Summary4 min read

Crime Stories with Nancy Grace: “Spin Cycle: Wife Bashes Hubby w Bat, Tries to Wash Away Bloody Evidence”

Date: October 16, 2025
Host: Jennifer Gould for Nancy Grace (Crime Alert Hourly Update)

Episode Overview

This episode delivers a rapid-fire collection of shocking and unusual crime stories from across the U.S., highlighting the day's most disturbing reports: a brutal domestic homicide and botched cover-up, a murderous poisoning plot fueled by AI chatbot searches, and a bizarre catnapping involving a delivery driver. The tone is urgent, detailed, and direct, with commentary from community members and affected parties.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Florida Domestic Homicide & Evidence Destruction

[00:00–02:52]

Tragedy Unfolds:
In Fort Pierce, Florida, 60-year-old Bonnie Teitkin is accused of killing her husband, William Teitkin, 64, after a turbulent 40-year marriage.
- Death caused by multiple blunt force head injuries—allegedly administered with a wooden club or bat.
- Bonnie attempted to destroy evidence by putting blood-soaked clothes and towels in the washing machine.
Discovery & Police Investigation:
- Deputies arrived after the couple’s adult children requested a welfare check.
- Bonnie was found in the garage near the washing machine, apparently “mid-cycle” to cover up the crime.
- A trail of blood led from the garage through the house to William’s body.
- According to statements, Bonnie told her son over the phone:
  
  "Dad's dead."
  (No direct timestamp, but occurs around [01:23].)
Notable quotes & community reaction:
- Sue Roseman, a neighbor, expresses disbelief:
  
  “You really don't think something's gonna go that far. You know that as much as they drank and all their whole history, it finally came to that and it's, I just don't think that's gonna happen.”
  —[00:35]
Confessions & Motive:
- Bonnie reportedly confessed to her son that she struck William with a club, claiming she “snapped” after his alleged sexual assault earlier that day.
  
  “…she had, quote, unquote snapped and couldn't take it anymore, end quote.”
  —[01:54]
- The relationship had a history of domestic incidents.
Current Status:
- Bonnie Teitkin is jailed without bond as investigations continue.

2. NC School Therapist’s AI-Poisoning Plot

[03:52–06:50]

Plot Overview:
Cheryl Harris Gates, a North Carolina pediatric school therapist, is arrested for the calculated attempted poisoning and stalking of her estranged husband.
- Used ChatGPT to research “lethal and incapacitating prescription drug combinations.”
- Spiked his favorite energy drink, Celsius, with controlled substances on at least two occasions.
- Husband survived and collaborated with law enforcement by surrendering tainted drinks and digital evidence.
Evidence:
- Police found
  - Syringes
  - Medical droppers
  - Digital scales
  - A capsule filling kit
  - Prescription medications—all ordered online.
Timeline & Actions:
- Plot spanned July–September; two clear poisoning attempts [July 12, August 18].
- Additional charges for stalking (planted GPS tracker, broke a window at husband’s home).
- Gates’ staff profile removed from the school website upon arrest.
Community Response:
- Sharonda Taylor (parent):
  
  “Is it just the fact that he crossed her the wrong way? And what if a child crossed her the wrong way? Would she do something to that child?” —[04:20]
Current Status:
- Bail revoked after attempted murder charges; Gates held without bond.

3. Catnapped Cat in West Hollywood

[06:51–07:50]

Incident Summary:
- Six-year-old cat Floki was abducted from owner Emir Ukraine’s porch by a food delivery driver, as captured on surveillance video.
- The driver stuffed the cat in the trunk of his Prius and drove off.
Aftermath & Bizarre Twist:
- Two weeks later, the driver handed Floki in at the police station and asked for the $1,000 reward.
- Emir Ukraine refused:
  
  "Like, almost like, you know, one of those movies they kidnapped first and they asked the money later on. Like, it's just, it's unbelievable." —[07:26]
Law Enforcement Response:
- The West Hollywood Sheriff's Department began a criminal investigation.
- The driver now faces possible legal consequences rather than a reward.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Sue Roseman (neighbor):

“You really don't think something's gonna go that far. You know that as much as they drank and all their whole history, it finally came to that and it's, I just don't think that's gonna happen.” —[00:35]
Bone-chilling family confession (Bonnie Teitkin to son):

"Dad's dead." —[01:23]
Sharonda Taylor (parent) on therapist suspect:

“Is it just the fact that he crossed her the wrong way? And what if a child crossed her the wrong way? Would she do something to that child?” —[04:20]
Emir Ukraine (cat owner):

"Like, almost like, you know, one of those movies they kidnapped first and they asked the money later on. Like, it's just, it's unbelievable." —[07:26]

Timestamps for Highlights

[00:00–02:52] — Florida wife kills husband, evidence found in washing machine; confession to son
[03:52–06:50] — NC school therapist plots poisoning with ChatGPT research; community concern and evidence details
[06:51–07:50] — Catnapping in West Hollywood; kidnapper tries to claim reward

Tone and Language

The narration is urgent, factual, detailed, and at times emotionally charged, reflecting the gravity and shock of each crime story.
The episode is tightly structured for rapid consumption, without dramatic embellishments, letting the raw details and remarks speak for themselves.

This episode of “Crime Stories with Nancy Grace” presents three disturbing yet fascinating vignettes from recent headlines, sharply focused on the depth and darkness of everyday crime. For listeners seeking an immediate, unfiltered account of daily crime news, this episode delivers gripping storytelling interwoven with impactful community voices.

Loading summary

Transcript9 lines

[00:00]
A
Crime Alert Hourly update Breaking crime news now. I'm Jennifer Gould. A grotesque domestic tragedy unfolded in Fort Pierce, Florida, leaving a 64 year old man dead from blunt force trauma and his wife in custody after an alleged attempt to destroy the evidence in a washing machine. Bonnie Teitkin, 60, faces charges of second degree murder and tampering with evidence in the savage bludgeoning death of her husband, William Tekken. Neighbors say the couple, who'd been married for 40 years, had a rocky relationship. Sue Roseman spoke to the media.
[00:35]
B
You really don't think something's gonna go that far. You know that as much as they drank and all their whole history, it finally came to that and it's, I just don't think that's gonna happen.
[00:45]
A
St. Lucie County Sheriff's deputy swarmed a couple's Birch drive home around 10:30pm After a welfare check was called in by the couple's shocked adult children. Upon arrival, the scene was damning. Deputies found Bonnie in the garage standing near a washing machine. A blood soaked blanket lay on the concrete floor and inside the appliance were blood drenched clothing and towels. Teetkins was reportedly in the process of pressing the start cycle on the machine, attempting a clumsy cover up of the brutal crime. A trail of blood droplets led from the garage through the living room to a bedroom and where deputies discovered William Teatkins lying face down on the floor. He had suffered multiple severe head wounds consistent with being beaten with a billy club or a bat, a weapon she later admitted using. The severity of the trauma confirmed he was beyond saving. The horror first came to light though, earlier that evening after trying to reach out to her adult son by phone, Teetkins returned his call around 9pm delivering a bone chilling confession. She allegedly told him, quote, dad's dead, end quote, and admitted to striking him with the wooden club. The traumatized children rushed to the scene and contacted authorities in custody. Teatkins appeared intoxicated and offered vague statements claiming she had, quote, unquote snapped and couldn't take it anymore, end quote. She also provided accusations that her husband had sexually assaulted her earlier in the day. Officials say the relationship has been marred by past domestic incidents. Teatkins is currently being held in the St. Lucie County Jail without bond as the investigation continues. For the latest crime and justice news, follow crime Stories with Nancy Grace on your favorite podcast app and you can also watch crime stories on Fox 1 and YouTube. More crime and justice news after this.
[02:52]
C
It starts like any other night. The glass of red, the cozy blanket, then the drop, the stain. So dark. So stubborn it might as well have been a crime scene. But this isn't your average couch. This is Anna Bay. Fully washable, unspeakably comfortable and ready for whatever your life, your kids or your ex throws at it. And here's the kicker. Starting at just 699, you can make sure your sofa isn't part of the problem. Fully washable, stain resistant and built to hide even the darkest defenses. Right now, get up to 60% off because no one should have to live with a stain that won't quit. Annabe the only mystery you won't be losing sleep over shop washablesofas.com today that's washablesofas.com.
[03:53]
A
A North Carolina school therapist's sinister scheme to poison her estranged husband with his favorite energy drink guided by chilling chatgpt searches for lethal toxins has landed her behind bars, facing attempted murder charges. Parents whose kids attend Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools are stunned and concerned. Sharonda Taylor spoke to WSOC TV News.
[04:21]
D
Is it just the fact that he crossed her the wrong way? And what if a child crossed her the wrong way? Would she do something to that child?
[04:27]
A
Cheryl Harris Gates, 43, was cuffed by Charlotte Mecklenburg Police on multiple felony counts, attempted first degree murder, contaminating food or drink with intent to harm, stalking and misdemeanor property damage. Court docs reveal a calculated months long plot inside the couple's home, where Gates allegedly turned to the artificial intelligence chatbot to mastermind a deadly cocktail against her spouse. From July to September, Gates used the AI chatbot to research for, quote, lethal and incapacitating prescription drug combinations, end quote, that could be slipped into drinks or injected, the arrest affidavit states. Her queries zeroed in on poisons like oleander, ricin and foxglove plants notorious for stopping hearts. Investigators then found her workspace stocked with damning physical evidence, syringes, medical droppers, digital scales, a capsule filling kit and prescription medications, all allegedly purchased online to execute her plan. Her husband, who was living separately at the time, suffered two terrifying episodes of incapacitation on July 12 and August 18 after sipping his Celsius energy drink, which later tested positive for a foreign controlled substance, per the affidavit. He survived without hospitalization and aided police by turning over the tainted drinks and and digital receipts linking Gates to the lethal purchases. The poisoning charges followed Gates's arrest for stalking after she allegedly planted a GPS tracker on her husband's car and smashed a window at his home. Gates, a pediatric occupational therapist for Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools, saw her staff profile yanked from the District's website post arrest. She was initially released on bond after the first arrest, but was denied it after the attempted murder charges. Gates remains in Mecklenburg County Jail, held without bond as police scour her devices for further plots. And finally, a West Hollywood, California drama just went full takeout terror. Six year old Floki the feline was allegedly catnapped by a rogue food delivery driver right off his porch. Surveillance video caught the perpetrator engaging with the beloved pet, then stuffing him in the trunk of his Prius and just speeding away. Owner Emir Ukraine was distraught, offering a high stakes $1,000 reward for the safe return of his meow missing baby. The shocking twist. Two weeks later, the driver returned Floki to the station, a police station then audaciously tried to collect that hefty reward. Amir spoke to Fox 11 News.
[07:26]
E
Like, almost like, you know, one of those movies they kidnapped first and they asked the money later on. Like, it's just, it's unbelievable.
[07:34]
A
Emir refused to pay the alleged ransom. Now the West Hollywood Sheriff's Department is serving up a feline felony investigation. This was one delivery that definitely wasn't perfectly executed. And now the driver is facing a massive tip of jail time instead of a payout. For the latest crime and justice news, follow the Crime alert hourly update on your favorite podcast app. With this crime alert, I'm Jennifer Gould. This is an iHeart podcast.