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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 this 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.
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All right, we are starting off today with the news you need to know right now. A major development has now been made in the investigation into the killings of an Ohio dentist and his wife who were found shot to death inside their home on the morning of December 30, 2025. Authorities say an arrest has been made and the suspect is the female victim Monique Tepes and ex husband. On Saturday, January 10, 2026, police arrested 39 year old Michael David McKee, charging him with two counts of murder in connection with the deaths of 37 year old Dr. Spencer Teppy and 39 year old Monique Tepe. The arrest came 10 days after the couple was found dead following what investigators describe as an intensive time sensitive investigation. McKee was taken into custody outside Ohio and is currently being held at the Winnebago County Jail in Illinois where scheduled to appear in court as extradition proceedings begin. As of this recording, it's not yet clear whether M has retained legal representation and he had an initial court hearing scheduled for Monday, January 12th. Police say concerns were raised on the morning of December 30th after Spencer, a dentist practicing in the Columbus area, failed to show up for work and could not be reached by friends and co workers. After repeated attempts to contact both him and mo' Nique were unsuccessful, a friend stopped by the home to check on the couple. According to a transcript of the 911 call obtained by PEOPLE, the friend told the 911 operator that he couldn't get inside the house and that he could hear the couple's two young children screaming. Some reports say he told the dispatcher that he saw a body, but that hasn't been corroborated yet. Police responded. Shortly afterward, Spencer was found lying near his bed in a pool of blood. Mo' Nique was also found inside the home suffering from gunshot wounds and their children were found physically unharmed. An incident reported shows that both Spencer and Monique were pronounced dead at 10:11am Authorities have said there were no signs of forced entry and the firearm believed to have been used in the killings was not recovered at the scene. Investigators now believe the shootings occurred earlier, sometime between 2am and 5am that morning. During that three hour window, police say a security camera recorded a person walking through an alley adjacent to the couple's home. The brief video shows an individual wearing light colored pants and a dark hooded jacket. It police have not publicly confirmed the identity of the person seen in that footage, but the investigation later turned to Michael David McKee, who was previously married to Monique Tepe. Investigators say McKee's movements and digital trail became a focal point in the case. They say surveillance footage placed his car in the area prior to the homicides and left shortly after, ultimately leading to his arrest. Records show. The two were married in 2015 and divorced two years later in 2017. Authorities have confirmed they did not have children together. Mo' Nique later married Spencer Tepe and the couple wed in 2020, eventually having two young children. McKee is a medical doctor specializing in vascular surgery, according to online licensing records. As of now, prosecutors have not publicly disclosed a motive. McKee has not entered a plea and is presumed innocent unless and proven guilty in court. Investigators say the case remains active as they continue to review evidence and prepare for the next phases of prosecution. Our next case keeps us in Ohio, where a murder trial is underway involving an 83 year old defendant A disturbing and highly unusual murder trial is now underway in Ohio centered on a deadly confrontation fueled by an elaborate phone scam that investigators say targeted both the victim and the man now accused of killing her. This week in Clark County, Ohio, trial Proceedings began for 83 year old William J. Brock, who's charged with murder in the death of 61 year old Uber driver Lolitha Letha Hall. Prosecutors say hall was shot and killed after being unknowingly sent to Brock's home by scammers. The shooting happened shortly after 11:28am on March 25, 2024, outside Brock's home in South Charleston, a small community west of Springfield, Ohio. So here's what investigators say led up to the deadly encounter. According to court records and testimony, Brock had been receiving a series of phone calls from scammers who falsely claimed to be federal agents and bank representatives. Those callers allegedly told Brock that his financial accounts had been compromised and that he needed to safeguard money and valuables connected to an investigation. At the meantime, investigators say those same scammers used the Uber app to dispatch Lolitha hall to Brock's address, instructing her to pick up what was described as a package. Authorities say hall, who was working as a driver that day, believed she was simply completing a routine pickup and had no knowledge of the scam. When hall arrived at Brock's home and asked about the package, prosecutors say Brock confronted her outside. Authorities have emphasized that hall was unarmed, made no threats and attempted to leave after realizing something was wrong. Investigators allege that as hall turned back towards her vehicle, Brock fired his gun, striking her multiple times in the driveway area. During the confrontation, Brock suffered minor injuries, which authorities say occurred during a brief struggle Brock then fired additional shots at her. Hall was struck by gunfire in her torso and leg, according to investigators and civil court filings. She was rushed to a nearby hospital, where she later died from her injuries. Brock called 911 following the shooting. He was later arrested and charged with murder. Prosecutors argue that Brock's actions were the tragic result of fear and confusion created by the scam, but they say that fear does not justify the use of deadly force. They've emphasized that hall was an innocent third party who had no connection to the fraud and posed no immediate threat. The defense, however, is expected to argue that Brock believed he was in danger, pointing to his age, the repeated scam calls and the chaotic circumstances leading up to the shooting. As for the scammers believed to be behind the scheme, authorities say no arrests have been made and the individuals responsible have not been publicly identified. Investigators have said the scam callers appeared to target both Brock and Hall separately, using phone calls that falsely claim to involve law enforcement or financial officials. Police have confirmed they traced the Uber ride request to a phone number believed to be connected to Canada and say they're working with Uber and federal investigators to track down those responsible. For now, the scammers at the center of the case remain at large, and Brock is the only person criminally charged in connection with Hall's death. Brock has pleaded not guilty. He remains free under court ordered conditions as the trial continues. If convicted, he faces the possibility of decades in prison despite his advanced age. Trial testimony is expected to continue in the coming days as jurors hear from law enforcement officers, medical experts and witnesses tied to the investigation. And while one jury weighs a case born out of a modern phone scam, another courtroom in New Jersey is reopening the wounds of a seven year old family tragedy.
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Legal showdown has finally begun in one of New Jersey's most notorious murder cases, the trial of Paul Canero, the man accused of killing his brother and his brother's family in a 2008 quadruple slaying that shocked the Coltsnet community. This week in Monmouth County Superior Court in Freehold, New Jersey. Proceedings officially got underway after years of pre trial delays, including extensive motions over evidence, appellate challenges and court slowdowns caused by the COVID 19 pandemic. Jury selection in the case began on January 6, 2026, and by Monday, January 12, prosecutors and defense attorneys had begun outlining their cases for a panel of jurors and alternates who will ultimately decide Canero's fate. Canero, now 59 years old, is charged with multiple counts tied to the deaths of his younger brother, 50 year old Keith Canaro, Keith's wife, 45 year old Jennifer, and their two children, 11 year old Jesse and 8 year old Sophia. Prosecutors say the four family members were killed inside and outside their sprawling Colt's Neck mansion during the early morning hours of November 20, 2018. Investigators allege Keith was first shot multiple times outside the home, after which Canero entered the house where Jennifer was shot and stabbed and the couple's children were fatally stabbed. Prosecutors say Canero then set fire to the home, triggering a blaze that drew emergency responders to the scene and initially complicated the investigation. Authorities have said the murders were not random, but instead stemmed from long standing financial disputes between the brothers. According to prosecutors, Paul and Keith Canaro were business partners and Keith had recently uncovered what he believed were repeated misappropriations of business funds by Paul. Court filings and a family civil complaint indicate Keith had expressed plans to end Paul's roughly $225,000 annual salary and remove him from a family trust after discovering money he believed had been taken for personal use, including funds that had been earmarked for the children's college accounts. For prosecutors say that confrontation, combined with mounting financial pressure and the threat of losing income and access to family assets, formed the motive behind the alleged killings. In court this week, prosecutors told jurors that Canero hunted down his family members in a deliberate sequence, beginning outside the home and continuing inside before setting the fire in an attempt to destroy evidence and mislead investigators. The case has taken more than seven years to reach trial, due in part to prolonged legal battles over what evidence jurors would be allowed to see. Most recently, the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled that key home security video could be admitted at trial, rejecting defense arguments that the footage was unlawfully obtained. Canero was arrested shortly after the killings and has been held without bail since that time. He's pleaded not guilty to charges including first degree murder, aggravated arson and related offenses. Prosecutors say that if he is convicted on the top counts, Canero could face life in prison without the possibility of parole. Trial testimony is expected to continue for several weeks as jurors hear from law enforcement investigators, forensic experts, financial witnesses and family members connected to the case. While that trial plays out in a New Jersey courtroom, investigators in the south are still searching for answers in another deadly case, one that remains unsolved and where the suspect is still on the run. Authorities in South Carolina are asking for the public's help after a young mother was found dead in a shopping center parking lot in Spartanburg in what law enforcement is describing as a hit and run. Homicide. Deputies with the Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office responded shortly before 3:30am on Wednesday, January 7, after receiving a report of a person down in the parking lot of a shopping center on Whitney Road. When first responders arrived, they found 31 year old Danae Josephine Waddell of Spartanburg dead at the scene. The Spartanburg County Coroner's Office later confirmed that Waddell had been struck by a vehicle, run over and dragged before dying from her injuries at around 3:35am that morning. Family members have shared that Waddell was a new mother, having welcomed a baby girl in October 2025, less than four months before her death. Those who knew her described her as devoted to her child, loving and deeply connected with her community. Investigators have classified the case as a hit and run collision, noting that the driver left the scene and has not yet been located. Deputies say no arrests have been made and the investigation remains active as law enforcement works to identify the and driver involved. According to Spartanburg county officials, security footage from the area has helped investigators narrow down the type of vehicle believed to have been involved, though authorities have not publicly released images of the vehicle or any description of the driver. They've also not yet released details on whether the vehicle was damaged or how investigators believe it left the scene. At this stage, deputies have not said whether they believe Waddell knew the driver or whether the incident was targeted or rand. All possible leads remain under review and investigators are continuing to gather evidence in hopes of identifying the person responsible. In a statement, law enforcement officials described the collision as a serious felony offense and reiterated that the case remains a priority for the sheriff's office and its partners, including the South Carolina Highway Patrol. Authorities are urging anyone who was in the Whitney Road shopping Center area on the early morning of January 7th, or anyone with surveillance footage, dash cam video, or other relevant information, to contact investigator Nick Federico with the Spartanburg County Sheriff's office at 864-503-4591. That's 864-503-4591. Officials say even small details could prove key in locating the vehicle and driver. As of this recording, the suspect remains at large. Family members have publicly appealed for the responsible driver to come forward, asking for justice for Waddell and closure for her young daughter and loved ones. The Spartanburg community continues to mourn Waddell's loss, remembering her as a vibrant young woman whose life was cut tragically short. So good. 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Lastly, let me tell you about what else is happening at Crime House today. Crimes of Passion is discussing a case from the Victorian era that is still both unsettling and relevant today. Florence Maybrick was convicted of murdering her husband James in 1889 and sentenced to death. That sentence was later commuted and after years in prison, she was released. Officially, the conviction was never overturned. But when you look closely at the facts, not through a Victorian lens, but through a modern one, the case starts to feel less like a solved murder and more like a war about how justice can drift when science, morality and fear get tangled together. Before you head over to crimes of passion to check out our deep dive, here are five facts about the Maybrick case that leave me seriously wondering whether Florence would ever be convicted in a modern courtroom. Number one. Arsenic wasn't unusual in James Maybrick's body, and the prosecution never proved a lethal dose. The entire case rests on arsenic. But here's the detail that still bothers historians and toxicologists. Arsenic was already part of James Maybrick's daily life. In the Victorian era, arsenic was commonly used in medicines and tonics. James was known to self medicate, heavily taking patent remedies that almost certainly contained arsenic. He was also described as someone who believed arsenic improved stamina and vitality, a belief that, while dangerous, was not uncommon at the time. And at trial, the prosecution treated the presence of arsenic as proof of poisoning. But they never established that the amount found in James's body was necessarily fatal, nor that it had been administered all at once, rather than accumulated over time. Under modern forensic standards, that would be a serious problem. Today, prosecutors must show not just the presence of a poison, but a clear mechanism of death. So dose, timing and causal link. In the Maybrick case, those elements were vague at best. So the lingering question is, if arsenic exposure could be explained by James own habits, would a modern jury accept it as proof of murder at all? Florence's adultery functioned as character evidence, which would be tightly restricted today. One of the most striking aspects of the trial is how little time was spent on medical uncertainty compared to how much time was spent on Florence Maybrick's personal life. Florence was having an affair. That fact dominated the courtroom. Her letters were read aloud. Her emotional state was scrutinized. Prosecutors implied, often explicitly, that her sexual behavior demonstrated moral corruption, deceitfulness, and therefore a capacity for murder. In a modern courtroom, this would raise immediate red flags. Today, character evidence is tightly controlled precisely because it can unfairly bias juries. An affair on its own is not evidence of homicide. But in 1889, adultery wasn't just a personal failing. It was treated as a kind of moral crime. Florence's guilt was inferred not just from physical proof, but from who she was perceived to be. Which leads to a disturbing modern question. If Florence had not been having an affair, would the same evidence have led to a conviction at all. Number three, the investigation locked onto Florence early and never seriously let go. Another detail that doesn't sit well under modern scrutiny is how quickly the investigation narrowed once Florence became a suspect. Alternative explanations for James's death were largely sidelined. His self medication, his long term health problems, and even the possibility of accidental poisoning were acknowledged but never seriously pursued. This is a textbook example of what we now call confirmation bias, when investigators form a theory early and then interpret all evidence through that lens. Modern investigative standards emphasize the importance of ruling out competing hypotheses. But in the Maybrick case, ambiguity didn't slow the prosecution down. It was reframed as proof of guilt. So the question becomes, would a modern defense team be able to argue that Florence was convicted not because the evidence was strong, but because the narrative was convenient? Number four, the jury heard science that was new, uncertain, and presented as definitive. Victorian forensic toxicology was still developing. Arsenic detection techniques existed, but they were far from precise. There was limited understanding of how arsenic accumulated in the body over time, or how different methods of ingestion affected symptoms. Despite this uncertainty, expert testimony at trial was presented with confidence, as though the science were settled. Today, expert witnesses are subject to intense scrutiny. Methodology matters. Error rates matter. Competing interpretations matter. In the Maybrick trial, those safeguards simply didn't exist. Which raises a crucial modern if the forensic science itself was still experimental, would today's courts even allow it to be presented as conclusive evidence? Number five, the state itself seemed unsure. And that hesitation speaks volumes. Perhaps the most revealing fact comes after the verdict. Florence Maybrick was sentenced to death, but the sentence was commuted amid public unease, petitions, and growing doubt. Officials never formally declared her innocent, but they also appeared unwilling to execute her. That contradiction is hard to ignore. Governments do not typically back away from executions unless there's genuine concern about the verdict. Florence eventually served 15 years and was released. And a resolution that feels less like justice and more like discomfort. So the final question is the one that lingers the longest. If the state that convicted her wasn't fully confident enough to carry out the sentence, why should we be confident in the verdict today? Florence Maybrick's case isn't unsettling because we know she was innocent. It's unsettling because we can't be sure she was guilty. And because the process that condemned her relied so heavily on moral judgment, incomplete science and assumptions about women's behavior. If the same facts were presented today, stripped of Victorian outrage, and examined through modern forensics and legal standards, it's entirely possible that Florence Maybrick would never have been convicted at all. And that uncertainty is exactly why her case still matters. For the in depth story behind Florence Maybrick's murder case, head over to our Crime House feed for the latest episode of Crimes of Passion. You've been listening to crime house 247 bringing you breaking crime news. I'm Vanessa Richardson. We'll be back tomorrow morning with more developing stories. Stay safe and thanks for listening. Foreign. 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 and Crimes now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or wherever you listen.
Host: Vanessa Richardson
Date: January 13, 2026
This episode delivers an up-to-the-minute roundup of the day’s top true crime stories, with Vanessa Richardson covering breaking news and ongoing trials. The primary focus is a major development in the December 2025 double homicide of an Ohio dentist and his wife, including the arrest of a key suspect. Vanessa also dives into a disturbing Ohio murder trial involving a phone scam, the long-awaited trial in New Jersey’s infamous Canero family murders, and the ongoing investigation into a deadly South Carolina hit-and-run. The episode closes with a thoughtful segment reflecting on the historical case of Florence Maybrick.
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Vanessa Richardson maintains a calm, fact-driven tone while acknowledging the tragic, unsettling nature of the cases. Her reporting is clear, measured, and focused on verifying facts and providing essential context for rapidly developing stories.
This episode provides a detailed, up-to-date look at several high-profile and developing criminal cases. For deeper dives, especially into the historical crime discussed, listeners are encouraged to check out the "Crimes of Passion" sister podcast, available on the Crime House feed.