Crime Stories with Nancy Grace

Episode: Midnight Golf Cart Horror: Retired NYC Restaurateur Charged After Wife’s Fatal Fall
Air Date: December 10, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode, Nancy Grace spotlights the shocking case of a retired New York restaurateur, Angelo Theodosiu, who is facing charges related to the tragic death of his wife, Christina, following a golf cart accident in their Florida neighborhood. The discussion expands to broader safety and legal concerns and covers two additional crime alerts: a California mother on trial for the hot-car death of her son and a wrongful death lawsuit against Royal Caribbean following a passenger’s death. The tone is urgent, meticulous, and deeply concerned for justice and public safety.

Golf Cart Crash: Angelo Theodosiu Charged (00:01 – 01:59)

Key Discussion Points

• Incident Details

  • Angelo Theodosiu, a 64-year-old retired NYC restaurateur, was charged with misdemeanor DUI after a late-night golf cart crash in Nocatee, Florida, that resulted in his wife's death (00:01–00:20).
  • Christina Theodosiu, his wife, fell from the golf cart, hit her head on concrete, and later died at the hospital (00:20–00:50).
  • The crash occurred around 10:45pm on November 30th. Christina was airlifted to Jacksonville's Memorial Hospital, but succumbed to injuries the following day (00:58).
  • Angelo reportedly showed signs of impairment and refused a breath test (00:20).

• Community Concerns

  • Residents of the neighborhood had long feared an accident due to speeding golf carts, lack of stop signs, and heavy traffic on greenway paths (01:19).
  • Neighbor accounts paint a chaotic scene: “We woke up to all the, you know, the lights out here, came outside, saw that in fact, she was already loading the ambulance, I think by the time we got out here.” — Christopher Barnes (00:50).
  • Another neighbor describes, “Her husband was out here and the police were talking to him. He was pacing around and the golf cart was all the way down by the mailboxes.” — Barnes (01:13).

• Legal Response

  • Theodosiu’s attorney L. Lee Lockett stated: “He didn’t cause the accident. He was not impaired. He’s distraught. He’s depressed as he can be.” (01:19).
  • The couple had retired to Florida from New York, where Angelo owned a restaurant in Jackson Heights, Queens (01:19).
  • Residents’ worries predated the tragedy: “We kind of imagined it’s only a matter of time before there’s an accident at this intersection.” — Barnes (01:55).

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• “Her husband was out here and the police were talking to him. He was pacing around…” — Christopher Barnes (01:13)
• Attorney Lockett: “He’s distraught. He’s depressed as he can be.” (01:19)
• “It’s only a matter of time…” — Christopher Barnes (01:55)

Hot Car Death Trial: Maya Hernandez (03:41 – 06:55)

Key Discussion Points

• Case Background

  • Maya Hernandez, 20, faces charges of second-degree murder, involuntary manslaughter, and child cruelty after her one-year-old son Emilio Gutierrez died in a hot car while she got lip filler injections (03:41).
  • Emilio’s two-year-old brother, Mateo, survived but was hospitalized due to heat exposure.

• Prosecution’s Case

  • Prosecutor Stephanie Taccone: “[She] chose herself. She knew before she got out of her car that if she left them in the car that they could die.” (04:42)
  • Although the cosmetic procedure lasted 20 minutes, Hernandez reportedly stayed in the spa for two hours and never checked on her children, despite being told she could bring them inside (04:55).
  • Temperatures in the car reached 116°F. Bystanders noticed the vehicles and the distress of the children—Emilio was later pronounced dead at 5:48pm (05:25).

• Defense’s Argument

  • Hernandez’s attorney, Terrell Wakeman: “Ms. Hernandez thought that the car would stay running, that the air conditioning would likewise remain on.” (06:13)
  • It is revealed that the Toyota Corolla she drove automatically shuts off after an hour if left in park (06:18).
  • Defense concedes involuntary manslaughter and child endangerment, but denies murder (06:25).

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• Stephanie Taccone: “Supposed to protect... chose herself.” (04:42)
• Defense: “This case is a tragedy caused by a mistake, not murder.” (06:13)

Cruise Ship Restraint Death: Royal Caribbean Lawsuit (06:55 – 08:55)

Key Discussion Points

• Incident Overview

  • Michael Virgil, 35, died on Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas after being served 33 alcoholic drinks; he became belligerent and was physically restrained by security guards (06:55).
  • Cause of death: mechanical asphyxia, with significant intoxication and medical issues listed as factors. Ruled a homicide, but no criminal charges were filed (07:37).

• Family Lawsuit

  • The family alleges that the cruise line was negligent in allowing Virgil to be overserved and in using excessive force, pepper spray, and injection of a major sedative (Haldol) (07:55).
  • Attorney Kevin Haynes on Royal Caribbean's liability: “They have an undeniable non-delegable duty not to overserve him. That’s the law. He is not pouring the drinks. They have 100% control over whether they stop pouring the drinks.” (08:32)
  • The body remained on the ship until return to Los Angeles (08:34).

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• “They were hoping to create the best memories and then the worst possible memory was created.” — Attorney Kevin Haynes (08:24)
• “They have 100% control over whether they stop pouring the drinks.” — Kevin Haynes (08:32)

Notable Timestamps

• 00:01 — Episode begins; introduction of golf cart tragedy
• 00:20 — Details from Drew Nelson; eyewitness accounts
• 01:19 — Attorney commentary; neighborhood backstory
• 03:41 — California hot-car death trial coverage begins
• 04:42 — Prosecutor’s opening statement
• 06:13 — Defense argument in trial
• 06:55 — Royal Caribbean wrongful death suit details
• 08:32 — Attorney Haynes’ primary legal assertion

Summary of Tone

Nancy Grace maintains an intense, justice-focused, and compassionate tone throughout, emphasizing community safety, legal process, and the responsibilities of caregivers and corporations alike. Expert guests and legal voices analyze events with both skepticism and empathy for the victims.

For Listeners Who Missed the Episode

This episode features three major stories:

• The tragic negligence case involving a retired NYC restaurateur whose impaired driving allegedly led to his wife’s death in a golf cart scene already plagued by safety fears.
• The high-profile trial of a California mother whose decisions left one child dead in a hot car—a powerful warning about judgment and legal responsibility.
• The disturbing tale of cruise line negligence where overserved alcohol and excessive restraint ended in a passenger’s homicide, now the subject of a major lawsuit.

Each story is dissected with firsthand quotes, legal analysis, and perspectives from both professionals and those directly affected.

For more crime updates: Visit crimeonline.com or listen daily to Crime Stories with Nancy Grace.