Suspect Arrested in North Carolina Broad-Daylight Stabbing of Pregnant Mom | Crime Alert 04.02.2026

Summary

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Crime Stories with Nancy Grace

Episode Summary: Suspect Arrested in North Carolina Broad-Daylight Stabbing of Pregnant Mom | Crime Alert 04.02.2026

Date: April 2, 2026
Host: Nancy Grace (with Sydney Sumner reporting)
Podcast: iHeartPodcasts and CrimeOnline

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Overview

This episode centers around two major breaking crime stories:

1. The arrest of Marvina Butler Hardy, accused of a broad-daylight stabbing attack on a pregnant mother in Charlotte, North Carolina.
2. The controversial aftermath of the shooting death of Chicago college student Sheridan Gorman, with a focus on political and community reactions.

The episode delivers a fast-paced, detailed oral "crime alert," highlighting shocking details, victim testimony, and the wider societal questions stemming from both cases.

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Key Segment 1: North Carolina Pregnant Mother Stabbing

[00:10-02:55]

Incident Details

• Suspect Arrested: Marvina Butler Hardy, a repeat offender, was arrested in Florida for allegedly stabbing a pregnant mother outside a Harris Teeter grocery store in Charlotte on March 18, 2026.
• Attack Details:
  • The victim, 38 years old and pregnant, was getting her toddler out of the car when Butler Hardy got out of her vehicle, cursed, and attacked her with a steak knife.
  • The attack was random; the two had no prior connection.
  • The victim suffered a stab wound to her sternum but is expected to make a full recovery alongside her unborn child.

Notable Quote – Victim:

“I was facing my toddler getting him out of his seat and thankfully turned around and she was coming at me with a steak knife. I pushed and kicked and screamed and thankfully I think that scared her off.”
— Victim statement to WSOCTV, relayed by Sydney Sumner [01:18]

Bystander Response and Police Actions

• A bystander called 911 after witnessing the attack.
  • Quote—911 Dispatcher:

  “We need medic Ponto. We’re at the Sharon Amity here. Cedar. It's almost just stabbed by someone... She’s 38 and... she’s pregnant.” [00:33]

• CMPD circulated surveillance footage and issued a BOLO for Butler Hardy’s vehicle.
  • Quote—Podcast Host:

  “One of the windows is taped up and it’s also missing a hubcap.” [01:48]

Arrest and Suspect Background

• Butler Hardy was stopped in Florida driving a car matching the description; she presented an ID instead of a license, explaining hers was suspended.
• Charged with assault with a deadly weapon and battery on an unborn child; awaiting extradition.
• Hardy’s criminal history includes nine prior convictions (six felonies, three misdemeanors for theft, firearm possession, and misconduct in custody).
• Victim Reaction (via WSOCTV):
  “Shocked Butler Hardy is free to roam the streets but grateful she is behind bars once again.” [02:42]

Host Commentary:

“Well, I’m hoping this charge is enough to keep her behind bars, that’s for sure. The amount of mugshots you see of this woman, you wouldn’t think that she would be on the streets.”
— Podcast Host, [02:55]

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Key Segment 2: Chicago College Student Fatal Shooting & Immigration Debate

[03:06-06:48]

Incident Details

• Victim: Sheridan Gorman, Loyola University Chicago freshman.
• Suspect: Jose Medina Medina, Venezuelan national.
• Event:
  • On March 19, Gorman, with friends, was on Lake Michigan’s shore to view the northern lights. Medina (masked) emerged and, unprovoked, shot Gorman. The group fled; Medina escaped.

Host Summary:

“Ms. Sheridan Gorman was kind of just the first in the group and the person they ran into shot her. So one shot and killed her. Just tragic.”
— Podcast Host, [04:11]

Political and Community Response

• Controversy:
  • Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson faced criticism after, on the same day as Gorman’s funeral, calling for an end to “assaults against immigrants.”
    • Quote—Mayor Johnson at Rally:

    “We have to end the assaults against immigrants. We have to get active. We have to make sure that we’re participating in our democratic process. We have signed multiple executive orders to force ICE out of the city of Chicago.”
    — Mayor Johnson, [03:32]

• Alderman Maria Hadden implied students shouldn’t have been out so late, generating further controversy.
  • Quote—Alderman Hadden:

  “A lot of young people come out here after dark... Seems they stumbled onto someone.”
  — Sydney Sumner paraphrasing, [04:34]

Suspect Background

• Medina immigrated in 2023, detained at the border, then bused to Chicago via “sanctuary city” policies (with conflicting statements from Texas authorities).
• Suffered brain damage, developmental delays, and a limp after being shot in Venezuela.
• Was previously arrested for shoplifting in Chicago, released on bail, and never returned to court (active warrant at the time of the shooting).
• Arrested after being tracked via surveillance and hospitalized for TB contracted in a migrant shelter.

Mayor Johnson’s Statement

• When asked to apologize to the Gorman family, the mayor reiterated his focus on immigrant rights rather than direct accountability.
  • Quote—Mayor Johnson:

  “Here’s what I’ll do. Again, I will again acknowledge the tragedy of the loss of life here. Burying a child is something that no parent should have to do... We do have to ensure that the immigrant community is not being assaulted, violating people’s constitutional rights. That doesn't make us safer.”
  — Mayor Brandon Johnson, [06:08]

Gorman Family Statement

• The family condemned the political blame-shifting:
  • Quote—Gorman Family:

  “We are not interested in political arguments or in watching responsibility shift from one place to another… Our daughter is not a policy debate. She is a life that was taken and and that demands accountability.”
  — Gorman Family Statement, [06:48]

Legal Update

• Medina remains hospitalized; court date set for April 15, attendance uncertain.

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Memorable Moments & Notable Quotes

• “I pushed and kicked and screamed and thankfully I think that scared her off.” — Pregnant victim, [01:18]
• “Well, I’m hoping this charge is enough to keep her behind bars, that’s for sure.” — Podcast Host, [02:55]
• “We have to end the assaults against immigrants.” — Mayor Brandon Johnson, [03:32]
• “Our daughter is not a policy debate. She is a life that was taken and and that demands accountability.” — Gorman Family, [06:48]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:10 — Reporting of North Carolina stabbing and arrest
• 01:05 — Victim’s account of the attack
• 01:52 — Suspect’s arrest details in Florida
• 02:55 — Host’s reflection on the suspect’s record and release
• 03:06 — Chicago shooting case introduced
• 03:32 — Mayor Johnson’s immigrant statement
• 04:11 — Details of the fatal shooting
• 06:08 — Mayor Johnson’s response to calls for an apology
• 06:48 — Gorman family’s statement

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Conclusion

This episode delivers urgent updates on two disturbing crimes while grappling with larger societal questions of justice, recidivism, immigration, and political responsibility. Through a combination of rapid reporting, firsthand accounts, and heated community debate, Nancy Grace’s team highlights the real-world impacts of violent crime on families and public policy.

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Transcript

[Podcast Host]

This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human crime alert Hourly update Breaking crime news now.

[Sydney Sumner]

I'm Sydney Sumner, a North Carolina repeat offender arrested in Florida for allegedly stabbing a pregnant mom with a steak knife in what police are calling a random attack. The Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department announced the arrest of Marvina Butler Hardy, accused of stabbing a pregnant woman in the parking lot of the Harris Teeter grocery store in Cotswold on March 18th.

[911 Dispatcher]

We need medic Ponto. We're at the Sharon Amity here. Cedar. It's almost just stabbed by someone. They got out of their car and stabbed them. She's 38 and you're pregnant and she's pregnant.

[Sydney Sumner]

A bystander called 911 after witnessing the attack with officers responding to a stabbing report. The pregnant woman sustained non life threatening injuries and is expected to make a full recovery. According to law enforcement, Butler Hardy had no connection to the victim this time.

[Podcast Host]

It appears that the victim and the suspect did not know each other and had prior interaction.

[Sydney Sumner]

Officers allege Butler approached the female victim outside the grocery store at approximately 11:30am The 38 year old mother says she was getting her toddler out of their car seat when Butler Hardy, who pulled out of the space behind her, stopped her car, got out, cursed and attacked her with a knife. Quote, I was facing my toddler getting him out of his seat and thankfully turned around and she was coming at me with a steak knife. I pushed and kicked and screamed and thankfully I think that scared her off. The victim suffered a stab wound to her sternum, but she and her unborn child are okay. Following the seemingly random attack, CMPD released surveillance video of the suspect later identified as Butler and a be on the lookout for her vehicle.

[Podcast Host]

One of the windows is taped up and it's also missing a hubcap.

[Sydney Sumner]

On Monday, a Florida State Highway Patrol trooper spotted a silver Hyundai matching CMPD's description traveling south on I95. The trooper pulled Butler Hardy over and she gave him an ID card instead of a license. When asked why she reportedly said her license was suspended, the trooper checked with another who confirmed Butler Hardy was the suspect in the Cotswold stabbing. She was promptly arrested on charges of assault with a deadly weapon and battery on an unborn child. She's now behind bars at the Flagler County Jail awaiting extradition to Mecklenburg County. Records show Butler Hardy has a lengthy rap sheet of nine prior convictions, six felonies and three misdemeanors tied to theft related offenses, along with more recent convictions for firearm possession and misconduct in custody. Butler Hardy last regained freedom in April of last year and completed probation requirements earlier this year. The victim telling WSOCTV she is shocked Butler Hardy is free to roam the streets but grateful she is behind bars once again.

[Podcast Host]

Well, I'm hoping this charge is enough to keep her behind bars, that's for sure. The amount of mugshots you see of this woman, you wouldn't think that she would be on the streets.

[Sydney Sumner]

But more crime and justice news after this. In Chicago, Mayor Brandon Johnson under fire for his comments that the city must stop assaults on immigrants. The same day college freshman Sheridan Gorman was buried, shot dead by Venezuelan national Jose Medina Medina on March 19. Johnson made his initial comment Saturday afternoon at a Windy City no Kings rally to Ms. Now we have to end

[911 Dispatcher]

the assaults against immigrants. We have to get active. We have to make sure that we're participating in our democratic process. We've already seen elections shift around this country, so things are happening. We have signed multiple executive orders to force ICE out of the city of Chicago.

[Sydney Sumner]

The statement drew heavy criticism coming on the same day New York parents Thomas and Jessica Gorman buried their youngest daughter. Sheridan, a freshman freshman at Loyola University was just a four minute walk from campus with friends hoping to catch a glimpse of the northern lights over Lake Michigan when Medina appeared from behind a lighthouse, his face hidden behind a ski mask, and opened fire on the college students.

[Podcast Host]

Ms. Sheridan Gorman was kind of just the first in the group and the person they ran into shot her. So one shot and killed her. Just tragic. The other students ran, the shooter fled.

[Sydney Sumner]

Alderwoman Maria Hadden, also facing scrutiny over her implication. The group should not have been out at such a late hour.

[Podcast Host]

A lot of young people come out here after dark. Weather's milder. We see that more as the spring and summer comes along. You know, they were kind of down at the end of the pier. Seems they stumbled onto someone.

[Sydney Sumner]

Medina, currently hospitalized, receiving treatment for tuberculosis he was exposed to in a migrant shelter when he arrived in the US in 2023. According to his attorney, Medina spent several months in Texas under border patrol detention before he was bused to Chicago as a result of their sanctuary city policies. Though the Texas governor's office claims to have no record of busing Medina anywhere. Medina's attorney claims he grew up in Venezuela and was forced to flee to Colombia with his mother when the government threatened to seize their home in 2018. The attorney says Medina was shot in the head during a robbery and sustained severe damage to his frontal lobe, resulting in developmental delays including including an inability to read or write, a prominent limp Also, an alleged result of the 2018 robbery helped police track Medina on surveillance footage from the site of the shooting all the way to his home, where he was arrested just under 48 hours after killing Sheridan. Prior to the shooting, Medina had only been on law enforcement's radar once since his release in Chicago for shoplifting from a Macy's. Medina released on bail for the misdemeanor offense. However, he never returned to court, and there was an active warrant for his arrest at the time of the shooting. In a Tuesday press conference, when asked if Johnson would like to apologize to the Gorman family, the mayor only doubled down on his original statement. Would you like to take this opportunity

[Mayor Brandon Johnson]

to apologize to the parents of Sheridan Gorman? Here's what I'll do. Again, I will again acknowledge the tragedy of the loss of life here. Burying a child is something that no parent should have to do. The tragedy that occurred is one that, quite frankly, it challenges us to do better, to ensure that we are protecting people. And you know, as far as the call for no kings, what I said, and I still stand by this, we do have to ensure that the immigrant community is not being assaulted, violating people's constitutional rights. That doesn't make us safer.

[Sydney Sumner]

The Gorman family releasing a statement condemning Johnson's stance in what they characterize as a blame game. We are not interested in political arguments or in watching responsibility shift from one place to another. If there were failures, as the governor himself has acknowledged, then every one of them must be identified, examined and addressed directly. The location of those failures matters less than the willingness to confront them honestly. Our daughter is not a policy debate. She is a life that was taken and and that demands accountability. Medina is next expected in court on April 15, though it's unclear if he will be well enough to attend in person. 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.

[Podcast Host]

This is an I heart podcast. Guaranteed human.