September 26, 2025 • 16 mins
In this episode of Hunting 4 Answers: In Summer 2018, 18-year-old Nia Wilson stepped off a BART train in Oakland, California with her two sisters. Within seconds, her life was brutally stolen on a public transit platform, leaving a family shattered and a community in shock. Her case would lead to national outrage and raise troubling questions about safety and the hidden dangers we all can face on public transportation.
This is the story of Nia Wilson.
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):
Hunting for Answers is a production of the Black Effect
Podcast Network and iHeartRadio. Welcome to Hunting for Answers, a
true crime podcast. I'm your host Hunter, and today we're
highlighting a case that happened on July twenty second, twenty eighteen.
On this day, an eighteen year old young woman stepped
(00:23):
off a bart train in Oakland, California, returning home after
a day out with her sisters. She had dreams of
opening a dance studio and was part of a music
group with her cousins, but in the span of seconds,
her life was brutally cut short by a stranger's knife
(00:45):
on a public transit platform.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
The attack that.
Speaker 1 (00:49):
Followed with spark outrage, raised questions about public safety, transit,
and leave a family forever shattered in the aftermath.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
This is the story of Neo Wilson.
Speaker 1 (01:07):
Nia Wilson was born on November twelfth, nineteen ninety nine,
the youngest of eight children and a large, close knit
Oakland family. At just eighteen years old, she was full
of energy, drive, and big dreams. She was a cheerleader,
a rapper, and part of a music group called Girls
(01:30):
in the Hood with her cousins. Friends say She had
the work ethic of someone destined for greatness, whether she
was recording tracks late into the night or perfecting her
dance routines. Nia dreamed of opening her own dance studio
one day, a place where she could teach and inspire
(01:51):
other creatives. But her ambitions weren't limited to music and dance.
Nia was also a town to make up artists, so
well known for her skills that she carried the nickname PG,
short for Pretty Girl. Her creativity touched every corner of
(02:12):
her life. Her family describes her as protective, loyal, and
someone you could always call in a moment of crisis,
and someone who wasn't afraid to speak her mind. Her
family says her name means purpose. They believe her purpose
on earth was to bring people together. On the evening
(02:36):
of July twenty second, twenty eighteen, Nia was traveling home
with two of her sisters, Latifa and Leshia. After spending
time together, they boarded a bar train at the Concord station,
heading to the MacArthur station in Oakland. It would be
the last journey Nia would ever take. Unbeknownst to the sisters,
(03:02):
they were being watched twenty seven year old John Lee
Cowell had boarded the same train at the Concord station.
Surveillance footage would later show Cowell sitting across from Nea
and her sisters during the sixth stop ride to MacArthur.
Cowell had a documented history of mental illness. He had
(03:26):
been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. But what the
Wilson sisters couldn't have known was that this stranger had
harbored dangerous thoughts and had chosen them as his targets.
As the train pulled in to MacArthur's station at nine
(03:47):
thirty six pm, the sisters prepared to disembark. They had
no idea they were about to become victims of a
senseless act of violence. As Nia, Latifa, and Lashia stepped
off the train onto the platform, Cowell followed behind them.
(04:08):
What happened next was captured on surveillance cameras, footage so
disturbing it would bring jurors to tears during the trial.
Without warning, Howell attacked. He slashed Nia's throat with a knife,
cutting her carotid artery and a wound two inches deep.
(04:30):
He also stabbed her sister Latifa in the neck, before
fleeing the scene. Bart police officers arrived on the platform
to find two women suffering from stab wounds. They immediately
began rendering aid until the paramedics were able to arrive.
(04:51):
Despite their efforts, Nia succumbed to her injuries and was
pronounced dead at the scene. Latifa was rush to a
nearby hospital, where she was able to survive her wounds. Lashiah,
who witnessed the entire attack, would later testify that she
saw her sister's blood on her neck and coming from
(05:13):
her mouth. The third sister had fortunately escaped physical harm,
but the psychological trauma would last forever. The man hunt
for Cowl began immediately. BART released surveillance images of the suspect,
and the community rallied to identify him. Less than twenty
(05:38):
four hours later, on July twenty third, Cowell was arrested
at a pleasant Hill BART station. The arrest came after
multiple tips from the public. His behavior after the attack
had reportedly been erratic. Witnesses said that about an hour
(05:59):
after the staff he made a racial remark to a
black woman on a bus and tried to fight her.
When taken into custody, Cowell showed no remorse for his actions.
In fact, he would later claim the attack was justified.
The case went to trial in early twenty twenty. The prosecution,
(06:23):
led by butch Ford, argued that Cowell had committed murder
while lying in wait, a special circumstance that made him
eligible for life in prison without parole. The evidence seemed overwhelming.
Surveillance footage showed Cowell watching the sisters on the train,
(06:44):
following them onto the platform, and carrying out the attack.
Prosecutors argued that he had deliberately targeted the women. The
defense attempted to argue that the suspect was insane at
the time of the attack, but when Carol took the
(07:05):
stand in his own defense, his testimony was so bizarre
and disturbing that it likely.
Speaker 2 (07:13):
Sealed his fate.
Speaker 1 (07:15):
His testimony was chilling, speaking in a robotic manner and
staring straight ahead with no emotion. He admitted to fatally
stabbing Nia and attempting to kill Latifah, but his reasoning
was delusional. Cowell claimed he thought the Wilson sisters were
(07:35):
aliens who were about to harm his grandmother. He spoke
of alien technology and fake skin, and said he had
heard alien voices in radio transmissions telling him to act.
He also revealed that he had been punched in the
face by a black woman the week before the stabbing,
(07:59):
a detail that raised questions about whether racial bias had
motivated the attack. At one point during the proceedings, Cowell
was removed from the courtroom after a profanity laced tirade.
Latifa Wilson, who had survived the attack, dismissed it as manipulation.
(08:22):
It's just an act to me, she said, what I've
seen manipulation. He wants to project his feelings onto others.
The trial also featured heartbreaking testimony from Nia's family. Latifa
Wilson broke down in tears on the stand as she
described the heartbreaking attack. That was my little sister, and
(08:47):
I'm always supposed to protect my little sister, she said.
A former art police officer also testified about his unsuccessful
attempts to save Nia's life, bringing the family to tears
as he described those final moments. The jury deliberated for
(09:07):
less than a day before ultimately reaching their verdict. On
March tenth, twenty twenty, John Lee Cowell was found guilty
of first degree murder and attempted murder. The jury also
convicted him of the special circumstance of lying in wait,
(09:28):
which made him eligible for life in prison without the
possibility of parole. Despite the defenses insanity plea, the judge
ruled that Cowell was saying at the time of the attack,
the evidence had shown that while he may have been
mentally ill, he knew right from wrong and had deliberately
(09:51):
chosen to commit murder. On July seventeen, twenty twenty, exactly
two years minus five days after Nia's murder, Cowell was
sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
The sentencing hearing was conducted virtually due to COVID nineteen restrictions,
(10:14):
but the impact statements from Nia's family were no less powerful.
To Shiah Wilson, who had witnessed her sister's murder, spoke
about how the attack had changed her life forever. She
said she was afraid to leave the house, suffered from nightmares,
and that July, which used to be her favorite month
(10:37):
because of her birthday, would never be the same. July
used to be my favorite month because I knew it
was my birthday month, and I knew every year that
Nia was with me on my birthday, she said. The
family said they too, were serving a life sentence one
(10:59):
of grief, trauma, and loss. Cowell's parents released a public
statement claiming the attack may have been motivated by their
son's mental illness, but Nia's family an activists maintained that
the attack was targeted and racially motivated. While the jury
(11:19):
did not find the attack to be a hate crime,
the racial dynamics of the case a white man attacking
three black women could not be ignored. The case sparked
national conversations about safety on public transportation, mental health services,
and how to prevent random acts of violence like this. Tragically,
(11:44):
these discussions have continued. In August twenty twenty five, twenty
three year old Irena Zarutska, a recently arrived Ukrainian refugee,
was fatally stabbed on the Lynx Blue Line in Charlotte,
North Carolina, by a man with a history of mental
illness and criminal behavior. This incident prompted legislative action, including
(12:10):
the proposed Transit Crime Reporting Act and reviews of transit
security nationwide, highlighting that the threats Nia's murder exposed remain
a pressing issue. In response to this tragedy, North Carolina
lawmakers passed Ireno's law, a comprehensive criminal justice reform bill
(12:33):
aimed at improving pre trial protections and mental health interventions
to prevent future violent incidents. This continued national focus on
transit safety and accountability serves as a reminder of the
ongoing impact of cases like Neo Wilson's. In her case,
(12:54):
Howell attempted to appeal his conviction, but in January twenty
twenty three, the First Appellate District of California rejected his claims,
upholding both his murder conviction and life sentence. Nia's murder
also had legal ramifications for Bart. Her family sued the
(13:15):
transit agency, arguing that Bart had failed to protect Nia
and her sister. They pointed out that transit officers had
caught Cowl skipping fars just days before the attack, and
knew about his previous arrests, but had failed to flag
him as a potential threat. The lawsuit raised important questions
(13:40):
about what responsibilities public transit agencies have to protect their
passengers from potentially dangerous individuals. Nia Wilson would have turned
twenty five this November. Instead, her family continues to mourn
the loss of a young woman who.
Speaker 2 (13:59):
Had so much to give to the world.
Speaker 1 (14:04):
They remember her not as a victim, but as a talented,
ambitious young woman whose life was tragically cut short. Her
story serves as a reminder of the vulnerability we all
face in public spaces and the importance of mental health
interventions before tragedy strikes. It also highlights the ongoing need
(14:29):
for better security measures on public transit systems. As debates
continue about public transit safety in major cities across America,
Nia's name remains a rallying cry for those demanding justice.
The murder of Nia Wilson shocked the Bay Area and
(14:51):
the nation. It represented every commuter's worst nightmare, becoming the
victim of a random, senseless act of violence. My thoughts
and prayers are with the family and friends of Nia
Wilson as they continue grieving the senseless tragedy, and I'm
grateful they were able to secure.
Speaker 2 (15:12):
Justice for Nia.
Speaker 1 (15:15):
As we close out this episode, remember sharing Nia's story
helps spread awareness and but help prevent another senseless tragedy
from happening. Don't forget to click the follow button to
stay updated on Nia's case and others like it. Be
sure to subscribe to Hunting for Answers on YouTube and
(15:36):
Follow us on Instagram and TikTok for more true crime
content and case updates. Also, if you're watching us on YouTube,
share your thoughts on this case and the comments below.
Thank you so much for joining us on another episode.
Speaker 2 (15:55):
Until next time.
Speaker 1 (16:07):
Hunting for Answers is a production of the Black Effect
Podcast Network. For more podcasts from the Black Effect Podcast Network,
visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen
to your favorite shows.
Hunting for Answers is a production of the Black Effect
Podcast Network and iHeartRadio. Welcome to Hunting for Answers, a
true crime podcast. I'm your host Hunter, and today we're
highlighting a case that happened on July twenty second, twenty eighteen.
On this day, an eighteen year old young woman stepped
(00:23):
off a bart train in Oakland, California, returning home after
a day out with her sisters. She had dreams of
opening a dance studio and was part of a music
group with her cousins, but in the span of seconds,
her life was brutally cut short by a stranger's knife
(00:45):
on a public transit platform.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
The attack that.
Speaker 1 (00:49):
Followed with spark outrage, raised questions about public safety, transit,
and leave a family forever shattered in the aftermath.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
This is the story of Neo Wilson.
Speaker 1 (01:07):
Nia Wilson was born on November twelfth, nineteen ninety nine,
the youngest of eight children and a large, close knit
Oakland family. At just eighteen years old, she was full
of energy, drive, and big dreams. She was a cheerleader,
a rapper, and part of a music group called Girls
(01:30):
in the Hood with her cousins. Friends say She had
the work ethic of someone destined for greatness, whether she
was recording tracks late into the night or perfecting her
dance routines. Nia dreamed of opening her own dance studio
one day, a place where she could teach and inspire
(01:51):
other creatives. But her ambitions weren't limited to music and dance.
Nia was also a town to make up artists, so
well known for her skills that she carried the nickname PG,
short for Pretty Girl. Her creativity touched every corner of
(02:12):
her life. Her family describes her as protective, loyal, and
someone you could always call in a moment of crisis,
and someone who wasn't afraid to speak her mind. Her
family says her name means purpose. They believe her purpose
on earth was to bring people together. On the evening
(02:36):
of July twenty second, twenty eighteen, Nia was traveling home
with two of her sisters, Latifa and Leshia. After spending
time together, they boarded a bar train at the Concord station,
heading to the MacArthur station in Oakland. It would be
the last journey Nia would ever take. Unbeknownst to the sisters,
(03:02):
they were being watched twenty seven year old John Lee
Cowell had boarded the same train at the Concord station.
Surveillance footage would later show Cowell sitting across from Nea
and her sisters during the sixth stop ride to MacArthur.
Cowell had a documented history of mental illness. He had
(03:26):
been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. But what the
Wilson sisters couldn't have known was that this stranger had
harbored dangerous thoughts and had chosen them as his targets.
As the train pulled in to MacArthur's station at nine
(03:47):
thirty six pm, the sisters prepared to disembark. They had
no idea they were about to become victims of a
senseless act of violence. As Nia, Latifa, and Lashia stepped
off the train onto the platform, Cowell followed behind them.
(04:08):
What happened next was captured on surveillance cameras, footage so
disturbing it would bring jurors to tears during the trial.
Without warning, Howell attacked. He slashed Nia's throat with a knife,
cutting her carotid artery and a wound two inches deep.
(04:30):
He also stabbed her sister Latifa in the neck, before
fleeing the scene. Bart police officers arrived on the platform
to find two women suffering from stab wounds. They immediately
began rendering aid until the paramedics were able to arrive.
(04:51):
Despite their efforts, Nia succumbed to her injuries and was
pronounced dead at the scene. Latifa was rush to a
nearby hospital, where she was able to survive her wounds. Lashiah,
who witnessed the entire attack, would later testify that she
saw her sister's blood on her neck and coming from
(05:13):
her mouth. The third sister had fortunately escaped physical harm,
but the psychological trauma would last forever. The man hunt
for Cowl began immediately. BART released surveillance images of the suspect,
and the community rallied to identify him. Less than twenty
(05:38):
four hours later, on July twenty third, Cowell was arrested
at a pleasant Hill BART station. The arrest came after
multiple tips from the public. His behavior after the attack
had reportedly been erratic. Witnesses said that about an hour
(05:59):
after the staff he made a racial remark to a
black woman on a bus and tried to fight her.
When taken into custody, Cowell showed no remorse for his actions.
In fact, he would later claim the attack was justified.
The case went to trial in early twenty twenty. The prosecution,
(06:23):
led by butch Ford, argued that Cowell had committed murder
while lying in wait, a special circumstance that made him
eligible for life in prison without parole. The evidence seemed overwhelming.
Surveillance footage showed Cowell watching the sisters on the train,
(06:44):
following them onto the platform, and carrying out the attack.
Prosecutors argued that he had deliberately targeted the women. The
defense attempted to argue that the suspect was insane at
the time of the attack, but when Carol took the
(07:05):
stand in his own defense, his testimony was so bizarre
and disturbing that it likely.
Speaker 2 (07:13):
Sealed his fate.
Speaker 1 (07:15):
His testimony was chilling, speaking in a robotic manner and
staring straight ahead with no emotion. He admitted to fatally
stabbing Nia and attempting to kill Latifah, but his reasoning
was delusional. Cowell claimed he thought the Wilson sisters were
(07:35):
aliens who were about to harm his grandmother. He spoke
of alien technology and fake skin, and said he had
heard alien voices in radio transmissions telling him to act.
He also revealed that he had been punched in the
face by a black woman the week before the stabbing,
(07:59):
a detail that raised questions about whether racial bias had
motivated the attack. At one point during the proceedings, Cowell
was removed from the courtroom after a profanity laced tirade.
Latifa Wilson, who had survived the attack, dismissed it as manipulation.
(08:22):
It's just an act to me, she said, what I've
seen manipulation. He wants to project his feelings onto others.
The trial also featured heartbreaking testimony from Nia's family. Latifa
Wilson broke down in tears on the stand as she
described the heartbreaking attack. That was my little sister, and
(08:47):
I'm always supposed to protect my little sister, she said.
A former art police officer also testified about his unsuccessful
attempts to save Nia's life, bringing the family to tears
as he described those final moments. The jury deliberated for
(09:07):
less than a day before ultimately reaching their verdict. On
March tenth, twenty twenty, John Lee Cowell was found guilty
of first degree murder and attempted murder. The jury also
convicted him of the special circumstance of lying in wait,
(09:28):
which made him eligible for life in prison without the
possibility of parole. Despite the defenses insanity plea, the judge
ruled that Cowell was saying at the time of the attack,
the evidence had shown that while he may have been
mentally ill, he knew right from wrong and had deliberately
(09:51):
chosen to commit murder. On July seventeen, twenty twenty, exactly
two years minus five days after Nia's murder, Cowell was
sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
The sentencing hearing was conducted virtually due to COVID nineteen restrictions,
(10:14):
but the impact statements from Nia's family were no less powerful.
To Shiah Wilson, who had witnessed her sister's murder, spoke
about how the attack had changed her life forever. She
said she was afraid to leave the house, suffered from nightmares,
and that July, which used to be her favorite month
(10:37):
because of her birthday, would never be the same. July
used to be my favorite month because I knew it
was my birthday month, and I knew every year that
Nia was with me on my birthday, she said. The
family said they too, were serving a life sentence one
(10:59):
of grief, trauma, and loss. Cowell's parents released a public
statement claiming the attack may have been motivated by their
son's mental illness, but Nia's family an activists maintained that
the attack was targeted and racially motivated. While the jury
(11:19):
did not find the attack to be a hate crime,
the racial dynamics of the case a white man attacking
three black women could not be ignored. The case sparked
national conversations about safety on public transportation, mental health services,
and how to prevent random acts of violence like this. Tragically,
(11:44):
these discussions have continued. In August twenty twenty five, twenty
three year old Irena Zarutska, a recently arrived Ukrainian refugee,
was fatally stabbed on the Lynx Blue Line in Charlotte,
North Carolina, by a man with a history of mental
illness and criminal behavior. This incident prompted legislative action, including
(12:10):
the proposed Transit Crime Reporting Act and reviews of transit
security nationwide, highlighting that the threats Nia's murder exposed remain
a pressing issue. In response to this tragedy, North Carolina
lawmakers passed Ireno's law, a comprehensive criminal justice reform bill
(12:33):
aimed at improving pre trial protections and mental health interventions
to prevent future violent incidents. This continued national focus on
transit safety and accountability serves as a reminder of the
ongoing impact of cases like Neo Wilson's. In her case,
(12:54):
Howell attempted to appeal his conviction, but in January twenty
twenty three, the First Appellate District of California rejected his claims,
upholding both his murder conviction and life sentence. Nia's murder
also had legal ramifications for Bart. Her family sued the
(13:15):
transit agency, arguing that Bart had failed to protect Nia
and her sister. They pointed out that transit officers had
caught Cowl skipping fars just days before the attack, and
knew about his previous arrests, but had failed to flag
him as a potential threat. The lawsuit raised important questions
(13:40):
about what responsibilities public transit agencies have to protect their
passengers from potentially dangerous individuals. Nia Wilson would have turned
twenty five this November. Instead, her family continues to mourn
the loss of a young woman who.
Speaker 2 (13:59):
Had so much to give to the world.
Speaker 1 (14:04):
They remember her not as a victim, but as a talented,
ambitious young woman whose life was tragically cut short. Her
story serves as a reminder of the vulnerability we all
face in public spaces and the importance of mental health
interventions before tragedy strikes. It also highlights the ongoing need
(14:29):
for better security measures on public transit systems. As debates
continue about public transit safety in major cities across America,
Nia's name remains a rallying cry for those demanding justice.
The murder of Nia Wilson shocked the Bay Area and
(14:51):
the nation. It represented every commuter's worst nightmare, becoming the
victim of a random, senseless act of violence. My thoughts
and prayers are with the family and friends of Nia
Wilson as they continue grieving the senseless tragedy, and I'm
grateful they were able to secure.
Speaker 2 (15:12):
Justice for Nia.
Speaker 1 (15:15):
As we close out this episode, remember sharing Nia's story
helps spread awareness and but help prevent another senseless tragedy
from happening. Don't forget to click the follow button to
stay updated on Nia's case and others like it. Be
sure to subscribe to Hunting for Answers on YouTube and
(15:36):
Follow us on Instagram and TikTok for more true crime
content and case updates. Also, if you're watching us on YouTube,
share your thoughts on this case and the comments below.
Thank you so much for joining us on another episode.
Speaker 2 (15:55):
Until next time.
Speaker 1 (16:07):
Hunting for Answers is a production of the Black Effect
Podcast Network. For more podcasts from the Black Effect Podcast Network,
visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen
to your favorite shows.
Host
Hunter Gilmore
Popular Podcasts
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.
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
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.