← Crime House 24/7
Crime House 24/7
First Watch: Killer Clown “Mister Jazz” Dies in Court & the McDonald’s Murder
00:27:38
Loading summary
Transcript14 lines
- [00:01]
Katie Ring
Hi Crime House Community, It's Katie Ring. And if you love digging into the most gripping true crime stories, then you need to listen to another Crime House original Crimes of with Sabrina Deanna Roga and Corinne Vian. Crimes of is a weekly series that explores a new theme each season from Crimes of the Paranormal, unsolved murders, mysterious disappearances, and more. Sabrina and Corinne have been covering the true stories behind Hollywood's most iconic horror villains and and this month they'll dive into the paranormal Listen to Crimes of every Tuesday on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or wherever you listen to your podcasts.
- [00:49]
Narrator / Crime House Host
This is Crime House. Today we're covering two stories coming out of small towns that both made waves nationwide. First, we'll dive into the case of James Anderson, a former party clown who recently took his own life while he was in court. Then we'll break down the story of afeni Muhammad, a McDonald's employee who tore apart a family in a fit of rage. Let's dive in.
- [01:15]
Reporter / Investigator
James Paul Anderson, who worked in the special education department at a Cleveland ISD school, is accused of killing his 34 year old wife, Victoria. Victoria was on the phone with a 911 operator saying her husband was threatening to shoot her. Witnesses tell me James had just been speaking with his attorney and asked for a few moments alone. When he returned, they say he spit something into a trash can and minutes later he started vomiting and was visibly.
- [01:41]
Narrator / Crime House Host
Ill. Hi, I'm Katie Ring, a true crime analyst, self defense instructor and fierce advocate for victims. And this is Crime House Daily, your essential true crime companion. Every weekday morning and night here at Crime House Daily, we dig into the true crime stories making headlines right now, where justice is unfolding, arrests are happening, and new evidence is emerging. Every morning, First Watch gets you up to speed on today's biggest cases. Every night, Night Watch takes you deeper. If you want to follow a case from the first 911 call to the final verdict, this is the place for you. Follow Crime House Daily wherever you get your podcasts, leave a review and for ad free listening, subscribe to Crime House plus on Apple Podcasts. For video, check out our YouTube channel Rimehouse Daily. This episode discusses active criminal cases and breaking news. The information we share is based on what's publicly available at the time of recording and may change as new evidence comes to light. We aim to inform, not to decide guilt or innocence, so everyone mentioned is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
- [03:01]
Natural Cycles Advertiser
Meet Natural cycles, the only FDA cleared and CE marked birth control app. That's 100% natural, hormone free and side effect free. Here's how it works. The app analyzes daily changes in your body temperature to find your fertile window so you can plan or prevent pregnancy naturally. Natural Cycles is a clinically proven non hormonal birth control option that's 93% effective with typical use and 98% effective with perfect use. No synthetic hormones, just science. And if you're ready to start family planning, switching from preventing to planning a pregnancy is as easy as tapping a button. Plus, the Natural Cycles app makes tracking fertility easy. You can measure your temperature trends using an Oura Ring, Apple Watch or our Bluetooth Thermometer, which is free when you sign up for an annual subscription. Join over 4 million registered users who are taking control of their fertility naturally. Save 15% when you sign up with code radio15@naturalcycles.com that's radio15 for 15% off today.
- [04:04]
Narrator / Crime House Host
All right, before we get into today's main cases, I want to bring up a crazy story I saw in the news. It comes out of Pennsylvania, where Police say that 24 year old Dylan Lange has been charged with homicide after allegedly shooting and killing a man he caught having sex with his mother right outside of their home. According to the Pennsylvania State Police, the shooting happened early in the morning around 3:45am on October 18th in Jackson Township, a small community in Cambria County. When officers arrived, they found 55 year old Robert Edward Hagan Jr. Dead inside a truck parked in the front yard. His pants were reportedly around his ankles and the driver's side door was open, according to a criminal affidavit. Robert Dylan's mother, Angela Langham, and Dylan's sister had been out drinking earlier that night. The sister went inside when they got home, but Angela stayed in the truck with Robert. That's when things turned intimate and that's when Dylan allegedly saw what was happening. Police say he became enraged, grabbed a gun with a flashlight attached and then went outside to confront them. I'm not saying that it's okay to kill someone because you find them having sex with your mother in the front yard, but you also shouldn't have sex in the front yard if your kids are right inside the house. Maybe. Angela told investigators that her son started yelling for Hagan to get off of her. Robert reportedly complied, but but when Dylan couldn't push the gun through the window, he smashed the back window instead and fired twice through the seat, hitting Robert in the upper torso. Hagan tried to back the truck out of the driveway, but lost consciousness and crashed into the yard. Angela managed to stop the truck by pushing the brake pedal with her hand. When she begged her son to call 911, he allegedly asked why and she told him, because you shot him. Dylan did eventually call 911 and told the dispatcher, quote, I just shot someone in my driveway. He allegedly added, quote, he was out here, my mother, in my own driveway. Police say he admitted to firing two shots and said that he was upset his mother and Robert had been hooking up the past few days. Dylan is now facing one count of criminal homicide, one count of aggravated assault, and one count of reckless endangerment. He's being held without bond at the Cambria County Prison and was scheduled for a preliminary hearing on October 27. As always, the crime house team will be keeping a close eye on this case and we'll bring you all of the major updates as I roll in. Our first story today is about a 39 year old man named James Paul Anderson who took his own life in the courtroom on September 26, 2020 25. James was set to enter a plea agreement for murdering his wife, Victoria Anderson, two years earlier. Victoria's tragic death sent shock waves through her community. Now her loved ones will never get answers from the man who took her life. But before we get into the story of Victoria's death, let's talk about who she was before she met James and all of the memories she left behind. Victoria Lynn Anderson was born in 1988 in Louisiana. Soon after, her family moved to Kingwood, Texas, where she grew up as a suburb of Houston. Kingwood is a lush, sleepy town where people like Victoria enjoy close ties to their community. For Victoria, that also means being involved in her local church. As someone who's always been keen with numbers and logic, Victoria finds herself drawn to religion as a teenager because it's something that can't be explained so easily. After she graduates high school, she gets baptized. And throughout college, she travels with her congregation as they spread their message. Victoria is great at lifting people's spirits whenever they're feeling homesick. She loves arts and crafts, baking, and playing the piano and saxophone at the same time. She's never lost her love of crunching numbers. She attends college in Nashville, Tennessee, where she studies finance and mathematics. She earns her master's degree before returning to the place she calls home, Kingwood. After years away, she wants to be near her family again. And in 2016, when Victoria's 28 years old, there's a new addition to her family. That year, she marries the man she's been dating 30 year old James Paul Anderson. At first, Victoria and James seem perfect for each other. Like Victoria, James loves cheering people up. In his free time, he works as a party clown, going by the name Mr. Jazz. No offense to anyone who works as a party clown, but after watching it, that would be a hard no for me. But Victoria found it endearing. He sometimes posts videos on YouTube teaching people how to make balloon art. One of them is a photo montage of some of James more elaborate creations with Beethoven's fifth Symphony laying in the background. They're a bit silly, but Victoria is more attracted to James. Deeper qualities like the fact that he performs at a summer reading program for kids as a way to keep them entertained and excited about reading. He also works as a special education teacher. Eventually, he works his way up at the middle school in a nearby town of Cleveland, Texas and becomes the chair of special education there. Like Victoria, James has a silly side as well. And a serious side. And in 2020, the couple begins sharing something else too. Their newborn son, James Jr. Who they call BJ. Victoria is thrilled when BJ is born. Her family says he was her greatest joy and the light of her life. But the same couldn't be said for James. After BJ arrives, James goes from being the ideal man to something much more frightening. By 2023, Victoria is enduring regular abuse from James. Many people blame women for choosing bad men, but this is the reality of domestic violence. So many of them are the perfect partner until they believe they have you trapped. And then one day, the switch flips. 1 out of 6 cases of abuse start during pregnancy or right after. And men like this curate images to the outside world, just like James did reading to kids in his spare time. The police received multiple reports of domestic violence, although nothing comes from it. By August of that year, things haven't improved and Victoria wants to protect herself and her child. So she files for divorce. And she is clearly afraid of James because one day in September 2023, about a month after she filed for divorce, Victoria rounds up all of his guns, takes them to her parents house and locks them in her father's safe. When James realizes what she's done, he calls the police to report Victoria for theft. And James eventually gets at least one of his guns back. But that's not enough for him to cool down. On September 24, 2023, James, Victoria and BJ are all together. Reports don't say whether they were at their own house or family member's house, but they are in Kingwood. At around 5pm, James loses his temper, grabs his gun and threatens to shoot Victoria. She manages to get a phone and call 911. Afraid for her life, Victoria tells a dispatcher her husband is threatening to shoot and kill her. Before she can say much more, Victoria's words are cut off by gunshots heard over the phone. The dispatcher quickly sends first responders to the scene to be safe. Officers from the Houston Police Department as well as SWAT team members and a hostage negotiation team make their way there. Once they're outside, they see the evil that James has unleashed. I've seen so many people on social media talking about how clothes are getting more and more expensive, but the quality of the fabrics keeps getting worse and worse. It feels like even designer labels are using polyester, but charging the prices of real quality fabrics like cashmere, wool and real silk. I've been searching for some staple pieces for fall and winter that are made of high quality, real fabrics that will actually last. And if you're in the same boat, you need to check out Quince. One of my favorite parts about Quint's is that they are working directly with ethical top tier factories so you get high quality clothes ethically sourced for half the price.
- [12:54]
Katie Ring
I'm also on the quest for the.
- [12:56]
Narrator / Crime House Host
World'S comfiest bed, so I ordered their linen duvet and the mulberry silk pillowcases. For anyone who has asked about the hair 100% silk, not polyester. Satin is key to protecting it, so I'll make sure to report back on those. Step into the holiday season with layers made to feel good, look polished and last from Quince. Perfect for gifting or keeping for yourself. Go to quince.comchd for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns now available in Canada too. That's Q U I n c e.com chd to get free shipping and 365 day returns. Quince.comchd On September 24, 2023, Houston authorities pull out all the stops in response to Victoria Anderson's 911 call. It's possible that they already knew how dangerous James was, given Victoria's past reports of domestic abuse against him. Now, when police, SWAT and hostage negotiators arrive, all they know is that James has threatened to shoot Victoria. They also know the couple lives with their three year old son. They quickly realize just how serious this situation is because James has barricaded the front door. Officers draw their guns an inch closer to the house, trying to find another way in, but as they get closer, they make a horrifying discovery through One of the front windows, they spot Victoria's lifeless body on the floor. Officers need to try and get James to cooperate before anyone else gets hurt. They begin speaking with him and determine that the 3 year old son BJ is thankfully still alive. Now hostage negotiators try to reason with James to convince him to let his son go. Fortunately, he quickly agrees. But once BJ steps through the door, authorities realize he could still be in danger because BJ's clothes are covered in blood. He's immediately rushed to the hospital where staff confirm that he's completely unharmed. The bad news is that everything unfolded right in front of his eyes and he not only witnessed his dad murder his mom, he was physically impacted when he was covered in her blood. The trauma that poor little boy is going to live with absolutely breaks my heart. While doctors continue looking after bj, officers try and prevent James from causing any more harm than he already has. Negotiators tell him it's not too late to peacefully surrender and that it's the right thing to do. Hours go by like this, but James won't budge. Officers get worried when the sun starts going down because it's much harder to keep eyes on a suspect as everything goes dark. But then finally, at 9:45pm, almost five hours since Victoria first called 91 1, James emerges from the house and surrenders. It's a bittersweet moment. While the situation could have been much worse, nothing changes the fact that Victoria is dead. Her family is devastated, but they find solace in the fact that BJ was left unharmed. After BJ is released from the hospital, Victoria's parents, Brad and Roxy get custody of him. They believe BJ is still alive because she did whatever she had to do to protect him. From there, tragedy touches nearly everyone in the Kingwood community. Victoria's church offers her family support and comfort, and the school where James works announces that he's been placed on administrative leave. And they offer counseling and crisis support for students, faculty and staff. Meanwhile, James is charged with murder and held in the Harris county jail on a $300,000 bond. His lawyer informs him that BJ is okay, but that he's not allowed to see him or have any contact with him. James is also strictly prohibited from speaking to any of Victoria's family members. Eventually, his parents post his bail, but he's required to give up his passport before he goes to live with them. While he's awaiting his first court hearing, he's also required to submit to electronic monitoring. During that time, James lawyers negotiate a plea deal. On his behalf. In exchange for his guilty plea, he'll serve 35 years behind bars. On September 26, 2025, two days after the anniversary of the murder, James enters the courtroom where he's expected to enter his plea that morning. He appears in an orange jumpsuit, looking sullen and defeated. Shortly after he arrives, James briefly talks to his lawyer. He then asks for a moment alone. Reports don't say exactly where he goes or how much supervision he's under. But when James returns, things quickly take a dark turn. On his way back to his seat, James pauses to spit something out into a trash can. He sits down and the judge prepares to get started. But they don't get very far before James suddenly vomits, and soon he's unresponsive. Court officers quickly remove him from the room and attempt first aid. They administer Narcan, which is used to prevent opioid overdoses. But it doesn't help, and James is rushed to the hospital. Everyone in the courtroom is left stunned. What are the odds James would become ill at that exact moment? However, James lawyer realizes there's something suspicious going on. His lawyer stands up and peers into the trash can where James had spit something out. That's when he spots a small plastic bag containing a brown crystalline substance. The lawyer shows court officials the bag, and the substance is tentatively identified as methamphetamine. This would make sense considering Narcan is used to treat opioid overdoses. And since meth isn't an opioid, that could explain why the Narcan had no effect on James. The courtroom is deemed a crime crime scene and the judge clears the room. Meanwhile, at the hospital, doctors are unable to revive James and he's pronounced dead at 11:05am Once again, James and Victoria's friends and loved ones are left reeling from shock and tragedy. Because of James's actions, his son will grow up without either of his parents. Although in these cases, I feel like in the end it might be better for the child that the person who murdered their mom isn't in their life anymore and that they don't have to have that constant reminder. Victoria's parents main focus now is to raise BJ to become the kind of person his mom would always want him to be. Maybe one day, Victoria's family will get the answers to some of the questions that James left in his wake. Currently, authorities believe James intentionally overdosed, but the results of his autopsy are still pending. Once that information is confirmed, investigators will have to figure out how James managed to smuggle drugs into the courthouse. We'll be keeping a close eye on the latest updates in this case. In the meantime, Houston authorities are trying to spread awareness about an increase in domestic violence in the area. If you or someone you know is in need of help, you can contact the National Domestic violence hotline at 1-800-SAFE that's 1-800-799-7233 or text START to 887-88.
- [20:39]
Experian Advertiser
It's okay not to be perfect with finances. Experian is your big financial friend and here to help. Did you know you can get matched with credit cards on the app? Some cards are labeled no Ding Decline, which means if you're not approved, they won't hurt your credit scores. Download the Experian app for free today. Applying for no Ding decline cards won't hurt your credit scores if you aren't initially approved. Initial approval will result in a hard inquiry which may impact your credit scores.
- [21:07]
Katie Ring
Experian.
- [21:11]
Narrator / Crime House Host
Our second case is out of Detroit, Michigan where 27 year old Afeni Muhammad was recently found competent to stand trial in after stabbing her boss, 39 year old Jennifer Harris, to death. As authorities learned more about Afeni's violent past, they decided to try her as a habitual offender on second notice, meaning she's gotten into trouble more than once. Her next court date is scheduled for November 14, 2025. Let's take a look at the life Jennifer led before it was cruelly taken from her in July 2025. Jennifer Harris is a single mother of six, six children. She has a close relationship with her kids who say she's the best mom anyone could ever ask for. Jennifer's co workers love her too. She's the manager of a McDonald's restaurant in suburban East Point and she has worked there for 15 years. So she knows what it takes to make things run smoothly. She cares a lot about all of her employees, but there's one new hire who Jennifer is having some difficulty with. Her name is Afeni Muhammad. Afeni is 27 years old. She came to East Point to start a new chapter in life three years ago. In 2022, Afeni was living with her boyfriend in Virginia and one day they got into a heated argument and she grabbed a kitchen knife and stabbed him. Neighbors called the police and Afeni was charged with unlawful injury without malicious intent. After pleading guilty, she received a suspended sentence of four years and a year of probation. Now in July 2025, she's living in East Point and working at McDonald's while she tries to get her rap career off the ground. Afeni uses Instagram to promote her music and her lyrics are pretty personal. She often rants about the problems in her love life. She also takes to Instagram to complain about work. That month she posts a video in her McDonald's uniform complaining that her manager is a, quote, bully who sent her home early. Let's check out that video.
- [23:17]
Reporter / Investigator
She's a bully. I'm telling you, she's a bully. She could keep being a bully if she wants to, but that S is.
- [23:24]
Narrator / Crime House Host
Going to catch up to her Reports haven't provided specific details, but we know Jennifer wasn't happy with Afeni's work performance and Jennifer is clearly the manager Afeni's complaining about on Instagram. However, it seems like despite Afeni's errors at work, Jennifer still wants to make her feel welcome. She even introduces her to her kids, but that doesn't mend the rift between the two women. On July 10, Jennifer and Afeni are both working the early morning shift when Afeni makes a mistake. Jennifer corrects her, which only makes Afene mad and the two begin arguing as manager Jennifer gets the final say and she sends Afeni home again. Afeni's fed up and she storms out of the restaurant. She says, quote, I'll be back. Once she's gone, the rest of the staff get back to work, this time without distractions. A couple hours pass and they're in the midst of the morning rush when around 8am everything grinds to a halt as Afene storms back in through the employee entrance and she's clutching a kitchen knife. The other employees scream and scatter, but Afeni's not after them, she's after Jennifer. She tracks her down and corners her. Jennifer has no way to defend herself when afene stabs her 15 times. The commotion draws attention from the customers lined up in the drive thru. An unnamed man who's parked near the window can see the chaos ensuing inside. He has his concealed carry permit and he's got his gun on him. He pulls it out and fires a warning shot into the air. The shot startles Afeni who takes off, but the man is still watching her and as she runs outside, he gets out of his car and chases her down. She can't outrun him and soon he grabs her. Then the man holds Afeni at gunpoint until police arrive. Once they do, Afeni is taken into custody. Pretty soon she realizes the harsh consequences of her deadly actions. She's held on charges including first degree murder and carrying a dangerous weapon with unlawful intent. The murder charge alone carries a life sentence without parole if Afeney is convicted. Since she already has a record, prosecutors want her to be tried as a habitual offender. On top of that, her bail is posted at $25 million. Authorities clearly believe she's dangerous, and when the news of her past charges surfaces, the public agrees. But more than anything, people in East Point want to Honor Jennifer. On July 14th, her family holds a vigil at the McDonald's in her honor. Hundreds of people show up to pay their respects. Jennifer clearly made a huge impression on her community in her lifetime. Then, two days later, Jennifer's church holds a rally promoting an end to violence. At that time, her boss announces that he's teaming up with the church to create a fund to help pay for Jennifer's kids schooling, clothes and anything else they may need. Many people feel like contributing to the fund is the least they can do to repay the woman who always made others feel cared for. Meanwhile, Afeni's lawyers tried to explain explain her circumstances to the media. He claims she was struggling with an alcohol addiction and was in an abusive relationship. Authorities also believed Afeni was dealing with challenges that could complicate her case because she was ordered to undergo a mental competency exam in preparation for her trial. Initially, she refused and freely admitted she was not too mentally ill to stand trial, but in the end, it wasn't up to her. On October 8, 2025, the results of the exam were released and Aene was found competent to stand trial. Her next court date will be on November 14, where a judge will determine whether there's enough evidence to move forward. The prosecution is determined to seek justice for Jennifer and her family. We'll bring you all of the major updates as they're released. What did you think of today's cases? Drop your thoughts and theories in the comments. See you next time. If you haven't already, subscribe to our YouTube channel @Crime House Daily and follow us on social media crime house 247 for real time updates. Because the pursuit of justice never stops.
- [28:01]
Katie Ring
Looking for your next Crime House listen? Don't miss Crimes of with Sabrina Deanna Roga and Corinne Vien. Crimes of is a weekly series that explores a new theme each season from Crimes of the Paranormal, unsolved murders, mysterious disappearances, and more. Their first season is Crimes of Infamy, the true stories behind Hollywood's most iconic horror villains. And coming up next is Crimes of the Paranormal, real life cases where the line between the living and the dead gets seriously blurry. Listen to Crimes of every Tuesday on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music or wherever you listen to your podcasts.