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Hi Crime House community. It's Katie looking for another Crime House original podcast to add to your rotation. You will love Clues with Morgan Abshur and Kaylin Moore. Every Wednesday, Morgan and Kaylin dig into the world's most notorious crimes, clue by clue. From serial killers to shocking murders. They follow the trail of clues, break down the evidence and debate the theories. It's like hanging out with your smart and true crime obsessed friends. Listen to clues on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Hey everyone, quick heads up before we head into the holidays. Crime House Daily is gonna take a little break and we'll be back with brand new episodes on January 12th. In the meantime, don't worry, we'll still be here with some of our favorite episodes from the Crime House fam. Plus a few classic Crime House Daily episodes we love. And if anything, big breaks while we're away. We'll keep you posted on socials at crime house 24 7. Thanks for listening and we'll see you in the new year. Happy holidays.
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This is Crime House.
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Today we've got two heartbreaking cases with brand new developments dominating the headlines. First, a string of violent crimes in Georgia culminates in a tragic death of an innocent couple in their own home. Then we'll go to Mexico where the verdict's been read for one of the defendants in the disturbing murders of three surfers. The Cobb county firefighter and his wife.
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Found murdered in their home last week.
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Will be laid to rest tomorrow. Their accused killer, a neighbor, is also charged with attacking a Sandy Springs police officer with a knife during a separate break in. There are some new videos tonight revealing why an accused killer's parents drove to his apartment just hours after their neighbors were found dead. I think my brother was being harassed by the police neighbors. Hi, welcome to Crime House Daily. I'm your host, Katie Ring. Here we follow the cases making headlines now where justice is still unfolding. Follow us wherever you're listening and if you want ad free episodes, subscribe subscribe to Crime House plus on Apple Podcasts. 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.
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Good different.
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Try something that feels like you. You know, the real you. And then definitely brag about it later. Because at dsw, you've got unlimited freedom to play. Find the shoes that get you at prices that get your budget at DSW stores. @dsw.com Let us surprise you.
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In today's first case, a couple in Aorth, Georgia was shot to death in their own home in the fall of 2021. Police responded to the call and made a shocking discovery. The couple's toddler son was inside the house and fortunately unharmed. When they finally had a suspect in custody, they learned that the crime was connected to another string of incidents from months before. So how did Justin and Amber Hicks end up being targeted? Let's get into it. Before Justin and Amber Hicks moved into the house on Verbenna Road, a man named Phillip Brent lived there with his then fiance Eliza Wells in the spring of 2021. But they were about to pack their bags because their 27 year old neighbor a a man named Austin Lance, had been harassing them for months. Philip and Austin's home shared a back fence, so they were all in pretty close quarters. And while Philip and Eliza never understood exactly what prompted Austin to start harassing them, it was clear from the beginning that his behavior was caused by severe mental health struggles. Austin regularly left threatening letters and explicit photographs in Philip and Eliza's mailbox. They initially contacted police about it, showing them the letters, photos, and security footage showing Austin leaving everything in their mailbox. And Austin got a warning. After that, things died down for a little. But eventually, Austin left his most menacing message yet. Austin taped a piece of cardboard to Philip and Eliza's door that he'd written on. On one side it said, I'm done wondering for real. And then on the other, what is the point of that? What that means? Your guess is as good as mine. But at that point, Philip and Eliza didn't think the police would be of any help. So they went to stay at Philip's sister's house for a bit. Which turned out to be a good decision because one night in April of that year, while they were gone, Austin broke in. He smashed through Philip and Eliza's back door with a sledgehammer, then walked around the house rummaging through things for about 10 minutes. At the same time, Philip got a security notification on his phone and opened the app to see the live footage of what Austin was doing. Fortunately, no one was hurt, but Philip and Eliza no longer had faith that the police would do anything to help fix the situation. So they moved out of the house. In September of 2021, Justin and Amber Hicks moved in. Justin and amber were both 31 years old. Justin was a firefighter and EMS certified rescuer for Cherokee County. He had a fulfilling career, but Justin was most proud of his family life. They'd known each other since they were kids, and when Justin was just 12 years old, he started telling his friends he was going to marry Amber someday. The house on Verbena Road was their dream home. They were excited to live in Acworth, which is about 30 miles northwest of Atlanta. The suburb was known for being family friendly and they had a son named Jacob who had just turned two. Plus, Justin and Amber valued family and community above all else. While he spent his days helping people, Amber did things like dropping off groceries at a friend's doorstep with a sweet note because her friend Audrey and her family were sick. They loved the life they were building together in Acworth. By that point, Austin was no longer an issue in the neighborhood because he was making his way north to Washington, D.C. where tragedy was about to strike. On August 3rd, just a couple of weeks before Justin and Amber moved in, Austin stepped off of a bus at the Pentagon Transit Center. As soon as his feet hit the pavement. Without any provocation, he approached a Pentagon police officer named George Gonzalez, pulled out a knife and stabbed him multiple times, killing him. Then Austin used Officer Gonzalez's service weapon to take his own life. The news rocked Austin's hometown like so many similar stories. People grappled with the visceral impact of the mental health epidemic. And unfortunately, Austin's final act was only the beginning of this story. Months later, another unexpected tragedy rocked the city of acworth on Wednesday, November 17, 2021. Justin and Amber were snuggled up on the couch watching TV together. All of the doors were locked, but around 10pm Someone smashed the sun room window and entered the house. The intruder walked into the living room and shot Justin and Amber three times each before fleeing. The happy couple was dead and their killer was on the loose. The next day, when Amber didn't show up for work, one of her colleagues called her father in law, Timothy Hicks, who lived nearby. Timothy and his wife drove to the house to check on things, and when they got there, they immediately noticed the broken window. Their hearts sank as they called 911 and waited for police to arrive. Officer Matthew Brown of the Cobb County Police department arrived around 9:40am he searched the perimeter of the house and confirmed that all of the doors were locked. When Officer Brown approached the window, he carefully moved the blinds to the side. That's when he heard a dog barking and the sound of a young child's voice. Brown looked inside and saw the two year old Jacob peering around the corner at him. The officer then rushed inside to make sure the child was okay. Once he stepped in, he saw a horrifying and heartbreaking sight. 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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.comchd to get free shipping and 365 day returns. Quince.comchd I usually get stuck on what to buy for my family and friends because there are so many ways to go. But my sister bought our whole family Aura frames last year and I've been loving mine so it was definitely on my list for others who I won't mention now so I don't ruin the surprise. It's a great gift for parents and grandparents to stay up to date on all of the new family photos and for families to share memories. You can preload photos before it ships and upload unlimited photos and videos from the app. For those who are more technically challenged, keep adding from anywhere, anytime. All you have to do is download the Aura app and connect it to Wi Fi. Seriously, don't wait. Win the holidays now with Aura Frames for a limited time. Save on the perfect gift by visiting auraframes.com to get $35 off Aura's best selling Carver mat frames named number one by Wirecutter by using promo code Crime House at checkout. That's a U R A frames.com promo code crime House this deal is exclusive to listeners and frames sell out fast, so order yours now to get it in time for the holidays. Support the show by mentioning us at checkout. Terms and conditions apply.
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When Amber Hicks dropped groceries off at her friend Audrey's house, Audrey and her family all had a bad case of rsv. So Audrey couldn't come outside to say thank you or give Amber a hug. It would later become one of Audrey's biggest regrets because she would never get the chance to see her friend one last time or thank her for everything she had done for her and her family. Cobb County Police Officer Matthew Brown was standing in Amber and Justin's home 12 hours after they were killed. Amber's body was slumped on the couch and Justin's was on the floor. They were both covered in blood and their two year old son Jacob was sitting on the couch cuddled up against his parents and he'd left a toy on his father's leg. One of the most heartbreaking parts of the story is that Jacob had been trying to to snuggle and play with his parents. Unaware of the reality of what had just happened. Officer Brown carried Jacob out of the house and handed him over to one of his relatives. His pajamas were soaked in blood and he was clutching Justin's glasses. Now investigators had to begin processing the scene. They found bullets near Amber's hip and on the living room floor and Sig Sauer shell casings also on the floor the house did not appear to have been robbed, which meant authorities were now looking for a killer with no known motive. As their search ensued and the story made headlines, another senseless crime occurred in the area. On the morning of Friday, Nov. 19, 2021, a young man was driving down I285 near Sandy Springs, about 30 miles southeast of Acworth, when his car ran out of gas. The man abandoned his car and walked into the nearby neighborhood. He was dressed in camouflage gloves, a fishing hat, and a face covering. He entered a house to the horror of the woman inside. She asked who he was and he responded, it's me, Matthew. The woman quickly called the police while the man made his way upstairs. Police arrived around 9am and once they were inside, the intruder came back downstairs, pulled out a knife and stabbed one of them. Police then shot the man twice before handcuffing him. Fortunately, the officer who had been stabbed was going to be okay. At the station. The suspect said stabbing him wasn't worth it. He said he believed in God and asked for forgiveness. By now, the interrogating officers had started to wonder if the man in front of them was the same person who had killed Justin and Amber Hicks. But when they asked him about it, he said he didn't know anything about it. That's when they mentioned that the young couple's son had been inside the house when the murders occurred, then left alone in the home for 12 hours. And when he heard this, the man became visibly upset. That's when he said something puzzling. He told the officer that the people who lived in the house had been harassing his older brother, Austin Lance, before Austin died. After that, the man refused to talk anymore. So the police decided to follow up with his parents. They spoke to a couple named Scott and Teresa, who confirmed that the man in their custody was their son, Matthew Lance. According to Scott and Teresa, Matthew lived with them and was studying cognitive science at the University of Georgia. He'd been seeing a psychiatrist for mental health issues, which seemed to run in the family. Specifically, Matthew was struggling with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. About a month earlier, which was also one month since Austin died, Scott and Teresa noticed some troubling behavior from their younger son. It started when he purchased a 9 millimeter pistol, which they confiscated and locked in the safe as soon as they realized he had it. Things seemed okay for a few weeks. But then on the night of November 17, 2021, when Justin and Amber were killed, Matthew was on the phone with his dad while he was driving around. They hung up around 9:20pm and later that night, Scott and Teresa were concerned when Matthew didn't come home. However, he did still have an apartment near the UGA campus, so they weren't too worried. When morning rolled around, they tried calling him, but he didn't pick up. So around 2pm they went to his apartment and let themselves in. Matthew was asleep in his room and next to his bed was another gun. They woke him up and asked him about the gun, and Matthew said he needed it for protection because someone was out to get him. He started rambling about devil worshippers and seeing demonic lights. Then Matthew started talking about Austin and the neighbors who had been quite, quote, messing with him. Scott and Teresa were extremely alarmed and they asked Matthew if he had anything to do with the Hicks's murder, but he denied it to the police. It sounded like Matthew had confused Justin and Amber with Philip and Eliza, who lived in the house when Austin was their neighbor. Now, on November 19, with officers standing in their house, Scott and Teresa handed over all of the firearms they had, including the nine millimeter they'd taken from Matthew. Investigators didn't find any Sig Sauer ammo there, but they did find some in Matthew's apartment alongside a pistol box, tactical clothing, a jacket, and a scratched flashlight. From there, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, or atf, analyzed the bullets, shell casings and DNA found out the scene of the crime as well as Matthew's gun. Based on their analysis, the casings found at the scene matched his gun. They also found Matthew's DNA on the gun's handle. Finally, security footage showed Matthew's car pulling up to Justin and Amber's house on the night of the murders. He could also be seen getting out of the car and walking around the property before breaking in. Matthew was charged with home invasion, two counts of malice murder, four counts of felony murder, two counts of aggravated assault, two counts of possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, second degree, cruelty to children, and tampering. With evidence leading up to his trial, Matthew claimed to have been set up by a government agency. Even though the evidence against Matthew seemed cut and dry, his court date got pushed back for years as Matthew was deemed incompetent to stand trial multiple times. Finally, In October of 2025, Matthew was ruled competent by a judge and the trial was set to begin four years to the day of the murders on November 17, 2025. Now 26 year old, Matthew opted for a bench trial, which meant a judge would pass the verdict instead of a jury. He also declined to testify in his own defense. After a five day trial, Matthew Lance was convicted on all charges. Matthew also waived his right to appear at the sentencing which took place later that day. He received two consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole, plus 32 years, all to be served consecutively. On December 4, 2025, Matthew's lawyers filed a motion for a new trial challenging the evidence that was presented as well as the judgments made on Matthew's competency. If anything comes of that motion, we'll bring you all of the major updates. For now, we hope that Jacob and the rest of Justin and Amber's loved ones are able to help each other heal and do their best to keep moving forward. Jacob is currently under the care of his grandparents who have set up a fundraiser to establish a trust for him. Our next case is one that hit scarily close to home because one of my best friends was supposed to be on this trip but had to pull out last minute because of an important work meeting. In May of 2024, the bodies of three missing surfers were found in a remote part of Baja California in Mexico. They'd all suffered gunshot wounds to the head and their truck was found about 40 miles away, completely burned. The victims were identified as brothers Callum and Jake Robinson and their friend Jack Carter Rhode, who went by Carter, a young woman, recently stood trial for her role in the murders of the three surfers. But three of the men involved in the attack have rejected plea deals and have yet to stand trial for their parts in this tragedy. So authorities are still keeping a lot of the investigative details under wraps. But based on the trial that just went down, a lot of this mystery has been solved. So who were Callum, Jake and Carter and how did they end up tragically torn away from their loved ones? Let's dive in. Baja California is located in Mexico, directly south of San Diego. Not to be confused with Baja California Sur, which is known for its resorts and is about a thousand miles further south. Baja California is a little more rugged. It tends to attract wilderness lovers as well as die hard surfers. In 2024, it was the exact type of place brothers Jake and Callum Robinson and their friend Carter Rhode loved to visit. They were all avid surfers who loved to travel off the beaten path. Jake and Callum were from Perth, Australia. Callum, who was 33, had moved to the US and was a professional lacrosse player in San Diego. And Jake, who was 30, still lived in Australia, was a doctor and was planning to start a new job soon. Jake wanted to visit Callum on the west coast before he started his new job and things got a little too hectic, so they planned to do all of the things they love together. They hung out with friends, went to Coachella, and planned a surfing trip down the coast of Baja, which was supposed to be a trip of a lifetime. They also invited Callum's friend Carter, who lived in San Diego as well. Carter worked in tech, owned his own clothing company, and was getting married in just a few months. With so much to celebrate, the three men packed up Callum's white pickup truck and hit the road. Once they arrived in Baja California, they kicked back for beers on the beach, relaxed in the hot tub, ate street food and enjoyed the Mexican beaches. They made several stops along the coast, but by April 24 they were camping on Punta San Jose, a remote but iconic surf beach along the Pacific Ocean. Punta San Jose is a prime location for its big waves, but authorities also warn tourists to be careful there because it's got its fair share of cartel related violence. Callum, Jake and Carter didn't see any signs of trouble though. They met other surfers who they had a good time with and even celebrated someone's birthday on the night of the 27th. However, that was the last time any of the other surfers ever saw them alive. You open the fridge, there's nothing there. So what's it gonna be? Greasy pizza? Sad Drive Thru Burgers? Dish by Blue Apron is for nights like that.
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Hey, Ryan Reynolds here wishing you a.
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Very happy half off holiday because right now Mint Mobile is offering you the gift of free 50% off unlimited. To be clear, that's half price, not half the service. Mint is still premium unlimited wireless for.
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A great price so that means a half day. Yeah. Give it a try@mintmobile.com Switch upfront payment of $45 for three month plan equivalent to $15 per month required new customer offer for first three months only. Speed slow 135 gigabytes of network busy taxes and fees extra see mint mobile.com While Callum Robinson was on a surfing trip with his brother Jake and their friend Carter, he left his girlfriend a heartwarming voicemail telling her how much he loved her and that he hoped she had a great day. It was the last voicemail Emily ever got from callum because the three surfers had met a local woman, 23 year old Arie Silva Raya. They'd met a lot of people while they camped out in Baja California and caught waves and nothing about Arie seemed unusual. However, after their encounter, Arie reported back to her then boyfriend, Jesus Garcia Cota and asked him to rob Callum, Jake and Carter. Airy told Jesus where they were camping and specifically said she wanted the tires from Callum's truck. She also wanted one of their phones. Jesus agreed, but he didn't tell Arie just how far he was willing to take things. Jesus got together with his brother James Ireneo Garcia Montano and an acquaintance, Angel Leon Aguilera. The three men drove to the surfers campsite and when they got there, they didn't just rob Callum, Jake and Carter. First they ambushed them, Then they pulled out guns, shot them and killed all three men. Afterward the assailants grabbed some of the men's valuables. Then they put their bodies in Callum's truck and drove about four miles away. They disposed of their bodies in a 50 foot well, then covered the well with wooden planks. Then they drove about 40 miles before getting out, removing the tires and setting the truck on fire before abandoning it. After it was all said and done, Jesu showed up to Aries home and told her everything they had done. The three men's loved ones had no idea what happened and it wasn't until two days later when Callum, Jake and Carter failed to show up at an Airbnb they'd booked that they were reported missing. The Mexican police and FBI launched a joint search and a few days later, on May 2, 2024, a search team uncovered the well. It was barely noticeable because of the way it had been covered, but when they looked inside, they knew immediately what what they'd found. Callum, Jake and Carter's remains. To their shock and horror, authorities also found a fourth body at the very bottom of the well, which had clearly been there much longer than the other three. Officers wondered if whoever was behind the recent triple homicide had known about the well beforehand and planned to leave their bodies there. In addition to the remains, bloodstains and shape shell casings were also found in the area. After the news broke, the victim's friends and loved ones honored their memories. Callum and Jake's mother described Callum as lovable and larger than life and said Jake was a happy, gentle and compassionate soul. Carter's fiance Natalie said he was her safety in the world and now that he was gone, her life was a nightmare. Callum's girlfriend Emily also posted a heart wrenching tribute to him on social media, saying, this man changed my life in ways that I can't even put into words. I don't yet understand a world without him and his energy in it. I feel so grateful to have loved him. She went on to say, tell your people you love them. Live life to the fullest every day. Be kind to others, laugh uncontrollably, don't let the small stuff bother you. Lead with positivity and live like California. Many of the investigative details are still being kept private, but the search for those responsible immediately ensued. And just over a year later, In July of 2025, Eri, Jesus, Ireneo and Angel were all tracked down and arrested at the same time. Some people from the area spoke out to say it felt like authorities didn't care as much when locals went missing or were killed. At least people could rest assured, knowing that some dangerous offenders were being held accountable. Arie was charged with robbery, violence and vehicle theft. She pleaded guilty and waived her right to a trial. On November 19, 2025, Arie was sentenced to 20 years in jail. Of course, this case is far from closed because the three men have pleaded not guilty and are currently in custody awaiting trial. As of this recording, no court date has been set, but they will likely be tried in 2026. As always, we'll be monitoring any updates on our socials at crimehouse24. 7. What did you think of tonight's case? Drop your thoughts and theories in the comments. See you next time. If you haven't already, subscribe to our YouTube channel Rimehouse Daily and follow us on social media Rimehouse24.7 for real time updates because the pursuit of justice never stops.
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Excludes Massachusetts Looking for your next crime House? Listen, don't miss Clues with Morgan Abshur and Kaylin Moore Every Wednesday, Morgan and Kaylin take you deep into the world of the most notorious crimes ever, clue by clue. It's like hanging out with your smart, true crime obsessed friends. Listen to clues on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Get a jump on next summer with vrbo's early booking deals. Don't wait to claim your dream summer spot, whether that includes a good porch swing or a poolside lounger. When you book early, you get the best places at the best prices. But back to the poolside loungers with Verbo. You don't have to reserve any loungers. They're all yours. In fact, the whole private home is yours. Book with early booking deals and you can lounge around all summer long however you please at vervo. Com.