Michigan Mom Calls in false bomb threats to Daughter's School Over Play | Crime Alert Recap Saturday

Summary

Crime Stories with Nancy Grace – Michigan Mom Calls in False Bomb Threats to Daughter's School Over Play | Crime Alert Recap Saturday

Date: January 17, 2026
Host: iHeartPodcasts and CrimeOnline
Episode Overview:
Nancy Grace presents a chilling roundup of recent headline-grabbing crimes, diving into the motivations behind shocking criminal acts, emotional interviews with victims, and courtroom outcomes. A primary focus is placed on the Michigan mother who called in bomb threats to her daughter’s school after the child wasn’t allowed to participate in a play. The episode is unflinching in its recounting of each crime, packed with authoritative narration and direct quotes from victims, officials, and the accused.

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Main Theme & Episode Structure

• Primary Theme: Crimes committed ostensibly to gain attention or out of emotional turbulence, juxtaposed with accounts of violence, child neglect, and the trauma left behind.
• Format: Fast-paced, segmented “crime alert” recaps featuring multiple stories, input from law enforcement, and emotional statements from those affected.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Michigan Bomb Threats: Parental Impulse Gone Criminal

[00:36 – 01:40]

• Case Summary:

  • Crystal Royster, 42, called in two fake bomb threats to her daughter’s Detroit school after the child was barred from a school play for policy reasons (due to earlier illness and going home).
  • The threats led to the evacuation of over 700 people and a massive law enforcement response.

• Legal Outcome:

  • Royster pleaded guilty to a felony charge (false report/threat of a bomb, up to four years’ imprisonment).
  • Sentence: 14 days in jail, 18 months probation, no contact with victims, must notify school before visiting, and required impulse control classes.

• Notable Insight & Tone:

  • Panel frames the outcome as a warning about the destructive reach of unchecked parental impulses.
  • Key Quote:
    • Jackie Howard (news anchor, paraphrased): "Charges of a false report or threat of a bomb is a four year felony and Royster pleaded guilty." [01:07]
    • "As part of her probation, Royster is not allowed to contact the victims... and must notify the school before heading onto the grounds." [01:30]

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2. Daycare Worker’s Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy: Death and Depravity in Minnesota

[01:43 – 05:06]

• Case Summary:

  • Thea Ludemia Russell, 18, a teenage daycare worker, intentionally suffocated infants at a nursery—motivated by a perverse desire to “play hero.”
  • Confessed to “weeks smothering children until they turned white purple and sprayed blood-tinged foam from their mouths” for attention during emergencies. [01:53]
  • Killed 11-month-old Harvey Mucklebust just five days before his first birthday; attempted to smother a four-month-old twice in one shift.

• Investigation Results:

  • Authorities uncovered Russell’s history of false 911 calls and fire setting, classic Munchausen by proxy markers.
  • Prosecutors: second-degree murder and attempted murder charges; Russell remains in custody.

• Expert Analysis:

  • Savage Police Chief Brady Jewell: "This murder, an attempted murder of another child, deeply affected our community. This person should never ever again be free to harm another child." [02:29]

• Impact:

  • Childcare facility’s license suspended and then permanently revoked.

• Memorable Moment:

  • Jackie Howard: "She dialed 911, feeding off the emergency she had just manufactured. Hours later, she did it again to the same child. But her bloodlust wasn't sated." [03:14]

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3. Deadly Driveway Encounter: Tennessee Man Killed Protecting His Wife

[05:06 – 07:33]

• Case Summary:

  • Sheila Booker and her husband Rodriguez Poplar turned into a stranger’s driveway in Memphis to evade police (due to a broken headlight).
  • Homeowner Tommy Applewhite emerged with a gun, pointed it at Sheila; Rodriguez exited car to protect her and was immediately shot dead.

• Victim Statement:

  • Sheila Booker: "He pulled a gun up in my face and that's when my husband got out... that's when he shot my husband right in front of me... If it weren't for [police], I think I'd be dead too, but they saved my life." [05:25–05:49]

• Legal and Social Context:

  • Applewhite charged with second-degree murder and multiple felonies; history of violent and drug-related crime, on probation at time of this killing.
  • The case underscores ongoing discussions about self-defense laws and gun ownership with previous offender status.

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4. Child Neglect by Homeless Parents: Six Kids Locked in Storage Unit

[07:33 – 09:42]

• Case Summary:

  • Milwaukee father Charles Dupriest convicted of locking his six young children (ages 9 to 2 months) in a dark, unheated storage unit overnight, while he slept in his truck outside.
  • Dupriest testified to desperate circumstances and emotional exhaustion.
  • Victim Impact: Children found using a bucket for a toilet, no water/electricity.

• Defendant’s Statement:

  • Charles Dupriest: "I felt slightly inadequate. I was hurt, but at the same time I needed the help." [08:07]
  • "Fifteen minutes later, I fall asleep. Next thing that I can remember is being woken up to the police knocking on my window." [08:21]

• Prosecutorial Perspective:

  • ADA Thomas Hassell: "These charges are not about poverty. They are about responsibility. And the evidence shows that these children did not have to be locked inside that storage unit that night." [09:05]

• Legal Outcomes:

  • Dupriest: Convicted, awaiting sentencing.
  • Mother (Zelensky): Pleaded guilty to misdemeanor neglect; sentencing pending.

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Notable Quotes & Powerful Moments

• Royster’s Bomb Threats:
  • “Over 700 people had to be evacuated from Lakeshore High School…” [00:56]
• Minnesota Daycare Worker:
  • "She spent weeks smothering children until they turned quote unquote white purple and sprayed blood tinged foam... all so she could play hero." [01:49]
  • "[This person] should never ever again be free to harm another child." – Police Chief Jewell [02:29]
• Driveway Shooting Survivor:
  • "If the police hadn't got there when they did, I... I would probably be dead, too." – Sheila Booker [05:25]
• Homeless Father:
  • "I was hurt, but at the same time I needed the help." – Charles Dupriest [08:07]

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Timestamps for Significant Segments

• Michigan Bomb Threat Case: 00:36–01:43
• Minnesota Daycare Homicide: 01:43–05:06
• Tennessee Driveway Killing: 05:06–07:33
• Milwaukee Storage Unit Neglect: 07:33–09:42

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Overall Tone and Takeaways

Nancy Grace's episode maintains a hard-hitting, urgent tone that is at once empathetic to victims and unsparing in its critique of criminal decisions. The stories are recounted with deep emotion, highlighting society’s struggle to balance mental health, responsibility, and public safety. The podcast reminds listeners of the real human cost behind the headlines—traumatized children, grieving widows, damaged communities—and the urgency for legal and social accountability.

Transcript

[A]

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[B]

Crime alert hourly.

[C]

Update Breaking crime news now. I'm Jackie Howard. Jail time and probation. That's what's ahead for a Michigan mom. Crystal Royster, 42, twice called in false bomb threats to her daughter's Detroit school after the girl wasn't allowed to take part in a school play. Authorities say the daughter could not participate due to school policy after being sick and going home earlier that day. Over 700 people had to be evacuated from Lakeshore high school as St. Clair Shores Police and other jurisdictions rolled in to respond. Charges of a false report or threat of a bomb is a four year felony and Royster pleaded guilty. She will serve probation for 18 months after spending 14 days and in the Maycomb County Jail. As part of her probation, Royster is not allowed to contact the victims of the incident and must notify the school before heading onto the grounds. She also has to take part in a class A impulse control classes. More crime and justice news after this.

[B]

I'm Jennifer Gould. A teenage daycare worker entrusted with the lives of helpless infants transformed a Minnesota nursery into a personal death trap, intentionally suffocating babies just to satisfy a sick craving for attention. Thea Ludemia Russell, 18, was hauled off to jail after delivering a bone chilling confession to cops. She spent weeks smothering children until they turned quote unquote white purple and and sprayed blood tinged foam from their mouths, all so she could play hero when paramedics arrived. Here's Savage Police Chief Brady Jewell at the news conference.

[D]

This murder, an attempted murder of another child, deeply affected our community. This person should never ever again be free to harm another child.

[B]

The three month investigation into the Rocking Horse Ranch Child Care in Savage, Minnesota revealed that Russell's twisted bid for sympathy ended in the senseless murder of 11 month old Harvey Mucklebust, who was slaughtered just five days before he was set to celebrate his first birthday. The nightmare began on September 19, 2025 when Russell allegedly targeted a four month old girl twice in a single shift during a routine burping session. The teen reportedly smothered the infant until the baby vomited a blood like substance. End quote. And stopped breathing. Russell dialed 911, feeding off the emergency she had just manufactured. Hours later, she did it again to the same child. But her bloodlust wasn't sated. On September 22, she cornered little Harvey in the infant room. She crushed that boy's chest and covered his face until he was unresponsive with blood pooling around his little nose. Staff performed cpr, but Harvey was pronounced dead at the hospital, his tiny body unable to survive Russell's depraved question. Request for validation. An autopsy ruled out trauma or toxins, pointing investigators towards foul play. Chief Jewell branded the teen the common denominator in the carnage. End quote. Uncovering a dark History of false 911 calls and fire setting at a church camp. Classic markers, they say, of Munchausen syndrome by proxy. It is the ultimate fake tragedy sickness where a caregiver intentionally injures, mutilates or smothers a victim just to soak up pity and play the hero in a crisis they secretly sparked. Prosecutors confirmed Russell faces second degree murder for Harvey's death and attempted murder charges for that little girl. She remains held in Scott County Jail. The daycare's license was suspended immediately after Harvey's death and it closed permanently amid the probe.

[E]

I'm Nicole Parton. A grieving widow is sharing her experience after her husband was tragically shot and killed when they mistakenly entered a stranger's driveway. Sheila Booker recounted. If the police hadn't got there when they did, I. I would probably be dead, too. Take a listen.

[F]

He pulled a gun up in my face and that's when my husband got out. When my husband got out trying to protect me, even though he. And that's when he shot my husband right in front of me. The police, they came so fast. If it weren't for them, I think I'd be dead too. But they saved my life.

[E]

The circumstances surrounding the investigation are evident on the windshield of Booker's Chevy Spark. She witnessed the chilling murder of her husband, Rodriguez Poplar, on Friday morning. Booker explained that as they noticed flashing lights ahead, an officer in the area on North Trevison street, her husband suggested they pull into the driveway of a home and turn around as their headlight was broken and they were afraid of being ticketed. However, when they did so, the homeowner emerged from the house brandishing a firearm and demanding they leave immediately. She said in party pointed the gun at me. My husband got out to protect me and that's when he shot my husband right in front of my eyes. The Police, whom Booker hoped to evade, arrived within moments to make an arrest. The officers found the suspect, Tommy Applewhite, still in possession of the firearm he had used in the crime. Applewhite is now facing multiple charges, including second degree murder. A review of court records revealed that Applewhite has a lengthy criminal history in Shelby County, Tennessee, dating back to 2001. His most serious offense occurred in 2007 when he shot a man twice. Applewhite ultimately pleaded guilty to attempted murder and was sentenced to just three years in prison. Further, court documents indicate a serious series of other illegal issues related to drug and firearm charges. At the time of the 2026 shooting, Applewhite was reportedly on active probation after pleading guilty to a gun violation in 22. This according to records from the Tennessee Department of Corrections. For now, the woman is planning the funeral service of her husband and father of her children. The suspect remains behind bars.

[G]

I'm Drew Nelson A Milwaukee jury convicts a father of child neglect after prosecutors say he locked his six children inside a storage unit while he slept in a truck nearby. The verdict came late Wednesday after jurors deliberated for less than 90 minutes. They found Charles Dupriest guilty of neglecting a child. Following a trial in Milwaukee County Circuit Court, Dupriest took the stand in his own defense and told jurors he and his partner were struggling with homelessness and and they were relying on shelters and relatives. He described feeling overwhelmed and unable to.

[H]

Provide as a person. I felt slightly inadequate. I was hurt, but at the same time I needed the help.

[G]

Dupriest testified that on the night of September 15, the family went to a storage facility.

[H]

We arrive at the storage unit, Asia goes in with the children and 15 minutes later I fall asleep. Next thing that I can remember is being woken up to the police knocking on my window.

[G]

Prosecutors showed jurors body camera video from the moment police cut the lock and opened the unit. Inside, six children ranging in age from nine to just two months old were found alone in the dark. Prosecutors said the children had no electricity, no running water and used a bucket to do things that one would normally do in the bathroom. They argued the parents had no other options that night. Assistant District Attorney Thomas Hassell told the jury the case was not about financial hardship.

[D]

These charges are not about poverty. They are about responsibility. And the evidence shows that these children did not have to be locked inside that storage unit that night.

[G]

Dupriest remains in custody and is scheduled to be sentenced in April. Zelensky pleaded guilty last week to misdemeanor counts of child neglect. As part of a plea deal, four felony counts against her were dropped, and she is set to be sentenced in March. For the latest crime and justice news, follow Crime Alert hourly update on your favorite podcast app. With this crime alert, I'm Drew Nelson.

[A]

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