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Nephew Takes the Stand in Trial Over 14-Year-Old’s Disappearance and Death | Crime House 24/7
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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.
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From serial killers to cult leaders, deadly exes and spree killers, we're examining not just how they killed, but why.
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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. First, a man detained in connection with the Nancy Guthrie case is now speaking out after being released. And in Dixie County, Florida, a nephew takes the stand against his uncle in a 14 year old's 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.
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We'Re starting with the latest in the disappearance of 84 year old Nancy Guthrie as investigators confirmed that a man was detained for questioning late Tuesday in southern Arizona, a case that has the nation puzzled. The man was identified as Carlos Palazzo, a delivery driver who was detained in Rio Rico, Arizona, about 60 miles south of Tucson, where Guthrie lives and was last seen. Palazzo, however, was released later that night. Speaking to reporters outside his home after his release, Palazzo said, quote, I didn't do anything. When asked whether he had delivered a package to Nancy Guthrie's residence, he responded, I don't know. It might have been a poss. According to reporting from NBC News and the BBC, Palasuelos said he was questioned by authorities and that his phone was taken during the interview. This development follows the release earlier on Tuesday of surveillance video showing a masked and reportedly armed man on Guthrie's doorstep the night she disappeared. The footage, which authorities say was captured by a Nest Home security camera, appears to show an individual tampering with the device. Investigators have not publicly confirmed whether the person seen in the video is connected to Palazzo. FBI Director Kosh Patel posted on X Wednesday that agents are now conducting an extensive search along multiple roadways in the Catalina Foothills area. As part of the investigation, the FBI continues to offer a $50,000 reward for information leading to the recovery of Nancy Guthrie. Nancy Guthrie was reported missing after she was last seen at her Tucson area home late last week. Today marks day 12 since her disappearance. Since FBI and the Pima County Sheriff's Department have been jointly investigating what authorities have described as a suspected abduction. Officials have not named any suspects and continue to urge anyone with information to contact law enforcement as the investigation remains active. In Dixie County, Florida, testimony in the trial of now 22 year old Waymore Gerhart is now underway. Gerhart is facing charges of first degree murder for the death of 14 year old Maya Appling in late 2022. Jurors were selected earlier this week and on Wednesday morning opening statements were heard in court. The prosecution has started laying out its case against Geart and called a key witness to the stand, Geart's own nephew and codefendant, Keith Anderson, who agreed to testify in exchange for a plea deal. Anderson, who was 15 years old at the time of Appling's death, pleaded guilty in January 2025 to tampering with evidence and was sentenced to of probation with the agreement that he would cooperate with prosecutors. It all started on October 16, 2022, the day Appling was last seen alive in Oldtown, Florida. According to law enforcement and incident reports, Appling was at a friend's house but left to meet Anderson at Geart's camper that night. But when she arrived, only Geart was there. Friends told investigators that Appling initially felt uncomfortable being at Gerhart's camper and briefly left, but she returned. This time she wasn't seen again. She had vanished. Appling's grandmother, Deborah Apling, reported her missing on October 24, 2022 and told Sheriff's deputies that her granddaughter often left home for several days at a time. But this time was different. Now she wasn't answering her phone. Investigators subsequently obtained messages allegedly showing that Anderson had communicated with Appling that night, convincing her to come to his uncle's house, and then deleted those texts. After the disappearance, detectives also searched Gerhart's residence and found red colored stains in the shower that were later swabbed for DNA. A neighbor told deputies that he saw Appling at Gerhart's home the night she disappeared and described Gerhart as acting strangely. Detectives located a car belonging to a roommate that Gerhart had borrowed the evening Appling went missing. Inside, they found blood stains and a spent.22 caliber shell casing. When asked the stains, Gerhart told his friend that he had shot a squirrel, a statement that later proved false after forensic analysis showed the blood matched Deia's. On December 5, 2022, authorities found Deia's body partially buried in the Sun Springs community in Gilchrist County. After family and law enforcement continued searching for weeks, the medical examiner ruled her death a homicide, and in February 2023, a grand jury indicted Gerhardt on a charge of first degree murder. Initially, Anderson was facing charges alongside Gerhardt. During opening statements, prosecutors told jurors that Gerhardt was the last person known to have seen Demaya alive and that evidence will show he shot her before burying her body. The defense, in contrast, framed its arguments around questioning the reliability of witnesses and suggesting alternative theories of involvement. The prosecution's case is anchored in testimony from Anderson Appling's friends and the physical evidence collected during the investigation. Anderson described his role in encouraging messages and deleting texts, and he responded to questioning about his cooperation under the terms of his plea agreement. Gerhard, on the other hand, has pleaded not guilty to all charges. If convicted of first degree murder, he could face a life sentence. The trial is expected to continue as additional witnesses, forensic experts and law enforcement officers are called to testify. The death of Deia Appling prompted a multi agency investigation when she disappeared in October 2022 and her remains were located. But family members, including Deya's grandmother, have expressed frustration at delays and called for answers and accountability during proceedings leading up to trial. Wednesday's testimony marked a crucial phase in the trial as jurors began weighing the evidence in a case that has spanned more than three, drawn community attention and brought intense scrutiny to the events of that night in 2022. And as testimony continues in Florida, the attorneys for a former sheriff in Kentucky charged with the murder of a judge are back in court in an attempt to get their client a mental health hearing. On February 9th, former Letcher County Sheriff Shawn Stein's defense team filed a motion requesting a hearing to determine whether he has an intellectual dis disability or serious mental illness that would make him ineligible for the death penalty if convicted. The motion asked the court to order a formal evaluation under U.S. supreme Court precedent and Kentucky law governing capital cases. If granted, the hearing would focus specifically on Stein's cognitive functioning and mental capacity. A ruling in his favor would not dismiss the murder charge but would remove capital punishment as a possible sentence. The filing marks the latest development In a case that has drawn intense statewide detention in Kentucky, 43 year old Stein is accused of shooting and killing 54 year old District Judge Kevin Mullins on September 19, 2024 inside the Lecher County Courthouse in Whitesburg, Kentucky. According to court records, surveillance video from inside the judge's chambers captured the incident. Security footage shows Stein entering Mullins office while other courthouse employees exited the room. Investigators testified that once the door was closed, Stein shot Mullin at close range. During court proceedings, witnesses described video showing Mullins attempting to move behind or under his desk as shots were fired. Authorities have said Mullins sustained multiple gunshot wounds and emergency responders found him on the floor of his chambers. Kentucky State Police Detective Clayton Stampner testified during a probable cause hearing that just minutes before the fatal shots were fired, Stein attempted to call his daughter. Investigators said Stein first tried using his own cell ph then used Judge Mullins phone to dial his daughter's number, which was stored in the judge's device. Authorities have not said whether the call was answered. What was happening in the days leading up to the killing has also drawn attention. Three days before Mullins was shot, Stein gave sworn deposition testimony in a federal civil rights lawsuit involving one of his former deputies. That lawsuit centers on 36 year old Ben Fields, a former Lecher county sheriff's deputy who worked under Stein and was assigned to supervise and individuals on home incarceration. Court filings allege Fields coerced women into sexual acts in exchange for favorable treatment. Some of those allegations reference encounters occurring in or near Judge Mullin's chambers. Fields later pleaded guilty to SA charges involving one of the women. The civil lawsuit also named Stein in his former role as sheriff, alleging he failed to properly train and supervise fields during his September 16, 2024 deposition. Stein testified that he was not aw aware of misconduct at the time. Those allegations remain part of ongoing civil litigation. Law enforcement officials have not publicly linked the lawsuit or the misconduct claims to a motive in Mullins killing. Authorities testified that after the shooting, Stines exited the courthouse and was seen walking on a nearby street. Deputies reported that he was initially unresponsive to commands before surrendering, According to testimony. He acknowledged that he was the shooter and was taken into custody without further incident. Grand jury later returned an indictment charging Stein with murder of a public official, a capital offense under Kentucky law. If the court grants the requested mental health hearing and determines Stein's meets the legal threshold for intellectual disability, the prosecution could still pursue a murder conviction, but the death penalty would no longer be an available sentencing option. Stein's remains held in the Leslie County Jail as pretrial proceedings continue. While Stein's attorneys prepare for what could become a pivotal ruling, investigators in Missouri are now searching for a suspect after a woman was fatally shot outside a Starbucks.
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St. Louis Metropolitan Police responded around 10am on Feb. 10 to a Starbucks near Tower Grove park in south St. Louis after multiple reports of gunfire. When officers arrived, they found 28 year old Sam Linehan, a local figure skating coach, unresponsive inside her vehicle in the drive through lane with a gunshot wound. Officers rendered aid at the scene before she was transported to a nearby hospital where she was later pronounced dead. Police have identified the suspect as 58 year old Keith Brown. He's been charged with first degree murder, three counts of first degree robbery, armed criminal action and additional related offenses in connection with what investigators describe as a series of violent incidents over several days. According to the probable cause statement. Investigators believe his crime spree actually began four days earlier on February 6th at a Jack in the Box drive thru on South Grand Boulevard. Police say Brown approached a vehicle, pulled out a handgun and demanded property from a woman and her daughter. The victims handed over a purse, a firearm and both of their cell phones. Investigators say Brown fired a shot during that encounter. Two days later, police say Brown robbed a Dollar General store on North Grand Boulevard, according to investigators. He entered the store, pointed a firearm at the cashier, demanded money and fled with cash. Police say he fired another shot during that incident as well. Then on Tuesday morning, police say Brown walked up to Linehan's vehicle in the Starbucks drive thru, pointed a gun at her and ordered her to put her hands up, According to investigators. He shot and killed her before stealing her bank cards and driver's license and fleeing the scene. Police say surveillance video captured Brown in all three incidents wearing a lime green, high visibility construction vest and a hard hat, the same clothing seen in images released after the Starbucks shooting. Detectives say the clothing made him easily identifiable across multiple crime scenes. Authorities executed a search warrant at Brown's home and reported recovering stolen property linked to the robberies along with the vest and helmet seen in the surveillance footage. Police also confirmed Brown has a lengthy criminal history. Court records show he was convicted of first degree burglary in 1986 and sentenced to 15 years in prison. In 1995, he was convicted of first degree robbery and sentenced to 30 years. From deadly violence in Missouri to a devastating theft in California, another victim is now fighting to recover what was taken. Puppeteer Jackie Smook, known for creating whimsical puppets and props for her web series Dilly's World, discovered that thieves had stolen a U Haul box containing many of her creations from outside her Beechwood Canyon, Los Angeles apartment on Monday. Smook estimates the loss at roughly $40,000, describing the collection as her life's work. The heist came after a recent tour in Chicago where she performed with her puppets and props. On Saturday afternoon, a U Haul box filled with those items was delivered to her home. When she went to unload her props that morning, the box, along with the trailer it was attached to, was gone. Dozens of puppets, handcrafted props and pieces she used regularly in her performances and online episodes had vanished. In interviews with local media, Smook described the puppets and props not just as equipment, but as characters and tools essential to her art and her business. She told the LA Times that her and her team are, quote, starting from zero. Basically it's just a really tragic loss. Surveillance cameras from Smok's neighbors were able to pinpoint a time frame of when the box was taken, around 5:35am and 5:49am Law enforcement have not announced any suspects. The Los Angeles community of artists and fans has rallied around Smook sharing social media posts about the theft and urging anyone with information to contact the Los Angeles Police Department. Smoook told the Los Angeles Times. She is devastated, but said the show will, quote, totally go on and that she plans to rebuild and continue creating. Despite the setback, a police report was filed and the LAPD are looking into the incident. What drives a person to kill? Is it uncontrollable rage? Overwhelming fear? Unbearable jealousy? Or is it something, something deeper, something in the darkest corners of our psyche?
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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 Richard. 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.
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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. We've got a gripping episode of Serial Killers and Murderous Minds today where we explore the disturbing reality of law enforcement figures who cross the line into criminality. Stories like these linger not because they're common, but because they violate something fundamental trust. Federal agents and intelligence officers are given extraordinary authority. They investigate crimes, handle informants, and operate with access most people will will never have. When someone in that position commits a serious crime or enables violence, the damage extends far beyond a single victim or case file. So before you head over to serial killers and murderous minds, let's look at three documented cases involving federal law enforcement or intelligence personnel where abuse of power, corruption, or betrayal led to devastating consequences. These cases aren't about institutions as a whole. They're about individuals and what happens when oversight fails. Case 1 Richard Miller Richard Miller was an FBI agent in Los Angeles assigned to investigate organized crime and drug trafficking. On paper, he was supposed to be a safeguard against violence. Instead, he became part of it. Miller started associating with known criminals and eventually entered a romantic relationship with a drug dealer. As his involvement deepened, he started leaking sensitive information and actively obstructing investigations. The situation escalated in 1981 when Miller became involved in a plot to murder Robin Jackson, a woman he believed was a government informant who could expose him. Jackson was shot execution style, and investigators later tied the murder directly to Miller's actions and intelligence sharing. What makes this case especially disturbing is how seamlessly Miller used his authority to facilitate violence. He knew investigative procedures, surveillance limits, and how to manipulate law enforcement blind spots. Miller was convicted of conspiracy and obstruction of justice, becoming one of the first FBI agents convicted in a murder related case. His conviction shattered assumptions that a federal badge guaranteed integrity and exposed how dangerous insider knowledge can be in the wrong hands. Case 2 Lon Huruchi and Ruby Ridge the Ruby Ridge standoff remains one of the most controversial law enforcement operations in U. S. History. In 1992, a federal operation targeting Randy Weaver escalated into a deadly siege at his family's Idaho cabin. During the confrontation, FBI sniper Lon Huruchi fired shots that killed Vicki Weaver who was standing in the doorway of her home holding her infant child. Vicki Weaver was unarmed. Her death followed the earlier killing of Weaver's teenage son and a U. S. Marshal, turning a warrant enforcement into a national reckoning over rules of engagement, proportional force and accountability. Haruchi was later charged with manslaughter by the state of Idaho, but the charges were dismissed on jurisdictional grounds. Federal reviews later acknowledged serious failures in decision making and engagement protocols. Although no criminal conviction resulted, Ruby Ridge remains a case where federal action directly led to civilian death and where legal closure never equaled public resolution. Case 3 John Connolly John Connolly was an FBI agent in Boston assigned to handle organized crime informants. Instead of dismantling criminal networks, Connally protected them. For years, Connolly fed confidential information to James Whitey Bulger, warning him about investigations, allegations, witnesses and pending arrests. This protection allowed Bulger's organization to flourish unchecked. The consequences were deadly. Bulger and his associates murdered multiple people they believed were informants, often acting on intelligence leaked by Connolly. Victims were targeted precisely because they trusted law enforcement to keep them safe. Connolly was eventually convicted of racketeering, obstruction of justice and second degree murder for his role in enabling these killings. His conviction marked one of the most severe consequences ever faced by an FBI agent for corruption. The case revealed how informant programs, when poorly supervised, can become pipelines for violence instead of prevention. The Through Line when authority becomes a weapon what makes these cases especially difficult to sit with is that they don't fit the usual true crime framework. There's no unknown stranger lurking in the shadows. Instead, the danger comes from people who were already inside the system, people who understood how investigations worked, how oversight could be avoided, and how trust could be exploited. In several of these cases, victims don't just encounter violence, they encounter betrayal. What's striking is how often these cases remained hidden. For years, internal warnings were missed, dismissed, or ignored. Colleagues hesitated to challenge authority. Oversight mechanisms assumed good faith where skepticism was needed for the public These stories are unsettling because they invert a familiar expectation. We're taught that danger comes from outside the system. These cases remind us that sometimes the most harm is done by those who know the system best and how to bend it. That's why accountability matters here, not as punishment alone, but as prevention. Power without scrutiny doesn't just risk corruption, it risks lives. Stories like these remind us that justice doesn't just depend on laws, it depends on who is trusted to enforce them. As you head over to serial killers and murderous minds, remember, power doesn't corrupt in a vacuum. It corrupts when no one is watching. You've been listening to crime house 247 bringing you breaking crime news news. I'm Vanessa Richardson. We'll be back tomorrow morning with more developing stories. Stay safe and thanks for listening.
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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.