Murderous Moscow Mule Mom's Lover Breaks Down in Court | Crime Alert Recap Saturday 03.07.26

Summary

Crime Stories with Nancy Grace

Episode: Murderous Moscow Mule Mom's Lover Breaks Down in Court | Crime Alert Recap Saturday 03.07.26

Date: March 8, 2026
Host: Nancy Grace (Crime Alert Recap anchored by Sydney Sumner, Nicole Parton, Jennifer Gould, Drew Nelson)

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Episode Overview

This episode of "Crime Stories with Nancy Grace" delivers rapid-fire recaps of several shocking, high-profile crime stories currently making headlines. The central theme is the ongoing murder trial of Corey Richins, the Utah grief author accused of poisoning her husband with fentanyl-laced Moscow Mules, with a dramatic update from the courtroom. Additional stories include the arrest in the Cleveland suitcase murders, a fatal New York domestic dispute, and a heartfelt account of a kitten saving its owner from a house fire. The tone is urgent, investigative, and emotionally charged, echoing Nancy Grace’s commitment to criminal justice and victim advocacy.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Corey Richins Murder Trial: Lover’s Emotional Testimony

[00:03–02:33]

• Courtroom Drama: Robert Grossman, 43, handyman and alleged lover of Corey Richins, broke down on the stand, wiping away tears as intimate text messages between himself and Richins were read aloud.
• Text Message Evidence:
  • Richins asked Grossman if he would marry her if she were divorced, to which he replied:
    • “In love with Y O U Of course I would.” – Robert Grossman ([00:45])
  • Richins fantasized about a new life together, wishing her husband would "just go away" and describing plans to buy a mansion, live together, and raise her children with Grossman.
• Suspicious Conversations:
  • After Eric Richins’s death, Corey Richins asked Grossman, referencing his military service:
    • “She asked him if he had ever killed anyone right, and questioned him about how it made him feel.” ([01:45])
  • Grossman claims he didn't then suspect Richins's involvement in her husband’s demise.
• Prosecution’s Argument:
  • Corey Richins is accused of killing her husband in March 2022 with a Moscow Mule laced with lethal fentanyl, reportedly four times the fatal dose.
  • She also faces charges of a failed attempt a month earlier—allegedly spiking his sandwich on Valentine’s Day.
• Motive Presented:
  • Prosecutors allege Richins hoped to benefit financially (her husband’s estate valued at more than $4 million) and start a new life with Grossman.
• Richins’s Defense:
  • Claims Eric Richins died of an accidental overdose, questioning forensic thoroughness, especially in collecting evidence from the drinkware.
  • Richins has pleaded not guilty.
• Public Persona:
  • After Eric’s death, Richins published a children’s book on grief, presenting herself as a caring mother.

Notable Courtroom Quotes

• “[Corey] sent Grossman a message asking, ‘If I was divorced right now and asked you to marry me tomorrow, you would?’ Grossman replied, ‘Yes, in love with Y O U. Of course I would.’” – Court Evidence ([00:45])
• “Richens muses about purchasing a mansion with Grossman, living in the guest house and renting out the main house as an event center.” – Sydney Sumner ([01:15])
• “Grossman became emotional and wiped away tears during his testimony.” – Sydney Sumner ([01:30])
• “She asked him if he had ever killed anyone right, and questioned him about how it made him feel.” – Sydney Sumner ([01:45])

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2. Cleveland Suitcase Murders: Arrest in the Death of Two Sisters

[03:07–06:18]

• The Crime: Two young sisters’ bodies discovered inside suitcases, buried in shallow graves in Cleveland.
• Suspect: Eliyah Henderson, a 28-year-old woman who lived across from the burial site, arrested for murder and child endangerment.
• Discovery: Police found the bodies (aged roughly 8–14 years) after a dog walker stumbled upon a suitcase in a snow-covered lot.
• Community Reaction:
  • “What kind of monster would do this to two children? Just discard them like they’re trash?... We will not tolerate this. There must be accountability for those two children.” – Councilman Michael Polancik ([05:41])
• Neighbors' Perspective: Described the suspect as someone who would “disappear” after asking for help, and mentioned systemic issues in seeking assistance for at-risk children.
• Further Details: Another child was found inside the suspect’s home and taken into protective custody. It is believed Henderson is the mother of the deceased girls.

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• “Police quickly began searching the area for any potential evidence and discovered another shallow grave containing a second suitcase with another body.” – Nicole Parton ([04:00])
• “She do like this disappearing act... you need an address to even file a motion.” – Anonymous Commentator ([05:15])
• “We will not tolerate this. There must be accountability...” – Councilman Michael Polancik ([05:41])

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3. Fatal New York Domestic Dispute: Coffee, Conflict, and Patricide

[06:18–08:33]

• Incident: After a marital argument, Philip Knickerbocker (63) dumped hot coffee on his wife. Their son, Hans Knickerbocker (40), fatally beat and strangled his father in response.
• Sequence of Events:
  • Bystanders/Neighbors describe the family as unremarkable, adding to the shock of the crime.
  • Hans intervened, escalated into a violent assault using fists and an elbow to pin and asphyxiate his father.
  • Immediate police response; Hans arrested and subsequently charged with second-degree murder.
• Community Shock:
  • “They’re about my little older than I was, but I, I thought they were okay... I see him out, just wave to them, you know.” – Neighbor Don Powers ([06:43–06:50])
• Ongoing Investigation: Authorities are still seeking further details on the case.

Notable Statements

• “Philip Knickerbocker and his wife... were reportedly in the heat of an argument about their marriage when the older man snapped, pouring the coffee on her head and trying to punch her in the face.” – Jennifer Gould ([06:51])
• “Hans did not just intervene, police say he unleashed a savage beating... and restricting his breathing until the older man was dead.” – Jennifer Gould ([07:13])

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4. Kitten Hero: Portland Man Saved from House Fire by Pet Cat

[08:33–10:22]

• Survival Story: Donald Van Wermer was awakened by his nine-week-old kitten, Fred, who clawed and cried just as a deadly fire broke out.
• Escape: Van Wermer crawled out of his burning house, barely escaping as flames overtook the structure. He suffered burns but survived.
  • “I got woken up to my cat railing scratching on me, freaking out. And I looked up and the flames were already through the whole attic of the house.” – Donald Van Wermer ([09:08])
  • “The flames were going over top of me, but I was on the ground because they were rolling out the door.” ([09:38])
• Tragic Loss: While Van Wermer survived, Fred perished in the fire.
  • “When I got Fred, I told him this is my lucky cat, one of the smarter cats I’ve ever had... but that cat saved my life then.” – Donald Van Wermer ([10:09])
• Aftermath: Van Wermer is fundraising to rebuild after losing his home, crediting the kitten for saving his life.

Memorable Quotes

• “That cat saved my life then.” – Donald Van Wermer ([10:09])
• “Wermer says the loss of the cat has been difficult because he believes the kitten’s actions gave him the chance to escape a fire that might otherwise have killed him in his sleep.” – Drew Nelson ([10:22])

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• Utah Grief Author Murder Trial: [00:03–02:33]
• Cleveland Suitcase Murders: [03:07–06:18]
• New York Domestic Patricide: [06:18–08:33]
• Portland Kitten Saves Owner from Fire: [08:33–10:22]

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Notable Quotes & Speaker Attribution

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote | |-----------|----------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:45 | Court Evidence | “If I was divorced right now and asked you to marry me tomorrow, you would? Yes, in love with Y O U. Of course I would.” | | 01:30 | Sydney Sumner | “Grossman became emotional and wiped away tears during his testimony.” | | 01:45 | Sydney Sumner | “She asked him if he had ever killed anyone right, and questioned him about how it made him feel.” | | 05:41 | Councilman Michael Polancik | “What kind of monster would do this to two children?... This is unacceptable... There must be accountability for those two children.” | | 06:43–06:50 | Don Powers | “They’re about my little older than I was, but I, I thought they were okay...I see him out, just wave to them, you know.” | | 09:08 | Donald Van Wermer | “I got woken up to my cat railing scratching on me, freaking out. And I looked up and the flames were already through the whole attic of the house.” | | 10:09 | Donald Van Wermer | “When I got Fred, I told him this is my lucky cat, one of the smarter cats I’ve ever had... but that cat saved my life then.” |

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Flow & Usefulness

This episode offers a succinct but emotionally resonant tour through several major crime stories, with eyewitness accounts and commentary highlighting both the tragic and, occasionally, hopeful aspects of the crime beat. Testimony and quotes are preserved in the speakers’ words, maintaining the authenticity and immediacy that characterize Nancy Grace’s delivery. Anyone who missed the episode is provided with all vital details, courtroom turnarounds, and community perspectives, as well as a moving account of survival and loss.

Transcript

[Crime Alert Anchor]

CRIME ALERT Hourly UPDATE Breaking crime news now.

[Sydney Sumner]

I'm Sydney Sumner. A dramatic moment unfolded in the murder trial of Utah children's grief author Corey Richards as her alleged handyman lover broke down in court while testifying. Robert Grossman, 43, an Iraq war veteran, took the stand Wednesday and described a series of intimate text messages exchanged with Richence just weeks before her husband's death in 2022. According to testimony, less than a month before her husband, Eric Richins, died, Corey Richens sent Grossman a message asking if I was divorced right now and asked you to marry me tomorrow, you would. Grossman replied yes, in love with Y O U Of course I would. Prosecutors say the messages reveal the pair discussing a future together. In another text shown to jurors, Richens allegedly wrote that life would be perfect if her husband could just go away and you could just be here. Richens muses about purchasing a mansion with Grossman, living in the guest house and renting out the main house as an event center. Richins suggests they hang out every day on a little farm and raise her children. As the texts were displayed in court, Grossman became emotional and wiped away tears during his testimony. Grossman also described a troubling conversation he had with Richins just days after her husband died. He told jurors she asked him if he had ever killed anyone right, referring to his military service in Iraq, and questioned him about how it made him feel. Grossman said at the time he had no suspicion that Richins might have been involved in her husband's death. Prosecutors allege Richins killed Eric Richins in March 2022 by slipping four times the lethal dose of fentanyl into a Moscow Mule cocktail she prepared for him. Additional charges accuse her of a previous attempt to kill Eric by spiking his sandwich with fentanyl a month earlier, on Valentine's Day. After his death, Richins went on to self publish a children's book about coping with grief, saying it was meant to help her sons and other children deal with the loss of a parent. Prosecutors argue Richens planned the killing in hopes of starting a new life with her lover and believe she would inherit her husband's estate, valued at more than $4 million. Her defense team, however, maintains that Eric Richens died from an accidental overdose. They say it's unclear how Eric ingested the drug and that investigators did not thoroughly test the drink's cup for EV evidence. Corey Richins has pleaded not guilty and the trial continues. More crime and justice news after this.

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[Nicole Parton / Cleveland Police Chief Annie Todd / Councilman Michael Polancik]

I'm Nicole Parton a 28 year old woman from Ohio has been arrested in relation to the tragic deaths of two young sisters whose bodies were discovered inside abandoned suitcases buried in shallow graves. Eliyah Henderson was arrested this week and faces charges of murder and child endangerment as confirmed by law enforcement officials. The Cleveland Police Department reported that officers responded to a call for assistance around 6pm on Monday in the vicinity of East 162nd and Midland Avenue. Man was walking his dog in a snow covered area when he stumbled upon the horrifying sight. The caller indicated he found what looked like a body inside a suitcase, said Cleveland Police Chief Annie Todd during a briefing on Tuesday. Upon arrival, officers located the deceased individual, who was buried in a shallow grave inside a suitcase. Police quickly began searching the area for any potential evidence and discovered another shallow grave containing a second suitcase with another body. The county medical examiner later confirmed that the victims were sisters. Authorities identified the victims as two young black females, one sister believed to be between 8 and 13 years old, the other estimated to be between 10 and 14. Although it remains unclear how long the bodies had been on the site, Chief Todd noted that it appeared the girls had been dead for some time. There was not a recent occurrence, she said. In a body camera footage obtained by Cleveland Fox affiliate wjw, an officer remarked on one of the bodies, noting it was folded in a fetal position. As of Tuesday afternoon, police had not identified the victims and had no suspects. However, Henderson was arrested and taken to the Cuahoga County Jail on Wednesday. Neighbors informed WOIO that Henderson resides directly across from where the suitcases were found. Police arrested her while executing a search warrant. Part of the investigation led us to the residents. It has been a continuous and exhaustive investigation.

[Anonymous Commentator]

She do like this disappearing act. She asked you for something, ask you for help, but then she disappeared. She a mover so you can't go down to the courts because you need an address to even file a motion. You can't go to CPS because CPS only ask two questions Is it food or food or beds in the house? You can't go to the police because they need an address for welfare check.

[Nicole Parton / Cleveland Police Chief Annie Todd / Councilman Michael Polancik]

Councilman Michael Polancik expressed his outrage over the incident, insisting that those responsible must face justice, saying in part, what kind of monster would do this to two children? Just discard them like they're trash? Not in Collinwood. This is unacceptable, he said. We will not tolerate this. There must be accountability for those two children. Police confirmed another child was located inside the home with a woman. That child has since been removed and placed in the care of dcf. It is believed the woman is the mother of the two girls found dead.

[Jennifer Gould]

I'm Jennifer Gould. A morning cup of joe turned into a midnight wake in a quiet upstate New York hamlet when a 63 year old man allegedly dumped hot coffee over his wife's head during a marital spat, only to be beaten and strangled to death by his own son moments later. Neighbor Don Powers spoke to Wwny tv.

[Nicole Parton / Cleveland Police Chief Annie Todd / Councilman Michael Polancik]

They're about my little older than I was, but I, I thought they were okay.

[Donald Van Wermer]

I haven't seen them since, you know,

[Nicole Parton / Cleveland Police Chief Annie Todd / Councilman Michael Polancik]

I see him out, I just wave

[Donald Van Wermer]

to them, you know.

[Jennifer Gould]

New York State Police say the deadly domestic explosion erupted inside a residence on Pyrite's Russell Road in the town of Russell, St. Lawrence County. Philip Knickerbocker and his wife Jacqueline Wilson, were reportedly in the heat of an argument about their marriage when the older man snapped, pouring the coffee on her head and trying to punch her in the face. Their 40 year old son, Hans Knickerbocker, was in his bedroom at the time, but stormed into the living room after hearing the chaos. Hans did not just intervene, police say he unleashed a savage beating, punching his dad in the head before wrapping both hands around the man's throat. According to court docs. Hans then applied his full body weight, pressing his elbow into his father's windpipe and restricting his breathing until the older man was dead. State troopers arrived at the scene around 7:49pm following a 911 call and found Philip's body slumped on the living room couch. Hans was immediately detained and initially hit with a charge of criminal obstruction of breathing, but that was upgraded to second degree murder after an autopsy at Glen Falls Hospital confirmed the cause of death as asphyxia due to strangulation. Hans Knickerbocker was rearranged in Canton Town Court and ordered held without bail at the St. Lawrence County Jail. State police said the investigation remains ongo.

[Drew Nelson]

I'm Drew Nelson, a Southeast Portland business owner says a heroic kitten saved his life as a fast moving fire destroyed the home he spent years rebuilding. Donald Van Wermer, longtime owner of Alternative Solutions Dispensary on Southeast Powell Boulevard, was asleep in his Tillamook home when the fire broke out roughly two weeks ago. The house, which he had renovated himself over the years, was soon engulfed in flames. VanWormer says he likely would not have woken up in time if not for his young cat, Fred. According to vanwormer, the kitten sudden began clawing and crying out while jumping on him in the middle of the night.

[Donald Van Wermer]

And I got woken up to my cat railing scratching on me, freaking out. And I looked up and the flames were already through the whole attic of the house.

[Drew Nelson]

That's Van Warmer behind the counter of his pot shop. In an exclusive interview with kptv. By the time he realized what was happening, the fire had already raced through the upper part of the home. Van Wormer says he only had seconds to react before the fire cut off his escape. He dropped to the floor and crawled toward the door as flames rolled across the ceiling and burst outward through the doorway.

[Donald Van Wermer]

And the flames were going over top of me, but I was on the ground because they were rolling out the door.

[Drew Nelson]

Ben Wormer says he suffered burns to his chest and face while escaping, but managed to make it outside alive. He later learned just how quickly the fire had spread through the structure. He also said he was thankful his girlfriend and daughter were not home at the time. Fred, unfortunately, did not survive the fire. The nine week old kitten had only recently joined the family. Van Wormer says he had brought Fred home just weeks earlier and immediately believed the little cat was special.

[Donald Van Wermer]

When I got Fred, I told him this is my lucky cat, one of the smarter cats I've ever had. So I thought we had a lot of time together for the next 16, 20 years with that guy, but that cat saved my life then.

[Drew Nelson]

Wermer says the loss of the cat has been difficult because he believes the kitten's actions gave him the chance to escape a fire that might otherwise have killed him in his sleep. Fire crews later told him they believe a dehumidifier inside the house sparked the blaze. The home he spent years restoring is destroyed, with damage he estimates at more than $1 million. Van Wormer is now trying to rebuild while recovering from his injuries. He has started fundraising efforts to help cover the cost of rebuilding the house and replacing what was lost. For now, he says he is grateful to be alive and determined to rebuild the life he nearly lost while remembering the small cat he credits with saving it. 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.

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