After 30 Years, Body Pulled from Mississippi River Identified as Missing Illinois Man | Crime Alert 6AM 10.14.25

Summary

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Episode Overview

Title: After 30 Years, Body Pulled from Mississippi River Identified as Missing Illinois Man | Crime Alert 6AM 10.14.25
Host: Nancy Grace (with reports by John Laemmle)
Date: October 14, 2025
Podcast: Crime Stories with Nancy Grace

This episode centers on the recent identification of human remains found in the Mississippi River 30 years ago, provides updates on recent high-profile cases, and highlights the impact of new forensic technology on solving cold cases. Nancy Grace and her team focus on both bringing closure to families and discussing the wider justice implications of breaking crime news.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Cold Case Breakthrough: Benny Leo Olson Identified After 30 Years

[00:01-01:25]

• Case Details:

  • The body of a man, discovered near St. Louis in 1994, has finally been identified as Benny Leo Olson of Edwardsville, Illinois.
  • For over three decades he was only known as “John Doe.”
  • Recent advancements allowed new DNA samples to be drawn from exhumed remains.

• Identification Process:

  • Combination of fresh DNA analysis and fingerprints (collected years earlier from a prior incident) led to the match.
  • Benny Leo Olson struggled with paranoid schizophrenia and had a troubled past including an arrest in 1980 for attempting to hire someone to burn down his stepmother’s house. He was found not competent to stand trial and hospitalized.

• Family Impact:

  • The official identification brought closure to Olson’s surviving relatives.
  • Notable Quote:
    • "While they'd always suspected something had happened, they, quote, never really knew." — Katherine Heston, Olson’s half-sister [01:18]

• Law Enforcement Conclusion:

  • No indication of foul play in Olson’s death.

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2. Breaking Crime Updates

[02:44-05:44]

A. Controversial ICE Shooting in Franklin Park, Illinois

• Incident:

  • ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) officers shot and killed Silverio Villegas Gonzalez during an attempted arrest.
  • Gonzalez allegedly attempted to evade arrest and dragged an officer with his car.
  • Occurred during "Operation Midway Blitz," a federal crackdown in sanctuary states.

• Reactions:

  • Political and public backlash, with critics of ICE citing overreach and excessive force.
  • Quote:
    • "Supporters say it's about enforcing immigration law. Critics say it risks overreach and undermining trust in communities." — John Laemmle [03:27]
  • Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker calls for a full investigation; immigrant rights groups demand transparency.

B. Double Homicide in Queens, New York

• Victims:

  • Frank Olten, 76, found tied and stabbed; Maureen Olten, 77, died in a fire at their home.

• Suspect:

  • Jamel McGriff, with a history of violent crime and failure to register as a sex offender.
  • Tracked using surveillance footage and fraudulent credit card use.

• Details:

  • McGriff posed as needing to charge his phone and stayed for hours before committing the crimes.

• Quote:

  • "Police were able to track him through surveillance footage and reports that the couple's stolen credit cards had been used." — John Laemmle [04:28]

C. Bear Brook State Park Cold Case Update (New Hampshire)

• Twenty-Five Year-Old Mystery:

  • Identification of Rhea Rasmussen, a child found among four bodies discovered in Bear Brook State Park.
  • Linked to serial killer Terry Rasmussen.
  • Rhea's biological mother, Pepper Reed, remains missing; Denise Beaudin’s fate also unclear.

• Forensic Advances:

  • Genetic genealogy crucial for new breakthroughs.

• Quote:

  • "Investigators say this identification underscores the power of genetic genealogy in solving cold cases..." — John Laemmle [05:27]

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• Katherine Heston, Half-Sister of Benny Leo Olson:

  • "...they'd always suspected something had happened, they...never really knew." [01:18]

• John Laemmle, on the ICE shooting:

  • "Supporters say it's about enforcing immigration law. Critics say it risks overreach and undermining trust in communities." [03:27]

• On the Bear Brook Identification:

  • "Investigators say this identification underscores the power of genetic genealogy in solving cold cases..." [05:27]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:01] — Introduction and Benny Leo Olson cold case update
• [01:18] — Family reaction notable quote (Katherine Heston)
• [02:44] — Crime updates begin: ICE shooting in Franklin Park, IL
• [03:27] — Public debate over ICE tactics
• [04:05] — Details on Queens double homicide
• [05:27] — Bear Brook case update; impact of genetic genealogy

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Summary

This episode showcases the powerful intersection of technology, persistence, and human tenacity in bringing closure to cold cases, while also grappling with the ongoing complexities of law enforcement and justice in America. Through a blend of in-depth reporting, sensitive family perspectives, and sharp social commentary, Nancy Grace and her team deliver impactful crime stories that resonate with listeners and call for public engagement in seeking truth and resolution.

Transcript

[A]

CRIME alert. I'm John Laemmle. We begin with a major cold case solved. After nearly four decades in Missouri, authorities have finally identified a man whose body was discovered in the Mississippi river south of St. Louis back in 1994. The man was Benny Leo Olson from Edwardsville, Illinois, a city just across the river. For more than 30 years, he was known only as John Doe. His remains were exhumed recently so new DNA sound samples could be taken. Investigators say those samples, combined with fingerprints that had been on file since an earlier incident, enabled officials to make the identification. Olson, who would now be around 76 years old, had struggled with severe mental illness. He was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and in 1980 was charged in Illinois with trying to hire someone to burn down his stepmother's house. He was later found not competent to stand trial and treated at a mental health facility. Importantly, though, his identity has been confirmed, investigators say there is no indication of foul play in his death. Family members say the resolution brings some closure. One of his half sisters, Katherine Heston, reflected that while they'd always suspected something had happened, they, quote, never really knew.

[B]

Thanks, John. For the latest crime and justice news, go to crimeonline.com and please join us for our daily podcast, Crime Stories. More crime and justice news after this.

[C]

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[B]

Now with the latest crime and justice breaking news. Crime Online's John Laemmle.

[A]

In suburban Chicago, a fatal confrontation involving Immigration and Customs Enforcement is stirring controversy and political debate in Franklin Park, Illinois, just west of Chicago. ICE officers say they fatally shot Silverio Villegas Gonzalez after he allegedly tried to evade arrest by driving his car at office dragging one of them. Both the suspect and the dragged officer were taken to a hospital. The suspect was pronounced dead. This incident comes as part of a broader enforcement campaign known as Operation Midway Blitz, a federal effort to crack down in states with sanctuary policies. Supporters say it's about enforcing immigration law. Critics say it risks overreach and undermining trust in communities. Illinois Governor J.B. pritzker has called for a full investigation. Local immigrant rights groups are demanding transparency and decrying what they view as excessive force. In New York City, authorities have apprehended a suspect in a brutal double homicide involving an elderly couple whose home was set on fire. The victims, 76 year old Frank Olten and 77 year old Maureen Olten, were found dead in their queen's home earlier this week. Mr. Olten was tied to a pole and stabbed. Mrs. Olten died in the fire, severely burned. The suspect, 42 year old Jamel McGriff, was arrested in midtown Manhattan. Police were able to track him through surveillance footage and reports that the couple's stolen credit cards had been used. McGriff is a parolee with a long criminal record, including robbery convictions, and he failed to register as a sex offender last year. Authorities also report that McGriff entered the home under false pretense, asking if he could charge his phone and remained inside for several hours before the deadly events. Our final story this hour, a decades long mystery in New Hampshire has taken a significant turn nearly 25 years after four bodies were discovered in Bear Brook State Park. One of the young girls has now been identified as Rhea Rasmussen. The case is tied to serial killer Terry Rasmussen, who died in prison in 2010 after conviction in a separate murder. He used many aliases and targeted vulnerable women. Rhea's biological mother has been identified as Pepper Reed, who disappeared in the late 1970s and remains missing. Another woman, Denise Beaudin, also had long been connected to the case, but her fate remains unclear. Investigators say this identification underscores the power of genetic genealogy in solving cold cases and they continue to urge the public to come forward with any information that might help resolve remaining questions.

[B]

Thanks, John. For the latest crime and justice news, go to crimeonline.com and please join us for our daily podcast, Crime Stories, where we do our best to find missing people, especially children, and solve unsolved homicides with this crime alert. I'm Nancy Grace. This is an I Heart podcast.