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Former Officer Takes the Stand in Brutal Axe-and-Shooting Murder Trial | Crime House 24/7
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- [00:01]
Vanessa Richardson
On the Crime House Original podcast Serial Killers and Murderous Minds, we're diving into the psychology of the world's most complex murder cases.
- [00:09]
Dr. Tristan Ingalls
From serial killers to cult leaders, deadly exes and spree killers, we're examining not just how they killed, but why.
- [00:17]
Vanessa Richardson
Is it uncontrollable rage? Overwhelming fear? Or is it something deeper? Serial Killers and Murderous Minds is a Crime House Studios original new episodes drop every Monday and Thursday Friday. Follow wherever you get your podcasts. This is Crime House. Good morning everyone. We have multiple breaking true crime cases this morning that you need to know about and we're starting with the biggest one. A former Jackson, Mississippi police officer accused of beating an ICU nurse with an axe before killing him took the stand today in his own murder trial. This is crime house 24 7, your non stop source for the biggest crime cases developing right now. Make sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Vanessa Richardson and we have quite a lineup for you today. Here's what you need to know.
- [01:24]
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- [01:54]
Vanessa Richardson
It was an intense courtroom moment February 12, 2026 in Jackson, Mississippi as a former Jackson police officer took the stand in his own murder trial, a relatively uncommon step in the courtroom. Now 35 year old Marcus Johnson appeared before a Hines county jury Thursday morning to testify in his defense in the April 9, 2024 killing of 25 year old ICU nurse Carlos Collins, a case that has gripped Jackson since last year. Johnson is charged with first degree murder and shooting into a dwelling in connection with Collins death at the Tapestry Northridge Apartments in Jackson. Prosecutors allege Johnson attacked Collins with axe and then shot him 16 times. An autopsy report shows that those included six gunshot wounds to Collins head in addition to several, quote, chop and sharp force injuries. Collins, a registered nurse who worked in the intensive care unit, was found outside his apartment that April morning after what prosecutors describe as a violent struggle that ended with him dead at the scene. Johnson, who resigned from the Jackson Police Department after eight months on the force years earlier and now works in private security, has maintained a not guilty plea entered in October 2024 on these charges on the stand this week, Johnson recounted details of his relationship with Collins, saying the two had been in an on and off connection that ended in September 2023. Johnson said in court Thursday that he and Collins met at a bar at the end of 2021 and became friends, and by late 2022 they were dating. He described their relationship as on again, off again, but committed, saying they remained together until he moved out in September 2023. Johnson told jurors they were not exclusively dating at the time of the killing and that Collins was upset, a claim defense attorneys argue provides context for what happened next. Johnson shared that on April 8, the day leading up to the killing, he and Collins had communicated throughout the day and that Collins invited him over after finished work. He said he brought a gun with him because it was part of his routine as a security guard. According to Johnson's testimony, the two went to bed before midnight and later awakened around 2am after his phone buzzed with calls and notifications that triggered an argument. Johnson said Collins became hysterical and aggressive over those notifications and that he attempted to leave the apartment during the dispute. Johnson Johnson told jurors that as he tried to exit, Collins allegedly took his belongings. He said Collins then retrieved an axe from a storage room, an object Johnson said he had not seen earlier that night, and a struggle ensued. Johnson alleged in his testimony that Collins swung the axe but missed and Johnson tackled him. Johnson told the court I rustled the axe away from him, saying that Collins, quote, was going to kill me, end quote. And that was when the fight shifted toward his firearm. He said his gun fell off a table during the struggle and that he picked it up in the doorway before firing. He said in his testimony that, quote, he started reaching for the gun, I grabbed the axe and started swinging and I hit him, end quote. Earlier testimony from law enforcement and crime scene investigators, however, described Collins as naked, bloody and seeking help at a neighbor's door during parts of the struggle captured on video, a portrayal that prosecutors used to challenge Johnson's version of events and showed to juror in court. Jackson Police homicide detective Lakisha Guys testified earlier this week that part of the altercation between Johnson and Collins was caught on a ring camera outside of Collins apartment. Surveillance footage presented in court shows a physical struggle between the two men that involved an axe. At one point, Johnson is seen striking Collins in the face. The video then shows Collins holding the axe and walking to a neighboring apartment door, where he appears to knock and ask for help. Johnson is then seen going back inside the apartment before returning with a gun. The footage shows Johnson firing multiple shots at Collins. Collins falls to the ground as the gunfire continues and the video later shows Johnson leaving the scene. Defense attorneys have argued Johnson acted in self defense, while prosecutors have challenged that claim, pointing to the surveillance footage, the sequence of events and the number of shots fired. The after the killing, authorities launched a manhunt for Johnson. On April 10, 2024, he was apprehended in Louisiana after leading law enforcement on a high speed chase from Interstate 20 in Mississippi. Johnson's defense also addressed alleged restraining orders. Collins family previously told media that Collins had filed several orders of protection against Johnson before the killing claims Johnson said he was not aware of when asked about them on the stand. Prosecutors have presented a timeline that places fatal struggle in the early morning hours of April 9, 2024, and detailed evidence from surveillance and forensic experts. They have underscored that Collins suffered wounds from both the axe and multiple gunshots. Injuries, prosecutors argue, are inconsistent with Johnson's claim of self defense. Throughout the February 12th testimony, Johnson maintained that his actions were driven by fear for his life, saying quote he he was going to kill me, end quote, as he described the struggle for the axe and the moments before he fired. As the defense rested following Johnson's testimony, the judge recessed to prepare final instructions for the jury. As of this recording, jury deliberations are ongoing. And in other legal news this week, authorities on Long island announced charges in a 2021 acid attack that left a young woman seriously injured foreign February 10th in New York's Nassau County Criminal Court. 29 year old Terrell Campbell pleaded not guilty after being charged in connection with a 2021 asset attack that left a young woman permanently disfigured. Campbell is accused of attacking Nafia Ikram outside her Elmont home on the night of March 17, 2021. According to prosecutors, Ikram had just returned home from work and was walking toward her front door when Campbell r and threw a large cup of battery acid directly onto her face before fleeing. Ikram, who was 21 at the time and a Hofstra University student, suffered second and third degree burns to her face, arms, eye and esophagus. Prosecutors said the acid was so corrosive that one of her contact lenses was seared into her right eye. She spent weeks hospitalized at Nassau University Medical center and has permanently lost vision in that eye for nearly five years. The case remained unsolved. Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly said Tuesday that new evidence that surfaced late last year jump started the investigation and ultimately led to Campbell's arrest. Prosecutors said two developments were critical. New information from members of the community and cooperation from technology companies that helped investigators analyze digital evidence. Prosecutors said surveillance video from the night of the attack captured the suspect getting into a red Nissan Altima parked a block away and driving off. At the time, investigators were unable to match the vehicle to a registered owner. After identifying Campbell as a suspect, authorities located the same model vehicle parked outside his residence. Investigators also determined that minutes before the attack, Campbell allegedly searched online for sulfuric acid remover and whether a person could rec acid burns. District Attorney Donnelly said investigators later found additional searches in his history, including questions about how to remove sulfuric acid from car fabric. The police commissioner also announced that a $50,000 Crime Stoppers reward will be issued to an individual who provided information that helped advance the investigation. Prosecutors further alleged that in 2023, Campbell, an aspiring hip hop artist who goes by the name Young Based Prince, appeared to reference the Assaul music video uploaded to YouTube. In the track Obsidian, he raps quote on the street in the night like a hitman assassin Try to run up and have your face burn in acid, end quote. District Attorney Donnelly said Tuesday that the lyrics fit the narrative of the crime. Authorities have stated that Ikram did not know Campbell. The district attorney acknowledged that investigators are examining whether someone may have paid Campbell to carry out the attack. Though no additional arrests have been announced and officials have not publicly identified a motive, the investigation remains ongoing. Campbell has been charged with first degree assault, criminal possession of a weapon and unlawful possession of noxious materials. If convicted, he could face up to 25 years in prison. He's expected to return to court on February 18. In the New York Times profile published February 10, Ikram described the years of surgeries, infections and rehabilitation that followed attack, as well as the lasting physical and emotional impact since the assault. She's spoken publicly about her recovery and has advocated for greater awareness around acid attacks as this long running case moves into its next phase. In Southern California, a preliminary hearing is underway for the woman accused of fatally stabbing her wife, a veteran Cal Fire captain. As a judge weighs whether the case will proceed to trial.
- [12:09]
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- [12:57]
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- [13:04]
Vanessa Richardson
Too easy.
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- [13:21]
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- [13:26]
Vanessa Richardson
A San Diego county judge has ordered a woman accused of killing her wife, a respected Cal Fire captain, to stand trial, marking a significant development development in a case that has drawn national attention. On February 10, following a preliminary hearing in El Cajon Superior Court, A judge ordered 54 year old Yolanda Marodi to stand trial for murder in the stabbing death of her spouse, 49 year old Cal Fire Captain Rebecca Becky Morodi. Prosecutors alleged the killing happened on the night of February 17, 2025, inside the couple's home on Rancho Villa Road in Ramona, an unincorporated community in San Die. According to testimony presented in court this week, Captain Marodi suffered 23 stab wounds to her neck, chest and abdomen. Authorities previously said deputies with the San Diego County Sheriff's Office responded to the home after a report of an assault and found the veteran firefighter gravely injured. She was pronounced dead at the scene. During the hearing on February 10, Captain Marodi's alleged last words were revealed. Detective Jessica Ricott testified in court that home security footage, which was not publicly released, allegedly showed Yolanda holding a knife and Rebecca could be heard telling her, quote, I don't want to die, end quote. In an arrest warrant obtained by several media outlets, Yolanda allegedly responded, quote, you should have thought about that before, end quote. Detective Rika added in her testimony that Rebecca could be heard asking Yolanda to call 911. Investigators allege that after the stabbing, Yolanda Marodi fled the United States. Law enforcement officials said she crossed into Mexico in the hours following the killing. A multi agency search followed and she was later located and apprehended in Mexico before being returned to San Diego county to face charges. Captain Marotti had served for years with Cal Fire and was widely described by colleagues as a dedicated leader and mentor within the department. Her death prompted tributes from firefighters across California who remembered her commitment to public service and her work in fire prevention and emergency response. Court proceedings in recent weeks have focused on whether there's sufficient evidence to move the case forward. During Tuesday's preliminary hearing, prosecutors outlined details of the alleged attack, including the number and placement of the stab wounds. The judge ultimately determined the prosecution met the legal threshold required to proceed to trial. Yolanda Morodi has pleaded not guilty to the murder charge. Her defense has not publicly detailed its strategy, but the not guilty plea sets the stage for a full trial in the coming months. A trial setting conference is scheduled for April, with a trial currently expected in June. Turning now to other courtroom developments, actors Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni were in New York this week for a required conference aimed at avoiding a trial in their own high profile dispute. Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni faced off in a New York courtroom on February 11th in a required attempt to avoid trial, but by the end of the day no settlement had been reached. The closed door conference was ordered by the court as the two Prepare for a May 18 trial stemming from Lively's lawsuit alleging sexual harassment and retaliation during production of the 2024 film it ends With Us. Both parties were required to appear as part of the court's effort to determine whether the dispute could be resolved without a jury, according to court filings. Lively claims Baldoni engaged in inappropriate conduct on set and later participated in an effort to damage her reputation after she raised concerns. Baldoni has denied the allegations and has argued that Lively misrepresented events surrounding the production. The legal battle has grown increasingly complex over the past several months. After the New York Times published a report detailing Lively's claims, Baldoni filed a defamation lawsuit against the newspaper. A federal judge later dismissed that suit. Baldoni also sued Lively and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, in a countersuit seeking $400 million in alleged damages for extortion and defamation, claims their attorneys have strongly denied. Recent court filings have included unsealed text messages, disputes over communications between the parties and arguments over public statements made outside the courtroom. A federal judge overseeing the case has warned attorneys on both sides to avoid turning the proceedings into a media spectacle as trial approaches. February 11th's conference was viewed as a possible turning point. Instead, both sides left without an agreement, signaling that negotiations have not produced common ground unless a last minute resolution is reached. Lively and Baldoni are scheduled to return to court May 18, meaning preparations now intensify for what could become one of the most closely watched entertainment industry trials of the year.
- [18:50]
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- [19:43]
Vanessa Richardson
A person to kill? Is it uncontrollable rage? Overwhelming fear? Unbearable jealousy? Or is it something deeper? Something in the darkest corners of our psyche?
- [19:55]
Dr. Tristan Ingalls
Every Monday and Thursday, the Crime House Original Podcast Serial Killers and Murderous Minds dives deep into the minds of history's most chilling murderers. From infamous serial killers to ruthless cult leaders, deadly exes, and terrifying spree killers. I'm Dr. Tristan Ingalls, a licensed forensic psychologist. Along with Vanessa Richardson's immersive storytelling full of high stakes twists and turns, in every episode of Serial Killers and Murderous Minds, I'll be providing expert analysis of the people involved, not just how they killed, but why.
- [20:31]
Vanessa Richardson
Serial Killers and Murderous Minds is a Crime House Studios original new episodes drop every Monday and Thursday. Follow wherever you get your podcasts. Lastly, let me tell you about what else is happening at Crime House today. This week, Conspiracy Theories, Cults and Crimes wraps up with a case packed with unbelievable twists and turns. Ira Einhorn, better known as the Unicorn killer. In the 1970s, Einhorn was a familiar figure in Philadelphia's counterculture scene. He was outspoken, charismatic, and positioned himself as an environmental activist and intellectual. But behind that carefully crafted public Persona was a deeply violent reality. In 1977, Einhorn murdered his former girlfriend, girlfriend Holly Maddox. He hid her decomposing body inside a trunk in his apartment, where it remained for nearly 18 months. When police finally began closing in, Einhorn didn't face immediate consequences. Instead, he fled. What followed was years on the run in Europe, a legal battle over extradition, and a growing sense of outrage as Holly Maddox's family waited for justice. Einhorn's case became infamous not just because of the brutality of the crime, but because of how long he managed to evade accountability by exploiting legal systems across borders. Cases like the Unicorn Killer tap into a particular kind of fear. Not just about the crime itself, but about what it means when someone capable of violence simply disappears. So before you dive into conspiracy theories, cults, and crimes, let's take a look at five other notorious fugitives, the crimes that sent them running, and how or whether their time on the run finally came to an end. Because sometimes the most unsettling part of a crime isn't what happened. It's what happened next. Fugitive 1 James Whitey Bulger for more than 16 years, Whitey Bulger lived as one of the most wanted fugitives in America. A powerful crime boss tied to at least 19 murders, Bulger disappeared in 1994 after receiving a warning about an impending indictment, a tip that exposed corruption inside the FBI. While law enforcement chased leads across the globe, Bulger quietly settled into everyday life under an assumed identity. He lived in apartment buildings, paid rent, and blended in with neighbors who had no idea they were living next to a man responsible for so much violence. The manhunt finally ended in 2011, not through sophisticated surveillance, but through a public tip campaign that focused on Bulger's longtime companion. When agents arrested him in California, they found weapons and large sums of cash hidden inside his apartment. Bulger was convicted of multiple murders. He was later beaten to death in prison, closing the chapter on a life defined by evasion and brutality. Fugitive 2 Andrew Cunanan In 1997, Andrew Cunanan launched one of the most disturbing fugitive sprees in modern American history. After murdering four men across several states, Cunanan became the subject of a massive nationwide manhunt. Each killing escalated fear and urgency, but the case reached global attention with the murder of fashion designer Gianni Versace outside his Miami home. Despite constant media coverage and public fear, Cunanan managed to evade capture for weeks. His ability to move quickly across state lines exposed limitations in coordination between agencies and underscored how difficult it can be to stop someone with no clear destination. The manhunt ended not with an arrest, but with Cunanan's suicide inside a houseboat. For victims families, the case ended without trial, explanation, or resolution. The absence of answers is what continues to haunt this case. Fugitive 3 Eric Rudolph When Eric Rudolph bombed the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, killing one person and injuring more than a hundred others, the attack triggered one of the most complex manhunts in US History. Rudolph Rudolph vanished into the Appalachian Mountains, surviving for years by stealing food, living off the land, and exploiting rugged terrain that made search efforts extraordinarily difficult. Despite large scale operations and repeated searches, Rudolph managed to stay hidden for nearly five years. His case demonstrated how geography and patience can frustrate even the most well funded investigations. His capture came not through force, but chance. In 2003, a local police officer spotted Rudolph scavenging behind a grocery store in North Carolina. Rudolph later pleaded guilty to multiple bombings and was sentenced to life in prison, bringing a slow burn manhunt to an abrupt end. Fugitive 4 James Earl Ray after assassinating Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. In 1968, James Earl Ray fled the United States, setting off one of the most most urgent international manhunts in American history. Ray moved through Canada and across Europe using aliases and forged documents, exploiting gaps in international travel systems of the era. His ability to cross borders repeatedly underscored how difficult it was to track fugitives before modern surveillance and data sharing. He was ultimately arrested at Heathrow Airport while attempting to flee the country. Ray pleaded guilty, later recanted and spent decades filing appeals that fueled conspiracy theories still debated today. Regardless of unresolved questions, his capture marked the end of one of the most consequential fugitive cases of the 20th century. Fugitive 5 Budresh Kumar Patel In 2015, Budresh Kumar Patel stabbed his wife to death at their workplace in Maryland, an attack partially captured on surveillance video. Patel fled immediately disappeared into the northeastern United States. He was later placed on the FBI's 10 Most Wanted list, prompting a widescale search. For nearly two years, investigators chased tips that often led nowhere. Patel's case highlighted how easily someone can disappear without a legal footprint, especially in densely populated areas. His capture finally came in 2017 at a Newark train station after someone recognized him and alerted authorities. For the victim's family, the arrest brought long awaited accountability and a reminder that fugitives are often undone not by technology but by human recognition. Why fugitive Cases Hit Differently Fugitive cases don't just represent unresolved crimes, they represent unfinished harm. When someone vanishes after committing violence, the damage continues. Families wait. Communities live with uncertainty and every year without resolution deepens the wound. Some fugitives are captured, some die, some evade justice entirely. But the chase itself becomes part of the crime's legacy, shaping how it's remembered long after headlines fade as you head over to conspiracy theories, cults and crimes. Remember, justice doesn't always arrive quickly, but for those who run, it has a way of catching up eventually. You've been listening to crime house 247 bringing you breaking crime news. I'm Vanessa Richardson. We'll be back Monday morning with more developing stories. Stay safe. And thanks for listening. What drives a person to murder? Find out from a licensed forensic psychologist on Serial Killers and Murderous Minds. A Crime House Original Podcast New episodes drop every Monday and Thursday. Follow wherever you get your podcasts.