Crime Stories with Nancy Grace

Episode: Morning Con-mute: Escaped Inmate Caught Napping in Granny's Car | Crime Alert 6AM 12.18.2025
Date: December 18, 2025

Episode Overview

In this fast-paced Crime Alert update, Nancy Grace and correspondent Jennifer Gould cover the morning’s most shocking crime headlines. The main story features a bizarre prison escape, with a fugitive found hiding in a grandmother’s car, plus gripping coverage of a high-profile extradition for the murder of a mother and a lighthearted but brazen holiday heist.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Escaped Inmate Found Napping in Grandmother’s Car

[00:01] – [02:59]

• Incident Summary:

  • Marie Steinberg, a 75-year-old North Carolina woman, discovers Charles Edward Babb, 23, hiding in her back seat as she prepares to leave for work.
  • Babb, in his prison-issued orange jumpsuit, had escaped the Chowan County Detention Center the night prior, slicing his way out with a homemade weapon.

• Notable Details:

  • Babb took refuge in Marie’s car, hiding under a blanket taken from her garage.
  • Coincidentally, he chose the home of Bob Steinberg, former state senator and advocate for prison reform.
  • Marie kept her composure, using what she called her “mother act” to keep Babb calm.

• Marie’s Interview (as reported by Jennifer Gould):

  • “I figured if I was nice to him, he’d be nice to me. And I said, well honey, let me go in and get you a coat.”
    — Marie Steinberg, WAVY 10 News [~01:45]
  • Babb, shivering and hungry, repeatedly apologized and asked Marie for a phone and directions to the nearest McDonald’s.
  • The standoff ended when Babb bolted from the car. Marie alerted her husband and called 911, leading to Babb’s quick apprehension just a few houses away.

• Legal Outcome:

  • Babb now faces multiple new charges: felony escape, breaking and entering, and larceny.
  • As Jennifer Gould quipped:
    “He tried to catch a ride to freedom, but instead he got driven straight back to his concrete suite.” [02:55]

2. International Manhunt: Husband Extradited in Wife’s Murder

[04:42] – [07:58]

• Incident Summary:

  • Jose Mar Cabrera, 36, extradited from Peru to Los Angeles, charged with the murder of his wife, Sheila Cabrera.
  • Cabrera had fled to Peru with the couple’s three sons after allegedly disposing of Sheila’s body in the Angeles National Forest.

• Key Investigation Details:

  • Sheila, 33, was reported missing August 12; her remains found bound in industrial material four days later.
  • Surveillance footage: Cabrera seen dragging a bulky object wrapped in material matching that found with Sheila's remains.
  • The three sons were recovered safely by Peruvian authorities and reunited with maternal relatives in California.

• Community Response:

  • Neighbor Sylvia Perez on ABC7 Los Angeles:
    “We haven’t got justice for her, you know. So I’m happy that you know they’re gonna get justice for this lady.” [05:30]

• Legal Developments:

  • The L.A. County D.A. filed murder charges with a special allegation involving knife use.
  • Cabrera is currently held without bail, pending arraignment.

3. Holiday Whodunnit: Santa Heist at Kramer’s Tree Lots

[07:59] – [08:14]

• Summary:

  • Thieves stole Kramer’s Tree Lots’ iconic 40-foot-tall inflatable Santa—the festive centerpiece for over 25 years.
  • The crew slashed through a fence, dragging away Santa and leaving visible marks in the gravel.

• Notable Quote:

  • Jennifer Gould, noting the feat:
    “Owner Kyle Kramer is stumped on how the thieves even pulled it off, because it took four grown men just to hoist the massive mascot.” [08:10]

• Community Effort:

  • Neighbors reviewing security footage to help police recover Santa before the holidays lose their spirit.

Memorable Quotes

• Marie Steinberg, on defusing the situation:
  “I figured if I was nice to him, he’d be nice to me. And I said, well honey, let me go in and get you a coat.” [01:45]

• Jennifer Gould, wrapping up the escape story with humor:
  “He tried to catch a ride to freedom, but instead he got driven straight back to his concrete suite.” [02:55]

• Neighbor Sylvia Perez, expressing hope for justice:
  “We haven’t got justice for her, you know. So I’m happy that you know they’re gonna get justice for this lady.” [05:30]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:01] – Main story intro: North Carolina woman finds escaped inmate in her car
• [00:27] – Details of the case and Marie Steinberg’s approach
• [01:45] – Marie’s description of her interaction with Babb
• [02:55] – Capture and charges for Babb
• [04:42] – International manhunt reaches a conclusion: Cabrera extradited to face murder charges
• [05:30] – Community reaction to Cabrera case
• [07:59] – The inflatable Santa heist detailed

Episode Tone and Highlights

Nancy Grace’s signature direct, no-nonsense style drives the episode, balanced by Jennifer Gould’s lively storytelling and wry humor. The episode spotlights both the bizarre and sobering sides of crime—showcasing the tension of real-life drama (as in the jail escape), the heartbreak and complexity of international justice (in Sheila Cabrera’s murder), and even a dash of holiday mischief with the Santa theft. The pace is brisk, the reporting sharp and vivid, and each story is punctuated with memorable, quotable moments.

For more crime and justice news, listeners are encouraged to visit crimeonline.com and follow the daily podcast for ongoing coverage.