Summary4 min read

Crime Stories with Nancy Grace

Episode: Four Arrested in Nantucket Extension Cord Kidnapping Beatdown | Crime Alert 07.21.26
Date: July 21, 2026
Host: Sydney Silvani (on behalf of Nancy Grace, CrimeOnline/iHeartPodcasts)

Episode Overview

This episode delivers an intense and fast-paced roundup of recent shocking crime stories, focusing primarily on a brutal kidnapping and assault case in Nantucket, followed by updates on two other major cases: the starvation death of a child in military housing in Georgia and the break in a decades-old cold case murder in Alaska. The tone is serious, urgent, and fact-driven, with a focus on the harrowing details of each incident and the legal actions being pursued.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Nantucket Extension Cord Kidnapping and Assault

(00:09 - 02:16)

Incident Overview:
- Four Nantucket locals—Cal Ray Brown (31), Dijon Hazel (30), Alvin Barnett (21), and Newton Lawrence (34)—were arrested after allegedly beating and kidnapping a man, then binding him with an extension cord.
- The attack began in the parking lot of Winter Park playground, where the victim was punched, kicked, and beaten with a wooden stake.
- The victim was forcibly dragged to a nearby residence at 24 Essex Road (home to Barnett and Lawrence) where threats and further violence ensued; the victim suspected he was struck with a hammer while being held.
Victim Condition:
- Suffered heavy bleeding from nose and mouth, facial scrapes, and severe trauma.
- Treated on-site and at Nantucket Cottage Hospital for non-life-threatening injuries.
Legal Developments:
- Charges: 1 count, kidnapping; 1 count, assault; 16 counts, assault and battery; 4 counts, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.
- All four suspects were released on bail and attended arraignment on Monday.
Investigation Status:
- Police have not confirmed if there was a prior relationship between the suspects and the victim.
- Motive remains unclear.
Notable Reporting:

“Officers responded around 4:30pm local time on Thursday following reports of an attack occurring at a residence on Essex road. Upon arrival, Massachusetts State Police troopers located a 28 year old man tied up with an extension cord. The victim was bleeding heavily...”
—Sydney Silvani, 00:16

2. Georgia Army Housing Child Starvation & Animal Neglect Case

(02:17 - 03:51)

Case Summary:
- Ladarian McCray (23), a US Army soldier, and Emma Bradshaw (22) face federal charges after allegedly starving their son to death in military housing at Fort Benning, Georgia, between January 14-28.
- The indictment also details severe neglect of three dogs (a female Dachshund, a male Hound, and a female Doberman); the Dachshund died, and its body was found in a trash bin.
Prosecution Details:
- Charges: felony murder, cruelty to children, making false statements, animal cruelty.
- If convicted, both face up to life in prison.
- Both pleaded not guilty; released on $10,000 unsecured bonds.
Notable Reporting:

“Prosecutors allege the couple lied to special agents... claiming their child showed no signs of illness before his death.”
—Sydney Silvani, 02:45
“Investigators found [the Dachshund’s] body discarded in an outdoor trash bin, while the two surviving dogs were severely malnourished.”
—Sydney Silvani, 03:22

3. Alaska Cold Case: Murder Solved After 33 Years

(03:52 - 05:55)

Break in the Case:
- Christopher Pops (54) of Michigan was arrested and charged with the 1993 murder of former coworker Patrick Orville Dirth in Fairbanks, Alaska.
- Pops reportedly submitted multiple anonymous tips over the years, confessing responsibility.
- In May 2025, investigators located Dirth’s remains inside a barrel, down an embankment off Steese Highway, months after a final tip.
Details of the Crime:
- The homicide stemmed from an altercation at an auto shop; Pops is alleged to have shot Dirth.
- The remains were identified by the state medical examiner as Dirth, who had been missing since November 1993.
Legal Status:
- A grand jury indicted Pops on two counts of second-degree murder on June 25, 2026.
- Arrested near Kalamazoo, MI on July 16, now awaiting extradition.
Notable Quotes:

“Investigators identified the anonymous tipster as Pops, who had previously submitted multiple anonymous tips to different Alaska law enforcement agencies claiming responsibility for Dirth's murder.”
—Sydney Silvani, 04:46
“Based on our investigation, we determined there was an altercation at an auto shop which led Pops to shoot Dirth.”
—Austin McDaniel, Alaska State Troopers Spokesperson, 05:17

Memorable Moments & Quotes

Extension Cord Beating in Nantucket:

“The victim was discovered bound with an extension cord... suffering from facial scrapes and severe trauma.” (00:14 - 00:31)
Child Starvation & Animal Cruelty Details:

“The Dachshund died from neglect and investigators found its body discarded in an outdoor trash bin while the two surviving dogs were severely malnourished.” (03:20 - 03:30)
Cold Case Breakthrough and Confession:

“Christopher Pops... was arrested in July on a murder indictment over a year after the Alaska State Troopers received an anonymous tip confessing to a 1993 murder.” (03:57 - 04:09) “They were able to locate a barrel with human remains in it. Got that down to the state medical examiner's office who determined that it was a homicide.” (05:00 - 05:10, paraphrasing Austin McDaniel)

Important Segment Timestamps

Nantucket Kidnapping/Beating Case: 00:09 – 02:16
Georgia Army Housing – Child and Animal Neglect: 02:17 – 03:51
Alaska Cold Case Breakthrough: 03:52 – 05:55

Summary

This Crime Alert episode provides rapid but detailed coverage of brutal, high-profile cases—emphasizing not just the horrific acts of violence, but also the pursuit of justice through law enforcement action, indictments, and ongoing investigations. The episode’s tone blends urgency, gravity, and shock, consistent with Nancy Grace’s signature style, and serves to inform and galvanize listeners to remain vigilant and proactive in their communities.

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Transcript3 lines

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This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human Crime Alert Hourly Update Breaking Crime News Now.
[00:09]
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I'm Sydney Silvani. A violent and terrifying incident on the island of Nantucket, Massachusetts has left four local residents facing severe criminal charges after a victim was brutally beaten and discovered bound with an extension cord, according to the Nantucket Police Department. Officers responded around 4:30pm local time on Thursday following reports of an attack occurring at a residence on Essex road. Upon arrival, Massachusetts State Police troopers located a 28 year old man tied up with an extension cord. The victim was bleeding heavily from his nose and mouth, suffering from facial scrapes and severe trauma. Paramedics from the Nantucket Fire Department treated him at the scene before transferring him to the Nantucket Cottage Hospital for non life threatening injuries. Police arrested four local 31 year old Cal Ray Brown, 30 year old Dijon Hazel, 21 year old Alvin Barnett and 34 year old Newton Lawrence. Investigators believe the four men initially confronted the victim in the parking lot of the Winter park playground at 43 Essex Road, where they punched, kicked and beat him with a wooden stake. The suspects then forcibly kidnapped the man, dragging him to a home at 24 Essex Road, the shared residence of Barnett and Lawrence. While held inside, the victim told police he believed one of the men struck him with a hammer. Brown, Hazel, Barnett and Lawrence are each charged with one count of kidnapping, one count of assault, 16 counts of assault and battery and four counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. All four suspects were released on bail and appeared for arraignment on Monday. Nantucket police have not publicly disclosed whether the victim had a prior relationship with any of his alleged attackers and a potential motive is not known at this stage of the investig. More crime and justice news after this A US army soldier and his girlfriend face federal charges in Georgia after prosecutors say they starved their young son to death inside military housing and severely neglected three dogs. A federal grand jury returned eight criminal counts against 23 year old Ladarian McCray of Valdosta, Georgia and 22 year old Emma Bradshaw of Carson City, Nevada on June 14, according to press releases from the U.S. attorney's office for the Middle District of Georgia and court documents. The indictment alleges that between January 14 and January 28, while residing in military housing at Fort Benning, Georgia, McCray and Bradshaw willfully deprive their son, identified in court records as lm, of necessary sustenance resulting in his death. Prosecutors allege the couple lied to special agents of the Department of Army Criminal Investigation Division, claiming their child showed no signs of illness before his death. The indictment also accuses McCrae and Bradshaw of neglecting three family dogs, a female Dachshund, a male Hound and a female Doberman. Prosecutors say the couple failed to provide adequate food, water, sanitary conditions and ventilation. The dachshund died from neglect and investigators found its body discarded in an outdoor trash bin while the two surviving dogs were severely malnourished. McCrae was an active duty soldier who had recently been transferred to Fort Benning at the time of the alleged crimes, and per prosecutors, he had currently subject to discharge proceedings from the United States Army. Charges against the couple include felony murder, cruelty to children, making false statements and animal cruelty. If convicted, McCray and Bradshaw face up to life in prison. Both pleaded not guilty and were released on $10,000 unsecured bonds. A Michigan man was arrested and charged with the decades old murder of a former co worker in Alaska after repeatedly tipping authorities off to the alleged crime. Christopher Pops, a 54 year old Michigan resident, was arrested in July on a murder indictment over a year after the Alaska State Troopers received an anonymous tip confessing to a 1993 murder in Fairbanks, according to a press release posted Friday by the state police agency. After the tip arrived on January 22, 2025, the Alaska Bureau of Investigations Cold Case Investigation Unit began reviewing the case. Authorities had to wait several months until spring to search the area described because it was dark and covered in snow. In May 2025, investigators traveled off Steesse highway and located human remains inside a barrel down a steep embankment. Alaska State troopers spokesperson Austin McDaniel stated, they were able to locate a barrel with human remains in it. Got that down to the state medical Examiner's office who determined that it was a homicide. The Alaska State Medical Examiner's Office identified the remains as 34 year old Patrick Orville Dirth, who was reported missing to Fairbanks police in November 1993. Investigators identified the anonymous tipster as Pops, who had previously submitted multiple anonymous tips to different Alaska law enforcement agencies claiming responsibility for Dearth's murder. As for why Pops had been attempting to tip authorities off to his alleged crime, the spokesperson told reporters that he did not have additional information to share. Spokesperson McDaniel said pops and Dirth were former co workers in Fairbanks, explaining, based on our investigation, we determined there was an altercation at an auto shop which led Pops to shoot Dirth. A Fairbanks grand jury indicted Pops on two counts of second degree murder on June 25. On July 16, Michigan State Police arrested Pops near Kalamazoo, Michigan, where he remains in county jail pending extradition to Alaska Dearth's next of kin have been notified. For more crime and justice news, be sure to join us for crime stories with Nancy Grace on Fox One, YouTube, SiriusXM. And now streaming on Tubi with this crime alert, I'm Sydney Silvani.
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This is an I heart podcast. Guaranteed human.