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Hi, Crime House community. It's Vanessa Richardson. Exciting news. Conspiracy theories, cults and crimes is leveling up. Starting the week of January 12th, you'll be getting two episodes every week. Wednesdays we unravel the conspiracy or the cult and on Fridays we look at a corresponding crime. Every week has a theme. Tech, bioterror, power, paranoia, you name it. Follow conspiracy theories, cults and crimes now on your podcast app because you're about to dive deeper, get weirder and go darker than ever before.
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This is Crime House.
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Hi everyone, I'm Vanessa Richardson and I'm really excited to be back with you all. You've heard from Katie about what's changing and today I'm stepping in to take over our daytime coverage here on crime house 24 7. The goal is simple to bring you up to the minute. True crime news as it happens throughout the day, the breaking stories, the updates and the cases unfolding in real time each weekday. I'll be here to keep you informed on what's happening right now with clear reporting, verified facts and the context you need to understand these stories as they develop. And then at night, Katie will continue to do what she does best on Night Watch, taking you deeper into the cases everyone's talking about, examining the facts, the evidence, the people and the questions at the center of each story. No shortcuts, the full story. So think of crime house 247 like fast current crime news by day with me and in depth storytelling by night with Katie. I'm glad you're here. Let's get into today's top stories. Fun fact, you can't get pregnant every day. You're only fertile for six days. Ovulation day in the five days leading up to it. Natural Cycles is the only birth control app that can pinpoint your fertile window by analyzing your hormone driven temperature trends. It's more than just a basic cycle tracking app. Natural Cycles is the only FDA cleared and CE marked birth control app and has helped millions prevent and plan for pregnancy naturally. Save 15% when you sign up today with code RADIO15. Learn more@natural cycles.com okay, we're starting off today with the news you need to know. Right now, a high profile double murder case out of Fairfax County, Virginia is entering entering its most consequential phase with jury selection scheduled to begin today. Monday, January 12, 2026 in the trial of Brendan Banfield. Banfield is a former IRS special agent and he's accused in the February 24, 2023 deaths of his wife Christine Banfield and a man named Joseph Ryan. A case prosecutors say unfolded inside the Banfield's home in Fairfax County. According to court records, Christine Banfield was found dead from stab wounds inside the house. Joseph Ryan, a man investigators say had no prior connection to the family, was shot and killed during the same incident. Banfield has pleaded not guilty and maintains his innocence. Prosecutors believe the killings were part of an elaborate plan rooted in a secret relationship between Banfield and the family's live in au pair Juliana Perez Magalas. They allege that Banfield and Magalas were having an affair and Magalis thought her boss was going to divorce his wife, Christine Banfield. Instead, he allegedly said he would take care of it. Authorities say the case started to unravel after Ryan arrived at the Banfield home believing he was meeting Christine Banfield for consensual sex. Investigators allege Ryan had been communicating online with someone he believed to be Christine through a fetish website. But prosecutors say that account was fake and that it was allegedly created and controlled by Banfield and the au pair as part of a scheme to lure Ryan to the house. Once Ryan arrived, prosecutors allege Banfield shot and killed him and then fatally stabbed his wife, Christine, in an effort to stage the scene as a home invasion gone wrong. He called the police admitting that he shot a man, but claimed it was only because that man went into his home and stabbed his wife. Banfield has strongly denied those allegations. His defense team has argued there was no conspiracy, that Banfield did not create the online profile and that he did not murder his wife. Life Meanwhile, prosecutors alleged the Banfield's four year old daughter was inside the home during the killings while the child was not physically harmed, court records show Banfield faces additional charges accusing him of placing her in danger under Virginia's child abuse and neglect laws. Juliana Perez Magalis, the au pair at the center of the case, was initially charged with second degree murder in connection with Joseph Ryan's death. But in 2024 she reached a plea agreement with prosecutors plead guilty to manslaughter. As part of that deal. Prosecutors say Magalis has agreed to cooperate fully and is expected to testify against Banfield at trial, making her testimony one of the most closely watched elements of the case. In the months leading up to a trial, a series of pre trial rulings and delays have added even more complexity. Most recently, a Fairfax county judge ruled that a recorded forensic interview with the Banfield's young daughter will not be allowed as evidence during the trial. The defense had sought to exclude the video, arguing it would be prejudicial and on top of that, the prosecution has faced controversy within its own team. In early August of that year, lead prosecutor Eric Clingan was cited by Fairfax county police for drinking in public. Someone spotted him drinking beer behind a shopping center in Centerville and told police he was out there, quote, almost every day. Clingan was later placed on leave. And that development contributed to yet another delay in the case as a new prosecutor was assigned and trial preparations were reset. Court records show that jury selection is now set to begin on Monday, January 12th in Fairfax County Circuit Court with proceedings expected to run several weeks. Legal analysts say the case is likely to hinge on digital evidence, forensic analysis and the credibility of witnesses, particularly the testimony of the au pair. Prosecutors must convince jurors not only that Banfield committed the killings, but that they were intentional and premeditated. For the defense, the strategy is expected to focus on challenging the state's theory of motive, disputing the reliability of digital evidence and raising questions about investigative assumptions made early in the case. We'll be watching closely as Banfield's trial continues to unfold. But in Los Angeles, California, another murder that happened inside a family home is making headlines. And we're bringing you the latest. Latest update. A disturbing new chapter has unfolded in the murder case involving the December 14, 2025 deaths of legendary filmmaker Rob Reiner and his wife, Michelle Singer. Reiner investigators continue to examine the long, troubled history involving their 32 year old son, Nick Reiner, who now stands accused of killing them. Last week, Reiner's high profile defense attorney, Alan Jackson, who's represented clients such as Karen Reed, Kevin Spacey and Harvey Weinstein, unexpectedly withdrew from Reiner's case, citing circumstances beyond his client's control. But even after dropping out, Jackson still remains adamant that his former client Reiner is not guilty in the murders. He also told the press that he's legally and ethically prohibited from explaining why he's no longer part of Reiner's team. A public defender named Kimberly Greene stepped in on Thursday, January 7, 2026 as the new frontrunner of Reiner's defense. So we're coming to you with some newly obtained background on who she is and what to expect for Reiner's case moving forward. Greene got her degrees in business administration and political science from the University of Miami and then moved on to graduate from Loyola law school in 2000. She's been a Los Angeles public defender ever since. As a reminder, when someone's a public defender, that means they're a government funded lawyer who was appointed by a court to represent a defendant. After the hearing, Greene spoke outside the courtroom, where she told journalists that she had only spoken to Reiner for 30 seconds that morning. Meanwhile, she asked the judge to postpone Reiner's former arraignment until February 23, 2026, which the judge granted. As a reminder, prosecutors have charged Reiner with special circumst murder counts, meaning that if he is convicted, he could face life in prison for his crime without parole or the death penalty. According to investigators, his alleged killings happened in the early morning hours of December 14, 2025 inside the Reiners Brentwood home. Allegedly, an argument had broken out between Reiner and his parents at a party hosted by famed late night host Conan o' Brien the night before. Following the outburst, Rob and Michelle left the party early and their son went to their home later that night. Then around 3:30 the next morning, Rob and Michelle were found in their home with multiple sharp force injuries by their 28 year old daughter Romy, who checked on them when repeated calls to the home went unanswered. The Los Angeles county medical examiner later ruled both deaths as homicides caused by stabbing. Nick Reiner was arrested later that same day near the University of Southern California. Authorities still have not publicly disclosed a motive. Investigators say that prior to the slayings, Reiner struggled with severe substance addiction, relapses and periods of homelessness for years. Family members corroborate this, adding that Rob and Michelle repeatedly tried to help their son even as their family relationships continued to deteriorate. So far, Reiner has remained in custody since his arrest, initially placed on suicide watch in December, then moved to restricted housing as the case proceeded. The rest of their family, including Romy and their other 34 year old son Jake, have issued statements mourning the loss of their parents and expressing trust in the legal process. They've appealed for privacy and compassion as the case moves through the courts. Rob Reiner was widely known for his roles as an actor in television and film and later as a filmmaker behind classics including When Harry Met Sally, A Few Good Men and the Princess Bride. Michelle was an accomplished photographer and producer. Their deaths prompted an outpouring of grief from colleagues, fans and public figures alike. Reiner is scheduled to return to court on February 23, 2026 with his new defense attorney when prosecutors expect him to be formally and asked to enter a plea regarding his two charges. Meanwhile, we're getting word of another disturbing discovery across the coast, one that doesn't involve just two charges. But okay, get this, nearly 600.
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With subscriptions, streaming fitness razors, vitamins. I've got subscriptions for everything in my life. They lock you in and half the time I can't figure out how to unsubscribe. That's why I'm so excited about the new Blue Apron. Now you can get delicious meals delivered with no subscription needed, including new pre made options. Keep the flavor, ditch the subscription. Get 20% off your first two orders with code APRON20. Terms and conditions apply. Visit blueapron.com terms for more in eastern Pennsylvania, authorities say they've uncovered one of the most disturbing grave robbery cases investigators have ever seen, arresting a man after more than hundred human skeletal remains were found in his home and car. He's being held as we speak. Just a few days ago, Pennsylvania officers announced the arrest of 34 year old Jonathan Gerlach in Yadin, Pennsylvania, after law enforcement spotted him leaving the Mount Mariah Cemetery with a burlap bag and a crowbar in his car. During the search that followed, detectives say they found bones in the burlap bag as well as full and partial sets of human remains inside Gerlach's, including skulls, long bones, mummified feet and even remains with a pacemaker still attached. Officials allege that Gerlach forced open at least 26 mausoleums and underground vaults at the historic cemetery over several months, stealing remains dating from nearly 200 years ago to more recent burials. Prosecutors claim that Gerlach admitted to stealing about 30 sets of remains and even showed detectives seven grave sites where he had pried open mausoleums using the crowbar. Investigators think he was alone in his crime, but they noted that a girlfriend was living with him who was allegedly around the home where Gerlach stored the remains. Delaware County District Attorney Tanner Rouse noted that some of the remains belonged to infants and children and described the scene in the home as like a horror movie come to life. Some people are comparing this case to the infamous serial killer Ed Gein, who was known as the Butcher of Plainfield, Wisconsin. Gein, who inspired horror films such as Psycho, the Silence of the Lambs and Texas Chainsaw Massacre, robbed graves and made objects with stolen human body parts. It's important to note that as of right now, investigators haven't released a motive yet in Gerlach's crimes and they have not said what Gerlach was doing with the remains he stole. However, prosecutors allege Gerlach was connected to a Facebook group called the Human Bones and Skull Selling Group, and officers are investigating that network work as part of the ongoing probe. Gerlak now faces approximately 574 criminal counts, including abuse of a corpse, theft by unlawful taking, felony burglary, desecration and criminal trespass. He's being held on $1 million bail and a preliminary hearing is scheduled for January 20th, so we'll keep a lookout on that. The Yiden police chief called the crime one of the most disturbing things he had ever seen and that his heart goes out to the of the people Gerlach exhumed. And while those in Pennsylvania remain shocked about this horrific crime, just across state lines, an Ohio family is finally getting closure after their loved one was killed over two decades ago. On Friday, a sentence was handed down more than 20 years after a woman was killed closing one of Huron County, Ohio's longest running cold cases. An Ohio judge sentenced Paul Hicks to 25 years to life in prison for the murder of his 25 year old wife, Regina Ro Hicks. A jury found him guilty after prosecutors convinced them that what was initially treated as a possible accident in 2001 was in fact a staged homicide. According to court records and local Ohio news outlets, Roe was reported missing by her family in October 2001. She was last seen on October 18, 2001, just just four days later. In the midst of her family's search, her body was recovered from a pond in rural Huron County. She was in the passenger seat of her 1992 Camaro, which had been driven into the water. At the time. Investigators noted suspicious circumstances surrounding her death, especially the fact that her autopsy showed signs of bruising on her head. Investigators learned that Hicks and Rowe had a very turbulent relationship and that Hicks had filed for divorce from row just three days before she was found in her car. The case stalled without enough evidence to bring charges, but Rose family said they always had a hunch that Hick was behind it. Investigators eventually linked Hicks back to Rose's death after they discovered that Hicks had Ro meet him on Townline Road around the time she vanished. Hicks was officially taken to trial in October 2024. In the courtroom, prosecutors told jurors that Hicks hit row, knocking her unconscious, then he left her body in the and drove it into the water. During the trial, the state walked jurors through the original crime scene, highlighting key witness testimony from a man named Steve Gates. Ro came to Gates's house to pick up her son right before she went missing, and Gates said he noticed Hicks was arguing with her near their car. Crystal Hicks hick sister who was living with Hicks at the time of Rose disappearance, also testified that she saw muddy clothes in their bathtub after Ro vanished. Authorities also revisited Hicks behavior in the hours and days after Roe was last seen alive. According to testimony, he claimed that he had a twin brother who was framing him, but then he also said that he believed Roe had taken her own life. With that, the jury delivered a guilty verdict holding Hicks responsible for the murder and kidnapping of Regina Rowe. His Sentencing on Friday, January 9, 2026 marks accountability for a crime that had gone unexpected unanswered for more than two decades, and Rose family said that they can finally rest knowing Rose killer will stay behind bars. The Ohio Attorney General's office called the conviction a reminder that cold cases are never closed. Regina Rowe was found dead 24 years ago and now the truth about her final moments has finally been revealed. A year from today, what would your dream private practice look like? Would you spend less time chasing claims or only working with clients who value your skill set? What if you had more time for yourself? Alma empowers you to confidently accept insurance backed by an all in one EHR that simplifies scheduling, documentation and day to day practice operations. Your dream practice is closer than either think. Learn more about alma@hello Alma.com Get Started this episode is brought to you by Dead Man's Wire, the new film from Roquet Entertainment. Dead Man's Wire is the incredible true story of the 1977 kidnapping that turned an aspiring entrepreneur into an outlaw folk hero. Directed by legendary filmmaker Gus Van Sant, Dead Man's Wire stars Bill Skarsgard, Dacre Montgomery, Carrie Railways and Myhala. With Coleman Domingo and Al Pacino. Now playing in select theaters everywhere January.
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Lastly, let me tell you about what else is happening at Crime House today. Killer Minds is covering a case that has confounded true crime enthusiasts for over 50 years. The murder and disappearance of Jimmy Hoffa. Our episode shifts Dr. Engel's psychological expertise towards exploring how a relatively unremarkable organized crime hit became a true crime obsession buried deep within the American cultural psyche. As most of us know, Jimmy Hoffa was a powerful and controversial American labor leader who ran the Teamsters union, became famous for his ties to organized crime, and vanished mysteriously in 1975. And everyone asks the same question. Where's the body? Under a stadium? In concrete? In the woods? In a river? Pick your favorite theory. So before you head over to Killer Minds to check out our deep dive, I'm going to share five questions that keep this case at the top of my list. Because the Hoffa case isn't just about a missing man. It's about power, money, and systems that know how to protect themselves. Number one, how did a workers union turn into a massive power structure? And why did that make Jimmy Hoffa dangerous? So when most people hear the phrase labor union, they think about strikes, protests, and workers fighting for fair wages. That's part of the story. But in the mid 20th century, the Teamsters union had grown into something much bigger than that. The Teamsters represented truck drivers, warehouse workers, and shipping crews, the people who physically moved goods across the country. That meant they didn't just negotiate contracts. They controlled logistics. Food, fuel, raw materials, consumer goods. Everything depended on transportation, and transportation depended on the Teamsters. If you controlled logistics, you controlled leverage. By the 1950s and 1960s, the Teamsters were the largest union in the United States, with enormous political influence and an enormous flow of money. Membership dues alone made the union powerful, but the real gravity was its pension fund, which had grown into one of the largest private pools of money in the country. To workers, that fund represented retirement security. To organize crime, it represented access to massive amounts of low interest capital that could quietly finance casinos, hotels, and real estate projects. For years, this system functioned smoothly. Powerful people made money, influence stayed concentrated, and nobody had much incentive to rock the boat. Then Jimmy Hoffa went to prison. While he was gone, new leadership took over. Leadership that many mob figures found easier to work with and less unpredictable. When Hoffa was released, he didn't want to retire quietly. He wanted his position back. That's where the danger emerges. In systems built on money and influence. Stability matters more than loyalty. If a powerful structure's been running smoothly without you, suddenly trying to reclaim control doesn't make you a hero, it makes you a threat. Two, why does the Midwest matter? And how powerful was organized crime there compared to New York and New Jersey? Well, when people picture the Mafia, they usually imagine New York, the five families, flashy names, public trials, and dramatic headlines. Maybe New Jersey gets included as an extension of that world. But what often gets overlooked is how important the Midwest was to organized crime during this period. Cities like Chicago, Detroit, and Cleveland weren't side operations. They were major power centers. And in some ways, they were even more effective than their east coast counterparts. Chicago in particular operated with a level of centralization that New York didn't always have. Power was quieter, more consolidated, and more deeply embedded in legitimate industries. Detroit mattered because it sat at the crossroads of manufacturing, transportation and international trade. The auto industry, shipping routes cross border commerce with Canada, and union infrastructure all converged there. Organized crime in the Midwest didn't need to be loud or flashy. It focused on control of unions, contracts, pension funds, and supply chains. That kind of power is harder to see and much harder to prosecute. So when Hoffa disappeared in Michigan, it wasn't happening on the outskirts of organized crime influence. It was happening in one of its most strategically important regions. The Midwest didn't look like Hollywood's version of the Mafia, but that may be exactly why it worked so well. Three, why does the same type of car keep coming up? And why were big V8 sedans perfect for this kind of crime? One of the most persistent details in Hoffa's disappearance is the mention of a large American sedan, often identified as a Mercury Marquis. The car itself isn't special, and that's exactly the point. Cars like the marquee were built for comfort and anonymity. They were powered by large V8 engines that could move smoothly and confidently without drawing attention. These engines weren't about racing or flash. They were about quiet, reliability and effortless control in traffic. The cars blended into the background, especially in suburban and commercial areas. Just as important was the interior. These sedans had wide bench seats, large backseats, and spacious cabins. Multiple adults could sit comfortably without attracting notice. Movement inside the car wasn't obvious from the outside. Conversations could happen privately, and the space allowed for control without spectacle. From the outside, it looked like a normal executive vehicle. From the inside, it was a contained environment. That combination, power, space and invisibility made these cars ideal tools. They didn't announce danger. They didn't Stand out. They disappeared into traffic. Over time, cars like the Mercury Marquis became linked to mob stories, not because they were designed for crime, but because they were perfectly suited for it. 4. If most people believe organized crime was responsible, why has no one ever been charged? This is the question that frustrates people the most, especially today. From the outside, it feels obvious. Hoffa had ties to organized crime. He had enemies, and he disappeared after going to meet people connected to that world. So why has the case never been resolved legally? The answer isn't dramatic, it's procedural. First, Hoffa's body has never been found, which makes proving a homicide extremely difficult. Second, time has worked against investigators. Witnesses have died, memories have faded, and evidence that might once have mattered no longer exists. But the deeper reason is structural. Organized crime doesn't operate like random violence. It's built around compartmentalization and silence. No single person knows enough to collapse the entire operation. And cooperation is discouraged through loyalty, fear, and self preservation. Investigators may strongly suspect who was involved, but suspicion isn't enough in court. The justice system doesn't work on what everyone knows. It works on evidence that can survive scrutiny. Some crimes stay unsolved not because they're confusing, but because they're carefully designed to leave no usable trail. And five, did pop culture give us closure? The real case never could. For many people, the Hoffa story feels finished not because of a trial or a conviction, but because movies, books, and confident insider accounts provide a clean narrative. They give us characters, motives, and endings. That kind of storytelling is emotionally satisfying in a way real investigations often aren't. Official records are cautious, fragmented, and unresolved. Pop culture fills in the gaps, smoothing over uncertainty with certainty. Over time, those stories start to feel more real than the evidence itself. So the final question is whether pop culture solved the Hoffa case emotionally, even though it remains legally unsolved. And if it did, whether that emotional closure makes us less interested in the uncomfortable reality that some stories don't end neatly. And some systems are very good at ensuring that Jimmy Hoffa didn't just disappear. He collided with a system built on money, leverage, and silence. The reason his story still resonates isn't because we don't know where he went. It's because his disappearance reveals how power operates when no one is watching. For the in depth story behind Jimmy Hoffa's mysterious disappearance, head over to our Crime House feed for the latest episode of Killer Minds. 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. Looking for your next listen. Hi, it's Vanessa Richardson and I have exciting news. Conspiracy Theories, Cults and Crimes is leveling up starting the week of January 12th. You'll be getting two episodes every week. Wednesdays we unravel the conspiracy or the cult, and on Fridays, we look at a corresponding crime. Follow Conspiracy Theories, Cults and Crimes now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or wherever you listen.