Crime House Daily – First Watch: Florida Husband Convicted of Murder & Daniel Hanna’s Upcoming Trial

Date: October 9, 2025
Host: Katie Ring

Main Theme & Purpose

This episode of Crime House Daily (First Watch) focuses on:

• The conviction of Herbert Swilley for the murder of his husband, Timothy Smith, in Florida.
• The upcoming federal trial of Daniel Hanna, accused of possessing and distributing graphic and disturbing child sexual abuse material.
• Updates on both major active investigations, offering listeners key developments, timeline breakdowns, and the impact of each case.

Katie Ring provides deep dives, context, and her analysis in a tone that is compassionate but direct, upholding a victim-centered perspective while respecting the presumption of innocence.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Brief Case Update: New Jersey Double Homicide

[03:11 – 04:34]

• Katie highlights the emerging case of Maria Niotis and Isabella Salas, two 17-year-olds killed in what was first believed to be a bike accident, now ruled as a double homicide linked to stalking.
• The accused: a 17-year-old male alleged to have stalked one victim for months despite a restraining order, only facing charges after the murders occurred.
  • Notable Quote ([03:29]):
    "And of course, like almost all stalkers, he faced no repercussions until the victim was murdered." – Katie Ring

2. Herbert Swilley: Florida Husband Convicted of Murder

[04:35 – 17:51]

Background & Relationship Dynamics

• Herbert Swilley and Timothy Smith were married eight years, with an open relationship and a second apartment for discreet hookups.
• Tensions: Financially, Tim was the primary earner and was rumored to be job-hunting elsewhere, causing concern for Herbert.

Timeline of Events

• March 23–25, 2023:

  • Herbert allegedly drugs Tim with a fatal overdose of an antihistamine found at 30x the regular dose, strangles him, and moves the body to the second apartment to frame one of Tim's hookup partners.
  • Stages a fake crime scene, attempts cleanup, erases ring camera data, and waits two days before reporting Tim missing.

• Initial Reactions & Investigations:

  • Friends and family note Herbert's unemotional response; they’re deeply suspicious of inconsistencies in his story.
    • Memorable Moment ([01:12]):
      "I went there, I said, did you sleep? And he said, I slept like a baby." – friend recounting Herbert’s demeanor
  • Herbert quickly disposes of Tim's belongings and posts performative grief on social media, but those close to Tim see through it.

Motive & Evidence

• Herbert was beneficiary of Tim’s $333,000 life insurance policy.
• Surveillance footage, phone data, and Herbert’s own statements tie him to the murder.
• Notable evidence includes deleted camera footage and staged crime scene.

The Trial

• September 15–19, 2025:
  • Prosecution presents strong circumstantial and digital evidence.
  • Defense attempts to deflect suspicion, pointing to another possible suspect (James), supported only weakly by DNA.
  • Herbert implicated further by instructing his daughter to withhold information:
    • Notable Quote ([14:53]):
      "You didn't hear anything. That's all you need to remember." – Herbert Swilley to daughter Jordan
• Verdict and Sentencing:
  • Quick jury deliberation results in guilty verdict.
  • Herbert sentenced to life without parole; emotional victim impact statements delivered in court.
    • Impact Statement ([17:05]):
      "He was the kind of person who made you feel like you were the only person in the room when he spoke to you." – Valerie Smith, Tim’s cousin

3. Daniel Hanna: Federal Child Sexual Abuse Material Case

[17:51 – 21:31]

Case Overview

• Daniel Hanna charged with 14 felonies, including possession and distribution of extreme child and animal abuse material.
• Investigation sparked by a cyber tip to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) tracing a Dropbox account with incriminating videos.

Investigation Details

• Alias “John Weir” determined to be Daniel Hanna through IP tracing and email/account records.
• Devices seized from Hanna’s home contained thousands of extremely graphic videos/images, including evidence of violence, bestiality, and a childlike sex doll.

Legal Developments & Trial

• Hanna arrested April 2025, held on $1.4 million bail.

• Indicted on federal child pornography charges; faces up to 20 years per charge, trial set for October 29, 2025.

  • Memorable Moment ([19:26]):
    "We want to honor them and make sure their story is told." – Katie Ring, referring to the unnamed victims of the egregious crimes

• The case is pursued under the Project Safe Childhood federal initiative.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On public performance vs true grief ([01:12]):
  “When Timothy Smith was found dead…his husband Herbert made a very public show of grief…But detectives uncovered a very different story, one that pointed straight back to Herbert.” – Katie Ring

• On the failure to protect stalking victims ([03:29]):
  “And of course, like almost all stalkers, he faced no repercussions until the victim was murdered.” – Katie Ring

• On Herbert Swilley's suspicious behavior ([01:35]):
  "Herbert was very cold and had a rough personality. They say that if it weren't for Tim, they wouldn't be friends with Herbert at all."

• On familial suspicion ([10:32]):
  "His sister Sandy claims that Herbert never even called her to say Tim was dead and that she didn't find out Until Herbert posted about it on Facebook. Then, when she asked him about what happened, Herbert's story kept changing…about three or four times, and that's just about the keys to the apartment."

• On the weight of the Hanna case ([17:52]):
  “Today’s second case is an extremely heavy one… the crimes of Daniel Hanna, and they are horrific.” – Katie Ring

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:45] Start of Herbert Swilley case coverage
• [03:11] New Jersey double homicide case update
• [04:35] Full background/timeline of Tim Smith’s murder
• [10:32] Suspicion among Tim Smith’s family and conflicting stories
• [12:24–12:54] Ad break (skipped)
• [13:22] Swilley officially named suspect, investigation deepens
• [14:53] Swilley’s instructions to his daughter (evidence of coverup)
• [17:05] Impact statement from Tim’s cousin; sentencing
• [17:51] Daniel Hanna case: introduction and trigger warning
• [19:26] Content warning and honors for unnamed victims
• [19:58] How Hanna was identified and evidence seized
• [21:31] Hanna’s indictment and upcoming trial

Tone & Style

Katie Ring’s narration blends empathy, factual breakdown, and advocacy for victims. She aims to clarify complex investigations for lay listeners while highlighting the system’s challenges and calling for vigilant attention to justice issues.

Final Thoughts

• Katie invites listeners to “drop your thoughts and theories in the comments” and follow Crime House Daily on social media for live updates, reinforcing community engagement with ongoing justice efforts.

The episode is a thorough, sensitive, and up-to-the-minute resource for true crime followers who want to stay informed about both under-reported and headline-making active cases.