint,
I do you find that more significant cash fail is appropriate.
Speaker 4 (02:35):
The criminal complaint details harrowing accounts from two women who
claim they were held captive by Austin Cronister and subjected
to physical and sexual violence over several years at the
so called House Saint Pierre. Documents state Cronister and forced
a rigid system of control, compelling the victims to sign
(02:56):
contracts outlining strict rules of obedience and sex upon demand.
The victims were allegedly required to wear callers as a
symbol of their subjugation, and assigned slave numbers. Both women
reported being branded, also with identical tattoos. One victim described
a pattern of physical abuse, indicating beatings, including choking and kicking,
(03:21):
whenever she failed to comply with Cronister's demands or household tasks.
She also alleged that her finances and personal documents, including
her birth certificate and social Security card, were controlled by
a third party. A particularly disturbing allegation detailed an incident
where Cronister allegedly rendered her unconscious during a non consensual
(03:44):
sexual encounter. She escaped in twenty twenty after more than
three years. The second victim reported a similar experience, including
a violent assault in twenty twenty three when she tried
to leave the residents. She told police that the thirty
eight year old beat her on conn and then sexually
assaulted her. The complaint also alleges that Cronister hosted BDSM
(04:06):
parties at the house, with one victim describing a sex
dungeon in the basement. Christian Saint Pierre, a Milwaukee defense
attorney and co owner of the property, is named in
the complaint as well, but has not been charged. Victims
alleged she played a role in their captivity by monitoring
their activities, controlling their mail, and storing their personal documents.
(04:28):
They also claim she required residents to adopt Saint Pierre
as their surname, and that she herself wore a caller.
Milwaukee Police Department officers executed a search warrant at the residents,
seizing evidence, including contracts and items related to the alleged
BDSM activities. Cronister was arrested and remains in custody at
(04:51):
the Milwaukee County Jail. He faces charges of human trafficking,
false imprisonment, and two counts of second degree sexual assault
with domestic assessments. If convicted on all charges, he would
face a maximum sentence of one hundred and eleven years
in prison.
Speaker 3 (05:08):
I'm Drew Nelson. An eleven year old boy is found
stab to death at a California motel and his mother
is arrested after admitting to the crime.
Speaker 1 (05:16):
We're not quite sure what mom's reason was to stab
and kill her son. You know, Fortunately, you know she's
getting the medical treatment that she needs.
Speaker 3 (05:25):
Santa Annam Police spokesperson Natalie Garcia says on Wednesday morning,
police responded to a nine to one one call at
a laking to end. The caller, who was the mother
in this case, told police that she had killed her son.
Officers arrived around nine thirty am and immediately took her
into custody. Inside the room, police found the boy lying
dead on a bed. He had several stab wounds. Investigators
(05:47):
located a knife at the scene that they believe was
the murder weapon. The mother, identified as forty eight year
old Saretha rama Raju, was calm and cooperative when police arrived.
Rama Raju was taken to a hospital where she was
reported to be in stable condition in custody. According to
officer Garcia, Ramiraju is facing charges including murder, child endangerment, torture,
(06:07):
and aggravated mayhem. The motive remains unclear. Guests at the
hotel reported hearing banging noises and a brief yell earlier
that morning. Alyssa Witherral is a witness.
Speaker 2 (06:18):
After the scream, it kind of got a little quieter.
There were still some wrestling around, but it did get quieter,
so we just thought they went to bed or the
kids calmed down.
Speaker 3 (06:27):
KABC reports the name of the eleven year old victim
has not been released by authorities. He lived in Irvine
with his mother, and the two had been staying on
and off at that Lakitta Inn in Santa Anna during
the weeks before his death. An impromptum memorial has appeared
outside the hotel, including candles, flowers, a little red balloon,
and a teddy bear placed near a small cross. The
(06:48):
investigation is ongoing. Police are seeking additional information and witnesses.
Speaker 2 (06:54):
I'm Nicole Parton, a grandmother in Georgia, was reportedly murdered
by an unknown assailant who fallowed her from a local
Dollar General to her home, ultimately choking her to death
by applying his full weight on her neck while she
lay on the ground. Family members and police have described
the crime as quote horrific and mind blowing. The suspect,
(07:15):
twenty one year old Hector Reevas, is accused of killing
fifty two year old Camellia Williams sometime between eleven pm
on March twelve and one am on March thirteen, As
detailed in an arrest warrant obtained by an Atlanta affiliate
of ABC. WSB, Authorities in Cobb County alleged that Revas
strangled Williams before abandoning her body in a yard near
(07:39):
her residence in Marietta, where it was discovered the following
Thursday morning, leaving her family in disbelief. Camellia's brother, in
an interview with WSB, spoke about the devastation of losing
his sister, except.
Speaker 1 (07:55):
That's halt to believe that this truly happening.
Speaker 2 (08:02):
Absorder right now. According to the victim's brother and other
family members, Camillia, a native of Louisiana, contacted a relative
the night before her death, expressing concern that a man
believed to be Revus, was following her. She didn't know him,
stated Tony Williams, her brother. The night prior, while at
the dollar store, she informed one of my nieces, a
(08:25):
man was telling me followed me home, she believed. Law
enforcement has indicated that the suspect has yet to provide
a motive, but has confessed to the crime. He reportedly
detailed the incident to investigators, stating he used his knees
during the attack after struggling to apply a chokehold. I
(08:45):
can't fathom what would drive someone to commit such an
act of violence, said Danielle Williams, Camilla's niece, when speaking
to local NBC affiliate WXIA. What he did was truly horrific.
It's mind blowing, she said. Some of us is currently
in custody facing charges of felony murder. He has been
denied bail and is awaiting the next court appearance for
(09:07):
the latest crime Injustice news. Follow Crime Alert hourly update
on your favorite podcasting app with this crime Alert. I'm
Nicole Partner
Host
Nancy Grace
Popular Podcasts
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.