September 6, 2025 • 9 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:
Laken Snelling withdraws from school.
A dad hunts down & shoots his teen daughter's accused rapist in a roadside clash...after the family says he kidnapped her.
A YouTube comment threatening to “shoot up” and “skin” Black preschoolers leads to federal charges against a North Carolina man.
Former Alaskan Airlines pilot; Joseph Emerson is accused of trying to stop the engines of an aircraft that was travelling with over 80 passengers on board.
Stay informed, stay safe, and stay ahead with "Crime Alert Hourly Update.”
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Crime Alard hourly update and breaking crime news Now. I'm
Jackie Howard. Lincoln Snelling, the University of Kentucky student charged
and the death of her newborn, is out of jail
on a one hundred thousand dollars bond. She pleaded not
guilty in the case and is now on house arrest
with her parents, but community outrage is a parent because
(00:20):
of it. Snelling is not on an ankle monitor and
has some freedom of movement. Police say they found Snelling's
newborn baby boy, dead and wrapped in a towel inside
a black trash bag hidden in a closet. In court records,
Snelling admitted to giving birth and cleaning up the evidence.
She's now facing charges of concealing the birth of an infant,
(00:43):
tampering with physical evidence, and abuse of corps. Snelling, as
senior and a member of the school's stunt team, has
now withdrawn from school and the stunt team. Her preliminary
hearing is scheduled for September twenty sixth. The coroner's report
found the cause of death was inconclusive and an extensive
microscopic analysis is necessary to determine the cause and manner
(01:07):
of death. For more on this progressing story. Tune into
Crime Stories with Nancy Graves on Fox one, our YouTube channel,
and on your favorite podcast app, War Crime and Justice News.
Speaker 2 (01:21):
After this, I'm Jennifer Gould. In a terrifying clash of
a father's rage and a monster's depravity. An Arkansas man
is accused of shooting and killing his fourteen year old
daughter's alleged rapist after finding the teen in the suspects car.
(01:42):
The lethal encounter followed a relentless pursuit on a rural highway,
ending with a violent roadside execution that has sparked debate
over vigilanteism and justice. The father, Aaron Spencer thirty seven,
a former Army soldiery, all faces second degree murder charges,
(02:03):
even as his wife insists he was acting as any
parent would to save their child. Lonoke County Sheriff Jay
Staley posted this on the department's Facebook page.
Speaker 1 (02:14):
I have not, nor will I advocate for any specific charge.
Speaker 3 (02:18):
This is a tragic situation and my thoughts and prayers
are with all those involved.
Speaker 2 (02:22):
The harrowing ordeal began in July of twenty twenty four,
when the team was allegedly targeted, groomed, and raped by
sixty seven year old Michael Fossler, a boyfriend of a
family friend. Fossler was charged and arrested for rape and
internet stalking, and despite the charges, he was released on
(02:43):
a fifty thousand dollars bond with a no contact order.
Months later, though, at midnight on October eighth, the parents
found that their daughter was gone. After a frantic nine
one one call, they took matters into their own hands,
driving through the night until they spot a Fossler's vehicle
with their daughter in the passenger seat. According to court documents,
(03:05):
Aaron Spencer made a U turn and relentlessly pursued Fossler,
eventually rear ending his car and forcing it off the road.
The father told police he saw his daughter trying to
exit the car, but Fossler grabbed her. He yelled for
Fossler to get out, but the older man allegedly lunged
towards him with something in his hand while screaming an explative.
(03:28):
In that moment, the former soldier emptied his gun into
Fossler until he ran out of bullets. Then, in a
savage frenzy, he jumped on the man and pistol whipped
him Immediately after a breathless Aaron Spencer called nine one one,
telling the dispatcher the kidnapper was quote dead on the
side of the road end quote, adding that he quote
(03:51):
had no choice end quote but to shoot him. He
was initially charged with first degree murder, but Lonoke County
prosecutors later reduced the charge to second His wife, Heather,
has staunchly defended her husband. She insists Aaron is a
peaceful person who does not deserve to be treated as
a criminal, and says he is, in fact a hero.
(04:14):
The Spencer's case has captured the nation's attention, with some
praising Aaron's actions, while others argue the parents should have
let police handle the situation. Various petitions demanding charges against
Aaron be dropped have been signed by over thirty five
thousand people. Aaron Spencer's trial is set for January of
(04:36):
twenty twenty six.
Speaker 3 (04:38):
I'm Drew Nelson. A YouTube comment threatening to shoot up
and skin black preschoolers leads to federal charges against a
North Carolina man. Zachary Charles Newell, aged twenty five, of Newport,
is in custody after the FBI and Carteret County deputies
trace the online posts to him. Prosecutors say Newell used
the screen name commentators Hate Me, posting racist threats under
(05:02):
a YouTube video on August twenty seventh. In one message,
he wrote about murdering twenty black children, quote like the
animals they are. The next day, he posted another threat
filled with racial slurs. Google flagged the comments and reported
them to the FBI's National Threat Operations Center. FBI Director
Cash Pttel told our partners at Fox News Digital quote,
(05:22):
threats of violence against children are beyond unacceptable acts of cowardice.
The FBI worked quickly with our partners in Carteret County
to ensure this individual was taken into custody before he
could act in Carteret County.
Speaker 4 (05:35):
These situations are always once the information comes into our office,
we always immediately begin conducting investigations and charging these individuals
where appropriate.
Speaker 3 (05:46):
That's Sheriff Ason Newell on WCTI. Court records showed deputies
went to Newell's home on August thirty. First, they confronted
him about the YouTube threats, and he admitted making the posts,
but he served a search warrant and he was first
charged in state court with communicating a threat of mass
violence on educational property. A magistrate set bond at thirty
thousand dollars, which he posted That same night. Deputies worked
(06:09):
with the FBI to take him into federal custody on
an interstate threat charge. FBI North Carolina Special Agent in
Charge James C. Barnacle told Fox News Digital, quote, your
FBI will work with local, state, and federal law enforcement
partners to investigate threats directed at schools. This federal charge
should be a warning to anyone who believes they can
sit anonymously behind a keyboard and make violent threats. Officials
(06:33):
stressed that Newell did not name a specific preschool and
said there is no active threat to schools in Carteret County.
But Sheriff Buck tells the TV station, this isn't your
typical school threat. I ask.
Speaker 4 (06:44):
Most of the time they've been communicated by juveniles and
either as a student or a former student of a
particular school.
Speaker 3 (06:51):
If convicted, he faces up to five years in prison.
Speaker 5 (06:55):
I'm Nicole Parton. A former pilot for Alaska Airlines. Joseph
Emmerson has reached a plea deal with both state and
federal prosecutors regarding allegations that he attempted to disable the
engines of a passenger flight while off duty in the
cockpit in twenty twenty three. This according to his attorney
Noah Horst, who spoke on Thursday. Horse did not provide
(07:19):
specifics about the plea agreement ahead of the scheduled change
of plea hearings set for Friday in Oregon state and
federal courts. He mentioned that Emerson chose to enter these
agreements to take accountability for his actions and to minimize
the potential for further incarceration. The incident occurred on October
twenty two to twenty twenty three, when Emerson, seated in
(07:41):
an extra cockpit seat on a Horizon Air flight from Everett,
Washington to San Francisco, attempted to cut the engines. The
aircraft was diverted to Portland, landing safely with over eighty
passengers on board. After the crew restrained the man. Emerson
informed authorities he was struggling with grief following a friend's
(08:02):
death and had consumed psychedelic mushrooms two days prior and
had been awake for more than forty hours. He claimed
he was under the impression that he was dreaming and
that his intention was to wake himself by reaching for
the two red handles, which would have activated the fire
suppression mechanism and shut off the fuel to the engines.
(08:24):
He faces a federal charge for interfering with a flight crew,
and in a separate state indictment, has been charged with
eighty three counts of endangerment and one count of endangering
an aircraft. Initially, Emerson pleaded not guilty to all charges,
but is now anticipated to plead guilty to a federal
charge and no contest to a state charge, which equates
(08:48):
to a guilty plea in legal terms. Released from custody
in December twenty twenty three. While awaiting trial, Emerson is
required to engage in mental health treatment, abstained from drugs
and alcohol, and avoid proximity to aircraft. In the interim,
he has established a nonprofit organization dedicated to addressing mental
health issues among pilots. This incident has sparked renewed discussions
(09:12):
regarding cockpit safety and the mental wellness of individuals permitted
to such critical roles. For the latest crime injustice news,
follow Crime Alert hourly update on your favorite podcasting app.
With this crime Alert, I'm Nicole Parton
Crime Alard hourly update and breaking crime news Now. I'm
Jackie Howard. Lincoln Snelling, the University of Kentucky student charged
and the death of her newborn, is out of jail
on a one hundred thousand dollars bond. She pleaded not
guilty in the case and is now on house arrest
with her parents, but community outrage is a parent because
(00:20):
of it. Snelling is not on an ankle monitor and
has some freedom of movement. Police say they found Snelling's
newborn baby boy, dead and wrapped in a towel inside
a black trash bag hidden in a closet. In court records,
Snelling admitted to giving birth and cleaning up the evidence.
She's now facing charges of concealing the birth of an infant,
(00:43):
tampering with physical evidence, and abuse of corps. Snelling, as
senior and a member of the school's stunt team, has
now withdrawn from school and the stunt team. Her preliminary
hearing is scheduled for September twenty sixth. The coroner's report
found the cause of death was inconclusive and an extensive
microscopic analysis is necessary to determine the cause and manner
(01:07):
of death. For more on this progressing story. Tune into
Crime Stories with Nancy Graves on Fox one, our YouTube channel,
and on your favorite podcast app, War Crime and Justice News.
Speaker 2 (01:21):
After this, I'm Jennifer Gould. In a terrifying clash of
a father's rage and a monster's depravity. An Arkansas man
is accused of shooting and killing his fourteen year old
daughter's alleged rapist after finding the teen in the suspects car.
(01:42):
The lethal encounter followed a relentless pursuit on a rural highway,
ending with a violent roadside execution that has sparked debate
over vigilanteism and justice. The father, Aaron Spencer thirty seven,
a former Army soldiery, all faces second degree murder charges,
(02:03):
even as his wife insists he was acting as any
parent would to save their child. Lonoke County Sheriff Jay
Staley posted this on the department's Facebook page.
Speaker 1 (02:14):
I have not, nor will I advocate for any specific charge.
Speaker 3 (02:18):
This is a tragic situation and my thoughts and prayers
are with all those involved.
Speaker 2 (02:22):
The harrowing ordeal began in July of twenty twenty four,
when the team was allegedly targeted, groomed, and raped by
sixty seven year old Michael Fossler, a boyfriend of a
family friend. Fossler was charged and arrested for rape and
internet stalking, and despite the charges, he was released on
(02:43):
a fifty thousand dollars bond with a no contact order.
Months later, though, at midnight on October eighth, the parents
found that their daughter was gone. After a frantic nine
one one call, they took matters into their own hands,
driving through the night until they spot a Fossler's vehicle
with their daughter in the passenger seat. According to court documents,
(03:05):
Aaron Spencer made a U turn and relentlessly pursued Fossler,
eventually rear ending his car and forcing it off the road.
The father told police he saw his daughter trying to
exit the car, but Fossler grabbed her. He yelled for
Fossler to get out, but the older man allegedly lunged
towards him with something in his hand while screaming an explative.
(03:28):
In that moment, the former soldier emptied his gun into
Fossler until he ran out of bullets. Then, in a
savage frenzy, he jumped on the man and pistol whipped
him Immediately after a breathless Aaron Spencer called nine one one,
telling the dispatcher the kidnapper was quote dead on the
side of the road end quote, adding that he quote
(03:51):
had no choice end quote but to shoot him. He
was initially charged with first degree murder, but Lonoke County
prosecutors later reduced the charge to second His wife, Heather,
has staunchly defended her husband. She insists Aaron is a
peaceful person who does not deserve to be treated as
a criminal, and says he is, in fact a hero.
(04:14):
The Spencer's case has captured the nation's attention, with some
praising Aaron's actions, while others argue the parents should have
let police handle the situation. Various petitions demanding charges against
Aaron be dropped have been signed by over thirty five
thousand people. Aaron Spencer's trial is set for January of
(04:36):
twenty twenty six.
Speaker 3 (04:38):
I'm Drew Nelson. A YouTube comment threatening to shoot up
and skin black preschoolers leads to federal charges against a
North Carolina man. Zachary Charles Newell, aged twenty five, of Newport,
is in custody after the FBI and Carteret County deputies
trace the online posts to him. Prosecutors say Newell used
the screen name commentators Hate Me, posting racist threats under
(05:02):
a YouTube video on August twenty seventh. In one message,
he wrote about murdering twenty black children, quote like the
animals they are. The next day, he posted another threat
filled with racial slurs. Google flagged the comments and reported
them to the FBI's National Threat Operations Center. FBI Director
Cash Pttel told our partners at Fox News Digital quote,
(05:22):
threats of violence against children are beyond unacceptable acts of cowardice.
The FBI worked quickly with our partners in Carteret County
to ensure this individual was taken into custody before he
could act in Carteret County.
Speaker 4 (05:35):
These situations are always once the information comes into our office,
we always immediately begin conducting investigations and charging these individuals
where appropriate.
Speaker 3 (05:46):
That's Sheriff Ason Newell on WCTI. Court records showed deputies
went to Newell's home on August thirty. First, they confronted
him about the YouTube threats, and he admitted making the posts,
but he served a search warrant and he was first
charged in state court with communicating a threat of mass
violence on educational property. A magistrate set bond at thirty
thousand dollars, which he posted That same night. Deputies worked
(06:09):
with the FBI to take him into federal custody on
an interstate threat charge. FBI North Carolina Special Agent in
Charge James C. Barnacle told Fox News Digital, quote, your
FBI will work with local, state, and federal law enforcement
partners to investigate threats directed at schools. This federal charge
should be a warning to anyone who believes they can
sit anonymously behind a keyboard and make violent threats. Officials
(06:33):
stressed that Newell did not name a specific preschool and
said there is no active threat to schools in Carteret County.
But Sheriff Buck tells the TV station, this isn't your
typical school threat. I ask.
Speaker 4 (06:44):
Most of the time they've been communicated by juveniles and
either as a student or a former student of a
particular school.
Speaker 3 (06:51):
If convicted, he faces up to five years in prison.
Speaker 5 (06:55):
I'm Nicole Parton. A former pilot for Alaska Airlines. Joseph
Emmerson has reached a plea deal with both state and
federal prosecutors regarding allegations that he attempted to disable the
engines of a passenger flight while off duty in the
cockpit in twenty twenty three. This according to his attorney
Noah Horst, who spoke on Thursday. Horse did not provide
(07:19):
specifics about the plea agreement ahead of the scheduled change
of plea hearings set for Friday in Oregon state and
federal courts. He mentioned that Emerson chose to enter these
agreements to take accountability for his actions and to minimize
the potential for further incarceration. The incident occurred on October
twenty two to twenty twenty three, when Emerson, seated in
(07:41):
an extra cockpit seat on a Horizon Air flight from Everett,
Washington to San Francisco, attempted to cut the engines. The
aircraft was diverted to Portland, landing safely with over eighty
passengers on board. After the crew restrained the man. Emerson
informed authorities he was struggling with grief following a friend's
(08:02):
death and had consumed psychedelic mushrooms two days prior and
had been awake for more than forty hours. He claimed
he was under the impression that he was dreaming and
that his intention was to wake himself by reaching for
the two red handles, which would have activated the fire
suppression mechanism and shut off the fuel to the engines.
(08:24):
He faces a federal charge for interfering with a flight crew,
and in a separate state indictment, has been charged with
eighty three counts of endangerment and one count of endangering
an aircraft. Initially, Emerson pleaded not guilty to all charges,
but is now anticipated to plead guilty to a federal
charge and no contest to a state charge, which equates
(08:48):
to a guilty plea in legal terms. Released from custody
in December twenty twenty three. While awaiting trial, Emerson is
required to engage in mental health treatment, abstained from drugs
and alcohol, and avoid proximity to aircraft. In the interim,
he has established a nonprofit organization dedicated to addressing mental
health issues among pilots. This incident has sparked renewed discussions
(09:12):
regarding cockpit safety and the mental wellness of individuals permitted
to such critical roles. For the latest crime injustice news,
follow Crime Alert hourly update on your favorite podcasting app.
With this crime Alert, I'm Nicole Parton
Host
Nancy Grace
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