Summary4 min read

Crime Stories with Nancy Grace

Episode: "Queens Infant Found Deceased, Covered in Blood From Mommy's Slit Wrists | Crime Alert 6AM 01.09.26"
Date: January 9, 2026
Host: Sydney Sumner (Crime Alert), iHeartPodcasts and CrimeOnline
Theme: The episode delivers urgent updates on shocking crime cases, focusing on a tragic incident involving the death of a 15-month-old in Queens, NY, along with additional national crime news.

Episode Overview

The episode centers on the harrowing case of a Queens mother who is indicted on murder charges after her toddler is found dead, her own wrists slit in what appears to be a murder-suicide attempt. The episode also provides brief updates on other criminal cases, maintaining a fast-paced, fact-driven tone consistent with breaking news reporting.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Queens Toddler Murder Case (00:34–02:42)

Incident Details
- Suspect: Nicole Budai, 28, mother of the victim.
- Victim: Charlie Rimreicha, 15 months old.
- Timeline:
  - December 29, 2025: Nicole and Charlie are at home with other relatives.
  - Child’s father departs for work at 8:00 AM.
  - At 1:35 PM, Nicole calls the father, tells him "she had killed Charlie and intended to kill herself."
- Discovery:
  - The child's grandmother enters after being contacted by the father, finds Nicole and Charlie in the locked bathroom.
  - Nicole is in the bathtub, wrists slit, blood in the room, holding unresponsive Charlie.
  - Relatives call 911; officers and paramedics attempt to save Charlie, who is pronounced dead at the hospital.
  - Nicole is hospitalized for wrist lacerations and psychiatric evaluation.
Legal Proceedings
- Nicole Budai is arraigned and denied bond.
- Faces homicide charges (“murder in the second degree for intentionally causing the death of her 15-month-old son”).
- Next court date: February 19.
- Potential sentence: 25 years to life.
Reaction from Officials
- Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz:
  
  "This is an extraordinary tragedy. The investigation into the manner of the child's death is ongoing and we extend our sincere condolences to Charlie's family as they mourn this unimaginable loss."
  (00:56)
Memorable Details
- The sense of family shock and horror; the grandmother discovering the scene.
- The immediate, responsive actions of the father and relatives.

2. Brief National Crime Updates (03:13–07:11)

a) Missing Oklahoma Boy (03:13–04:07)

Case Summary:
- 12-year-old R.J. Davis Jr. is missing since Friday.
- Mother (Kimberly Cole Ryan) and stepfather (George Cole) are arrested on separate charges.
- Charges not yet clearly linked to RJ's disappearance.
- Last seen near Quality Inn, Chickasha, Oklahoma, around 11:30 PM, in a distinctive outfit.
Law Enforcement Statement:
- OSBI’s Hunter McKee calls the disappearance “suspicious” and notes concern as days pass with no clues.
- Authorities still believe RJ is alive.

b) Illinois Domestic Assault Case (04:07–07:11)

Case Summary:
- Suspect: Thomas Andrew Welch, 31.
- Victim: Unnamed girlfriend.
- Incident: Victim, covered in blood, approached a stranger’s home after jumping from Welch’s vehicle.
- Crimes Charged: Attempted murder, aggravated domestic battery, aggravated kidnapping (with some modifications), and aggravated unlawful restraint for accomplice Cody Kimmery.
- Violent Details:
  - Victim was repeatedly prevented from leaving the vehicle.
  - Suffered head wounds (cut exposing skull), choking injuries, facial bruising.
  - Welch was overheard on dashcam audio:
    
    “I’m going to have to kill her, bro.” (~05:45)
- Investigation: Dashcam captures key evidence; physical evidence at the scene.
- Accomplice: Kimmery also detained (already jailed for unrelated offenses).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

DA Melinda Katz, on the Queens case:

"This is an extraordinary tragedy. The investigation into the manner of the child's death is ongoing and we extend our sincere condolences to Charlie's family as they mourn this unimaginable loss." (00:56)
Law enforcement (Oklahoma missing boy):

“When it gets to a point where it’s multiple days and we’re not sure where this boy had gone, it’s suspicious.” (03:58, paraphrased from OSBI’s Hunter McKee)
Illinois Kidnapping Audio (from dashcam):

"I’m going to have to kill her, bro." (05:45, Thomas Andrew Welch)

Timestamps of Key Segments

00:34–02:42 – Queens toddler murder: case details, DA statement, legal updates.
03:13–04:07 – Oklahoma missing boy: timeline, familial arrests, law enforcement plea.
04:07–07:11 – Illinois attack/kidnapping: sequence, injuries, suspect details, dashcam audio, police action.

Summary

This episode delivers a concise but impactful briefing on high-profile crime cases: a suspected murder-suicide attempt in Queens taking the life of a toddler, the disappearance of a boy in Oklahoma tied to suspicious parental arrests, and a harrowing kidnapping/assault in Illinois. The show balances urgent reporting with empathetic touches, emphasizing the ongoing investigations and the emotional toll on victims and families, with a focus on justice and public vigilance.

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Transcript9 lines

[00:00]
A
This is an iHeart podcast.
[00:02]
B
Guaranteed Human the NFL playoffs are here and it all starts with Wild Card Weekend powered by Verizon. Man, it all comes down to this. 12 teams, six games, three days and one epic weekend. My goodness, it's win or go home and every moment counts on the road to Super Bowl 60. It's a touchdown wild card weekend powered by Verizon. January 10th through 12th. Visit watch.NFL.com for the full schedule.
[00:35]
C
Crime Alert Hourly Update Breaking crime News now A mom found with her wrists slit alongside her unresponsive infant covered in mom's blood now mom charged with murder Nicole Budai arrested in connection with the murder of her 15 month old baby boy Charlie Remreka hi, I'm Sydney Sumner.
[00:56]
A
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced that Nicole Budai has been indicted on murder in the second degree for intentionally causing the death of her 15 month old son, Charlie Rimreicha. Katz said, this is an extraordinary tragedy. The investigation into the manner of the child's death is ongoing and we extend our sincere condolences to Charlie's family as they mourn this unimaginable loss. According to the indictment, on Monday, December 29, 2025, Nicole Budai, 28, and her toddler son were inside the 2 residence on 157th street where the 15 month old child resided with his father and extended family. The child's father left for work at 8am while Budi and Charlie slept. Other relatives were present inside the house. At approximately 1:35pm Budai called the child's father and told him she had killed Charlie and intended to kill herself. He immediately called his mother and asked for her to check on Budai and the child. The victim's grandmother gained entry to the second floor and discovered a locked bathroom door. With the assistance of another relative, they opened the bathroom door and saw Budai laying in the bathtub with blood around her and the toddler victim in her arms, unconscious and unresponsive. The relatives called 911 and the responding officers from the 103rd Precinct removed Charlie from the bathroom and attempted to resuscitate him. The young victim was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. Budi was also taken to a local hospital for treatment of lacerations to her wrists and for psychiatric observation. Budai was arraigned Wednesday. Judge Michael Aloys denying Budai bond. Budai's next appearance in court is scheduled for February 19. If convicted, she faces up to 25 years to life in prison. More crime and justice news after this.
[02:43]
B
The NFL playoffs are here and it all starts with Wild Card Weekend powered by Verizon man, it all comes down to this. 12 teams, six games, three days and one epic weekend. My goodness, it's win or go home and every moment counts on the road to Super Bowl 60. It's a touchdown wild card weekend powered by Verizon January 10th 12th. Visit watch.NFL.com for the full schedule.
[03:13]
A
The mother and stepfather of a 12 year old Oklahoma boy missing since Friday have been arrested. Kimberly Cole Ryan, R.J. davis Jr's mother, has been charged with crimes against nature while George Cole, the stepfather, is charged with conspiracy. It's not known if the charges relate to RJ's disappearance and no further details were available. Chakasha police said RJ was last seen just before 11:30pm Friday near the Quality Inn. He was on foot and wearing a red and black plaid shirt, dark jeans and brown steel toed boots. He is described as 4ft 11 inches tall and 85 pounds with brown hair and eyes. The parents pleaded for information about RJ earlier on Wednesday, while OSBI Public Information officer Hunter McKee called the disappearance suspicious. When it gets to a point where it's multiple days and we're not sure where this boy had gone, it's suspicious. Authorities say they believe RJ is alive. Anyone with information should contact OSBI at 1-800-522-8017 or Chickasha Police at 405-222-6050. An Illinois man has been charged with multiple counts relating to an alleged assault on his girlfriend last month. Thomas Andrew Welch, 31, was initially charged with aggravated domestic battery, aggravated unlawful restraint and aggravated kidnapping for the early morning incident last Thursday, but the state's Attorney's office dropped the unlawful restraint charge and added attempted murder. The sheriff's office said it was called just before 1am by a homeowner who said a woman had approached him at his home in Kirksville covered in blood. While en route to the scene, the deputy learned that the woman had jumped out of a moving vehicle. The woman, who had a visible cut on her forehead, told the deputy she had been in the vehicle with Welch, her boyfriend and his friend, 33 year old Cody Kimmery, but eventually felt unsafe after multiple attempts to get him to let her out of the vehicle. She said she eventually jumped out while the truck was traveling about 20 miles an hour. The woman was taken to the hospital for treatment and deputies tracked down Welch's Chevrolet truck, impounded it and obtained a search warrant. The search warrant uncovered a dash camera in the truck, and audio and video from the camera showed the victim's attempt to get out while the truck was stopped while only to be pulled back inside. An affidavit says that the incident began just before midnight on December 30. The victim, sitting in the passenger seat, got into a verbal altercation with Welch and repeatedly asked him to take her home. The altercation escalated with Welch yelling at the victim and making threats to harm and kill her. At one point, the victim tried to get out of the truck, only to have Welch drag her back inside from his seat and then walk around to the passenger side and shove her back in. That was the incident in which she received the injury to her head. Kimmery allegedly participated in the efforts to keep her inside. At one point, Welch told Kimry, I'm going to have to kill her, bro. Police located the victim's pink scarf at the intersection where that incident took place, and it contained suspected blood and a clump of hair. Welch continued driving and was about an hour and a half away from the victim's home when she jumped out of the moving truck. At the hospital, she was given staples and stitches for the cut to her head. Doctors said the cut exposed her skull. She also had bruising to her neck consistent with being choked, and swelling on her cheek. Welch was arrested on Sunday and ordered held without bond. A preliminary hearing is set for today. Kimry was charged with unlawful restraint. He was already in jail, having been arrested in Coles county on Saturday for aggravated battery to a peace officer and possession of methamphetamine. His first court appearance in Moultrie county has not yet been scheduled. Welch has a steady stream of arrests dating back to 2008, including six stints in jail on charges including drugs, burglary, resisting domestic battery and aggravated battery. For the latest crime and justice breaking news, be sure to follow the Crime Alert hourly update on your favorite podcast app. With this Crime Alert, I'm Sydney Sumner.
[07:11]
B
The NFL playoffs are here and it all starts with Wild Card Weekend powered by Verizon. Man, it all comes down to this. 12 teams, six games, three days and one epic weekend. My goodness, it's win or go home and every moment counts. On the road to Super Bowl 60. It's a touchdown wild card weekend powered by Verizon. 1-10-12 visit watch.NFL.com for the full schedule.
[07:41]
A
This is an iHeart podcast.
[07:44]
B
Guaranteed Human.