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Woody Overton
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Woody Overton
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Cindy Overton
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Woody Overton
Hello everybody. Welcome to this episode of True Crime. Time for Thursday, February 26, 2026. Say that again and I'm Woody Overton. I'm Cindy Overton, bringing you the stories from around the world. True Crime Time.
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And on this date, February 26th.
Woody Overton
In 1993, when I was a young
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bucket 23 years old, an explosion rocked
Woody Overton
lower Manhattan beneath the World Trade Center.
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A bomb was detonated in a parking garage beneath the World Trade center that
Woody Overton
created 100 Foot Crater. Six people died, and more than a thousand people were badly injured by the explosion.
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A task force of 700 FBI agents began investigating the bomb and discovered a
Woody Overton
VIN number to a reported stolen car.
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Muhammad Salamag Needal, Ayad Muhammad Abu Hama
Woody Overton
and Aham Ahji were linked to the stolen vehicle, convicted of the crime, and sentenced to life in prison, as they should have been. And that was. They expected to bring down the World Trade center then. And they just perfected the craft for 9 11, right?
Cindy Overton
Fortunately, yeah.
Woody Overton
Yeah. I'm just, you know, get it from
Cindy Overton
the bottom, go to the top. It's horrible.
Woody Overton
Well, terrorists suck, so that's the way it is. Hashtag just for Bradley. Hashtag just for ao. Y' all still get messages, still getting calls. Three one, three RLRC tip and always Hashtag just Miss Barbara Blunt. You know, these cases, each one has a life of its own. Each one is being worked and continue calling you tips. No tip is too small or too big or is redundant or whatever. Hashtag just for Haley. I think we're at over 6,600 on the donations. We need another 4,400 y' all to bring it home so Scott Roeder in the evidence room can finish the recreations that they're doing to force the Cobb County DA to do their job right. They should have hired their own expert. And. But they said, and I quote, we're not doing anything else until we get scientific proof that she couldn't have killed herself, she being Haley. And now we have it, but we, you know, when you bring it, we want to bring all of it. Right? So please go donate to. Go go to gofundme. And it's hashtag just for Haley. Ms. Barbara is in control of it. The money's already been sent that's been collected thus far to the evidence room and Scott Roeder. And we just need to bring it home, y'. All. And that'll be a national news story because it's truly a tragedy.
Cindy Overton
It is.
Woody Overton
And. And Scott Roeder, if you heard the episode I did with him, he said, I want them. I want to work with them, but I want them to take my work and my people's work and send to the best. And they'll be forced to at this time. They'd be like, oh, God, he's got all the scientific evidence now. You know, we need to send it to whoever they use for this. And in, you know, the science is irrefutable.
Cindy Overton
Yeah.
Woody Overton
It's not speculation. It's not. You know what if it's. It's hardcore facts. You can't. You can test it a million times and the test is going to prove back the same way. And Brooks query murder Haley. And we just need to bring this case home. So please, if you can't donate, share it. It's on all our social media. And let's bring this home.
Cindy Overton
Absolutely.
Woody Overton
All right, so let's get out some true crime time for this Thursday.
Cindy Overton
Okay. Do you want to go over some of the people, some of the suggestions for our dumb criminals?
Woody Overton
Yeah, let's do that.
Cindy Overton
Okay. I'm not going to tell you who sent it. That way it's unbiased.
Woody Overton
All right.
Cindy Overton
Okay. And I know you've read some of them, but you.
Woody Overton
No, I really haven't.
Cindy Overton
Okay, so called in.
Woody Overton
Go ahead. I mean, I glanced over one or two of them, but I didn't. Yeah, pay attention to it.
Cindy Overton
Called in 4k and still denying it crime. But make it stupid. World's worst masterminds. You had one job. Don't get arrested from bad idea to mugshot Bless their hearts, they tried Dumber than a sack of wet hammers hold my beer and watch this felony Front porch felonies Bayou brain trusts go Wrong Criminal Intent 0 Common Sense Snell Self Snitching 101 When Getaway Plans go sideways Arrested by their own idiocy the evidence was their Facebook Live. I have a few more in the comment section. Amateur hour Felony fools idiots in action Half wit hustlers idiot offenders zero brain cell bandits Plot twist he told on himself Crime scene Common sense missing mugshot moments the criminal comedy hour. Where's my teeth? I didn't actually get that till I just read it. Those aren't my pants. And this person said, I say that every time because she found a girl that had meth in her pants. And she was like, well, these aren't my pants. Let's see. But I bet I can get arrested before you can. Count to 10. Camera.
Woody Overton
What?
Cindy Overton
Camera? Zero to felony in 0.5 seconds. Jailbird wannabes. I saw it on TV and I thought it was brilliant. And that's about it so far.
Woody Overton
What was on? Criminal,
Cindy Overton
criminal, criminal, criminal, criminal, criminal comedy hour. See Criminal intent zero Common sense. You want to scroll through them so you can read them.
Woody Overton
What was about the one by Jailbird? Let's see.
Cindy Overton
Jailbird was a good one.
Woody Overton
Let's see. All those are on the table, y'. All. And I'm sitting here and I will come back and read Jailbird Wannabes The. The. Y' all keep sending them in and I'll make a decision this week.
Cindy Overton
Okay.
Woody Overton
Those are a lot of great ones. Thank you so much, everybody that submitted it. Neo. It's because, I mean, we do at least one of these a day.
Cindy Overton
Yeah.
Woody Overton
And. And we need. We'll put in a sound bite for it and everything else.
Cindy Overton
Yeah.
Woody Overton
So thank you. Thank you, thank you.
Cindy Overton
We'll send the winner a little.
Woody Overton
Absolutely. Whoever wins will send me a little swag bag. All right.
Cindy Overton
And y' all vote on the. There's a post in the crew page, so, like, go in and do your likes or whatever for the ones that you like too.
Woody Overton
Right, Right. Excellent. Good deal. All right, let's get on some true crime time for Thursday. What you got?
Cindy Overton
So what was the strangest thing you ever did to catch a criminal?
Woody Overton
God.
Cindy Overton
That you could not swim, but no.
Woody Overton
Oh, that's a tough one. I don't know. I mean, I did a lot of strange.
Cindy Overton
Yeah. So sometimes you have to think outside the box.
Woody Overton
Yeah.
Cindy Overton
Yeah.
Woody Overton
It's time for worldwide crime.
Cindy Overton
So Thai police went undercover in a traditional lion costume in order to get close enough to a serial burglar to pounce on them and arrest them.
Woody Overton
Nice.
Cindy Overton
So there's footage that's been released by the Bangkok Police Department, and it shows officers dressed in red and gold in a red and gold lion costume dancing towards the suspect as he walked through a Lunar New Year fair last Wednesday. The officer wearing the lion papier mache head then leaps at the suspect and quickly pins him to the ground at the temple of Nonthaburi. And police said the suspect was a 33 year old man and he is accused of breaking into the home of a local police commander. And the police were like, you ain't gonna.
Woody Overton
Yeah, they're gonna get your ass.
Cindy Overton
He was suspected of making off with valuables worth 2 million baht, which is around €47,700. Police said they had attempted to arrest the man several times, but he had spotted the officers each time and he would start running and they would lose him. They later identified him by tracing the stolen amulets he had sold and learned he frequently visited the temple where they called him. So lion dancers are often part of the new year, the lunar new year. And the custom allowed the officers to go undercover for the operation. And the once the the officers got to him, obvious the suspect confessed to the burglaries saying he stole the stuff to buy drugs and gamble. The force had previously convicted him of drug related offenses and also burglary so he is also a repeat offender, which I think we need one of those buttons too.
Woody Overton
Well, that goes on Dumb criminals too. Yeah. Frequent flyer.
Cindy Overton
Frequent flyer. Yeah. So they got him.
Woody Overton
Good deal. And you, you never work a case as hard as you work when it's the crime's been committed against a fellow officer.
Cindy Overton
Right.
Woody Overton
And it can't really tell about those.
Cindy Overton
Yeah.
Woody Overton
Because sometimes justice is just us. So. All right, I'm going to tell you a little bit of a convoluted story. I'm going to kind of start from the. Not what just happened, but what happened in the beginning. And way back when they had a guy. Named Dixon and he was shot during a shooting on Stroud park Court on May 23rd of 2025. And officers responded to call around 5:30pm local time and discovered three victims with gunshot wounds in the park. All three victims, two sustained life threatening injuries were transported to local hospitals and unfortunately our victim Dixon was pronounced dead four days later on May 27th of 2025 at Atrium Health Hospital. And police identified a guy named McKnight as a suspect in cheating and attained a warrant for his arrest. And after being interviewed by Texas, he was, you know, obviously placed in the custody. Well now we'll fast forward to what just happened. So he goes to court for the shooting and, and the victim I think was only 16 years old. All right. And so he goes to court and, and you know, he's in there getting ready to do whatever they do in court, might have emotions or hearing. And the victim's family was in there. Right. Including the victim's dad. Well, I always told you the courtroom is the greatest show on earth. And this victim's dad, shaheen Snipe, who's 47, well he went to court and he got arrested too on on Thursday, February 19th in Charlotte, North Carolina by the Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office. And he received a misdemeanor charge for assault inflicting serious injury. You know what he did?
Cindy Overton
Punch the guy.
Woody Overton
He beat the out of him. And so the Queen City News report that snipe attacked Mary McKnight the the killer who's 21, at the Mecklenburg Courthouse and he like I told you, McKnight is facing charges related to the murder of Jamaria Dixon as well as the attempted murder of two others. And Dixon is sniped 16 year old son, the victim, the so Queen City News report the snipe repeatedly kicked and punched McKnight who was taken to the hospital following the incident. And dad got booked in and got released on a thousand dollar bond. The Susan Shirell, who's Dixon's aunt, the victim's aunt, told Queen City News that
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Snipe did what he had to do as a father. Any father would have done the same thing.
Woody Overton
We're still grieving. This is a wound that will never close because my nephew was 16 years old and he should still be here with us. So McKnight's attorney, Mike Kekaboff, told the news outlet in a statement that the incident was the most violent assault I've seen in a courthouse in my 22 years as a lawyer. He said any parent can sympathize with the intense grief that loses a child, but the violence we saw in the court on Thursday was unacceptable. The so the the hearing was related to a prosecuting attorney's motion to revoke McKnight's bond and and dad lost his Jesus in the courtroom and dog kicked the out of and I don't blame him.
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Woody Overton
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Woody Overton
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Woody Overton
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Woody Overton
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Woody Overton
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purchase I'm caught up in the game. My attention is on every play and every whistle. But what I'm missing is a signal coming from my kidneys. That signal isn't like a reference whistle. It's more of a silent sos which could be warning me of an increased risk for events like heart attack or stroke. And a way I can catch that signal, a simple urine test called UACR. If you have type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure, talk to your doctor about the UACR test. Detect the SOS. Visit detect the sos.com to learn more.
Cindy Overton
I don't believe.
Woody Overton
And I think that's why you got a thousand dollar bond. The court. Look court y'. All. I don't. Most people just don't get it. Court's such a serious place and so structured and ruled. But yeah, you have deputies assigned to a courtroom and this dude, this deputy must have been asleep or these deputies must have been asleep because they this guy not only got to him. You always watching that when your courtroom. Even if I was there to testify something else and the victim's families are there. I'm. I'm watching because you expect human emotions to take over and this dad's like looking at this piece of that killed my 16 year old son. Him. I'm gonna give him some of my justice and then I'm gonna take that. I'm gonna take that charge. I'm going to jail today. But this going to the hospital and he did that and good for him. I hate to go against courtroom decorum and the law and everything else, but sometimes I know sentences are proven guilty but yeah.
Cindy Overton
Is there any world that he just happened to be like just, I mean, that, that the court officer just kind of let it happen. Just knew that it was going to happen and, and just set out if.
Woody Overton
Probably not. I mean, you, you, you would think that, but I mean, you're assigned to it and you're supposed to protect the people, so. No, I don't think that happened. I think maybe he was on the other side of the courtroom or not paying attention or. Yeah, a lot of the, A lot of the bailiffs in the courtroom and then not knocking them because they're really good friends of mine. They're in the end stages of their career. They, they've done their time in detectives and on the road and whatever. And, and one of them who's deceased now, God rest. So he's sit up there back on the back wall behind the judge and he'd sleep. You'd be. Not like he was listening, but you know, he wasn't watching.
Cindy Overton
Yeah.
Woody Overton
You know, and, and, but that, that, that dude killed our son. Oh, yeah.
Cindy Overton
We'd both be on him. I'm sorry.
Woody Overton
They're gonna, they're gonna have to. I'm gonna take that, I'm gonna take that Mr. Me into charge. Go ahead and take me to jail. Yeah, but he knows how I feel.
Cindy Overton
Yeah.
Woody Overton
And so there you go.
Cindy Overton
Yeah, I don't.
Woody Overton
It happens.
Cindy Overton
It does happen.
Woody Overton
It's time for family matters.
Cindy Overton
We're going to South Carolina.
Woody Overton
Carolina. You were there yesterday, I think.
Cindy Overton
And there's a woman that's accused of murdering her family. And her trial began on Monday with opening statements. Amy Velardi and her husband Rosmore or Ross Velardi, were arrested in 2023 and each charged with four counts of murder in connection with a 2015 massacre.
Woody Overton
Okay.
Cindy Overton
The couple, who are being tried separately is accused of murdering Amy's mother, Kathy Scott, who was 60 years old, and stepfather Terry Michael Scott, who was 59 years old, as well as Amy's elderly grandmother Violet Taylor, who was 82 and 80 year old step grandmother Barbara Scott. Three of the victims had their throats slit and were shot post mortem while Amy's mother was stabbed in the chest and shot while still alive. That's according to the coroner, overkill. It was Amy who alerted authorities that her four family members were dead. So originally she was the, you know, grieving daughter.
Woody Overton
Right.
Cindy Overton
So that was according to Anderson County Sheriff's Office Detective Scott Hill. And Hill was on an episode of Unsolved Mysteries podcast and he recalled that Amy was the one that alerted authorities during that podcast. Once he said Once we found out the extent of their injuries and the fact that their throats were cut and then they were shot post mortem, it seemed very, very aggressive and personal and somebody full of rage and hate. And he says, I've never seen anything like it before. Anderson County Sheriff Chad McBride also described the crime scene as one of the most horrific he has ever seen in his career. Deputies initially thought the crime might be a murder suicide until they got a closer look at the injuries. At the same time police were investigating, Amy began making appearances on local news programs and pleading for the killer or anyone with information to come forward. Forward. There were no signs of a break in and nothing appeared to have been stolen, Hill said. But investigators soon learned that one of the deceased did often have large quantities of cash. Amy's stepfather would exchange cash for gold. They, they had learned that right. And something that no one knew about outside of the family. Investigators also soon learned that Amy and her husband were having financial troubles and were eventually able to get a warrant and search their trailer. While they were at the same property as the double wide where the four bodies were discovered, their cars were about to be repossessed. They were almost. They were about to be kicked out of the building they rented for their business. And so deputies were able to get a search warrant. And guess what they discovered in the trailer.
Woody Overton
What they needed.
Cindy Overton
Over $65,000 in a safe.
Woody Overton
Yeah, and that's trade a lot of gold down, huh?
Cindy Overton
I guess so. And 5,000 an ounce that money and multiple firearms received were seized from the residents. But when none of the weapons were a match to the one used in the crime, deputies didn't have enough proof to get a judge to sign off on an arrest warrant. It was not until eight years after the killing that the couple was arrested and charged, which would happen just a few weeks after that podcast that that detective went on. And now Amy is facing life in prison if convicted, and the date has not yet been set for the husband's trial. So maybe some type of information came forward after he did the podcast. It doesn't go into detail about that, but.
Woody Overton
And that's why we do. And I'm about to start in another story, and this one, it's not a who done it obviously, but you never know what tip. Just like on the case that we saw on the podcast that what tip it is that's going to bring it in. And I'm glad they got her so back to a courtroom. And you know, I've seen all kinds I've seen. But you know, the victim's impact statements. The, the most profound I've ever seen probably was, my God, I've seen some really, really moving ones that'll make you cry and everything else make you want to beat ass like that dad did. In my last story, the most two sided one or the craziest one I've ever seen is Courtney Coco's case. And because Ma got up and David Anthony Burns, she, you know, was talking, she, she was like coming from a place of pure Jesus and you know we loved you and Ma's always gonna love you, Anthony. And I was like holy the. But I mean she's way more Christian than me. But then Courtney's mama Stephanie got up and she, they, they had told him don't look directly at him and adjust the cord and whatever and she went off. And y' all go back and listen because we secretly recorded in the courtroom and played it on an episode and she went off and basically everything from a wolf and sheep's clothes and so I hope you burn in hell and da da, da, da da and what have you. But let me tell you about, you know, some, of course David Anthony Burns just sat there like a bump on a log. And then when he had his turn, which they give him their turn and he had his turn, he was like, I do this, let me do this. Yeah, whatever. So you get all kinds. But let me tell you about this one. All right, so in a Michigan judge sends a 35 year old man to decades behind bar for the murder of a renowned neurosurgeon in his mansion and then killing another victim about a year later. This dude only got 35 years. So Desmond Burks will spend between 35 and 60 years in prison for the murders of Dr. Devon Hoover and back in 2023 and Rita Sali about a year later in Detroit. And this according to the Wayne County's prosecutor's office. Bergs pleaded guilty to several charges including second degree murder, larceny of more than $20,000 using using a computer to commit a crime and being a felon in possession of a firearm. And as part of his agreement in the case of 53 year old Hoover's death, the first degree murder charge against Burke was dropped. Right, so like it happens every day, 98.5 convicts.
Cindy Overton
Right.
Woody Overton
Because you plead out.
Cindy Overton
Right.
Woody Overton
I mean I guess 35 to 60 years is still a long time. But not for two murders and not for a first degree murder case. Even though check my board, I'm pretty sure I already know. Michigan doesn't have the Death penalty. But the defendant also pled guilty to manslaughter in connection with the death of 67 year old Celia. He had been charged with secondary murder in that case. And burks will serve 10 years to 15 years. So the sentences will run concurrently. I mean, 60 years started by him. He's probably gonna die in prison anywhere, so die in prison anyway. But you think Burks, I mean, how's he gonna act, right?
Cindy Overton
Oh, he's just gonna model.
Woody Overton
He pled. He pled guilty. Right. But he gets his chance to address the court, so. But anyone who expected Burks to be contrite left the courtroom sorely disappointed because Burks smiled and waved for the cameras and even rolled his eyes and scoffed at Hoover's sisters when they made their victims impact statements. That's when I would have lost my G's. Oh, like, like, I mean, they were. There were definitely definite Deputies in between Ms. Stephanie and David Anthony Burns. Because by this time they, they're no longer in street clothes and like that you come back for sentencing hearing and you come back for the victim's impact statements, and they're in handcuffs and, and they can't really defend themselves. But he rolled his eyes while they're making the statements. And then he gets his chance to talk. He says, my name is Desmond Burks. He's told the judge with a smile. And that's according to local NBC affiliate wdiv. He said, I'd like to say I'm not a murderer, I'm not a killer. I'm just a regular person, just like everyone in this room. I'm not a gang member. I love sports. I'm a people person. Just because I took the plea don't mean I did it. Well, judges really don't like to hear that. And I know you took a plea, that means you're guilty, right? So this judge is Paul Cusick. And he wouldn't have any of it. He said, quite frankly, you are a murderer, sir. So Berks, going back to the crime, Berks and Hoover are believed to have known each other before the older man's death back in April 2023. And in fact, this authorities, including the Wayne county prosecutor, Kim Worthy, put it, they knew each other well. And they exchanged over 4,000 text messages. And they said the text message just established that Desmond Burks and Dr. Hoover were in the intimate relationship with one another. That on occasion, Desmond burks would charge Dr. Hoover for these sexual services. Yeah, right. Burks was a convicted arsonist let out of prison during the summer of 2022. That's according to Michigan Department of Corrections. Several months later, Burks murdered Hoover and stuffed the neurosurgeon's body in an attic crawl space at the victim's mansion in a historic Boston Edison neighborhood of Detroit. So a member of Hoover's family called 911 and asked law enforcement to conduct our favorite welfare check at the home after Hoover had not returned home to Indiana to see his dying mother who passed away four days after his murder. Police go to house, they do the welfare check and they found his body on April 23. The day before the discovery. Hoover's Range Rover was found several miles away from his home, blocking the driveway with blood inside the vehicle. You would think they would have gone and done a welfare check at that time. And back at the crime scene, Hoover was face down in the attic crawl space, only wearing socks and wrapped in a blood soaked carpet. The medical examiner's office determined that he had been shot twice in the head. Burks was detained as a person of interest in May of 2023, but he was later let go following the prosecutor's review. And then Detroit Police Chief James White said.
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Authorities said that items belonging to Hoover,
Woody Overton
including expensive watches, a phone and a wallet were stolen and that the evidence showed fraudulent bank activity in the days after the murder. Well, the defendant apparently had, you know, he had a tendency towards violence as about a year after the killing, remember they had to let him go. A year after the killing of Hoover, he encountered sale on a Detroit road. As the area's Fox affiliate WJBK reported on April 17, 2024, Burks got angry when Celia bumped the back of his car and after an argument, Burks punched Celia in the head and left the scene. My shopping style is more stay at
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Woody Overton
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Cindy Overton
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Woody Overton
Though Slay is a man, the older
Advertiser/Promoter
man was brought to a hospital where
Woody Overton
he was pronounced dead on May 11 in 2024. In an obituary for Hoover recalls that he brought his Detroit mansion and bought his Detroit mansion in 2008. He was a board member of the Detroit Opera and hosted a picturesque Christmas party that became a bit of tradition in his neighborhood. And the bit where expresses how much he loved that home where he would one day be found dead. He said he was essentially the curator of his own museum which he loves sharing with his friends, family and visitors, etc. Etc. Etc. But I'm a people person anyways for the cameras and remain defiant at the sense and for his murders.
Cindy Overton
That's disgusting.
Woody Overton
That's when the deputy might turn his head and let him get get a lick in. But I'm pretty sure the deputy needs his job too. Yeah, but courtroom drama for the second time today.
Cindy Overton
I know. Maybe that's another segment too.
Woody Overton
Maybe so we need to have more recordings. We do a segment for everything. It's time for family matters.
Cindy Overton
So a Fairfax county officer shot a man after he stabbed his daughter, wife and son in law with a curved dagger. This is according to the police on Monday morning. A curved dagger. The incident happened in the 3900 block of Persimmon Circle in Manitois Mantua Mantua around 5:05am on Feb. 23. Officers said they responded to a domestic related assault when they came upon a man armed with a knife this Fairfax the Fairfax County Police Department said the man's son in law was cleaning snow off of his car when the son in law heard a disturbance coming from the apartment where his family lived. The son in law called police and another person who heard the commotion also called 91 1. Police said when the son in law returned to the apartment he found his wife with stab wounds and his father in law armed with a curved 10 inch dagger. Fairfax County Police Department said that the father in law also stabbed his wife before turning the knife towards his son in law.
Woody Overton
Yeah. The only reason in the entire history of the world to have a curved dagger is for maximum killing.
Cindy Overton
Yeah.
Woody Overton
Do you know that swords like back in the civil War and in the olden times swords had indentions along the blades that ran the length of the blades and so when you stab somebody when it goes in it rips up more the arteries than d and they outlaw that. Geneva Convention outlaw that. So leaving our soldiers today or their bayonets can only be straight, flat, fixed blades having a curved blade. So when you plunge it in, you rip it back out. You're doing maximum damage.
Cindy Overton
Well, two officers responded to the apartment and they of course saw a bloody scene and they walked in on the man stabbing his son in law. And Fairfax county police department said after the man ignored repeated verbal commands from the officers, one of them shot him. And then the officers began performing cpr. The suspect's daughter died leaving her one year old child without their mother. And the suspect and his wife also died from their injuries. But the son in law's condition was considered grave. The son in law and his wife were living in the apartment with their one year old child and the wife's parents. And the child was in the home at the time of the incident but wasn't hurt.
Woody Overton
Unreal.
Cindy Overton
So the officer that shot and killed him used. Fired his gun and. But he's now on a modified schedule during the investigation.
Woody Overton
Yeah. So it's typical. It's called riding a desk. The best ones that happen on those is. Well a lot of times they, they will, they'll have to see the department shrink and, and all that stuff and be mentally fit. Cleared to return to duty. Because shooting people with some people more than others. The. But kind of my experience. I give a. If he. If I got to shoot you to kill you because you're killing somebody or whatever. I don't, I don't lose, I don't lose a wink of sleep at night.
Cindy Overton
Right.
Woody Overton
But the leave with. With pay. A lot of people frown on that but because you know it's basically it's vacation but really the dude should get leave with pay.
Cindy Overton
Yeah.
Woody Overton
Until they clear stuff up. Don't maybe come in and ride a desk because I was doing my job.
Cindy Overton
But I'm glad you brought up the mental aspect of it because most, I mean I've honestly I don't know why but I've never even thought about like someone having a hard time after they shoot like a police officer because I live with you and I know your thought process. And not everyone thinks like Woody Overton, you know, so they need time to get stable themselves.
Woody Overton
The first thing they tell you in the police academy on the very first day, the very first opening statement is at some point in your career you may have to kill someone.
Cindy Overton
Yeah.
Woody Overton
And that they're dead serious and you may have to kill someone. And you think you want to be a cop. But think about that you're taking another life. You pulling the trigger and Killing someone, that person will no longer, you know, cease to exist, etc. If that bothers you and you can't handle it, leave this motherfucker now.
Cindy Overton
Right, Right. Yeah. And my daddy had the same philosophy as you doing what he did, so that's all I grew up with. And honestly, that was.
Woody Overton
Yeah, yeah. But it does with a lot of people.
Cindy Overton
Yeah.
Woody Overton
All right, so let's do this twisted beast mode. All right, y', all, we got a beast mode for you. And this one is really, really, really special. And it's a twofer. It's time for worldwide crime. We know people love their fur babies, right? We love our fur babies. And there's so many people that are so attached to animals and love animals and. And what have you, and try to save animals and, you know, adopt them, whatever.
Cindy Overton
They prefer animals over humans.
Woody Overton
Yeah, the. And so there. But then there's people out there that say they do.
Cindy Overton
Yeah.
Woody Overton
But they really don't.
Cindy Overton
Okay.
Woody Overton
I'll tell you about a guy named O Avid, and then spelled O A V E E d Ramen, who's 26, and he's one of these dudes, and he put on the heirs that he liked to look after animals, right? That's what. He just loves him some animals. And the. He did this at a rehoming center called Save a Paul in Craze Hill, Billike Essex, which I'm guessing London, y'. All. But he really wasn't doing it. He was just leaving the animals to suffer. So a vet who was called to the scene with police last May 13 said that as soon as she left her vehicle, which was parked about 40 meters, I'm guessing it's like 20 yards away from Ramen's property. She could smell rotting flesh. You smell, you never forget it. And guess what? Remains of dogs were found in bins, trash bins, and throughout the site, with some piled up like rubbish. What's the purpose this, according to the sentencing judge. So the Balcedon Crown Court heard on Friday that the veterinarian surgeon Amy Cooper saw masses of bodies riddled with maggots and with rats lined up around the kennels. Right. These are still alive, not just the dead ones. So the. Some 21 dogs which were alive were kept in pens or confined to small spaces. So Tom Godfrey, the prosecution, told the court that Ms. Cooper said in a statement, the vet. I can honestly say what I smelled and saw was the most horrific thing I've ever seen. It was clear, just from a general initial inspection, that these animals were all suffering well, the judge, Richard Conley, the sentencing judge, he said Ramen's fraud was an act of betrayal of epic proportions that has devastated many lives. He said Ramen had convinced decent and well meaning pet owners to entrust their beloved animals into his care. He said, in fact, many animals taken in by you were subjected to prolonged barbaric mistreatment, cruelty and neglect. Some of them died directly as a result. Feces were found inside the pen and cages as many of the dogs were severely underweight but did not have access to food. Ms. Cooper said the dogs kept in the pens would have faced mental turmoil as they were. Oh, there were open bags of foods in the property which they could not access. I mean, man, you got the food
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there and they're open, the dolls can
Woody Overton
see them, but you got 20 of one of them in a PE and
Cindy Overton
they can't get to it.
Woody Overton
I mean, our dog food is on the porch in. In the container. Sometimes we have a full bag that's sitting there. The dog was getting fed.
Advertiser/Promoter
Can you imagine?
Woody Overton
They could sniff the container and know the food's there and we just starved her.
Cindy Overton
Well, the reality is the dog on our porch that's out and not in the container, that if she really wanted it, she could get to it.
Woody Overton
Yeah, along with everything else. So victims whose dogs were rehomed by Ramen and their supporters in the pack public gallery sobbed and cried as Mr. Godfrey told of the conditions the animals were found in. Later, after Ramen was sentenced, a victim in the court shouted at him through the video. Must be a court date. Shouted at him through the video. Bastard. I hope you ride in there, you dirty bastard. Well, three of the 21 dogs were so unwell that they had to be put down, and one poodle later went blind.
Cindy Overton
That's disgusting.
Woody Overton
I know, right? Ramen previously pled guilty to cruelty against 21 dogs and a cat and 11 counts of fraud by false representation. Police found 37 dead dogs when they first searched the rehoming center where dogs were left to roam among the carcasses. And then. But why put the other 21 in a cage? 4 more dead dogs were found when a shed was demolished during a later visit. Right. Emma Thompson said she feels extremely traumatized by what happened to her dog. She planned to re hone him after the Dalmatian pointer crosser had shown signs of aggression. Aggression. And she was pregnant. Yeah. Right. Yeah. I often think about how confused and scared and sad linen must felt being taken from the family he loved. Transport to Essex and taken to a stranger. She Said in a victim impact statement he would have smelt the death of the other dogs at the property. Well, Ms. Thompson paid Ramen a 300 pound surrender fee and a further 200 pound charitable donation. So he's got 50 something dogs that were there at this time. He's making jack but ain't doing so. Lennon was one of the dogs found dead during the first raid. Tina Davis, another one. Rama's victims took courage dog Chad, which is a pocket bully to save a Paul to be rehomed after he had a fight with another dog. In her victim impact statement read to the court, she said, I was devastated at the prospect of giving up my dog but knew it was required for Chad to have the best possible life. Oh, this. She said, I torched myself wondering how much she suffered. He must have thought I didn't love him to leave him at that wretched place. I question if I will ever forgive myself. And Chad is still missing. Oh, her dog says a lot of them. Yeah, Ones he got rid of. Some of. Ramen's victims contacted him on his Facebook page for save a Paul, which had good reviews. He was sometimes paid a surrender fee and also accepted donations to his organization which he told victims was a charity. But in fact an application for charitable status had been refused. Yep. So y' all are like on just for Haley on the gofundme. I promise you this money's going where it's supposed to go. But Ramen took around 4,800 pounds from his 11 victims, telling them he it would be used to re home dogs, provide new kennel block or train dogs to behave around children and other animals. That's the 4, 800 of the 11 victims they know of.
Cindy Overton
Exactly.
Woody Overton
He promised to keep in touch with people about how their dogs were doing. The court heard, but often became difficult to contact. In some cases blocked the people who had taken their dogs to him. The officer said they spoke to people in 20 counties in connection with Ramen's crimes. People from as far as Scotland use ramen services to re home their dogs. And he said, we'll never truly know the extent of how far maybe offending or this behavior has gone in this court. Superintendently in orso the essex police and when Molly Pinkus mitigating said Ramen had expressed remorse, I guess his defense attorney had expressed remorse over his crimes. People in the public gallery side tutted, shook their heads and even laughed. Yeah. Judge Conley had to ask the court for quiet to allow Ms. Pincus to continue. The defense attorney, he asked her for some Understanding of motivation. It is so impossible to understand what can cause a person to do the things that he did. I can't make sense of it. Probation can't make sense of it. The psychiatrist can't make sense of it. It's all according to judge. She said that Ramen, who was privately educated, suffered with mental ill health and began his enterprise with genuine desire to look after dogs. Since his defense attorney, Ramen made a decision to house these dogs in inhumane conditions. Whether this was some satisfaction from the power that he was able to exert over these dogs, it is a matter for you, your honor. But it's difficult to see why else Ramen would house live dogs with the deceased dogs. Well, Ramen appeared by video link from her MASH's prison Chelmsford on Friday and wore gray cardigan. He spoke only to confirm his name and the inner plea of guilty to a charge of owning a fighting dog, which is the ex outlawed XL Bully. The judge said the exl bully, Bella was also a victim of Raman's callous mistreatment. And he said, I'm aware that no sentence that I can lawfully impose can adequately reflect the justifiable anger and disgust of what you have done, you piece of. The judge said, no, he's going to say. But he did say the rest of that said some wrong simply cannot be put right. And he sentenced Rama to five years imprisonment with 38 months of that for animal cruelty. And they. They'll run con consectively to the fraud counts for which he was sentenced to 22 months for each count. And he also sent us three months imprisonment to run concurrently for owning the band XL Bully. And he's banned from owning dogs and cats for life. Guess what? He can apply for that ban of owning cats and dogs for life. He can apply for it to be lifted after 15 years. Anyway, the. That's. That's it. And. And I just must have been a good day for court stories. For me, I know what an idiot that is.
Cindy Overton
Just.
Woody Overton
And it was a nice home, a beautiful place.
Cindy Overton
Yeah.
Woody Overton
Just played people. Yeah. Send me your dogs. Send me your cats. I'm gonna love them. I'm gonna train them. I'm gonna do everything I can.
Cindy Overton
Do you know how much work it is just to have like 12 puppies?
Woody Overton
Oh, I know. I saw you do it.
Cindy Overton
I mean, imagine. And I understand. I could. It gets overwhelming, but it doesn't mean you neglect and abuse them. I mean, just cleaning up the poo poo like, you know. But when it's Trained dogs. They go off in their corner.
Woody Overton
No intention of doing anything. No, leave them to rot with maggots. Got mice lined up around the caves waiting on you to fall the over so we can eat your ass. All right, that's enough courtroom for today. And I'm Woody Overton.
Cindy Overton
I'm Cindy Overton.
Woody Overton
We'll holler at y' all later. Love you. Thank you. Peace.
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Episode Title: True Crime Time For February 26, 2026 | 1993 World Trade Center, Justice for Hailey & Courtroom Drama
Hosts: Woody Overton and Cindy Overton
Release Date: February 26, 2026
In this action-packed episode of “True Crime Time For,” Woody and Cindy Overton take listeners on a whirlwind tour of past and recent events in true crime, weaving together notorious cases, cold case advocacy, bizarre law enforcement tactics, and unforgettable courtroom drama. Woody brings his signature mix of humor, candor, and hard-won experience, while Cindy rounds out the discussion with smart, thoughtful questions and a touch of dark wit. The episode moves from the 1993 World Trade Center bombing to grassroots campaigns for justice (#JusticeForHailey), criminal mishaps, a series of disturbing murder cases, and a harrowing story of animal cruelty in the UK. Courtroom moments—with all their raw emotion and unpredictability—are a focal point.
On the 1993 WTC Bombing:
“They expected to bring down the World Trade center then. And they just perfected the craft for 9/11, right?” – Woody Overton (03:33)
On advocacy:
“No tip is too small or too big or is redundant or whatever…” – Woody Overton (04:15)
“The science is irrefutable… Brooks Query murdered Haley.” – Woody (05:43)
On “Dumb Criminals:”
Some segment name suggestions: “Arrested By Their Own Idiocy,” “Dumber Than a Sack of Wet Hammers,” “Zero Brain Cell Bandits,” “Those Aren’t My Pants.”
On court emotion:
“The courtroom is the greatest show on earth.” – Woody (13:00)
“Snipe did what he had to do as a father. Any father would have done the same thing.” – Aunt, speaking of the father’s assault on son's killer (16:05)
On giving up beloved pets:
“I torched myself wondering how much he suffered. He must have thought I didn’t love him to leave him at that wretched place…” – Victim Tina Davis, dog Chad’s owner (51:36)
On law enforcement reality:
“The first thing they tell you in the police academy: at some point in your career you may have to kill someone. If that bothers you and you can’t handle it, leave this motherfucker now.” – Woody Overton (45:27)
Woody and Cindy blend grim true crime reality with biting humor and authentic emotion. Their insider perspective—both from law enforcement and the justice system—offers both chilling details and real empathy, making this a can't-miss episode for true crime fans and anyone interested in the realities behind headlines and advocacy.
For more details, special episodes, and ways to get involved in cold case advocacy, visit the Real Life Real Crime crew page or follow #JusticeForHaley.