A 46-year-old Alaska cardiologist charged with possessing child sex abuse material was found dead inside his burned Wasilla home just one day after his release on bond, as investigators continue to determine how the fire and his death occurred. A Christmas Day drive through the Sierra nearly ends in disaster when an SUV spins out on icy Highway 50 and hangs over a steep drop, until an Air Force staff sergeant rushes in and helps save the trapped couple. A quick-thinking Long Island seventh grader escaped through a window and called 911 after realizing a burglar had broken into his home, leading police to arrest the suspect within minutes. Drew Nelson reports.
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.
Speaker 2 (00:01):
I'm a c Grace and Alaska doctor previously named to
the state's medical board found dead in his burned down
home just days after his arrest.
Speaker 1 (00:11):
On child sex abuse materials.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
Authorities first believe Ryan McDonald, forty six, is missing after
discovering other residents escape the fire.
Speaker 1 (00:21):
Upon further investigation, his remains found in the home. Straight
out to Drew Nelson for more Nancy.
Speaker 3 (00:28):
The fire destroyed the family home of Ryan McDonough on
West Discovery Loop in Wasilla, just one day after he
was released from jail on a fifty thousand dollars cash
bond posted by his wife. Alaska State troopers now say
preliminary identification confirms the charred body found in the house
is McDonough's. The state medical Examiner is still working to
(00:49):
determine his cause of death. Investigators say the origin and
cause of the fire also remain under investigation. Fire crews
arrived to find the home fully engulfed. Authorities confirmed McDonough
was the only person inside at the time, as the
other residents escaped unharmed. The discovery comes just days after
McDonough pleaded not guilty to the child sex abuse material
(01:12):
charges during an initial court appearance. He had been arrested
as part of a joint local, state, and federal investigation.
Court records show the alleged material was uncovered after tips
were sent to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
Neighbors described the shock rippling through the Wassilla community, some
of them declining to speak to reporters. Others say they
(01:34):
were disturbed by the allegations tied to a man they
believed lived a quiet life in the neighborhood. Was Silla
resident Damon Blankenship speaking to Ktuu.
Speaker 4 (01:43):
Angry seems so predominant in our world today, so many
of them. Well, I don't think we have even scratched
the surface.
Speaker 3 (01:51):
Blankenship says the case makes him angry and rather unsettled.
Speaker 4 (01:55):
It's been an issue for a long long time. We
need to spend a lot more money putting these people
in jail as far as I'm concerned.
Speaker 3 (02:02):
McDonough worked as an interventional cardiologist at Matsu Regional Medical
Center and Matsu Medical Group. Hospital officials say he was
terminated the same day the charges became public. A spokesperson
called the situation shocking and said the decision was immediate
to fire him. In August, McDonough had been appointed to
the Alaska State Medical Board by Governor Mike Dunlevy. He
(02:24):
resigned from the board in November. A spokesperson for the
governor said the administration was unaware of any criminal investigation
at the time he was appointed. He learned of the
charges when they were made public.
Speaker 1 (02:36):
Thanks Drew more crime and Justice news after this.
Speaker 3 (02:44):
A Long Island, New York seventh grader is being praised
for his quick thinking after escaping a burglary in progress
and calling police while a stranger was inside his home.
The break in happened midday Tuesday in Medford. Twelve year
old Tristan Taylor was home alone inside his family's house
on Eagle Avenue when he heard a sudden crash from
the kitchen. Moments later, he realized someone was inside and
(03:07):
moving through the house. Here he is speaking with WCBS
reporter Carolyn Gussoff Eric glassbreakings.
Speaker 1 (03:13):
Myself about to get out of the house the quickest
way possible, and that was how the window.
Speaker 3 (03:20):
Tristan climbed out of a ground floor window and ran
to safety. He hid behind the garage and called nine
to one one while the intruder continued rummaging through the house.
He stayed on the line as officers rushed to the scene.
Speaker 5 (03:32):
He's had to be braving and called them that I
was on the phone with them waiting for them to
get here.
Speaker 3 (03:37):
So the county police arrived in less than three minutes.
Officers caught the suspect inside the house and took him
into custody without incident. Family members said Tristan state calm
throughout the whole ordeal. His grandmother praised his instincts and
composure as our little hero. But we were very proud
that he was able to keep his composure and you know,
call the police as quickly as he did, you know,
(03:59):
basically without really you know, thinking about it. He just
automatically called nine to one one. Neighbors like Mike Campanella
say the boy did exactly what he was taught. I
would hope that, you know, my son would have done
the same thing.
Speaker 4 (04:11):
When someone's breaking.
Speaker 3 (04:12):
Into the house, no precaution is to get out and
then call the police. Police identified the suspect as a
fifty three year old Christian Garcia. He pleaded not guilty
to charges of burglary and possession of burglar tools. Our
partners at the New York Post likened quick thinking Tristan
to Kevin McAllister from home alone, though unlike the movie,
(04:32):
no one was injured. A holiday drive through the Sierra
nearly turns deadly when an SUV spins out on icy
Highway fifty and dangles over a steep drop. That is
until a heroic US Air Force staff Stargan steps in.
The crash happened on Christmas morning along historic Highway fifty
as a major winter storm moved through northern California. Cal
(04:54):
trens reported multiple spinouts in the area as drivers faced snow,
ice and nearly no t One of those spinouts left
an suv teetering hundreds of feet above a slope held
in place by a single tree. Staff Sergeant Ruben Tala's
stationed at Travis Air Force Base, was driving through the
area when his family saw the vehicle loose control. He
(05:15):
tells CACRA he pulled over and ran toward the suv
without hesitation.
Speaker 5 (05:20):
And I saw the car spin out, like I thought
about my wife and my daughter. But if there's a
family on that car, somebody has to help.
Speaker 3 (05:27):
Dash and cell phone videos shows Tala gripping the vehicle
as it hangs over the edge. Other drivers stopped to help.
As the situation grows more perilous.
Speaker 5 (05:37):
I yelled at them, hey, do you have any rope?
I need some rope, And one guy ran back on
this track and give me a rope. Then the other
three guys they were holding my hands try to keep
the car not moving.
Speaker 3 (05:47):
The driver and passenger remain trapped inside the suv as
it swayed.
Speaker 5 (05:52):
So the driver is really thankful, he's really thankful on me,
and I think his wife is still in the state
of shock that time. She was holding her.
Speaker 3 (05:59):
To Once the rope was secured and the vehicle stabilized,
the couple was pulled to safety one by one. Miraculously,
nobody was hurt. One thing stuck with Sergeant Tala after
the rescue. One of the dogs in the vehicle was
named Luna, which is the same name as his young daughter.
Cacra reports. First responders arrived shortly after the rescue was complete.
(06:21):
Despite the praise, Tala brushes off the title of hero.
Speaker 5 (06:25):
I'm just doing my part without somebody else. That's how
we're training our coors.
Speaker 1 (06:30):
Thanks Drew for the latest crime in justice. To use,
go to crimeonline dot com and please join us for
our daily podcast, Crime Stories, where we do our best
to find missing people, especially children, and help solve unsolved homicides.
With this crime alert, I'm Eezy, Grace,
Crime alert.
Speaker 2 (00:01):
I'm a c Grace and Alaska doctor previously named to
the state's medical board found dead in his burned down
home just days after his arrest.
Speaker 1 (00:11):
On child sex abuse materials.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
Authorities first believe Ryan McDonald, forty six, is missing after
discovering other residents escape the fire.
Speaker 1 (00:21):
Upon further investigation, his remains found in the home. Straight
out to Drew Nelson for more Nancy.
Speaker 3 (00:28):
The fire destroyed the family home of Ryan McDonough on
West Discovery Loop in Wasilla, just one day after he
was released from jail on a fifty thousand dollars cash
bond posted by his wife. Alaska State troopers now say
preliminary identification confirms the charred body found in the house
is McDonough's. The state medical Examiner is still working to
(00:49):
determine his cause of death. Investigators say the origin and
cause of the fire also remain under investigation. Fire crews
arrived to find the home fully engulfed. Authorities confirmed McDonough
was the only person inside at the time, as the
other residents escaped unharmed. The discovery comes just days after
McDonough pleaded not guilty to the child sex abuse material
(01:12):
charges during an initial court appearance. He had been arrested
as part of a joint local, state, and federal investigation.
Court records show the alleged material was uncovered after tips
were sent to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
Neighbors described the shock rippling through the Wassilla community, some
of them declining to speak to reporters. Others say they
(01:34):
were disturbed by the allegations tied to a man they
believed lived a quiet life in the neighborhood. Was Silla
resident Damon Blankenship speaking to Ktuu.
Speaker 4 (01:43):
Angry seems so predominant in our world today, so many
of them. Well, I don't think we have even scratched
the surface.
Speaker 3 (01:51):
Blankenship says the case makes him angry and rather unsettled.
Speaker 4 (01:55):
It's been an issue for a long long time. We
need to spend a lot more money putting these people
in jail as far as I'm concerned.
Speaker 3 (02:02):
McDonough worked as an interventional cardiologist at Matsu Regional Medical
Center and Matsu Medical Group. Hospital officials say he was
terminated the same day the charges became public. A spokesperson
called the situation shocking and said the decision was immediate
to fire him. In August, McDonough had been appointed to
the Alaska State Medical Board by Governor Mike Dunlevy. He
(02:24):
resigned from the board in November. A spokesperson for the
governor said the administration was unaware of any criminal investigation
at the time he was appointed. He learned of the
charges when they were made public.
Speaker 1 (02:36):
Thanks Drew more crime and Justice news after this.
Speaker 3 (02:44):
A Long Island, New York seventh grader is being praised
for his quick thinking after escaping a burglary in progress
and calling police while a stranger was inside his home.
The break in happened midday Tuesday in Medford. Twelve year
old Tristan Taylor was home alone inside his family's house
on Eagle Avenue when he heard a sudden crash from
the kitchen. Moments later, he realized someone was inside and
(03:07):
moving through the house. Here he is speaking with WCBS
reporter Carolyn Gussoff Eric glassbreakings.
Speaker 1 (03:13):
Myself about to get out of the house the quickest
way possible, and that was how the window.
Speaker 3 (03:20):
Tristan climbed out of a ground floor window and ran
to safety. He hid behind the garage and called nine
to one one while the intruder continued rummaging through the house.
He stayed on the line as officers rushed to the scene.
Speaker 5 (03:32):
He's had to be braving and called them that I
was on the phone with them waiting for them to
get here.
Speaker 3 (03:37):
So the county police arrived in less than three minutes.
Officers caught the suspect inside the house and took him
into custody without incident. Family members said Tristan state calm
throughout the whole ordeal. His grandmother praised his instincts and
composure as our little hero. But we were very proud
that he was able to keep his composure and you know,
call the police as quickly as he did, you know,
(03:59):
basically without really you know, thinking about it. He just
automatically called nine to one one. Neighbors like Mike Campanella
say the boy did exactly what he was taught. I
would hope that, you know, my son would have done
the same thing.
Speaker 4 (04:11):
When someone's breaking.
Speaker 3 (04:12):
Into the house, no precaution is to get out and
then call the police. Police identified the suspect as a
fifty three year old Christian Garcia. He pleaded not guilty
to charges of burglary and possession of burglar tools. Our
partners at the New York Post likened quick thinking Tristan
to Kevin McAllister from home alone, though unlike the movie,
(04:32):
no one was injured. A holiday drive through the Sierra
nearly turns deadly when an SUV spins out on icy
Highway fifty and dangles over a steep drop. That is
until a heroic US Air Force staff Stargan steps in.
The crash happened on Christmas morning along historic Highway fifty
as a major winter storm moved through northern California. Cal
(04:54):
trens reported multiple spinouts in the area as drivers faced snow,
ice and nearly no t One of those spinouts left
an suv teetering hundreds of feet above a slope held
in place by a single tree. Staff Sergeant Ruben Tala's
stationed at Travis Air Force Base, was driving through the
area when his family saw the vehicle loose control. He
(05:15):
tells CACRA he pulled over and ran toward the suv
without hesitation.
Speaker 5 (05:20):
And I saw the car spin out, like I thought
about my wife and my daughter. But if there's a
family on that car, somebody has to help.
Speaker 3 (05:27):
Dash and cell phone videos shows Tala gripping the vehicle
as it hangs over the edge. Other drivers stopped to help.
As the situation grows more perilous.
Speaker 5 (05:37):
I yelled at them, hey, do you have any rope?
I need some rope, And one guy ran back on
this track and give me a rope. Then the other
three guys they were holding my hands try to keep
the car not moving.
Speaker 3 (05:47):
The driver and passenger remain trapped inside the suv as
it swayed.
Speaker 5 (05:52):
So the driver is really thankful, he's really thankful on me,
and I think his wife is still in the state
of shock that time. She was holding her.
Speaker 3 (05:59):
To Once the rope was secured and the vehicle stabilized,
the couple was pulled to safety one by one. Miraculously,
nobody was hurt. One thing stuck with Sergeant Tala after
the rescue. One of the dogs in the vehicle was
named Luna, which is the same name as his young daughter.
Cacra reports. First responders arrived shortly after the rescue was complete.
(06:21):
Despite the praise, Tala brushes off the title of hero.
Speaker 5 (06:25):
I'm just doing my part without somebody else. That's how
we're training our coors.
Speaker 1 (06:30):
Thanks Drew for the latest crime in justice. To use,
go to crimeonline dot com and please join us for
our daily podcast, Crime Stories, where we do our best
to find missing people, especially children, and help solve unsolved homicides.
With this crime alert, I'm Eezy, Grace,
Host
Nancy Grace
Popular Podcasts
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
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 Bobby Bones Show
Listen to 'The Bobby Bones Show' by downloading the daily full replay.