Murder Charges for Man Who Shoved 83-Year-Old Veteran onto Subway Tracks | Crime Alert 6AM 04.01.26

Summary

Crime Stories with Nancy Grace – Episode Summary
Episode Title: Murder Charges for Man Who Shoved 83-Year-Old Veteran onto Subway Tracks | Crime Alert 6AM 04.01.26
Release Date: April 1, 2026

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Overview

This episode of Crime Stories with Nancy Grace—hosted by Drew Nelson for the “Crime Alert” hourly update—delivers a compelling look into some of the country’s most shocking criminal cases. The central focus is on the murder indictment of Baron Hernandez, accused of fatally pushing an 83-year-old veteran onto NYC subway tracks. The episode also covers high-profile incidents involving military helicopters flying over protests, law enforcement misconduct in Colorado, and a spate of armed robberies targeting Pokémon card dealers in Chicago. Each story is explored with firsthand voices, expert commentary, and insider details that raise critical questions about justice, safety, and systemic accountability.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. NYC Subway Murder: The Case of Richard Williams

• Summary:
  Baron Hernandez is indicted on murder and assault charges for pushing two men onto subway tracks at Lexington Ave/63rd St station on March 8. One of the victims, 83-year-old veteran Richard Williams, died from a brain bleed nine days after the attack, while the other survived with less serious injuries.
• Incident Details:
  • Attack described as “random and unprovoked.”
  • Williams was using a cane, planning to go shopping when attacked.
  • Hernandez shoved a 30-year-old man first, then Williams.
  • Bystanders rescued Williams before a train arrived.
  • Hernandez was arrested two days later.
• Family’s Response:
  • Debbie Williams (victim’s daughter) delivered a heartfelt plea for justice and public awareness.
  • She describes her father as still “full of life” and independent.
• Legal Progress:
  • Hernandez has pleaded not guilty. If convicted, he faces decades in prison.
• Insight: Highlights the ongoing crisis of random violence in public transportation settings and its devastating impact on families and communities.

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2. Key Quotes & Memorable Moments

• [01:00] Debbie Williams:

  “The only reason I'm talking to anybody is because I just want the right thing to be done by this man. I want to draw attention. This is everybody's father. This is everybody's grandfather now.”

• [01:13] Debbie Williams:

  “Still full of life, enjoying his best life living on island, going to the city independently at 83 years old, doing whatever he wanted to do.”

• [01:34] Debbie Williams:

  “There's no words. How do you talk to the devil? ... He's the devil.”

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3. Military Helicopter Incident over Kid Rock’s Home

• Summary:
  Army investigates after two Apache helicopters, from the 101st Airborne Division, flew low over a Nashville protest and performed maneuvers near Kid Rock’s residence.
• Key Details:
  • All involved soldiers suspended pending review ([02:48]).
  • Doubts expressed about whether flight path was intentional or coincidental, though the Army claims it was routine training.
  • Public concern: Potential use of military assets for personal or political demonstration.
• Public Reaction:
  • Kid Rock shared a supportive message with video of the helicopters.
  • The incident spotlights sensitive boundaries between military training and civilian spaces.

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4. Colorado Sheriff Indicted: Law Enforcement Accountability

• Summary:
  Costilla County Sheriff Danny Sanchez, his undersheriff (son), and two deputies are indicted after mishandling human remains and an alleged excessive force incident in a small rural department ([05:39]).
• Key Points:
  • Mishandling/skull removal and broken chain of custody after remains found in 2024.
  • Failure to notify the coroner, incomplete documentation, and skipped procedures that “would outrage normal family sensibilities.”
  • Second incident: Unprovoked Taser use on a mentally ill, unarmed person, resulting in injury.
  • The district attorney stresses preserving “integrity of the police force.”
• Notable Quote:
  [05:39] District Attorney Ann Kelly:

  “No citizen of the San Luis Valley should have any doubts about the integrity of their police force. This office is not afraid to defend that trust.” [07:46] DA Kelly:
  “We have been investigating for over a year now and we will continue ... to look into all reports from citizens ... about police misconduct.”

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5. Chicago Pokémon Card Robberies: Collectibles as Criminal Targets

• Summary:
  A series of armed robberies targeting Pokémon card sellers in Chicago. The suspect arranges meetings via online marketplaces before robbing sellers at gunpoint ([09:09]–[10:43]).
• Key Details:
  • At least four incidents between March 17–29.
  • The suspect described as a Hispanic male, 20–30 years old, with a beard and dark clothing.
  • Victims lured via Facebook Marketplace, then led into buildings and robbed.
• Escalating Value of Pokémon Cards:
  • Rare cards worth $150,000–$200,000 cited as magnets for crime.
  • Increase in value began in 2016, major spike during the 2019 pandemic.
  • Advice for sellers: Only meet in public/safe locations; refusal is a red flag.
• National Trend:
  • Similar armed robbery at a Pokémon store in NYC in January, where $100,000 in merchandise stolen.
• Notable Quote:
  [09:33] Ronnie Holloway (Card Dealer):

  “You can get cards that go all the way up to $200,000, $150,000 based on the grading level and how rarity those cards are.”

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Timestamps for Major Segments

• 00:03–02:00: NYC Subway murder case – Richard Williams and Baron Hernandez; statements from Debbie Williams.
• 02:48–05:39: Army helicopter incident over protest and Kid Rock's home; official response and public concern.
• 05:39–07:59: Indictment of Costilla County Sheriff and deputies; mishandled remains and excessive force.
• 07:59–10:43: Armed robberies of Pokémon card sellers in Chicago; expert analysis, broader concerns, national trend.

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Tone & Speaker Attribution

The episode maintains a serious, urgent, and investigative tone. Drew Nelson delivers concise, fact-based news, while voices like Debbie Williams and DA Kelly personalize the stories with emotion and resolve. Ronnie Holloway adds practical insight into the world of trading cards and associated risks.

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Summary

This episode delivers a diverse snapshot of modern crime in America, from random violence on city subways, questions about military conduct near civilian life, rural law enforcement accountability, and the unexpected criminal world around collectible cards. It blends up-to-the-minute reporting with personal testimony and expert insights, providing both the scope of the problems and the human faces behind the headlines.

Transcript

[Narrator/Announcer]

Crime Alert Hourly update Breaking crime news now.

[Drew Nelson]

I'm Drew Nelson. A New York City man is indicted for murder after a random subway shove killed an 83 year old veteran who hit his head and never regained consciousness. Prosecutors say Baron Hernandez pushed two men under the tracks at the Lexington Avenue 63rd street station on March 8th. 83 year old Richard Williams died nine days later from a brain bleed. The other man survived with less serious injuries. Authorities say the attack was random and unprovoked. Investigators say Hernandez first shoved a 30 year old man from behind onto the tracks. Moments later, they say he walked up to Williams who was walking with a cane and pushed him as well. Williams was pulled from the tracks by bystanders before a train arrived. He was taken to the hospital in critical condition and never woke up. Hernandez was arrested two days later. He's now been indicted on second degree murder, attempted assault and assault charges. His daughter is now speaking out on wnbc.

[Debbie Williams]

The only reason I'm talking to anybody is because I just want the right thing to be done by this man. I want to draw attention. This is everybody's father. This is everybody's grandfather now.

[Drew Nelson]

Debbie Williams describing a man who was

[Debbie Williams]

still full of life, enjoying his best life living on island, going to the city independently at 83 years old, doing whatever he wanted to do.

[Drew Nelson]

Investigators say Williams had planned to go shopping that morning. He never made it. Family members say the loss has been overwhelming. Disappeared Debbie tells the NBC outlet Hernandez is Satan.

[Debbie Williams]

There's no words. How do you talk to the devil? I, I, I, I, I can't give you an answer to that. You, you can't. He's the devil.

[Drew Nelson]

Prosecutors say the victim did not pose any threat and had no interaction with the suspect before the attack. Hernandez has pleaded not guilty. If convicted, he could face decades in prison. More crime and justice.

[Narrator/Announcer]

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[Drew Nelson]

A military review is now underway in Tennessee after U.S. army attack helicopters flew low over a protest and then maneuvered near Kid Rock's home, raising questions about whether the flight was routine training or something more. Army officials say two AH64 Apache helicopters tied to the 101st Airborne Division flew over a no Kings protest in downtown Nashville before making low altitude passes near the home of the musician, whose real name is Robert Ritchie. A spokesperson for the United States army says all of the soldiers involved have been suspended. Leaders at Fort Campbell have launched what they now call an administrative review to determine whether the pilots followed proper rules after video showed one helicopter high hovering just beyond the entertainer's pool and another sweeping past the property. Kid Rock can be seen saluting the soldiers in the cockpit. The army says it is aware of the video circulating online that shows the helicopters operating in the vicinity of a private residence, and officials say the review will assess the mission and verify compliance with flight regulations, adding that action will be taken if any violations are found. At the center of the concern is how close the aircraft appeared to fly to the home, sometimes holding position before brief moving off while a second helicopter crossed behind it, creating what looked like coordinated low altitude maneuvering near the property. The army says the helicopters were flying a planned training route through the Nashville area and that any connection to the protest happening on the same day was coincidental. But commanders also acknowledge they do not yet know whether the specific maneuvers near the home were intentional or incidental. A spokesperson says pilots routinely fly outside Fort Campbell but adds they still cannot if this flight path and behavior were deliberate or simply part of normal operations. The flight has drawn attention online, with some questioning whether military aircraft were used in a way that could appear personal or political. The singer posted a pro military message on Instagram with the footage. Military officials stressed that training flights over civilian areas are common and necessary, with pilots required to practice low altitude navigation in real world environments. But those flights are typically not conducted in such close proximity to private homes. A Colorado sheriff resigns after a grand jury indictment details mishandled human remains and alleged excessive force inside a small rural department. But it's not just Castilla County Sheriff Danny Sanchez stepping down his undersheriff, his son and two deputies were also indicted. There are only seven officers in the department. The county has already moved to appoint an interim sheriff as the investigation continues. District Attorney Ann Kelly framed the case as a matter of public trust in

[District Attorney Ann Kelly]

order to support these honorable and brave men and women. I cannot and will not ignore violations of the trust that a community should have in their police. No citizen of the San Luis Valley should have any doubts about the integrity of their police force. This office is not afraid to defend that trust.

[Drew Nelson]

The indictment lays out two separate cases. One centers on the discovery of human remains in a remote area near Wild horse Mesa in 2024. According to the grand jury, a Property owner found skull teeth and other remains and reported it to the sheriff's office. Photos show a skull and dental work in the brush. Investigators say Sanchez and former deputy Keith Schultz went to the scene. They only took the skull. They left the rest of the remains behind. They never returned to collect them. The indictment says the sheriff failed to notify the coroner as required by law. It also says the remains were removed without permission and without proper authority. Testimony presented to the grand jury described what happened next. The skull was placed in a paper grocery bag. It was not labeled. It was not sealed. It had no chain of custody report. Investigators say the teeth that were seen in photos were never recovered. The report on the case was written months later and described as unusually short. The sheriff's office later told the reporting party the case was closed and no further work was done. Experts told the grand jury that proper procedure requires securing the scene, documenting all evidence and coordinating with the coroner. They testified that removing remains without that process can destroy evidence and violate state law. The indictment states those failures caused harm to the investigation and, quote, would outrage normal family sensibilities. The second case involves a man in a mental health crisis. Prosecutors say a deputy used a Taser on a person who was unarmed and not under arrest. That man suffered a broken rib. Undersheriff Cruz Soto is accused of failing to intervene. Sergeant Caleb Sanchez and Deputy Roland Riley face assault charges tied to that incident. DA Kelly says the work not over.

[District Attorney Ann Kelly]

We have been investigating for over a year now and we will continue with our efforts to investigate specifically to respond to and look into all reports from citizens of Costilla county about police misconduct.

[Drew Nelson]

The sheriff and deputies turn themselves in and are expected to post bond. A string of armed robberies is targeting Pokemon card sellers in Illinois, where a gunman uses online listings to lure victims and steal high value cards at gunpoint at meetups. And just wait till you hear how much some of these cards are worth. Chicago police are searching for the suspect after four people was robbed on the Southwest side. The most recent case happened Sunday morning. Investigators say the victims listed Pokemon cards for sale on Facebook Marketplace. A buyer reached out and arranged a meeting. Sellers were directed to a building in the 5200 block of South Kidsy Avenue in Chicago. Police say the suspect led them into the lobby and then pulled a gun. Police describe the suspect as a Hispanic male between 20 and 30 years old. He stands between 56 and 5 10, weighs around 200 pounds, has a beard and wears black framed glasses and dark clothing. The robberies are tied to at least four incidents between March 17 and March 29. Police have linked the same suspect to multiple victims in the Gage park area. Trading car dealer Ronnie Holloway tells wgn the value of these cards has surged in recent years. That demand has made them a target,

[Ronnie Holloway]

but it goes back to 2016, when they started the Pokemon Go. In 2019, when we had the pandemic, everyone started getting into it.

[Drew Nelson]

That surge has pushed prices into the stratosphere, a range that definitely attracts criminals.

[Ronnie Holloway]

You can get cards that go all the way up to $200,000, $150,000 based on the grading level and how rarity those cards are.

[Drew Nelson]

Police say the suspect uses deception to get victims into a controlled space before the robbery. Sellers are always urged to meet in public places, police stations or banks if a buyer refuses, collectors say that is a warning sign.

[Ronnie Holloway]

The black market is where cards are stolen. And you're also to be clear about it, is that people will sell them to those who are not really familiar that it's a stolen card.

[Drew Nelson]

This kind of crime has shown up in other cities. Recently in New York City, armed men stormed a Pokemon shop in Manhattan's Meatpacking District that happened in January. Police say three masked suspects entered the store on West 13th Street. They were armed with a gun, gun and hammers. More than $100,000 of merchandise was taken while dozens of customers remained stuck inside. Back in Chicago, the suspect in these robberies remains on the run. Anyone with information is asked to contact Chicago Police Area 1 detectives at 312-747-8380. For the latest crime and justice news, follow Crime Alert's hourly update on your favorite podcast app. With this Crime Alert, I'm Drew Nelson.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Service opens doors, and at American Military University, it can open doors for the whole family. If you have a loved one who served in the military, you may qualify for reduced tuition. AMU offers flexible online programs designed to fit your schedule so you can keep moving forward wherever life takes you. Learn more at AMU Apus Edu Military open doors to the future for you and your family with the help of American Military University.