Crime Stories with Nancy Grace

Episode Title: TERROR IN THE HEARTLAND: BOY, 5, HURLED OFF MALL OF AMERICA BALCONY, PREDATOR STALKED MALL
Original Air Date: November 26, 2025
Podcast: Crime Stories with Nancy Grace (iHeartPodcasts and CrimeOnline)

Episode Overview

This episode recounts the harrowing true crime of five-year-old Landon Hoffman, who was thrown from a third-floor balcony at the Mall of America by a stranger. Host Nancy Grace conducts an in-depth interview with Landon's mother, Carrie Hoffman, who details the traumatic day, her son's miraculous survival, the medical journey, and the enduring psychological and spiritual impact on their family. The episode also features expert analysis from a forensic pathologist, a look at trauma medicine, and firsthand reflections on resilience and faith.

Main Discussion Points & Insights

The Day of the Incident

• A joyous outing turns tragic: Carrie Hoffman and her son Landon, celebrating his finished preschool, visit the Mall of America for the Crayola Experience. The mall, with its kid-friendly attractions, is a familiar, seemingly safe spot for the family. (04:44)
• Unexpected warning: Carrie describes having an ominous feeling as they arrive. “I just had an overwhelming sense that I could be in danger, something weird could happen today... So I just prayed and I asked God to go before us to keep us safe everywhere we go.” (10:05–10:40)
• The encounter: A man approaches while Landon and another boy play, whispers to the boys, and after a tense moment, suddenly grabs Landon and throws him from a 3rd-floor balcony. Carrie’s confusion turns to immediate horror and action as she races to her child. (09:19–12:51)

The Attack and Immediate Aftermath

• The perpetrator: The man was known for previous disturbances at the mall (throwing objects, causing public issues) but was able to re-enter due to lax enforcement of bans. Carrie avoids speaking about the attacker, choosing not to allow more negativity into her life. (16:11–16:39)
• Landon’s injuries described:
  • Multiple fractures: skull, facial bones, both arms, a leg, and a devastating injury to his vena cava, a major vein to the heart. (17:02–17:18)
  • Two cardiac nurses on-site respond instantly, administering CPR and helping revive Landon. (14:03–15:07)
• A mother’s plea: Carrie, in panic and prayer, yells for people to help and pray. “As soon as he did it, I screamed, ‘No, devil, take your hands off him. Somebody just threw my baby!’” (12:51–14:03)

Medical & Forensic Insights

• Expert analysis (Dr. Thomas Coyne, forensic pathologist):
  • Explains the severity of Landon's injuries, notably how a vena cava injury is rare except in high-impact trauma. (18:27–21:23)
  • Discusses the unique resilience of children (“more plastic” and pliable bodies), which can aid survival and recovery from such trauma. (27:32–29:09)
  • Explains secondary brain injury: the swelling after impact is often most life-threatening because the brain has nowhere to expand, increasing dangerous pressure. (29:09–32:51)
  • On the power of presence during resuscitation: Even after clinical death, the brain may still receive sound, hinting Landon could possibly hear his mother praying over him. (34:01–36:45)

The Ongoing Fight for Survival

• At the hospital:
  • Multiple doctors, surgeons, and specialists are in place to treat Landon upon arrival. Carrie is allowed in the room and prays out loud throughout the chaotic lifesaving procedures. (37:44–39:15)
  • Landon undergoes over a dozen surgeries over a four-month hospital stay. At one point, a secondary break in his leg (during recovery) helps doctors discover his vena cava was dangerously damaged—had he walked, he might have died. (39:40–43:56)

Landon’s Recovery and Long-Term Effects

• Six years of hardship and growth: Landon's lengthy recovery involves surgeries, rehabilitation, and emotional changes, particularly due to frontal lobe brain injury. (46:13–48:30)
• Personality changes: Carrie observes Landon switching between kindness and anger; the family must patiently help him relearn behavior and self-control. After years, Landon returns to his loving personality. (47:04–48:30)
• The Hoffman family’s faith: Carrie attributes her steadiness and Landon’s miraculous survival to her faith and constant prayer: “I was held at perfect peace the entire time... He kept me in that perfect peace. And I felt Landon was going to be okay and he was never going to die, in my opinion.” (52:09–53:01)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On mother’s intuition:
  “I just had an overwhelming... sense that I could be in danger, something weird could happen today... So I just prayed and I asked God to go before us to keep us safe everywhere we go.”
  —Carrie Hoffman (10:13)

• On witnessing the attack:
  “Will was right next to the man and he went around Will and grabbed Landon, took him under the armpits and threw him over the balcony. And it all happened so fast... As soon as he did it, I screamed, ‘No, devil, take your hands off him. Somebody just threw my baby!’”
  —Carrie Hoffman (12:51–13:23)

• On miracles and survival:
  “It was a miracle that those two nurses were there to initiate CPR... making sure that his heart, although it stopped temporarily, was restarted. And life can go on.”
  —Dr. Thomas Coyne (35:31)

• On Landon’s faith and resilience:
  “He knows that he is the boy that God used to show the world a miracle. And he is proud of it... He’s just walking around showing everybody what a miracle he is.”
  —Carrie Hoffman (50:05)

• Landon’s own words:
  “My name is Landon. I’m nine years old. I’m the guy they got thrown off the third story at the Mall of America... It was a miracle that I’m alive. God healed all the parts of my body. I’m perfect.”
  —Landon Hoffman (49:20–49:38, 51:22–51:39)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [03:24–07:17] Introduction, recounting the mall outing, and setting the joyous context
• [09:19–12:51] The attacker approaches; Landon is suddenly thrown
• [13:28–14:03] Carrie’s response: panicked prayer, first responder action
• [16:11–16:39] Discussion of the perpetrator’s history and ban loopholes in mall security
• [17:02–21:23] Forensic pathology breakdown of Landon’s injuries
• [27:32–32:51] Medical discussion on children's unique resilience and brain trauma
• [34:01–36:45] “Near death” experiences; Power of hearing prayers during clinical death
• [37:44–39:15] Hospital trauma bay “lifesaving room” scene; Carrie’s persistent prayers
• [43:56–46:13] Discovery of vena cava injury via a second leg break; the role of medical “coincidences”
• [46:13–48:30] Challenging emotional and behavioral recovery; long-term personality effects
• [49:20–50:52] Landon’s personal testimony, singing, and faith
• [52:09–53:01] Carrie’s description of spiritual peace despite trauma

Reflections & Emotional Tone

The episode is a powerful blend of shock, heartbreak, awe, and hope. Nancy Grace’s empathetic but direct style draws out every nuance of horror from the crime and compassion from Carrie’s witness. The recurring theme is resilience—of the child, the mother, and the community. Faith is central to Carrie and Landon’s story, credited with both survival and the ability to regain joy and purpose.
Dr. Coyne’s expert input provides clarity amidst emotional intensity, making the trauma and treatment medically accessible for listeners.

Closing Thoughts

This is not just a story of crime and trauma, but of miraculous survival and the enduring strength of faith and family. Landon’s journey, as told by his mother and in his own words, underscores the unpredictable nature of life—and the extraordinary endurance of the human spirit even in the face of random acts of evil.