Summary5 min read

Crime Stories with Nancy Grace: Episode Summary

Episode Title: Police to exhume remains in Utah after reopening a 1970 cold case | Crime Alert 6AM 02.10.26
Date: February 10, 2026
Host: iHeartPodcasts and CrimeOnline

Overview

In this episode of "Crime Stories with Nancy Grace," the focus centers on the dramatic reopening of a 1970 cold case in Utah, with plans to exhume unidentified remains known only as "Jane Doe." The segment explores how advances in forensic science are breathing new life into this decades-old mystery, and the hope it brings for justice and closure. The episode also brings listeners up to date on several breaking crime stories from around the nation, touching on a campus shooting in Rhode Island, a high-profile school shooting trial in Georgia, and revelations from the federal investigation into Jeffrey Epstein.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Utah Cold Case: Exhumation of "Jane Doe" (00:01–01:57)

Location & Case History: Authorities in Hurricane, Utah (Washington County) are set to exhume human remains discovered in 1970—an unidentified woman known as "Jane Doe."
- Her cause of death was "undetermined," and she was originally interred with a simple grave marker.
Why Now: Modern DNA technology and access to national missing person databases offer new hope for solving the case.
Forensic Breakthroughs:
- Previous exhumation attempts (notably in 2014) failed due to inability to locate the remains—officials now believe earlier teams may not have dug deep enough.
- The use of updated forensic science and collaboration with the National Cold Case Coalition could allow for the recovery of viable DNA samples.
Family Impact: The main objective is to finally identify "Jane Doe" and provide closure for her surviving relatives after more than five decades.
Upcoming Action:
- The sheriff's office is preparing for exhumation in the coming weeks, which is described as "a significant moment in one of the longest running cold cases in Utah’s history."

Quote:
"Advances in DNA technology and access to national missing person databases give investigators renewed hope that Jane Doe can finally be identified."
— John Laemmle (00:43)

2. Brown University Campus Shooting: Police Footage Released (02:30–03:54)

New Developments:
- Rhode Island officials released redacted police bodycam video and audio from the December Brown University mass shooting.
- Incident resulted in two student deaths and nine wounded; footage aims to provide transparency while shielding victims.
Suspect Info:
- Claudio Neves Valenti, a former graduate student, is linked to the campus attack and the murder of an MIT professor.
- Valenti was later found dead in New Hampshire.
Challenges of Transparency:
- Officials withheld some graphic footage to prioritize sensitivity.
- Noteworthy: Police at one point mistakenly identified a maintenance worker as a suspect during the chaotic response.
City Response:
- Providence’s mayor emphasized the balancing act between public transparency and victims' privacy.
- Ongoing: Authorities still request help from the public for any additional information or videos related to the event.

Quote:
"The footage, heavily redacted to shield victims and their families from further trauma, includes about 20 minutes of body worn, camera video from responding officers and radio traffic between campus police and municipal authorities."
— John Laemmle (02:33)

3. Georgia School Shooting: Prosecution of the Father (03:54–04:59)

Trial Updates:
- Jury selection starts in Georgia for Colin Gray, father of Colt Gray, who carried out the Apalachee High School shooting in 2024.
Legal Angle:
- Colin Gray faces 29 charges, including second-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter for enabling his son's access to firearms despite his mental health concerns.
National Context:
- The episode notes growing national efforts to prosecute adults whose actions allow for the perpetration of mass shootings.
Case Details:
- The incident led to four deaths (two students, two teachers) and nine injured.
- Colt Gray, aged 14 at the time, carefully planned and executed the attack.
Bond & Expectations:
- The accused father is out on a $500,000 bond, with trial expected to last several weeks.

Quote:
"Prosecutors allege he knowingly provided his son access to the firearm used in the attack despite being aware of his mental health struggles and fascination with other school shootings."
— John Laemmle (04:26)

4. Jeffrey Epstein Investigation: Client List Allegations Addressed (04:59–06:14)

Federal Findings:
- Newly released Justice Department records state that investigators found no credible evidence of Epstein maintaining a client list or running a sex trafficking ring involving high-profile men.
Evidence Review:
- Authorities reviewed financial records, seized materials, and interviews but found no organized trafficking operation outside of Epstein’s confirmed federal sex crimes.
Conclusion of Documents:
- There wasn't enough admissible evidence to charge others; no secret client list was recovered.
- Allegations of third-party involvement “could not be independently corroborated.”

Quote:
"According to internal Justice Department documents, the FBI found no credible evidence that Epstein maintained a client list or operated a sex trafficking ring involving powerful or prominent men."
— John Laemmle (05:14)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On the Utah Cold Case:
"Records indicate that prior excavation efforts may not have gone deep enough to reach the actual burial site, leading authorities to believe the remains may still be intact beneath the surface."
— John Laemmle (01:29)
On Transparency in Providence:
"Portions of the recordings were withheld to avoid showing more graphic content... the material released sheds light on the chaotic police response, including moments when officers mistook a maintenance worker for a potential suspect."
— John Laemmle (03:14)
On Accountability for Mass Shootings:
"The case is part of a broader national trend of prosecutors holding adults accountable for enabling access to deadly weapons used in mass shootings."
— John Laemmle (04:41)

Important Segment Timestamps

Utah "Jane Doe" Cold Case Exhumation: 00:01–01:57
Rhode Island Brown University Shooting Update: 02:30–03:54
Georgia School Shooting Trial (Colin Gray): 03:54–04:59
Jeffrey Epstein Federal Investigation Update: 04:59–06:14

This episode delivers critical updates on high-impact cold cases, school shootings, and nationally debated investigations, using a mix of legal insight, breaking news, and clear, concise reporting. Listeners are encouraged to follow ongoing coverage at crimeonline.com and stay engaged in the search for justice and truth.

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Transcript6 lines

[00:01]
A
CRIME alert. I'm John Laemmle. We begin this hour with a compelling development out of Hurricane Idaho, where authorities have taken the rare step of reopening a cold case that has puzzled investigators for more than half a century. Police with the Washington County Sheriff's Office say they are preparing to exhume human remains buried in a local cemetery, remains belonging to an unidentified woman discovered in 1970 and long known only as Jan Doe. At the time of her discovery, the woman's cause of death was ruled undetermined, and she was laid to rest with a simple marker identifying her as an unknown. The case was investigated sporadically over the years, including a 2014 attempt to recover her DNA, but that effort ultimately failed when no remains were found during excavation. Now detectives have petitioned a judge for a new warrant and are moving forward with plans to exhume the burials site again, this time with modern forensic science on their side. Advances in DNA technology and access to national missing person databases give investigators renewed hope that Jane Doe can finally be identified. Records indicate that prior excavation efforts may not have gone deep enough to reach the actual burial site, leading authorities to believe the remains may still be intact beneath the surface. With assistance from the National Cold Case Coalition, law enforcement hopes to collect viable DNA samples that could provide closure for surviving relatives whose loved ones disappeared decades ago. The sheriff's office says the exhumation will take place in the coming weeks, marking a significant moment in one of the longest running cold cases in Utah's history.
[01:57]
B
Thanks, John. For the latest crime and justice news, go to crimeonline.com and please join us for our daily podcast, Crime Stories. More crime and justice news after this.
[02:10]
C
When life feels loud, your home can feel lighter. For a limited time, get a free Pura plus diffuser with your first scent subscription. 2 cents for 12 months, risk free for 30 days. Feel good at home again? Visit pura.com.
[02:26]
B
Now with the latest crime and justice breaking news. Crime Online's John Laemmle.
[02:30]
A
In Rhode island, officials released new video and audio recordings from the day of the Brown University campus shooting that left two students dead and nine others wounded in December. The footage, heavily redacted to shield victims and their families from further trauma, includes about 20 minutes of body worn, camera video from responding officers and radio traffic between campus police and municipal authorities. The suspect in that attack, identified previously as Claudio Neves Valenti, a former graduate student at the university, is also believed to have fatally shot an MIT professor, Nuno Larreo, days after the campus attack. Valenti was later found dead in a storage facility in New Hampshire. Providence city officials say portions of the recordings were withheld to avoid showing more graphic content. But the material release sheds light on the chaotic police response, including moments when officers mistook a maintenance worker for a potential suspect. Providence Mayor Brett Smiley noted the difficult balance between transparency protecting those affected by the tragedy, which occurred during a final exam period on campus. Authorities continue to urge anyone with additional video or information from the day of the incident to come forward. Turning now to Georgia, jury selection has begun in the high profile trial of Colin Gray, the father of Colt Gray, the teenager accused of carrying out a deadly school shooting at Apalachee high school in September 2024. Gray faces 29 char charges, including second degree murder, involuntary manslaughter and multiple counts of cruelty to children. Prosecutors allege he knowingly provided his son access to the firearm used in the attack despite being aware of his mental health struggles and fascination with other school shootings. The shooting in Barrow county left two students and two teachers dead and injured nine others. Authorities say Colin Gray, then 14, meticulously planned the attack, bringing an assault style rifle into the school and opening fire. Gray remains in custody on a $500,000 bond and is expected to stand trial over several weeks. The case is part of a broader national trend of prosecutors holding adults accountable for enabling access to deadly weapons used in mass shootings. Finally, in Washington, D.C. newly released federal records are clarifying the government's investigation into the financier Jeffrey Epstein. According to internal Justice Department documents, the FBI found no credible evidence that Epstein maintained a client list or operated a sex trafficking ring involving powerful or prominent men. Investigators say reviews of financial records, seized materials and witness interviews did not support claims of an organized trafficking operation. The files reaffirm that Epstein committed serious federal sex crimes, but prosecutors concluded there was insufficient admissible evidence to charge other individuals. Allegations of third party involvement could not be independently corroborated. The documents also state investigators never recovered a secret client list during searches conducted before or after Epstein's 2019 death in federal custody.
[06:14]
B
Thanks, John. For the latest crime and justice news, go to crimeonline.com and please join us for our daily podcast, Crime Stories, where we do our best to find missing people, especially children, and solve unsolved homicides. With this crime alert, I'm Nancy Grace.