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Narrator/Announcer
Crime Alert. Hourly update. Breaking crime news now.
Sydney Silvani
I'm Sydney Silvani. We're following what is hopefully a major development in a cold case that has gripped the central coast of California for nearly three decades. Investigators in San Luis Obispo county have returned to a familiar location in the ongoing search for the remains of Kristen Smart. On Wednesday, sheriff's deputies executed a fresh search warrant at a home on East Branch street in Arroyo Grande.
Chris Lambert
This isn't just any property.
Sydney Silvani
Public records confirm it's the residence of Susan Flores, the mother of Paul Flores, the man convicted just two years ago of murdering Kristin. News of the raid was first broken by the youe Own Backyard podcast, the investigative series. Many credit with reviving interest in the case. The podcast creator Chris Lambert noted that this kind of activity after a conviction suggests that investigators have stumbled upon significant new information.
Denise Smart
It's a surprise. It's been, you know, three years since the trial ended, and so obviously new evidence had to lead them here, and that's a good sign. Last time that Susan's house was searched with ground penetrating radar, I believe was in 2000. So it's been 26 years.
Sydney Silvani
As Lambert mentioned, it's been decades since this property saw this level of scrutiny. The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Office took to Facebook to confirm the activity, stating that a Superior Court judge signed off on the warrant. They were clear about the mission. The department remains firmly committed to bringing Kristen home to her family. Kristen smart was just 19 years old, a student at Cal Poly, when she vanished in May of 1996. It took 26 years to get a conviction. In October 2022, Paul Flores was sentenced to 25 years to life after prosecutors proved he killed Kristin during an attempted
Chris Lambert
rape in his dorm room.
Sydney Silvani
But even with Paul behind bars, the mystery of Kristin's whereabouts remains. Her body has never been found. District Attorney Dan Dow released a statement following the search saying that while those with knowledge of the body's location could provide answers at any time, his office will continue to use every lawful tool available to find her. The stakes are incredibly high for the Smart family. A judge recently ordered Paul Flores to pay over $350,000 in restitution to the family. But they've made a stunning offer. They will waive that payment entirely if Flores simply tells them where Kristin is. So far, his attorney claims he doesn't know. For Kristen's family, Flores conviction was only half the battle.
Denise Smart
I mean, we are beyond grateful that he is in prison, but we would be ecstatic at this point if we were able to lay here to rest in the presence of our family.
Sydney Silvani
Denise Smart remains hopeful her daughter will be found. More crime and justice news after this.
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Sydney Silvani
a scathing critique from the highest level of federal law enforcement has ignited a firestorm over the investigation into the disappearance of 84 year old Nancy Guthrie. FBI Director Cash Patel is publicly calling out the Pima County Sheriff's Department, alleging that local authorities essentially handcuffed the bureau during the critical first hours after the elderly woman vanished. Nancy Guthrie, the mother of NBC Today show co anchor Savannah Guthrie, was last seen on January 31st at her daughter Annie's home in Tucson. She was reported missing the following day, February 1, after failing to show up for an online church service. What followed, according to Director Patel, was a period of bureaucratic stalling that may have cost investigators precious time. Appearing on the Hangout With Sean Hannity podcast, Director Patel did not mince words about the friction between the FBI and local police.
FBI Director Cash Patel
It is a state matter. It's a state and local law enforcement matter. What we the FBI do is say, hey, we're here to help. What do you need? What can we do? And for four days we were kept out of the investigation.
Sydney Silvani
The director claims that the breakthrough in the case, an image of an armed masked man outside Nancy Guthrie's home, only happened because the FBI finally bypassed local hurdles to work directly with tech giants. Patel explained that the ring doorbell at the residence did not have an active
Chris Lambert
subscription to save footage, meaning the data
Sydney Silvani
was at risk of being lost forever.
FBI Director Cash Patel
When we were finally let in, Sean, look what we did. We went in and got the ring doorbell and we said, hey, is anyone talking to Google? I called the leadership at Google and I said, look, we know that there was not a subscription service to capture all of the data that would have been captured had there been a subscription service. But can we go into the cache? Can we go into the data before it's deleted and see what we can find? That's why you have that image, because the FBI worked with Google to put that image out.
Sydney Silvani
Patel further alleged that the FBI offered the full resources of their world class laboratory in Quantico, Virginia to process DNA evidence, an offer he says would have yielded results in a fraction of the time.
FBI Director Cash Patel
We have Quantico, best lab in the world. I had a, I had a fixed wing aircraft on the ground ready to move it immediately through the night.
Sean Hannity
Did they just say no?
FBI Director Cash Patel
And they said, we're sending it to Florida.
Sydney Silvani
The Pima County Sheriff's Department is firing back, issuing a statement insisting that coordination with the bureau began without delay and that the FBI was notified promptly by both the department and the Guthrie family. They defended their evidence processing as being based on operational needs and maintained that their local labs work in close partnership with Quantico. Despite the finger pointing, the grim reality remains Nancy Guthrie is still missing and no suspect or motive has been identified. The Guthrie family has offered a $1 million reward for her recovery. If you have any information, please call a Pima County Sheriff's Department at 520-351-4900 or 1-800-call-FBI. As the legal world waits with bated breath for an official ruling from the South Carolina Supreme Court regarding convicted killer
Chris Lambert
Alex Mardaugh's high Prof. Appeal, the rumor
Sydney Silvani
mill has officially shifted into overdrive.
Chris Lambert
We're Talking about the June 2021 murders of Maggie and Paul Murdaugh, a case
Sydney Silvani
that gripped the nation.
Chris Lambert
And we may be on the verge of seeing those double murder convictions completely vacated. The latest firestorm began over the weekend when podcaster Mandy Matney informed listeners a reliable source confirmed a bombshell. The state's high court has reportedly already reached a decision. According to Matney, all five justices have voted unanimously in favor of Alex Murdaugh receiving a new trial. She noted that the official opinion should be released any day now, adding that she shared the information as a warning for her audience to be prepared for what's coming. To clarify the legal mechanics, technically, the Supreme Court doesn't just order a new trial. The five justices are actually weighing whether to reverse a controversial January 2024 decision made by former South Carolina Chief Justice Jean Toll. Justice Toll previously denied Murdaugh's request for new proceedings. If the current Supreme Court reverses that decision, the entire case is remanded back to the circuit court level. Essentially, the case would start from square one.
Sydney Silvani
If that happens, the ball lands back
Chris Lambert
in the court of South Carolina Attorney General Allen Wilson. His grand jury division led the initial prosecution and and it would be up to him to decide if the state has the appetite and the resources to try Alex Murdaugh a second time for the deaths of his wife and son. Murdaugh was once a kingmaker in the South Carolina low country. A prominent personal injury attorney from Hampton county, he came from a legal dynasty that had controlled the local prosecutor's office for generations. But that legacy shattered on the night of June 7, 2021. Prosecutors say Murdaugh used a shotgun and a rifle to execute his wife, 52 year old Maggie Murdaugh, and his younger son, 22 year old Paul Murdaugh, at the family's sprawling 1700 acre hunting estate known as Moselle. The motive? The state argued that Murdaugh's life was a house of cards. He was allegedly drowning in millions of dollars of stolen client funds and a decades long opioid addiction. Prosecutors insist he killed his family to create a sympathy alibi, hoping the tragedy would stall the investigations into his financial fraud. In March 2023, after a six week trial, a jury took less than three hours to find him guilty of both murders. The signs have been pointing to a vacated conviction since February 11, when the justices heard oral arguments. During that hearing, lead prosecutor Creighton Waters was subjected to intense questioning from the bench. The justices zeroed in on documented jury tampering and alleged jury rigging, specifically scrutinizing the 11th hour dismissal of juror Myra Crosby, better known as Egg Lady. Many legal analysts believe removing her was the decisive factor in securing that unanimous guilty verdict back in 2023. Further fueling the fire was the mysterious absence of the Supreme Court's advance sheet last week. This is a preview of upcoming decisions typically published every Wednesday at 10am when it didn't appear, speculation went into a tailspin. While the court hasn't explained the delay, the timing is certainly conspicuous.
Sydney Silvani
At the heart of this appeal is
Chris Lambert
Rebecca Becky Hill, the former Colleton County Clerk of Court. Murdaugh's defense team argues she improperly influenced the jury violating the Sixth Amendment. While prosecutors argue her actions didn't change the verdict, the justices seemed skeptical back in February. If these convictions are vacated, it changes everything. Murdaugh is currently serving two life sentences for murder, but he is also serving decades for a web of financial crimes. If the murder charges are reset, those financial sentences could be revisited as well. The implications here are massive. This isn't just about one man. It's about how South Carolina handles juror misconduct. In the spotlight.
Sydney Silvani
After 19 days of emotional testimony, Tanner
Chris Lambert
Horner has been sentenced to death for killing a young girl. He was supposed to be delivering a Christmas present to.
Sydney Silvani
A Tarrant County, Texas, jury heard closing
Chris Lambert
arguments from both sides Tuesday morning.
Sydney Silvani
Defense attorney Susan Anderson pleaded with jurors to be merciful in deciding Horner's fate. I want you to vote for life sentence Tanner to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Chris Lambert
But district attorney James Stainton made a strong rebuttal. Was Tanner merciful? Was Tanner vengeful? Did he show remorse? No. And I think that's important. The jury took roughly two and a half hours to come to the decision. Horner should face execution. Horner remained stoic as the verdict was
Sydney Silvani
read, only speaking to agree to appointed
Chris Lambert
counsel for his automatic appeal process. The uncle of victim Athena Strand was the only family member to address Horner in court yesterday.
Sean Hannity
You did not just take a life. You destroyed a family. You took a little girl who trusted the world and repaid that innocence with violence. You chose to cause pain that will last generations. But I want you to know that you are nothing. You are a footnote in Athena's story. Her name will forever be remembered. Her name will forever be celebrated. And everyone will forget me.
Chris Lambert
The rest of Athena's family says they are not yet ready to comment on the outcome of the trial.
Maitland Gandy
Horner, a former FedEx driver, pleaded guilty to the 2022 kidnapping and capital murder of 7 year old Athena Strand just as the trial began, leaving the jury to decide his punishment. The details of the crime are haunting. Horner was delivering a Barbie doll intended as a Christmas gift for Athena when he struck her with his van. He told investigators that although she wasn't seriously injured by the vehicle, he panicked and strangled her to death in his van to keep her from telling her father or stepmother. Following Athena's murder, Horner wrote a letter to Athena's family in which he claimed
Sydney Silvani
he could no longer stay silent.
Maitland Gandy
Despite his legal team's advice, Horner wrote, so many were affected by my breakdown. Not just your family, but my own as well. He admitted to countless nights of being unable to sleep, writing that he prays for the family, but acknowledges the permanent void he created.
Sydney Silvani
You'll never get to see your baby
Maitland Gandy
girl grow up, and I'm sorry.
Athena's Family Member
I will make sure that every person in this world knows that she was loved and that she wanted to live and we want her in our lives and I'm very sorry to Three weeks
Chris Lambert
ago, Athena's mother, Maitland Gandy took the stand.
Maitland Gandy
Gandy described the physical pain of the loss, stating it felt like she was having a heart attack when she first heard her daughter was missing. She revealed the heartbreaking toll on her family, admitting she lied to Athena's three
Sydney Silvani
year old sister for over a year,
Maitland Gandy
telling her Athena was staying with her father and and couldn't come to the phone because she was sleeping or at school, incapable of finding words to explain what happened.
Chris Lambert
When asked if she had watched the
Maitland Gandy
video of Horner killing her daughter, Gandy said she could only stomach a few minutes, sharing her sympathy for the jury who had to watch it, telling them no one, especially Athena, asked for what happened in those final moments
Athena's Family Member
that do have to watch that. I am so sorry. I'm sorry to you and I'm sorry to y' all too because none of us, not Athena, not me, not anyone in this room besides Tanner Horner asked for what's on that video and Athena definitely
Sydney Silvani
In the Texas Panhandle, a community is relayed from a weekend of senseless violence that turned a young celebration into a battlefield. The Amarillo Police Department is currently hunting for two suspects following a targeted shooting at a house party that left two teenagers dead and 10 others fighting for their lives. According to official statements from the APD. The tragedy unfolded early Saturday morning, May 2, around 2am Investigators said the party actually began at a different location because before moving to an apartment complex on South Coulter street, it was there, amidst a gathering of juveniles and young adults, that the night took a deadly turn. Police believe several individuals were asked to leave the original party location. However, instead of moving on, these individuals allegedly followed the partygoers to the South Coulter street complex. Once there, they attempted to force their way into an apartment and opened fire. The weapon used has been described by authorities as a rifle style weapon and
Chris Lambert
the carnage it caused was caught on
Sydney Silvani
harrowing home security footage. In the video, which has since been shared by police to aid in the investigation, you can see the absolute chaos as dozens of gunshots ring out sending people running for their lives across the property. When the smoke cleared, 17 year old Ezekiel Rudy Almazon and an unnamed 16 year old boy were dead. At least 10 others were rushed to local hospitals with various injuries, including several suffering from gunshot wounds, while a Glock 9mm handgun was recovered on a landing outside one of the units. The sheer number of cartridge casings found in a nearby alley suggests multiple weapons were utilized in the assault. Amarillo Police Chief Thomas Hover has confirmed that this was not a random act of violence. He stated that the suspects have a direct affiliation with the targeted location and and were known to at least one person at the party. Despite this connection, the suspects remain at large. Chief Hover has condemned the unacceptable criminal behavior and is urging anyone with doorbell or security footage from the South Coulter street area to come forward. Moving to Louisiana A courtroom in Baton Rouge is the setting for a trial that has horrified the nation, centering on a pattern of cruelty that ended the life of a four year old girl. Roxanne Record, 57, is facing a jury this week on first degree murder charges. Prosecutors allege she didn't just kill her
Chris Lambert
granddaughter, China Record, she tortured her.
Sydney Silvani
The incident dates back to April 2022. According to Assistant District Attorney Dana Cummings, the punishment began when little China took a single sip from a whiskey bottle left on a kitchen counter. In retaliation, prosecutors say Roxanne Ruckard forced the child to her knees and and made her consume the remainder of a 750 milliliter bottle of 80 proof Canadian Mist whiskey. All the while, the child's mother, Kaja Record, allegedly stood by and watched her daughter die. The medical evidence in this case is staggering. When first responders arrived at China's Wallace street home, they found her unresponsive. An autopsy later revealed her blood alcohol content was.6. That is more than eight times the legal limit for an adult driver. During opening statements, the prosecution painted a bleak picture of Chyna's life, alleging she was marginalized by her grandmother who never liked her and treated her differently than the other children in the home. It was a household where Chyna's own siblings were reportedly conditioned to believe she
Chris Lambert
was stealing if she tried to access food or water.
Sydney Silvani
The defense, led by attorney Kaitlyn Falquez, isn't denying the tragedy, but is arguing it was a horrific accident rather than a premeditated murder. They claim Record attempted CPR to save the girl and that the state cannot prove the specific intent required for a first degree murder conviction. If the jury disagrees, Roxane Record faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison without parole. The mother, Codja Record, will face her own day in court later this summer for the latest crime and justice breaking news. Be sure to tune in tomorrow on your favorite podcast app with this crime alert. I'm Sydney Silvani.
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Crime Stories with Nancy Grace
Episode Title: New Search for Kristen Smart | Crime Alert Saturday Recap 05.08.26
Release Date: May 9, 2026
Host: Nancy Grace (iHeartPodcasts & CrimeOnline)
Contributors/Reporters: Sydney Silvani, Chris Lambert, Maitland Gandy, with notable legal and victim family voices
This episode delivers a rapid-fire, emotionally intense recap of major breaking crime news from around the country, anchored by Sydney Silvani. The primary focus is a significant new search in the Kristen Smart case—decades after her disappearance—and major updates on high-profile cases including the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, possible overturning of Alex Murdaugh’s double murder conviction, the sentencing of Tanner Horner for the murder of Athena Strand, and two disturbing child-related cases in Amarillo, TX and Baton Rouge, LA. The tone is urgent, compassionate, and unflinching, maintaining Crime Stories’ dedication to giving voice to victims and families.
Major Development:
Investigators executed a new search warrant at Susan Flores’ home—mother of Paul Flores, Kristen’s convicted murderer—26 years after the last search at this location.
"Investigators in San Luis Obispo county have returned to a familiar location in the ongoing search for the remains of Kristen Smart." (Sydney Silvani, 00:07)
Significance:
The search follows "significant new information," per Chris Lambert, creator of the You Own Backyard podcast that reignited public attention on the case.
"This isn't just any property…News of the raid was first broken by the You Own Backyard podcast, the investigative series many credit with reviving interest." (Chris Lambert/Sydney Silvani, 00:29–00:31)
Family Reaction:
Denise Smart, Kristen’s mother, reacts with surprise and hope:
"It's a surprise. It's been, you know, three years since the trial ended, and so obviously new evidence had to lead them here, and that's a good sign…we would be ecstatic at this point if we were able to lay [her] to rest in the presence of our family." (Denise Smart, 00:58/02:34)
Ongoing Pain:
Even after Paul Flores’ conviction (October 2022), Kristen’s body is still missing; the family offered to waive $350,000 restitution if her remains are returned.
District Attorney Dan Dow vows to use "every lawful tool" to bring Kristen home.
Key Quotes:
Background:
FBI Director Cash Patel openly criticizes Pima County Sheriff’s Department for excluding the FBI during the critical first hours after 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie vanished.
Breakthrough:
The FBI worked directly with Google to retrieve crucial Ring doorbell camera footage without an active subscription, yielding an image of an armed masked man.
"When we were finally let in…look what we did. We went in and got the ring doorbell…That's why you have that image, because the FBI worked with Google." (Cash Patel, 05:25)
Forensic Disputes:
Patel asserts that Quantico’s lab could have fast-tracked DNA results, while local authorities sent evidence elsewhere.
Local Response:
Pima County insists they coordinated promptly and stick to operational protocols; tension between agencies remains. No suspect or motive has surfaced.
$1 million reward for Guthrie’s safe return.
Key Quotes:
Breaking Rumor:
South Carolina Supreme Court may unanimously vacate Murdaugh’s double murder conviction for the June 2021 killings of wife Maggie and son Paul, citing jury misconduct.
Legal Mechanics:
A reversal would send the case back to the lower courts; the state Attorney General would decide on reprosecution.
Background:
Murdaugh, once a legal kingmaker, convicted in March 2023 after only three hours of jury deliberation. Motive: to divert attention from personal financial and drug troubles.
Appeal’s Core:
Focus on former Colleton County Clerk Rebecca "Becky" Hill’s alleged jury tampering, including the controversial removal of juror Myra Crosby ("Egg Lady").
Implications:
Not just a singular case, but a test of South Carolina's handling of jury misconduct.
Key Quotes:
Case Recap:
FedEx driver Tanner Horner sentenced to death for abducting and murdering 7-year-old Athena Strand in 2022 while on a delivery job.
Family Impact:
Emotional statements in court; Athena's uncle and mother, Maitland Gandy, share the devastation and lasting pain.
Crime Details:
Horner struck Athena with his van, panicked, and killed her to cover up the accident. He later expressed guilt in a letter to the family.
Mother’s Testimony:
Gandy describes unbearable heartbreak and the struggle to explain Athena’s absence to her younger sister.
Key Quotes & Courtroom Moments:
Incident:
Two teens killed, ten others injured in a targeted shooting at a house party after suspects forced entry and opened fire with a rifle-style weapon.
"The carnage it caused was caught on harrowing home security footage…as dozens of gunshots ring out, sending people running for their lives." (Sydney Silvani, 16:18)
Details:
Victims: 17-year-old Ezekiel Rudy Almazon and an unnamed 16-year-old boy.
Police believe this was not a random act and urge anyone with footage to come forward.
Key Quotes:
This episode is a masterclass in true crime reporting: tightly packed, relentlessly paced, and intensely focused on justice for victims and families. It highlights both the persistence of those searching for closure and the systemic hurdles faced along the path. For listeners, it offers a vital, unsparing look at the realities behind the headlines—where heartbreak and hope, indignation and advocacy intersect.
(Ad sections and non-content commentary have been omitted from this summary.)