Kids on the Case

Summary

Criminal Podcast Episode Summary: "Kids on the Case"

Released on August 8, 2025 by Vox Media Podcast Network

Introduction

In the "Kids on the Case" episode of Criminal, host Phoebe Judge explores remarkable instances where children have played pivotal roles in solving crimes. Highlighting the innate curiosity and determination of young minds, the episode delves into inspiring stories of young detectives who went above and beyond to bring justice to their communities.

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1. Jessica Maple: Junior District Attorney Extraordinaire

Timestamp: 01:03 – 15:04

Jessica Maple, a 12-year-old attendee of the Junior District Attorney (DA) Camp in Atlanta, Georgia, exemplifies the profound impact specialized youth programs can have on nurturing investigative skills. Initially reluctant to attend the DA camp—preferring policy debate instead—Jessica's perspective shifted dramatically after her first day at camp.

• Camp Experience: Under the leadership of District Attorney Paul Howard, the camp immersed students in the workings of the criminal justice system, including observing trials and visiting police stations. Campers donned uniforms and adhered to the Junior DA creed, fostering a sense of professionalism and responsibility.

  "We had this giant, oversized blazer with a police badge. We wore khaki pants and polos, so we were all matching."
  — Jessica Maple ([02:15])

• A Personal Crisis: The narrative takes a turn when Jessica's family faces a distressing burglary at her great grandmother's house in Fitzgerald, Georgia. Valuables were stolen, and the violation of this cherished family space left everyone feeling vulnerable.

  "Someone broke into her grandmother's house. They took a lot of things... having someone invade a space that's special to you is very emotional."
  — Jessica Maple ([02:57])

• Determined Investigation: Disheartened by the police's slim prospects of solving the case, Jessica decided to take matters into her own hands. Leveraging the skills acquired at camp, she meticulously cataloged missing items and identified potential evidence, including fingerprints at the scene.

  "I have the tools and the knowledge on how to solve this crime."
  — Jessica Maple ([05:19])

• Confronting the Suspect: Jessica's investigation led her to a pawn shop where she identified stolen furniture linked to her grandmother. Through persistence and keen observation, she obtained the IDs of the individuals responsible and confronted one of them directly.

  "Is this you? ... Yes, I did. I was like, well, did you, you know, break into this house, you know, my grandmother's house?"
  — Jessica Maple ([12:37])

• Resolution and Recognition: Jessica's bravery and intellect culminated in the recovery of her family's possessions and the apprehension of the perpetrator. Her success story resonated with her peers at Junior DA camp, culminating in national recognition and an interview alongside District Attorney Paul Howard.

  "Jessica, you are so smart, you're so bright, you are so intelligent... you're amazing for solving this."
  — Jessica Maple's mother ([14:34])

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2. Griffin Steele: Unearthing the Unexpected

Timestamp: 17:00 – 23:01

Griffin Steele's tale is one of youthful serendipity intertwining with crime solving. At the tender age of seven, Griffin stumbled upon a shocking discovery that would later culminate in a significant police breakthrough.

• The Discovery: While accompanying his father to Lowe's and subsequently stopping by a local gas station, Griffin noticed an unusual abundance of money in a trash can—over $10,000 in cash, much of it stained with red dye from exploded dye packs used in bank robberies.

  "It was still hot, you know, the money was still hot. So, it obviously just. That dye pack just went off maybe 15 minutes at the most before we found it."
  — Shane Steele, Griffin's father ([20:28])

• Responsible Action: Recognizing the gravity of his find, Griffin and his father contacted a police officer friend. The discovery was linked to a recent bank robbery, leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspect.

  "We just folded it up, tied it up and put it in the back of my truck. But you know, the whole time it was like answering that question, like, what would you do if you found a bunch of money on the side of the road?"
  — Shane Steele ([19:03])

• Community Impact: Griffin, now ten, became a local hero. His proactive approach earned him a $250 reward in the form of a large novelty check, which proudly hangs in his bedroom. His story emphasizes the importance of instilling civic responsibility and the potential every child has to make a difference.

  "I like helping, except if it's chores."
  — Griffin Steele ([33:11])

---

3. Rory Niblock: The Unexpected Helpers from the Ground

Timestamp: 23:06 – 28:38

The episode further explores the role of children in aiding law enforcement through the insightful account of Rory Niblock, a tactical flight officer with the National Police Service in a small village near London.

• The Incident: Responding to a call about a break-in at an industrial facility, Rory and his colleague Neil Parrock scouted the area from a helicopter. Despite initial leads suggesting the presence of suspects, their search seemed futile until an extraordinary observation was made.

• Children to the Rescue: Rory noticed a group of children engaged in an Easter egg hunt, forming an arrow shape that inadvertently guided the police toward the fleeing suspects. This unintentional yet effective signaling by the children played a crucial role in apprehending the criminals.

  "These kids in the field are lying in the shape of an arrow... they were actually trying to assist, saying, the other suspect has gone this way."
  — Rory Niblock ([26:22])

• Acknowledgment and Gratitude: Upon successfully capturing the suspects, Rory expressed immense gratitude toward the children, acknowledging their critical contribution to the investigation.

  "The parents said it was the children's idea. They said we should form an arrow."
  — Rory Niblock ([28:14])

---

4. Logan Holtman: A Young Search Party Leader

Timestamp: 28:43 – 35:02

Logan Holtman's story illustrates the steadfast determination of youth in ensuring community safety. At ten years old, Logan took initiative upon hearing a helicopter announcement about a missing elderly woman with dementia.

• The Mission: Motivated by a sense of duty, Logan and his friends organized a search party, scouring trails and public areas despite minor setbacks like injuries. Their efforts were instrumental in locating and safely returning the missing woman.

  "Because she needed help."
  — Logan Holtman ([34:48])

• Recognition and Rewards: The successful rescue led to accolades from local authorities, including a heartfelt thank-you package featuring treats and novelty items, acknowledging their invaluable assistance.

  "I packed up some snacks and we went looking again."
  — Logan Holtman ([32:03])

• Family and Community Support: Logan's parents expressed immense pride in his actions, highlighting his innate altruism and the positive influence of community and family in fostering such admirable traits.

  "I wasn't shocked that he decided to go out and try to help."
  — Alyssa Holtman, Logan's mother ([33:25])

---

Reflections and Impact

The "Kids on the Case" episode underscores the remarkable capabilities of children when provided with the right tools, education, and encouragement. Whether through structured programs like the Junior DA camp or spontaneous acts of courage, these young individuals demonstrate that age is no barrier to making meaningful contributions to society.

Notable Quotes:

• "I have the tools and the knowledge on how to solve this crime." — Jessica Maple ([05:19])
• "These kids are trying to assist." — Rory Niblock ([27:18])
• "Because she needed help." — Logan Holtman ([34:48])

---

Conclusion

"Kids on the Case" is a testament to the profound impact that youth can have on their communities. Through the stories of Jessica, Griffin, Rory's collaborating children, and Logan, Criminal celebrates the ingenuity, bravery, and compassion of young detectives. These narratives not only inspire but also challenge societal perceptions of children's roles in serious matters, highlighting the boundless potential that lies within the younger generation.

Transcript

[Phoebe Judge]

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[Unknown]

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[Jessica Maple]

I've always just naturally been curious. Like, I've been a natural investigator my entire life.

[Phoebe Judge]

This is Jessica Maple. Back in 2011. She was finishing sixth grade and starting to make plans for her perfect summer. And what she really wanted to do was go to a policy debate camp.

[Jessica Maple]

And then my mother said, hey, Jessica, I just got an email from the school and the county is going to have a junior district attorney camp.

[Phoebe Judge]

Jessica was annoyed that her mother assumed that district attorney camp would be anything like policy debate camp. She was 12, and I'm just like.

[Jessica Maple]

Mom, I'm not into this type of stuff, so I don't want to go. And she's like, well, you're going anyway. So I was a bit upset until I went that first day.

[Phoebe Judge]

For years, District Attorney Paul Howard led camps for Atlanta's middle school students. Campers didn't swim or canoe or make friendship bracelets. They spent their days at police stations and observing criminal trials. They had to abide by the junior DA creed. On the first day of camp, each camper was issued a uniform.

[Jessica Maple]

We had this giant, oversized kind of blazer with a police badge. We wore khaki pants and polos, so we were all matching. And, you know, we had the district attorney come in and then some of the attorneys that he works with, and they were saying, hey, everybody, welcome to junior district attorney camp.

[Phoebe Judge]

And at the end of this camp.

[Jessica Maple]

You guys are gonna be like district attorneys.

[Phoebe Judge]

Jessyca loved it. Everything about It. Every day after her camp, her mother would pick her up, and Jessica would tell her who she'd met and what she'd learned. But one day, she got in the car, and her mother was upset.

[Jessica Maple]

And then she explained to me that someone broke into her grandmother's house. And we don't know who did it. They took a lot of things. And so she was really upset because that's actually where she grew up. So she held a lot of memories there, and it just was really upsetting to her because it's just having someone invade a space that's special to you is very emotional.

[Phoebe Judge]

When Jessica's great grandmother passed away years earlier, the family kept her house in the small town of Fitzgerald, Georgia, exactly how she'd left it until someone broke in and took everything.

[Jessica Maple]

Her dining room set was gone. Her washer and dryer was gone. Her sofa was gone. Somebody took all of her, like, crystal vases. They took her record console. The bedroom sets were gone. It was pretty empty. It just looked like somebody came in and moved out her washer and dryer. Washer and dryer, yes. And the oven, too.

[Phoebe Judge]

Jessica says that a police officer told her mother that the odds of finding the person or people who did this weren't good. He sort of insinuated the family was at fault somehow.

[Jessica Maple]

And the police officer was just like, did you guys give anybody a key? Because it just looks like somebody had a key because there's, like, no force points of entry or anything. And it just seems like that's the only thing that happened here.

[Phoebe Judge]

After the police left, Jessica and her mother stayed behind, giving everything another look.

[Jessica Maple]

I actually went around to the side of the house where the garage was, and by the garage door windows, there were three little fingerprints. And I remember in junior DA camp, I was like, oh, fingerprints. This is definitely some evidence. So we can send to the gbi, and then we can find whoever broke into my grandmother's house.

[Phoebe Judge]

The GBI is the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Jessica's mother called the police and asked them to come back to have a look at the fingerprints.

[Jessica Maple]

And so I showed that to them, and they were just like, that's not enough. We need at least, like, you know, seven fingerprints. It's going to take entirely too long.

[Phoebe Judge]

And at this point, you were thinking, I don't think that I can count on the police to solve this crime. It's up to me.

[Jessica Maple]

Oh, yeah. I was just like, okay, I have the tools and the knowledge on how to solve this crime. So now we're gonna investigate this. And figure out who did this because I'm pretty unhappy. My mother was upset, my dad's upset, and I just want to get to the bottom of this.

[Phoebe Judge]

Did you say to your mother at any point, don't worry, I've got this. I'm on it.

[Jessica Maple]

Yes, I told her. I was like, hey Mom, I'm gonna figure this out and we're gonna figure out who did this because justice needs to be served.

[Phoebe Judge]

Jessica began her investigation. I'm Phoebe Judge. This is Criminal. We'll be right back to listen without ads. Join criminal + this is criminal.com/Support for criminal comes from Quinn's as the summer ends, you're probably starting to think about what you want to wear this fall and if what you're looking for are pieces that are well made and will work for any occasion. Quinn says exactly that. They sell essentials for your wardrobe that feel effortless and look great. They're easy to layer and they last a long time. The kind of clothes you'll keep wearing again and again. Right now, Quint is offering cashmere and cotton sweaters starting at $40 plus washable silk tops and classic denim pants. Quint sent me some things to try some linen shirt dresses. I love them enough to get two. And a blue collared jacket that I'm planning to wear a lot this season and for many seasons more. You can elevate your fall wardrobe essentials with quince. Go to quince.com criminal for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns. That's Q U I-N-E.com criminal to get free shipping and 365 day returns. Quince.com criminal support for criminal comes from NetSuite. It's always been hard to run a business, but it's even harder these days. Netsuite says they can help. Netsuite by Oracle is a business management suite that runs on AI. Over 42,000 businesses rely on NetSuite for the ability to see everything they need to at once, keeping track of global shipments, the effects of tariffs, and where all their money is going, all in real time. With netsuite, you have all the information you need to make quick decisions in one place. They offer forecasting to help you consider the future as you make decisions and and with their built in AI tools, you can automate smaller tasks that slow you and your teams down and focus on more important work. NetSuite helps you figure out what's stuck, what it's costing you, and how to change course fast. If your revenues are at least in the seven figures. Download the free ebook Navigating Global 3 Insights for Leaders at netsuite.com criminal that's netsuite.com criminal. Jessica Maple's first step was to go around her great grandmother's house and take note of everything that was missing. She made a checklist, and so I.

[Jessica Maple]

Was just like, okay, I remember how well this looks. We even have photos. So it's time to essentially search for these items.

[Phoebe Judge]

Did you have a little notebook?

[Jessica Maple]

I did.

[Phoebe Judge]

Were you wearing your badge?

[Jessica Maple]

No, I left the badge at home. I should have had it with me. I would have looked way more official.

[Phoebe Judge]

I would have been wearing the. I don't think I'd ever taken the badge off. After Jessica cataloged everything that was missing, she started thinking about the next logical step.

[Jessica Maple]

So the town's not that big, so there are about, like, three pawn shops, and one of these pawn shops was actually on the same street as my grandmother's house.

[Phoebe Judge]

When you said to your mother, we're going to the pawn shop, what was her response?

[Jessica Maple]

She was just like, okay, I know you have these junior DA Skills, so I'm just gonna listen to you. We're just gonna follow what you say, and we're just gonna go.

[Phoebe Judge]

They walked into the pawn shop and started looking around.

[Jessica Maple]

And then, lo and behold, I see my grandmother's living room set and her dining room set. And it's set up like. It's like a little furniture shop, and it's just there. And I look at my mom. I'm like, mom, wow. And she takes out her envelope full of her childhood photos, and it's like, her as a kid in front of this. The same exact dining room set.

[Phoebe Judge]

The owner of the pawn shop came over and asked if they needed help.

[Jessica Maple]

I said, yes, sir. In fact, I do.

[Phoebe Judge]

Jessica asked the owner of the pawn shop to tell her everything he knew about this table and chairs.

[Jessica Maple]

He said, well, two men brought this in, and, you know, they just took it off their truck and they brought it in here. And so I asked him, I said, hey, do you mind giving me, like, photocopies of their IDs? And he was like, why do you need it? I said, well, this furniture was stolen from my grandmother's house. And he was like, oh, okay. I'll be right back.

[Phoebe Judge]

The pawn shop owner gave Jessica a form that included scans of two young men's IDs. She and her mother drove straight to the police station.

[Jessica Maple]

So I got out the car, and I felt pretty confident. I was just like, okay, I think I solved this. So I go inside of the police station, and I find the officer, well, the investigator who is on the case. And so I pass it to him, and I say, hey, I did your job again. And on this form, I have, like, the IDs of the guys who did it. So now you guys can go out and arrest them. And then the police officer. Well, the investigator, he said, well, we can't quite do that. We gotta. We have to do our own investigation.

[Phoebe Judge]

Jessyca decided that the police could continue their investigation, and she was. Would continue hers. She had the names and addresses of the people who pawned the furniture. And she asked her mother if they could go to one of the houses just to see if anyone was around.

[Jessica Maple]

And so we passed by the house, and my mom's just like, hey, do you see that person outside? And so I turn, and it's a young man and his mother sitting outside on their porch. And I told her, I was like, hey, Mom, I think that's him. It looks just like him.

[Phoebe Judge]

Jessica didn't hesitate. She jumped out of the car and marched up to the porch.

[Jessica Maple]

So I walk up, and I'm like, hello, I'm Jessica.

[Phoebe Judge]

Her mother was trailing behind.

[Jessica Maple]

And they turn around and they look at me, and they're like, oh, hello, Jessica. And I say, you look very familiar, sir. And the young man looks up at me. He's like, what? I was like, yes, you look very familiar. And so then I pull out, like, the little sheet where, like, the idea is. And I'm like, is this you? And he's like, yes, this is me. And then the mother was just like, okay, what's going on here? And then I said, you know that house? And then I mentioned the street where my grandmother's house was. He said, yeah, I know that house. I'm like, oh, really? Well, did you happen to take some furniture to a pawn shop? He pretty much gave himself away at that point because, you know, he couldn't deny it because that's him on the pawn shop little form. And he's just like, yeah, I did. I was like, well, did you, you know, break into this house, you know, my grandmother's house? And he's all like, yeah, I did. And his mother was like, oh, my gosh. What?

[Phoebe Judge]

Jessica and her mother drove back to the police station so Jessica could tell the investigator that not only had she found one of the suspects, but she'd also obtained a confession. The owner of the pawn shop agreed to return her grandmother's items. When Jessica went back to camp that Monday, all of the campers were asked to describe one way in which Junior District Attorney Camp had been helpful in their real lives. When Jessica told her story, no one could believe it. And then the rest of the country found out about it, too. Here she is being interviewed with District Attorney Paul Howard on national news.

[Unknown]

So what was the response that you got when you pointed out this clue that you found? Well, when they came, they're all they said, wow. And that was it. So now you talk to the manager. What happens? He, like, brings out two sheets of paper and it had IDs on them. And I thought to myself, this is really helpful. Then he finally admitted it.

[Phoebe Judge]

You got him to crack?

[Unknown]

Yes. Confess? Yes. Right there on the street. This. This is. It's amazing, but it's beyond amazing. I mean, how old are you? I'm 12. 12 years old.

[Phoebe Judge]

What did your mother say at the end of this all?

[Jessica Maple]

My mother said, jessica, you are so smart, you're so bright, you are so intelligent. Like, you are amazing for solving this. And you pretty much did this all on your own. Like, you're great. And I knew you going to Junior DA camp, I knew that was such a great idea. And I looked at her and I said, you're right, Mom. You're right.

[Phoebe Judge]

We'll be right back.

[Unknown]

Foreign.

[Phoebe Judge]

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[Unknown]

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[Unknown]

I was like, mom, the craziest thing just happened.

[Phoebe Judge]

This is Griffin Steele. He's 10 now, but when he was 7, he found something very strange. Can you tell me about that day? Take me through that day.

[Unknown]

Okay. So my dad had to go to Lowe's and asked me if I wanted to come with him. So I did. And then after that, we decided to stop by our local speedway.

[Phoebe Judge]

That's a gas station.

[Unknown]

Yes, it is. And so we went in the store and my dad bought me a cherry flavored Gatorade. And I finished drinking the Gatorade pretty early. So I went to throw it away on the trash can that was outside. And then I look in the trash can and I find that there's like a ton of money in there.

[Phoebe Judge]

How much money did it seem like.

[Unknown]

From looking at it? I didn't have much perspective back then, but I would say that it was probably a little bit more than $10,000, maybe $10,000.

[Phoebe Judge]

I bet that's the most money you'd ever seen in your life.

[Unknown]

Besides on tv. Yes.

[Shane Steele]

Well, I mean, I was a little bit. I was confused when he said, hey, dad, look. Look at this trash can. It's full of money. And I said, what?

[Phoebe Judge]

Griffin's dad, Shane Steele.

[Shane Steele]

I walked over there and I mean, you know, it's just something you never see. I was trying to figure out what to do because it was a very public place. There's cars everywhere. And you know, I'm standing there with this trash can full of money and trying to figure out how to get it out of public view without looking like I'm doing something wrong. So, yeah, I just decided to just. The bag was. It was a brand new trash can that didn't have anything in it except the money. So I just folded it up, tied it up and put it in the back of my truck. But you know, the whole time it was like answering that question, like, what would you do if you found a bunch of money on the side of the road?

[Unknown]

It was, it was strange because like a lot of it was covered in red dye. I asked dad why it was covered in red and he said that there were exploded dye packs on it. Because whenever there was a bank robbery, they would put dye packs inside the. Mixed in with the other, mixed in with the normal money, so that whenever they stole it, there was like a trip by the door. So as soon as that happened, the dye packs would explode and it would cover all the money in red dye.

[Shane Steele]

And it was still hot, you know, the money was still hot. So it obviously just. That dye pack just went off maybe 15 minutes at the most before we found it.

[Phoebe Judge]

So, yeah, Shane and Griffin called a friend who was a police officer to ask what they should do. He told them that there had been a bank robbery just 45 minutes ago. So they called 911 and sat down on a bench to wait. Shane took a picture of Griffin with the money.

[Unknown]

It's just me with like, I'm like gasping and I have like all the money in front of me inside the trash bag. And it's like, it's one of the biggest mistakes of a picture I've ever put online.

[Phoebe Judge]

Cause your mouth is wide open.

[Unknown]

Yeah, it's very cringe worthy.

[Phoebe Judge]

Police in Horry County, South Carolina arrested a man a few days later who had allegedly robbed the bank. On the day Griffin found the money, as well as another bank. A few days earlier, he was convicted of grand larceny, two counts of entering a bank with intent to steal and second degree burglary. Did you tell, did you tell your friends?

[Unknown]

Yes. As a child I was annoying. So I was basically going around and bragging to people, oh, look what I found.

[Phoebe Judge]

But you think you're. Do you think that you've grown out of being annoying now at almost 11?

[Jessica Maple]

Okay.

[Phoebe Judge]

It was just a phase.

[Unknown]

Correct.

[Jackson Steele]

Okay, well, they always seem to get themselves in crazy situations.

[Phoebe Judge]

Griffin's mother, Carol Steele, she says the bank that had been robbed gave Griffin a $250 reward on one of those oversized novelty checks.

[Jackson Steele]

A huge check. As tall as he was at the time. And it's still in his bedroom now. Oh, he's carrying it around the house.

[Phoebe Judge]

He's carrying.

[Shane Steele]

He has that check that's hanging on the side of his room.

[Phoebe Judge]

Griffin's older brother, Jackson. He's 13. So every time you walk into his room, you have to see the check.

[Shane Steele]

Yes.

[Phoebe Judge]

Do you two get along generally?

[Shane Steele]

A lot better this year.

[Phoebe Judge]

Okay. He told me he used to be annoying.

[Shane Steele]

Well, he wasn't the one that he wasn't annoying. It was just me being a jerk.

[Phoebe Judge]

Oh, really? Well, that's a nice brother. Both of you are really generous to admit being annoying and you admit being a jerk. That's nice.

[Shane Steele]

Yeah.

[Phoebe Judge]

What's he like? Is he kind of a kid that is always getting into things, kind of like a detective?

[Jackson Steele]

He is actually the family snoop. So anytime that we misplace anything in the house, we ask Griffin where it is, and he absolutely, absolutely knows where it is.

[Phoebe Judge]

Like what, your keys, your wallet? Yes.

[Jackson Steele]

The remote controls. We're always asking him, where's the remote control? My tennis rackets. I hadn't played tennis in a while, and I said, griffin, where are my tennis rackets? And he said, they're in the hallway closet at the very top of it. And I was like, you're too. What are you doing at the top of the hallway closet?

[Phoebe Judge]

He just. There's something about him he knows.

[Jackson Steele]

Yes, exactly. And he's a helper. Just a helper personality, too.

[Phoebe Judge]

Here's another story. Four years ago, in a small village outside of London called Capel, the National Police Service got a call that an industrial facility had been broken into by at least two men. Rory Niblock is a tactical flight officer with the National Police Service.

[Rory Niblock]

I work on the police helicopter.

[Phoebe Judge]

He says that a lot of the time he gets into his helicopter with very little information. So you knew that you were looking for people who had maybe broken in somewhere and they might be running. That's really all you knew?

[Rory Niblock]

That's right, yeah. Very limited descriptions. Not overly familiar with the area. Very rural, so plenty of places to hide, woodland, etc. So that's all we knew. When we were on route, it took.

[Phoebe Judge]

About 10 minutes to get to the right area, but by then there is no one anywhere in sight.

[Rory Niblock]

So we started looking at nearby farms. And it was at that stage that we saw neighbouring premises, people, farmers, etc. Indicating. Waving their hands, saying, you want to look that way, because we obviously didn't know what they wanted to say.

[Phoebe Judge]

So you were flying over, and you'd look down and you'd see these people standing in their backyards, in their fields, waving their arms, you know, saying, this way, this way.

[Rory Niblock]

That's why. Exactly that. And we're flying at between 1 and 2,000ft. So you can imagine people look fairly small on the ground, but you can make out that there were a number of people in adjacent property saying, you need to search in that direction. And that's when we commenced the search.

[Phoebe Judge]

They had seen two guys running through their yard. Obviously not supposed to be there.

[Rory Niblock]

That's right. Yep. Clearly, what. Trying to. Acting furtively. And they had no purpose to be in such a rural location. They had no purpose to be there. So we were confident these were the people concerned.

[Phoebe Judge]

The two suspects ran together through farms and yards, and then when they reached a wide open field, they split up and ran in opposite directions. There was no way to keep track of both men from the air. They knew one had run into the woods and they'd lost track of the other one.

[Rory Niblock]

It was then that when my colleague Neil Parrock, the pilot, said, what are those kids doing down there?

[Phoebe Judge]

Rory looked out of the window and saw a group of small children. He later learned they were out hunting for Easter eggs. He says kids love helicopters. He sees kids all the time and never pays very much attention.

[Rory Niblock]

You can imagine any young child seeing a colorful helicopter circling in the air. They generally wave anyway and say, look at me, look at me. I'm bouncing on the trampoline. Can you see me? Kind of thing. So that's why you tend to dismiss what they're doing. So I initially sort of discounted what he was saying, as if to say, not now, Neil. You know, I'm following the suspect. And he said, no, these kids are. These kids in the field are lying in the shape of an arrow. And then it became apparent that the kids, the group of children who were out on this Easter egg hunt, were actually trying to assist, saying, the other suspect has gone this way.

[Phoebe Judge]

How many. How many kids were there?

[Rory Niblock]

There were actually 12 altogether, but I think only eight of them. I think the other some were. Didn't want to get muddy. But eight of them, I believe eight of them actually formed the arrow and bless them. In order to help their public duty. They were prepared to sacrifice their son Sunday best clothing and lay in a cloud field.

[Phoebe Judge]

The helicopter followed the arrow and they found their suspect. Rory says both men were apprehended and charged with burglary after they'd wrapped everything up. They landed the helicopter and Rory got out to say hello and thank you to these children who'd helped solve the case.

[Rory Niblock]

The parents said it was the children's idea. They said we should form an arrow. And I think if my young child said that to me, I'd probably prior to this event say, don't be silly.

[Phoebe Judge]

Rory says the kids offered him some of their Easter candy. Hello, Logan.

[Logan Holtman]

Oh, yes, this is Logan.

[Phoebe Judge]

Hi, Logan. It's Phoebe.

[Unknown]

Oh, hello, Phoebe.

[Phoebe Judge]

How are you doing?

[Logan Holtman]

Good.

[Phoebe Judge]

Thanks for doing this.

[Logan Holtman]

Yeah, just trying to help out.

[Phoebe Judge]

So, Logan, let's just start with you introducing yourself.

[Logan Holtman]

So my name is Logan and like that.

[Phoebe Judge]

Yeah. Tell me your first name and your last name.

[Jessica Maple]

All right.

[Logan Holtman]

I'm Logan Holtman. And. Yeah.

[Phoebe Judge]

How old are you?

[Logan Holtman]

I'm 10 years old.

[Phoebe Judge]

10 years old. What do you think you want to be when you grow up?

[Logan Holtman]

When I grow up, I might want. I think I might want to be either a detective or a teacher maybe.

[Phoebe Judge]

Okay. Does it kind of go back and forth depending on the day?

[Logan Holtman]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Phoebe Judge]

Last fall, Logan was playing in his Roseville, California neighborhood with his friend Cashjan. His friends Hope and McKenna were playing nearby.

[Logan Holtman]

So my friends said they heard a helicopter saying somebody was missing. Please help come find her.

[Phoebe Judge]

Coming down from the helicopter like it was recording, like sending down.

[Logan Holtman]

Yeah, it was a big microphone on the helicopter, speakerphone.

[Phoebe Judge]

Okay. So the helicopter said, someone's missing, please help find her. Did it say who was missing?

[Logan Holtman]

I think they said it was a 97 year old lady.

[Phoebe Judge]

A woman who had dementia had gone missing from a residential care facility in the area. They needed to find her before it got dark. And it was already after 4 o'.

[Logan Holtman]

Clock, so we decided to start looking and trying to find her.

[Phoebe Judge]

Logan and his three friends put together a plan and got on their bikes.

[Logan Holtman]

We had a certain area, actually, we knew she was in the neighborhood because we heard that she was from a care home somewhere. And we were like, she's probably on the trail. And we went down the trail and whenever we saw somebody, we had asked them if they knew anything about it or if they could also start helping. So there's a police officer we found and he was telling us about her and we told him we'd look out. So we were looking down the trail and I skid my knee while we were there. And then we went back home. Everybody ate dinner and my brother helped me get some band aids on. And if you want to talk to my mom, she's making breakfast right now. But you'll be able to talk to her.

[Phoebe Judge]

It's okay.

[Logan Holtman]

Oh, she's coming over right now.

[Phoebe Judge]

Okay. Hello? Hi, this is Phoebe.

[Alyssa Holtman]

Hi.

[Phoebe Judge]

Here's Logan's mother, Alyssa Holtman.

[Alyssa Holtman]

I didn't really know what was happening until he came inside, and he, at that point had been, you know, scratched up, so he fell down. And so that's when he told me that he had fallen down on this trail while they were looking for this lady. And I had heard the helicopters overhead, but I didn't realize that he and his friends had decided to go out and try to find her. So it was all kind of like unexpected news when he came running in the door telling me that, you know, he's trying to find this lady with his friends. And so his brother that was here is a Boy Scout. So we call him the medic. And he, you know, got Logan all patched up, got him cleaned up, and then he said, mom, I'm gonna go back out and we're gonna find her. And I was like, okay, sweetheart.

[Logan Holtman]

I packed up some snacks and we went looking again.

[Phoebe Judge]

What types of snacks did you pack?

[Logan Holtman]

Granola bars, fruit snacks, Like, I think these little yogurt, gogurt things.

[Phoebe Judge]

Okay. And so you put them in a little backpack or something?

[Logan Holtman]

Oh, yeah.

[Phoebe Judge]

They went out again, this time on foot.

[Logan Holtman]

And we were heading towards the trail to look there again, but we just found her walking around.

[Phoebe Judge]

And what did you say when you saw her?

[Logan Holtman]

We were all like, oh, that guy that looks like her. And it was. It was the lady.

[Phoebe Judge]

Logan and his friends Cash and Hope and McKenna all went up to her and tried their best to make her feel comfortable. It was 6:30 and just starting to.

[Logan Holtman]

Get dark, so Cash and Hope called their dad. He came over, and I didn't have my phone on me right at that second, so I wasn't able to call my mom. But we got the police and everybody come by.

[Unknown]

Did you.

[Phoebe Judge]

Is this surprising for you that Logan would help with this charge and take this on or not that surprising?

[Alyssa Holtman]

Well, I mean, he is such a great kid. I wasn't shocked that he decided to go out and try to help. I was just really surprised that it was he and a group of, you know, 10 and 11 year olds that actually found her.

[Phoebe Judge]

Logan later told reporters, I like helping, except if it's chores. The woman was returned safely to her residential care center and reunited with her family. Logan and his friends had a party in a treehouse to celebrate. They ate goldfish and watched tiktoks. The Roseville police told reporters that they'd been a little surprised to hear such a young voice on the phone when they got the call. So the police thanked you for helping them, huh?

[Logan Holtman]

Later they sent this little package or something.

[Phoebe Judge]

What was in the package?

[Logan Holtman]

So it had like a little Kit Kat bar and then a gift card to Movie Grill. Studio.

[Phoebe Judge]

Movie Grill. To the Studio. Movie Grill.

[Logan Holtman]

And the thank you letter.

[Phoebe Judge]

Did your friends get the thank you letter too?

[Logan Holtman]

Mm. We all got the same thing. And it was really nice.

[Phoebe Judge]

Did you. Did you learn anything about being a detective during this whole thing?

[Logan Holtman]

Well, that you have to kind of piece things together and you're gonna have to. It might take a long time. Cause we spent like two hours trying to find her.

[Phoebe Judge]

But you didn't give up?

[Logan Holtman]

No.

[Phoebe Judge]

Why do you. Why did. Why did you want to help find her? What were you thinking about?

[Logan Holtman]

Because she needed help.

[Phoebe Judge]

Criminal is created by Lauren Spore and me. Nadia Wilson is our senior producer. Katie Bishop is our supervising producer. Our producers are Susanna Roberson, Jackie Zagiko, Lily Clark, Lena Sillison and Megan Kinane. Our show is mixed and engineered by Veronica Simonetti. This episode was mixed by Rob Byers and Michael Rayfield. Special thanks to Matthew Majak. Julian Alexander makes original illustrations for each episode of Criminal. You can see [e-mail] and you can sign up for our [e-mail] we hope you'll consider supporting our work by joining our membership program Criminal. Plus you can listen to Criminal, this is Love and Phoebe reads a Mystery without any ads. Plus you'll get bonus episodes. To learn more, go to thisiscriminal.com plus we're on Facebook @criminalshow and Instagram @criminal underscore podcast. We're also on YouTube at YouTube.com criminal podcast. Criminal is part of the Vox Media Podcast network. Discover more great [e-mail] I'm Phoebe Judge. This is Criminal.

[Unknown]

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