Crime House 24/7

Episode: Olympic Snowboarder Turned Cocaine Kingpin Captured

Date: January 26, 2026
Host: Vanessa Richardson

Episode Overview

In this high-impact daytime episode, host Vanessa Richardson delivers breaking updates on several headline-grabbing true crime cases from across North America. The central story details the dramatic arrest of former Olympic snowboarder Ryan James Wedding, now accused of leading a multinational cocaine empire. Additional cases include a fatal Facebook Marketplace robbery in Missouri, an attempted murder of an Indiana judge and his wife, and a fast-food drive-thru fraud ring in Texas. The episode closes with a special segment tying Edgar Allan Poe’s life to true crime.

1. Olympic Snowboarder’s Downfall: Ryan James Wedding’s Arrest

[01:59–11:13]

Key Developments

• Arrest of Ryan James Wedding:

  • Former Canadian Olympic snowboarder, age 44, taken into custody in Mexico on January 22, 2026, after years on the FBI’s 10 Most Wanted list.
  • Authorities cite “a coordinated international effort between US and Mexican law enforcement” in making the arrest (Vanessa Richardson, [02:25]).
  • Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Cash Patel confirm arrest through public statements and social media.

• Alleged Crimes:

  • Wedding is accused of masterminding a vast cocaine trafficking network trafficking drugs from Colombia through Mexico, Southern California, and into Canada and the US.
  • He allegedly conspired to commit murders to protect drug operations, including the killing of a federal witness in Medellín, Colombia in January 2025.

• Charges & Legal Proceedings:

  • Faces charges including conspiracy to distribute and export controlled substances, conspiracy and actual murder in furtherance of drug trafficking.
  • US and Canadian authorities collaborated throughout (Vanessa Richardson, [05:35]).
  • FBI added him to their “10 Most Wanted” list in March 2025; $15 million reward offered for information.
  • Used aliases such as “El He,” “Giant,” and “Public Enemy.”

• Quote:

  • “Patel described the apprehension as a result of a coordinated international effort between US and Mexican law enforcement agencies and praised the cooperation that led to ending Wedding’s years-long fugitive status.” (Vanessa Richardson, [03:04])

• Investigation Insights:

  • Law enforcement linked aliases to financial activity and contacts, tracing his elusive movements.
  • Wedding’s enterprise allegedly leveraged relationships with Mexican cartels for protection.

• Legal Next Steps:

  • Wedding is in custody, awaiting extradition and arraignment in US federal court; prosecutors vow to seek no bond.

2. Fatal Facebook Marketplace Robbery: Missouri

[11:13–13:16]

Case Summary

• Victim:

  • Michael Ryan Burke, 42, decorated US Marine veteran, shot and killed on January 18 during an attempted Facebook Marketplace sale at his home in Columbia, Missouri.

• Suspects:

  • Four individuals (three adults—Alexis Gabrielle Bauman, Kobe D. Oust, Joseph Granville Crane, all 18—and one male juvenile) arrested and charged with varying combinations of second-degree murder, first-degree robbery, burglary, unlawful use of a weapon, and armed criminal action.

• Incident Details:

  • Victim was selling an iPhone 15 Pro when transaction escalated to robbery and shooting.
  • Despite being shot, Burke called 911, describing suspects, and texted his family:
    • Quote: “I’m dying and I love you.” ([12:08])—Burke’s final message to his mother and sister.

• Investigation:

  • String of similar robberies targeting online sellers linked through surveillance and cell phone data.
  • Community remembers Burke’s military and volunteer service; suspects are held without bond.

3. Attack on Indiana Judge and Wife

[13:16–16:25]

Main Points

• Incident:

  • Tippecanoe Superior Court Judge Stephen P. Meyer, 66, and wife Kimberly Meyer shot at their Lafayette, IN home on January 18 at 2:15 pm.

• Injuries:

  • Judge Meyer wounded in the arm; Mrs. Meyer hit in the hip. Both survived.

• Investigation & Arrests:

  • Five suspects apprehended: Raylan Ferguson (38), Thomas Moss (43), Blake Smith (32), Amanda Millsap (45), Zenada Greer (61).
  • Charges: Attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, bribery, obstruction of justice, and assisting a criminal.

• Motive:

  • Attack “tied…to efforts to influence or derail a pending domestic abuse case that was set to be heard by Judge Meyer.” (Vanessa Richardson, [14:09])
  • IN Supreme Court Chief Justice Loretta Rush urges statewide judicial vigilance.

4. McDonald’s Drive-Thru Credit Card Fraud: North Texas

[16:25–19:23]

Summary

• Suspect:

  • Jovani Primo Blount, 19, of Poolville, TX, former McDonald’s employee, arrested for allegedly double-charging credit/debit cards in Springtown, Texas.

• Scheme Details:

  • Used personal mobile device to process unauthorized charges of $10–$20 per affected customer; approximately $680 stolen in one day (>50 transactions, January 18).
  • Customers reported double charges; surveillance and transaction records used to identify culprit.

• Legal Status:

  • Blount released on $30,000 bond; next court appearance TBD.

• Corporate Response:

  • McDonald’s: “Actions alleged do not reflect the company’s standards or values.”

5. True Crime Profile: Edgar Allan Poe

[19:53–28:24]

A bonus segment ties gothic literature to true crime fandom, spotlighting the real-life tragedies and obsessions of Edgar Allan Poe.

Five Shocking Poe Details (True Crime Lens):

1. Haunted by Death from Childhood: Abandonment and maternal loss shaped Poe’s fixation with death.

   • “…Poe’s fixation on death doesn’t feel abstract—it feels compulsive…” (Vanessa Richardson, [20:43])

2. Involved in a Real Murder Investigation:

   • The Mary Rogers case inspired Poe’s fictional “The Mystery of Marie Roget.”
   • Publicly debated theories, possibly had inside information.

3. Obsessed with Burial Alive:

   • Themed stories stemmed from genuine historic fears and Poe’s anxiety.

4. Mysterious, Unsolved Death:

   • Found delirious in Baltimore, 1849, in “clothes that did not belong to him.”
   • Cooping (election fraud) theory highlighted.

5. Inventor of True Crime Psychology:

   • Credited with shaping forensic and psychological approaches to crime in fiction:
     • “Poe understood…crime is as much about the mind as the act itself.” (Vanessa Richardson, [25:40])

• Closing Reflection:
  • “If you want to hear how these themes play out in The Fall of the House of Usher, make sure to head over to Twisted Tales.” ([27:55])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Patel described the apprehension as a result of a coordinated international effort between US and Mexican law enforcement agencies…” —Vanessa Richardson ([03:04])
• “‘I’m dying and I love you.’ Friends later told reporters that the message reflected Burke’s devotion to his family even in his final moments.” ([12:08])
• “Poe understood something fundamental long before criminology existed: that crime is as much about the mind as the act itself.” ([25:40])
• “Sometimes the most disturbing stories were lived before they were written.” ([28:22])

Key Timestamps

• 01:59 – Start of Olympic snowboarder Ryan Wedding’s arrest coverage
• 11:13 – Missouri Marine veteran killed in Facebook Marketplace robbery
• 13:16 – Indiana judge and wife attacked; details and arrests
• 16:25 – Fast-food drive-thru credit card fraud case in Texas
• 19:53 – Edgar Allan Poe true crime profile: 5 shocking facts

This immersive episode exemplifies the Crime House 24/7 approach: rapid, fact-based updates on developing cases with added depth and context for true crime enthusiasts. Each segment flows directly into the next, balanced by a mix of fresh news and compelling historical insights.