Podcast Summary: "Man Kills Co-Worker with Sledgehammer Because He Doesn't Like Her"

Podcast: Crime Stories with Nancy Grace
Episode: Crime Alert 6AM 11.25.25
Date: November 26, 2025
Host: Drew Nelson for Nancy Grace
Provider: iHeartPodcasts and CrimeOnline

Overview

This episode delivers a harrowing update on the fatal assault of 20-year-old Amber Zeck, allegedly murdered by a coworker in Minnesota who, according to prosecutors, harbored a long-standing grudge against her. The episode explores the broader impact on women in the trades, the suspect's background, legal proceedings, and the overwhelming response from both local communities and national trade organizations. The episode continues with several other notable crime stories, including an account of a domestic violence shooting in Georgia and a DUI incident with an unexpected twist.

Key Case: Amber Zeck’s Murder in Minnesota

The Crime (00:03–01:13)

• Incident Summary:
  • Amber Zeck, a 20-year-old welder, was killed at her workstation in a Minnesota manufacturing plant by coworker David Bruce Delong.
  • Delong used a sledgehammer, planning the attack for a long time, according to prosecutors.
  • Surveillance footage captured Delong leaving his station and attacking Amber.
  • He confessed to a witness:
    • Quote (Delong via witness, 01:03): "I hit her with your hammer. She is by your toolbox. She is gone."
• Aftermath:
  • Zeck was found with severe head trauma; death was immediate.
  • A visitation in Hutchinson drew crowds in mourning.

Community and Legal Response (01:13–02:21)

• Family and Community:
  • Amber remembered as joyful, ambitious, precise, and hardworking.
  • Quote (Shannon Visser, relative, 00:51):
    "Bless Amber and remember Amber in every part of her life that has touched people and touched everybody in this community."
• Ongoing Investigation:
  • Delong charged with second-degree murder; first-degree charges under consideration pending a grand jury.
  • Competency evaluation ordered for Delong.
  • The plant paused production and is cooperating with investigators.

National Resonance & Women in the Trades (01:52–02:21)

• Trade Organization Response:
  • Immediate emergency meeting by the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC).
  • Members shared stories of harassment, safety fears, and underscored that Amber’s murder is emblematic of systemic issues for women in male-dominated industries.
  • Quote (Rita Brown, NAWIC President, 02:04):
    "Our heart breaks for her family, for her friends, for all those who were touched by what happened to her. This was nothing that such a young woman deserved. Ever, ever, ever."
• Solidarity Actions:
  • Women nationwide wore blue in Amber's honor.
  • Trade unions demanded safer work conditions and a cultural reset to address harassment and hostility toward women.

Personal Legacy & Public Response (02:21–03:24)

• Amber’s Professionalism:
  • Graduate of a 10-month welding program, respected for her high standards.
  • Her motto:
    • Quote (Amber Zeck, recalled in obituary, 02:23):
      "If you are not going to do it right, don't do it at all."
• Public Grieving and Support:
  • GoFundMe for Amber’s family neared its $120,000 goal, with personal stories shared by other women in the trades.
  • Notable Donor Quote:
    • "As a woman working a traditionally male job who gets discriminated against constantly, I stand with Amber."
    • "We may not have known each other, but we were sisters in the trades."

Additional Crime Stories (06:28–09:56)

Domestic Violence Shooting: Shamay Pitt’s Survival (06:28–07:46)

• Incident Summary:
  • Shamay Pitt, 23, met her ex-boyfriend Joshua Woodruff and was shot 10 times, then kidnapped and driven through several Georgia counties before being abandoned at a hospital.
• Victim’s Account:
  • Quote (Shamay Pitt, 06:57):
    "He steps back, he steps forward and he starts shooting me. My ears are ringing, but I come into realization that he's shooting at me."
  • Pitt described fearing for her life as Woodruff made calls about her body, and pleaded to write a letter to her son.
• Legal and Financial Aftermath:
  • Woodruff charged with aggravated assault and false imprisonment; family seeking charges for use of a modified assault rifle and interstate kidnapping.
  • Pitt’s mother, Sherry Tucker, advocated for federal charges due to the illegal weapon.
  • Quote (Sherry Tucker, 07:46):
    "He needs to be charged for bringing [the weapon] over county lines. He needs to be federally charged for having automatic switches."
  • GoFundMe for Pitt’s recovery raised $730 of a $22,000 goal at the time of the episode.

Drunk Driving and Unexpected Delivery (07:55–09:39)

• Incident Summary:
  • In Florida, police found Doordash driver Luis Angel Alania Estrella passed out at the wheel mid-delivery, intoxicated (BAC 0.15).
  • Estrella arrested for DUI and driving with a suspended license.
• Notable Moment:
  • Officer completed the food delivery to ensure the customer received their meal, an act noted in department’s public statement.
• Corporate Reaction:
  • Doordash banned Estrella; issued gratitude to law enforcement for "going above and beyond" to ensure customer safety.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "Bless Amber and remember Amber in every part of her life that has touched people..." – Shannon Visser, 00:51
• "I hit her with your hammer. She is by your toolbox. She is gone." – David Delong (per witness), 01:03
• "Our heart breaks for her family... This was nothing that such a young woman deserved. Ever, ever, ever." – Rita Brown, NAWIC President, 02:04
• "He starts shooting me. My ears are ringing, but I come into realization that he's shooting at me." – Shamay Pitt, 06:57
• "He needs to be federally charged for having automatic switches." – Sherry Tucker, 07:46

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Amber Zeck’s Case Introduced: 00:03
• Family and Community Voices: 00:47–01:13
• Police and Prosecutor Details: 01:13–01:52
• Women in Construction Association Response: 01:52–02:21
• Amber's Legacy, GoFundMe Details: 02:21–03:24
• Shamay Pitt Domestic Violence Shooting: 06:28–07:46
• Doordash DUI Incident: 07:55–09:39

Tone & Language

The episode blends straightforward reporting with empathetic and sometimes emotional insights from victims’ families, trade leaders, and the broader community. The tone is urgent and serious, underscoring both the tragedy of individual cases and their wider societal implications.

Conclusion

This Crime Alert provides a stark look at gendered violence in the workplace, the ongoing dangers for women in male-dominated industries, and the ripple effects through communities and advocacy groups nationwide. The follow-up stories reinforce concerns about domestic violence and everyday dangers, highlighted by law enforcement’s many roles in pursuing justice and, sometimes, ensuring simple acts of decency.