October 18, 2025 • 8 mins
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
Here's some of our top stories this week:
Officials insist beloved teacher Ellen Greenberg killed herself, even after new evidence & a new documentary about the case emerges. Her furious family vows to continue to fight for justice!
Authorities in Santa Barbara County launched a search for a 9-year-old girl who has not been seen in a year, and who has not been seen in a photograph in two.
A Denver TV meteorologist reveals the moment when a stalker had her cornered. Florida sets a 15th execution date, setting a modern record.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Crime a Lord hourly update Breaking crime news Now. I'm
Jackie Howard, a young Ohio woman shot dead playing a
game of Russian Roulette with a friend. According to prosecutors,
Rachel Counts, twenty three, suffered a gunshot wound to the
chest October fifth at a home in northern Cincinnati. Reportedly,
Rachel had been playing cards with O'maron Horn, also twenty three.
(00:25):
Horn allegedly pulled out a gun, removed all but one bullet,
asking Rachel if she wanted to play Russian Roulette. Prosecutor
say Horn then pointed the gun at Rachel and pulled
the trigger. Rachel pronounced dead at the scene and Horn arrested,
charged with felony murder, felony assault, and reckless homicide. More
(00:47):
crime and justice news after this.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
I'm Jennifer Gould. The long awaited new official review of
Ellen Greenberg's mysterious twenty eleven death has delivered a devastating
final blow to her family. The Philadelphia Medical Examiner's Office
has again classified the case as a suicide, despite the
beloved twenty seven year old teacher being found with twenty
(01:18):
stab wounds, including to the back of her head. Chief
Medical Examiner doctor Lindsay Simon upheld the controversial ruling in
a thirty two page report. Simon acknowledged the case's grim facts,
noting that, quote the distribution of injuries is admittedly unusual
(01:38):
end quote, but concluded that Greenberg, who was being treated
for anxiety, quote, would be capable of inflicting these injuries
herself end quote. The Emmy's office stated its opinion was
expressed with a quote reasonable degree of medical certainty end quote.
Ellen's father, Josh Greenberg, spoke to Nana Grace on a
(02:00):
previous episode of Crime Stories The Truth.
Speaker 1 (02:04):
That's all Sanny and I have ever a S four
for Ellen, The Truth about Her Our Dead.
Speaker 2 (02:10):
Greenberg was discovered dead in her apartment on January twenty six,
twenty eleven, by her fiance Sam Goldberg, during a blizzard.
The autopsy confirmed the horrific scene twenty puncture wounds to
her neck, heart, and back, with the knife still launched
in her chest. Goldberg has never been id'd as a suspect.
(02:32):
The ruling ignited immediate fury from the family's attorney, Joseph Padroza,
who called the report quote unquote tribe and a quote
deeply flawed attempt to justify a predetermined conclusion end quote.
Pedraza specifically attacked Simon's attempt to dismiss a stab wound
found in the victim's spinal column, calling the official theory
(02:55):
a quote insult to Ellen and her family end quote.
The lowd added that the review dismissed unexplained bruises, missing
surveillance footage, and a physical recreation that proved Greenberg could
not have inflicted all the wounds herself, stating quote, shame
on you, Simon, end quote, citing the report's reliance on
(03:18):
quote distorted portrayals of Ellen's mental health end quote. The
controversy is a painful rewind to twenty eleven, when then
assistant coroner Marlon Osborne initially ruled the death a homicide,
only to bizarrely reverse his decision to suicide weeks later
after meeting with Philadelphia police. Parents Sandy and Josh Greenberg
(03:42):
forced this MAO reevaluation by settling a lawsuit in February.
After an appellate court in twenty twenty three called the
original investigation quote deeply flawed end quote, their legal war continues.
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court granted an appeal in July of
twenty two, twenty four, to review the death, and a
(04:02):
separate civil suit seeks damages for the alleged quote unquote
cover up. The moo's decision now cements the suicide findings,
leaving the family with a clear message quote the truth
will not come from Philadelphia's law enforcement machinery. End quote,
Butdraza vows to seek justice for Ellen's murder bi quote
(04:22):
any means necessary, end.
Speaker 3 (04:24):
Quoting I'm Nicole Parton. Authorities in Santa Barbara County, California,
have launched a troubling search for a missing nine year
old girl who hasn't been seen in over a year
and not even in a photograph for two The Santa
Barbara County Sheriff's Office began actively searching for Melody Buzzard
(04:45):
on Tuesday after a school administrator raised concerns that the
child hadn't attended school in quite some time. Deputies attempted
to locate Melody and her mother, Ashley Buzzard, at their home,
but Melody was not there, and officials say no clear
explanation was given for her whereabouts. Although this missing person's
case is just one day old, detectives say they've been
(05:09):
unable to confirm a single siding of Melody in the
past year. The most recent photo they could find was
taken at least two years ago. The Sheriff's office is
urging anyone with information, no matter how small, to come forward.
In a statement, they said even small details may be
critical in helping investigators ensure her safety. If you've seen
(05:33):
Melody Buzzard or have any contact with her in the
past year, please call eight zero five six 't eight
one four one five zero. Anonymous tips can also be
submitted at eight zero five six' eight one four one
seven to. One at this, time authorities have not confirmed
whether foul play is, suspected but they do Say melody
(05:53):
is currently classified as an at risk missing.
Speaker 4 (05:57):
PERSON i And Drew nelson like the lonely man in
The genesis Song Turn It On. AGAIN A denver meteorologist
says her stalker blurred the line between television and real
life until he believed she was his.
Speaker 5 (06:09):
Wife look at all of this. Lightning these storms are
packing an incredible punch. Here so coming down Through, achan
we are still under that severe thunderstorm morning there until
six o'clock this.
Speaker 4 (06:18):
Morning Kylie, verse aged thirty six Of fox thirty One,
denver says the sixty nine year old viewer followed her
home last month and rang her doorbell after years of
sending messages and showing up at public. Events here's what
she said On facebook a few weeks.
Speaker 5 (06:32):
AGO i had a man WHO i have ever screened
multiple restraining orders against follow me home from. Work he
used his truck to follow me into the, alley trapping
me in my. GARAGE i was able to get into my.
House he then went around to the front door and
started ringing the. Doorbell WHEN i was able to call
nine on, one grab my dog and get out of.
There what's wild is this man has been stalking me
(06:54):
for over three years, now and he was let out
of jail on a.
Speaker 4 (06:58):
Misdemeanor the man was really on a fifteen hundred dollars.
Bond burst says that she was told there had been
too big of a time gap between his last contact
and the new incident to charge felony. Stalking burce first
began hearing from the man in twenty twenty, two when
messages appeared on her social. Pages he called her a
quote my beautiful. Wife she blocked him many, times but
(07:19):
he kept creating new. Accounts he also contacted her family and,
friends even trying to buy art from her sister in.
Law the stalkers showed up at, events including a charity
hike in twenty twenty, three and told her he had
a pair of hiking boots for. Her when she told
him she couldn't accept, gifts he began to. Cry she
later obtained a restraining order that he violated more than fifty. Times,
(07:40):
now she says she no longer feels safe living in her.
Home she told The Denver post, quote it's a horrible
sick toier stomach. Feeling she hopes sharing her story will
push lawmakers to treat stalking as a serious. Crime for
the latest crime In justice, news Follow Crime alert hourly
update on your favorite podcast app with this Crime. Alert
I'm Drew. Nelson
Crime a Lord hourly update Breaking crime news Now. I'm
Jackie Howard, a young Ohio woman shot dead playing a
game of Russian Roulette with a friend. According to prosecutors,
Rachel Counts, twenty three, suffered a gunshot wound to the
chest October fifth at a home in northern Cincinnati. Reportedly,
Rachel had been playing cards with O'maron Horn, also twenty three.
(00:25):
Horn allegedly pulled out a gun, removed all but one bullet,
asking Rachel if she wanted to play Russian Roulette. Prosecutor
say Horn then pointed the gun at Rachel and pulled
the trigger. Rachel pronounced dead at the scene and Horn arrested,
charged with felony murder, felony assault, and reckless homicide. More
(00:47):
crime and justice news after this.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
I'm Jennifer Gould. The long awaited new official review of
Ellen Greenberg's mysterious twenty eleven death has delivered a devastating
final blow to her family. The Philadelphia Medical Examiner's Office
has again classified the case as a suicide, despite the
beloved twenty seven year old teacher being found with twenty
(01:18):
stab wounds, including to the back of her head. Chief
Medical Examiner doctor Lindsay Simon upheld the controversial ruling in
a thirty two page report. Simon acknowledged the case's grim facts,
noting that, quote the distribution of injuries is admittedly unusual
(01:38):
end quote, but concluded that Greenberg, who was being treated
for anxiety, quote, would be capable of inflicting these injuries
herself end quote. The Emmy's office stated its opinion was
expressed with a quote reasonable degree of medical certainty end quote.
Ellen's father, Josh Greenberg, spoke to Nana Grace on a
(02:00):
previous episode of Crime Stories The Truth.
Speaker 1 (02:04):
That's all Sanny and I have ever a S four
for Ellen, The Truth about Her Our Dead.
Speaker 2 (02:10):
Greenberg was discovered dead in her apartment on January twenty six,
twenty eleven, by her fiance Sam Goldberg, during a blizzard.
The autopsy confirmed the horrific scene twenty puncture wounds to
her neck, heart, and back, with the knife still launched
in her chest. Goldberg has never been id'd as a suspect.
(02:32):
The ruling ignited immediate fury from the family's attorney, Joseph Padroza,
who called the report quote unquote tribe and a quote
deeply flawed attempt to justify a predetermined conclusion end quote.
Pedraza specifically attacked Simon's attempt to dismiss a stab wound
found in the victim's spinal column, calling the official theory
(02:55):
a quote insult to Ellen and her family end quote.
The lowd added that the review dismissed unexplained bruises, missing
surveillance footage, and a physical recreation that proved Greenberg could
not have inflicted all the wounds herself, stating quote, shame
on you, Simon, end quote, citing the report's reliance on
(03:18):
quote distorted portrayals of Ellen's mental health end quote. The
controversy is a painful rewind to twenty eleven, when then
assistant coroner Marlon Osborne initially ruled the death a homicide,
only to bizarrely reverse his decision to suicide weeks later
after meeting with Philadelphia police. Parents Sandy and Josh Greenberg
(03:42):
forced this MAO reevaluation by settling a lawsuit in February.
After an appellate court in twenty twenty three called the
original investigation quote deeply flawed end quote, their legal war continues.
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court granted an appeal in July of
twenty two, twenty four, to review the death, and a
(04:02):
separate civil suit seeks damages for the alleged quote unquote
cover up. The moo's decision now cements the suicide findings,
leaving the family with a clear message quote the truth
will not come from Philadelphia's law enforcement machinery. End quote,
Butdraza vows to seek justice for Ellen's murder bi quote
(04:22):
any means necessary, end.
Speaker 3 (04:24):
Quoting I'm Nicole Parton. Authorities in Santa Barbara County, California,
have launched a troubling search for a missing nine year
old girl who hasn't been seen in over a year
and not even in a photograph for two The Santa
Barbara County Sheriff's Office began actively searching for Melody Buzzard
(04:45):
on Tuesday after a school administrator raised concerns that the
child hadn't attended school in quite some time. Deputies attempted
to locate Melody and her mother, Ashley Buzzard, at their home,
but Melody was not there, and officials say no clear
explanation was given for her whereabouts. Although this missing person's
case is just one day old, detectives say they've been
(05:09):
unable to confirm a single siding of Melody in the
past year. The most recent photo they could find was
taken at least two years ago. The Sheriff's office is
urging anyone with information, no matter how small, to come forward.
In a statement, they said even small details may be
critical in helping investigators ensure her safety. If you've seen
(05:33):
Melody Buzzard or have any contact with her in the
past year, please call eight zero five six 't eight
one four one five zero. Anonymous tips can also be
submitted at eight zero five six' eight one four one
seven to. One at this, time authorities have not confirmed
whether foul play is, suspected but they do Say melody
(05:53):
is currently classified as an at risk missing.
Speaker 4 (05:57):
PERSON i And Drew nelson like the lonely man in
The genesis Song Turn It On. AGAIN A denver meteorologist
says her stalker blurred the line between television and real
life until he believed she was his.
Speaker 5 (06:09):
Wife look at all of this. Lightning these storms are
packing an incredible punch. Here so coming down Through, achan
we are still under that severe thunderstorm morning there until
six o'clock this.
Speaker 4 (06:18):
Morning Kylie, verse aged thirty six Of fox thirty One,
denver says the sixty nine year old viewer followed her
home last month and rang her doorbell after years of
sending messages and showing up at public. Events here's what
she said On facebook a few weeks.
Speaker 5 (06:32):
AGO i had a man WHO i have ever screened
multiple restraining orders against follow me home from. Work he
used his truck to follow me into the, alley trapping
me in my. GARAGE i was able to get into my.
House he then went around to the front door and
started ringing the. Doorbell WHEN i was able to call
nine on, one grab my dog and get out of.
There what's wild is this man has been stalking me
(06:54):
for over three years, now and he was let out
of jail on a.
Speaker 4 (06:58):
Misdemeanor the man was really on a fifteen hundred dollars.
Bond burst says that she was told there had been
too big of a time gap between his last contact
and the new incident to charge felony. Stalking burce first
began hearing from the man in twenty twenty, two when
messages appeared on her social. Pages he called her a
quote my beautiful. Wife she blocked him many, times but
(07:19):
he kept creating new. Accounts he also contacted her family and,
friends even trying to buy art from her sister in.
Law the stalkers showed up at, events including a charity
hike in twenty twenty, three and told her he had
a pair of hiking boots for. Her when she told
him she couldn't accept, gifts he began to. Cry she
later obtained a restraining order that he violated more than fifty. Times,
(07:40):
now she says she no longer feels safe living in her.
Home she told The Denver post, quote it's a horrible
sick toier stomach. Feeling she hopes sharing her story will
push lawmakers to treat stalking as a serious. Crime for
the latest crime In justice, news Follow Crime alert hourly
update on your favorite podcast app with this Crime. Alert
I'm Drew. Nelson
Host
Nancy Grace
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