Crime House 24/7

Episode: Alex Murdaugh Appeals Murder Convictions and Nancy Guthrie Surveillance Video Released
Host: Vanessa Richardson
Date: February 11, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode dives into several major breaking true crime stories, focusing on two high-profile developments: the release of surveillance footage in the Nancy Guthrie disappearance, and Alex Murdaugh’s latest appeal hearing for his murder convictions in South Carolina. Additional headlines include a political murder in Minnesota, an NFL player shot in San Francisco, a major cryptocurrency fraud sentencing, and an exploration of famous "closed room" mystery cases.

Key Stories and Discussion Points

1. Nancy Guthrie Disappearance: Chilling Surveillance Video Released

[02:26]

• Main Development:
  Federal authorities released, for the first time, surveillance footage from 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie’s Tucson home on the night she vanished.

  • The footage, sourced from a Nest doorbell cam, shows an armed, masked figure walking to Guthrie’s door, attempting to block the camera with a plant.

• Key Details:

  • The individual wears a backpack and tries to shield the lens with shrubbery.
  • The FBI previously struggled to access the footage and used backend recovery efforts to retrieve it.
  • The Guthrie case is being investigated as a suspected abduction by the FBI and Pima County Sheriff’s Department.
  • Alleged ransom demand: An unverified note demanded $6M in Bitcoin, with the deadline already expired by the airing of this episode.

• Quotes:

  • Vanessa Richardson on the footage:

    "The individual, who's wearing a backpack, walks backward toward Nancy Guthrie's yard and picks up what appears to be shrubbery. He then holds the plant up to the camera in an apparent attempt to block the camera." [02:36]

  • On the investigation’s urgency:

    "Federal officials have not disclosed whether the newly released images are connected to those reported ransom demands or whether investigators believe Nancy Guthrie is still alive." [03:27]

• Authorities urge anyone with information to contact law enforcement.

2. Alec Murdaugh Appeals Murder Convictions Before South Carolina’s High Court

[04:10]

• Background:

  • Alec Murdaugh was convicted in March 2023 for the murders of his wife, Maggie, and son, Paul, which took place June 7, 2021, near the family’s dog kennels.
  • Murdaugh has always denied involvement, despite overwhelming financial crime allegations admitted during and after the trial.

• Key Issues in Appeal:

  • Clerk of Court Misconduct:
    • Defense alleges that Colleton County Clerk Rebecca “Becky” Hill made improper comments and attempts to influence the jury. Hill has since pleaded guilty in a separate case to obstruction, perjury, and misconduct—though not specifically to jury tampering.
    • The trial judge previously ruled misconduct did not rise to the level requiring reversal.
  • Financial Crimes Evidence:
    • Defense contends prosecutors improperly introduced Murdaugh’s extensive financial crimes, prejudicing the jury.
    • Prosecution argues these details are crucial for establishing motive and narrative context.

• Proceedings:

  • South Carolina Supreme Court hears only oral arguments on established legal filings.
  • Murdaugh not present; remains in prison.

• Quotes:

  • Vanessa Richardson on the crux of the case:

    "Murdoch later admitted to those financial crimes, pleading guilty to dozens of charges in state and federal court. His defense team has consistently argued, however, that financial misconduct does not equal murder." [06:36]

  • On the clerk’s impact:

    "Prosecutors have acknowledged that some jurors reported Hill made comments they viewed as inappropriate, but investigators concluded there was insufficient evidence that jurors were actually swayed or that the verdict was affected." [08:40]

3. Minnesota Gubernatorial Candidate’s Daughter Murdered

[09:12]

• Incident:

  • Hallie Tobler, daughter of Minnesota candidate Jeff Johnson, was found fatally stabbed in her home.
  • Her husband, Dylan Tobler, is in custody, suffering self-inflicted wounds and charged with second degree murder.

• Investigation Details:

  • Hallie had been unresponsive for four days before a witness found her.
  • Police recovered multiple knives and obtained a confession from Dylan Tobler:
    • “It’s a mess,” he reportedly told officers, admitting responsibility for Hallie’s death. [11:33]

• Reactions:

  • Outpouring of public sympathy, campaign suspension, and condolences from state leaders.
  • The case is drawing regional and national attention due to Johnson’s political role.

• Quotes:

  • Statement from Minnesota GOP:

    "There are no words that can adequately express the sorrow we feel for Jeff and his family." [12:40]

  • Governor Tim Walsh:

    "Just unthinkable. Gwen and I are sending our condolences to Jeff Johnson and his family. Minnesota's thoughts are with you." [13:12]

4. San Francisco 49ers Player Keon White Shot After Super Bowl

[14:32]

• Event:

  • Keon White, 49ers defensive lineman, was shot in the ankle at 4am following Super Bowl 60 at Dahlias nightclub in SF’s Mission District.
  • Shooting followed a dispute between White’s private party and a group allegedly linked to rapper Lil Baby.

• Status:

  • White underwent surgery; injuries are non-life threatening.
  • No arrests made; police continue to review surveillance and witness accounts.

• Context:

  • Part of a series of recent high-profile violent incidents involving San Francisco athletes.

5. $73M Cryptocurrency Fraud: Fugitive Sentenced in Absentia

[16:41]

• Case:

  • Darren Lee sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for orchestrating a $73M international crypto scam.
  • Lee remains at large after cutting off his ankle monitor before sentencing; authorities continue search.

• Justice Dept. Statement:

  • “Lee and others laundered over $73 million stolen from American victims as part of the scheme.” [17:14]

6. Special Segment: The Enduring Fascination with “Closed Room” Mysteries

[21:25]

• Topic:

  • Vanessa Richardson introduces three famous “locked room” or “closed space” death cases:
    • Rebecca Zahao (Spreckels Mansion)
    • Jonathan Luna
    • Mary Reaser (“cinder woman” case)

• Common Thread:

  • Rooms or scenes appear so physically contained they should provide certainty—yet only deepen the mystery.
  • Forensic strangeness or lack of forced entry are recurring motifs, fueling public fascination and debate.

• Quotes and Insights:

  • On Rebecca Zahao:

    “Critics have argued that the level of restraint and staging seemed difficult to reconcile with a self inflicted death.” [22:32]

  • On closed room mysteries:

    "Closed on paper can still feel wide open in the heart." [26:29]

    • Vanessa underscores how such cases "promise certainty," yet rarely deliver.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Nancy Guthrie Case (“chilling surveillance”):
  "He then holds the plant up to the camera in an apparent attempt to block the camera." [02:36]

• Murdaugh Appeal:
  "His defense team has consistently argued, however, that financial misconduct does not equal murder." [06:36]

• Minnesota Murder:
  "It's a mess," Dylan Tobler to police. [11:33]
  "There are no words that can adequately express the sorrow we feel for Jeff and his family." [12:40]

• Locked Room Mysteries:
  "A closed scene doesn’t guarantee a closed set of answers… Closed on paper can still feel wide open in the heart." [26:29]

Important Timestamps

| Time | Segment/Topic | |----------|-------------------------------------------------------------------| | 02:26 | Nancy Guthrie surveillance video release & abduction investigation | | 04:10 | Alec Murdaugh appeal—background, trial, and new legal arguments | | 09:12 | Minnesota political murder: Hallie Tobler case details | | 14:32 | 49ers DL Keon White shot in SF nightclub; post-Super Bowl incident | | 16:41 | Cryptocurrency fraud sentencing—Darren Lee case | | 21:25 | Locked room/closed space murder mysteries—special feature |

Conclusion

This fast-paced episode offers up-to-the-minute reporting on several major cases shaking the nation—from a high-profile missing person case with dramatic video evidence, to a legal battle over one of America’s most infamous double-murder convictions, and onto a political and sports headline doublebill. The night closes with a thoughtful exploration of why some mysteries, shut tight by their physical facts, refuse to be solved—or forgotten.