Missing Choc Family Found Buried in Woods Weeks After Suspicious Disappearance | Crime Alert 03.13.26

Summary

Crime Stories with Nancy Grace
Episode: Missing Choc Family Found Buried in Woods Weeks After Suspicious Disappearance | Crime Alert 03.13.26
Date: March 13, 2026

---

Episode Overview

This daily "Crime Alert" episode, delivered by Sydney Sumner for Crime Stories with Nancy Grace, covers a string of urgent, high-profile crime developments. The primary focus is the heartbreaking case of the Chalk family’s disappearance and apparent murder in Alabama, but the episode also reports on a teenager found dead after vanishing in NYC, a manslaughter charge in a Florida infant's death, and a homicide case in Maine. The tone is urgent and compassionate, with a strong emphasis on both justice for victims and the unanswered questions surrounding these cases.

---

Key Cases and Discussion Points

1. Chalk Family Murder Case (Alabama)

• Summary:

  • Three bodies, believed to be those of Aurelia Chalk (40) and her children Nijrka Chalk (17) and Anthony Garcia (2), were found buried in woods near Summerdale after their January 30 disappearance from Theodore, AL.
  • Sheriff Paul Burch shared that evidence in the home, including blood, abandoned cash, cell phones, and a missing mattress, convinced investigators of foul play.
  • Suspect Hector Gamaliel Argueta Guerrera (31), previously charged with kidnapping, will now face capital murder charges. Authorities will seek the death penalty.
  • Guerrera, originally from El Salvador, has prior charges including aggravated attempted homicide and ties to the Serranos transnational gang. The motive remains unclear, especially regarding the killing of a 2-year-old.

• Notable Quotes & Moments:

  • Sheriff Paul Burch:
    "Forensic identity will take some time. There is enough evidence in this case for us to determine that this is the Chock family that we've been searching for." (01:45)
  • Burch, questioning the motive:
    "What motive would there be for killing a 2 year old?" (02:15)
  • Mobile County DA Keith Blackwood (reported by Sydney Sumner):
    "This is a horrific and gruesome murder. The state will seek the death penalty in this case." (01:22)

• Timestamps:

  • Crime Alert: 00:37 – 02:15

---

2. Thomas Medlin Disappearance and Death (New York)

• Summary:

  • 15-year-old Thomas Medlin disappeared after leaving his school on January 9, last seen on surveillance crossing the Manhattan Bridge. Shortly after, a splash was recorded in the waters below.
  • His body was discovered weeks later in the Upper New York Bay near Brooklyn’s Red Hook.
  • Initial speculation about him meeting someone from Roblox was dismissed; his parents' emotional pleas for his safe return highlighted the family's agony.

• Notable Quotes & Moments:

  • Thomas Medlin’s Parent:
    "Nobody's mad at him. We want him come home. Mom loves him more than my life. I'm waiting for God [to] exchange my life for my boy's safety." (03:16)
  • Sydney Sumner on the Roblox speculation:
    "Investigators later said the platform was not connected with his disappearance." (03:29)

• Timestamps:

  • Coverage: 02:19 – 03:29

---

3. Florida Infant Manslaughter Case

• Summary:

  • Dejuan Patrick (27) is charged with aggravated manslaughter after his 5-week-old daughter, Dahlia Siebenhar, died in December 2024 due to severe injuries consistent with abusive head trauma (“shaken baby syndrome”) and blunt force.
  • A thorough investigation over 15 months led to Patrick’s arrest; Volusia County Chief Medical Examiner James Fulcher determined the infant’s death was a homicide.

• Notable Quotes & Moments:

  • Sheriff Mike Chitwood:
    "The arrest in this case won't bring Dahlia back or give her the childhood she deserved. But today, today we're speaking up for her because her life mattered." (06:24)

• Timestamps:

  • Coverage: 05:15 – 06:34

---

4. Maine Shooting Death of Mikayla Rose DeSantis

• Summary:

  • 24-year-old Austin Duquette has been charged with murder after shooting his girlfriend, Mikayla DeSantis (23), several times in their Farmington, Maine home.
  • Duquette claimed to both paramedics and 911 dispatch that the gun “just went off,” describing the event as a terrible accident, though multiple bullets were found at the scene.
  • The medical examiner ruled DeSantis’ death a homicide from multiple gunshot wounds; the investigation is ongoing regarding Duquette's claims of accidental discharge.

• Notable Quotes & Moments:

  • Duquette’s 911 call:
    "I had a gunshot go off and I can't believe I did." (06:58) "I would never do this and I don't want to go to jail." (07:21)
  • Duquette’s attorney, Vern E. Parotti (reported by Sydney Sumner):
    "This appears to be a terrible accident and we hope to get more information in the near future regarding the circumstances." (08:21)

• Timestamps:

  • Coverage: 06:34 – 08:21

---

Memorable Moments & Emotional Resonance

• The raw, emotional pleas from Thomas Medlin’s parents underscore the human cost behind crime statistics (03:16).
• Sheriff Chitwood’s words highlight the importance of speaking for child victims who cannot advocate for themselves (06:24).
• Repeated questions about the senselessness of the Chalk family murders, particularly the killing of a toddler, amplify the episode's sense of urgency and need for justice (02:15).

---

Episode Takeaways

• Each case remains under investigation, with charges pending or newly filed. Authorities are pushing for strong sentences, including the death penalty, where applicable.
• The episode provides a concise yet detailed snapshot of ongoing national crime cases, emphasizing victims' stories and the relentless efforts of law enforcement.
• Sydney Sumner delivers updates in a clear, factual manner, channeling Nancy Grace’s commitment to justice while highlighting the unresolved pain faced by victims’ families.

---

Timestamps Reference

• 00:37 – 02:15: Chalk family case developments and context
• 02:19 – 03:29: Thomas Medlin disappearance and family appeals
• 05:15 – 06:34: Charges in Florida infant homicide
• 06:34 – 08:21: Maine domestic homicide and defendant claims

---

This summary omits non-content segments (ads, intros, outros). The reporting and attributed quotes preserve the direct, urgent style of the broadcast, intended for listeners seeking fast, thorough updates on major crime stories.

Transcript

[Weatherbug Announcer]

This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human no one knows what the future holds, but you deserve a weather app that can help. Weatherbug is easy to use and provides forecasts for your every need, from storm warnings to pollen levels right at your fingertips. Get the fastest local Alerts and comprehensive 10 day forecasts wherever you are. Its hyperlocal real time customizable alerts. Make sure the weather never takes you by surprise so you can plan every day with confidence. Download the free Weatherbug app from the App Store today and start getting accurate weather forecasts. Forecasts 24.7Crime Alert hourly update Breaking Crime

[Sydney Sumner]

News Now I'm Sydney Sumner Alabama authorities said on Thursday that three buried bodies are likely those of a woman and her two children who vanished in January. Aurelia Chalk, 40, and her children Nijrka Chalk, 17, and Anthony Garcia, 2, were last seen on January 30 at their home in Theodore. Mobile County Sheriff Paul Burch said evidence found at the home led them to believe foul play was involved in their disappearances. Birch revealed last month that blood was discovered in the home in addition to cash and cell phones that were left behind. He also said a mattress was missing, which drew suspicion. Hector Gamaliel Argueta Guerrera, 31, was arrested for kidnapping in early February. Mobile County District Attorney Keith Blackwood said the charges will be upgraded to capital murder following the discovery of the three bodies. This is a horrific and gruesome murder. The state will seek the death penalty in this case. The charges will be signed today and we will move through the Alabama Just the three bodies, which were buried in a wooded area east of Summerdale, have not been positively identified as the Chalk family, authorities saying autopsy results will take time.

[Paul Burch]

Forensic identity will take some time. There is enough evidence in this case for us to determine that this is the Chock family that we've been searching for, burch said.

[Sydney Sumner]

Guerrera, who is from El Salvador, faced aggravated attempted homicide charges in 2015. Since then, he has been detained on charges related to terrorism and organized crime. Guerrera is reportedly a certified member of the Serranos transnational gang. A motive in the triple homicide also remains undisclosed.

[Paul Burch]

Burch, asking what motive would there be for killing a 2 year old?

[Sydney Sumner]

A teenager who disappeared after leaving his prestigious Long island school in January to travel into New York City, has been found dead in the waters of the Upper New York Bay off Brooklyn's Red Hook neighborhood, the Suffolk County Police Department said. The body of Thomas Medlin was recovered on Saturday and positively identified on Thursday. Medlin, 15, was last seen on video footage walking across a Manhattan Bridge walkway at about 7:06pm on January 9. The last activity on his cell phone came three minutes later, and a minute after that, a nearby surveillance camera captured the sound of a splash in the water. The boy was not seen leaving the bridge. Medlin left school earlier that day and took a train into the city. He was seen at Grand Central station at about 5:30pm before the trip across the east river via the Manhattan Bridge, about a three mile walk from Grand. Before the discovery of his body, his parents made heartbreaking pleas for Thomas to come home.

[Thomas Medlin's Parent]

Nobody's mad at him. We want him come home. Mom loves him more than my life I'm waiting for God exchanged my life for my boy's safety with her.

[Sydney Sumner]

His parents said that he may have gone to meet someone he met on the gaming platform Roblox, but investigators later said the platform was not connected with his disappearance. More crime and justice news after this

[Weatherbug Announcer]

no one knows what the future holds, but you deserve a weather app that can help. Weatherbug is easy to use and provides forecasts for your every need from storm warnings to pollen levels right at your fingertips. Get the fastest local Alerts and comprehensive 10 day forecasts wherever you are. Its hyperlocal real time customizable alerts. Make sure the weather never takes you by surprise so you can plan every day with confidence. Download the free Weatherbug app from the App Store today and start Getting accurate weather forecasts 247

[Public Investing Sponsor]

support for the show comes from Public, the investing platform for those who take it seriously. On Public you can build a multi asset portfolio of stocks, bonds, options, crypto and now generated assets which allow you to turn any idea into an investable index with AI. It all starts with your prompt. From renewable energy companies with high free cash flow to semiconductor suppliers growing revenue over 20% year over year. You can literally type any prompt and put the AI to work. It screens thousands of stocks, builds a one of a kind index and lets you back test it against the S&P 500. Then you can invest in a few clicks. Generated assets are like ETFs with infinite possibilities, completely customizable and based on your thesis, not someone else's. Go to public.com podcast and earn an uncapped 1% bonus when you transfer your portfolio. That's public.com podcast paid for by Public Investing Brokerage Services by Open to the Public Investing Inc. Member FINRA and SIPC Advisory Services by Public Advisors llc. SEC Registered Advisor. Generated Assets is an interactive analysis tool. Output is for informational purposes only and is not an investment, recommendation or advice. Complete disclosures available at public.com disclosures

[Sydney Sumner]

A Florida man was charged this week with aggravated manslaughter more than a year after his five week old baby died from extensive injuries. Dejuan Patrick, 27, was arrested by the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office on a warrant from Volusia County. His daughter, Dalia Siebenhar, was admitted to a Hospital on December 2, 2024 with severe injuries. She was unresponsive and never regained consciousness before she was taken off life support on December 12. An autopsy found extensive head trauma, broken ribs, bruising across her body and retinal hemorrhages the doctors say were caused by being shaken and held with extreme force. Volusia County Chief Medical examiner James Fulcher later ruled her death a homicide. Investigators spent 15 months studying medical records and other evidence and conducting interviews before determining that Patrick shook the newborn and spanked her. Sheriff Mike Shitwood commented, the arrest in this case won't bring Dahlia back or give her the childhood she deserved. But today, today were speaking up for her because her life mattered. Patrick is being held without bond in Jacksonville awaiting transport to Volusia County. A main man has been charged with murder after shooting his girlfriend multiple times at their home in Farmington and then claiming it was an accident. Maine State Police say a 911 call came in on Sunday at about 7:30pm after the shooting, first responders took the badly wounded woman, 23 year old Mikayla Rose DeSantis, to main health Franklin Hospital. From there she was life flighted to Maine Medical center in Portland, where she died. Her boyfriend, 24 year old Austin Duquette, was arrested Monday evening. An affidavit filed in the case says that DeSantis was shot twice in the chest and that investigators found three spent shell casings on the floor of their condo. Duquette, meanwhile, told a paramedic that his gun just went off and that DeSantis was shot once in the course of 291 1, calls he made. He told dispatch, I had a gunshot go off and I can't believe I did. While apologizing to DeSantis in the second call, he told the dispatcher, my girlfriend has a gunshot wound and it accidentally went off. He further said, I would never do this and I don't want to go to jail. Duquette put DeSantis into a car and attempted to drive to a hospital, calling his father and saying he was being chased by police. The father's girlfriend placed a 911 call telling the dispatcher that Duquette said something had happened to DeSantis and he was going to kill himself. The father told him not to do that and the girlfriend hung up her 911 call when she was told police had stopped him. An ambulance took DeSantis to the hospital from there. Meanwhile, officers went back to the condo where they found the spent shell casings from a.45 caliber handgun which they found on the couch. The affidavit said that one round went through the coffee table and the floor. Investigators were unable to find that bullet. Another bullet went through a pillow on the couch and into the back of the sofa. That bullet was found in the couch stuffing. A third bullet was recovered from the floor behind the couch after it went through another pillow. The office of the Chief Medical examiner ruled DeSantis death a homicide by multiple gunshot wounds. Duquette's attorney, Vern E. Parotti, repeated his client's claims that he shot his girlfriend multiple times by accident. This appears to be a terrible accident and we hope to get more information in the near future regarding the circumstances of the situation with this crime Alert hi, I'm Sydney Sumner.

[Weatherbug Announcer]

No one knows what the future holds, but you deserve a weather app that can help. Weatherbug is easy to use and provides forecasts for your every need from storm warnings to pollen levels right at your fingertips. Get the fastest local Alerts and comprehensive 10 day forecasts wherever you are. Its hyperlocal real time customizable alerts. Make sure the weather never takes you by surprise so you can plan every day with confidence. Download the free Weatherbug app from the App Store today and start getting accurate weather forecasts 24.

[Ryan Reynolds]

7 Ryan Reynolds here from Mint Mobile. I don't know if you knew this but anyone can get the same Premium Wireless for $15 a month plan that I've been enjoying. It's not just for celebrities so do like I did and have one of your assistant's assistants switch you to Mint Mobile today. I'm told it's super easy to [e-mail]

[Sydney Sumner]

Switch upfront payment of $45 for 3 month plan equivalent to $15 per month required int first 3 months only, then full price plan options available, taxes and fees, extra fee, full [e-mail].