Real Life Real Crime: True Crime Time For January 26, 2026

Podcast: Real Life Real Crime
Host: Woody Overton
Episode Air Date: January 26, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode, solo-hosted by Woody Overton (as co-host Cyndi is under the weather but producing), offers a gripping roundup of historical and recent crime stories. Woody’s signature mix of blunt storytelling, gallows humor, and genuine advocacy shines as he discusses cold cases, bizarre murders, fugitive captures, public safety, and policing scandals—always with a distinctly southern-flavored, lawman’s POV. Notably, Woody keeps listeners updated on ongoing cases, family tragedies, and calls to action within the true crime community.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Historical Crime – Jerry Brudos, the “Shoe Fetish Slayer”

[03:15]

• Story: On January 26, 1968, Jerry Brudos murdered 19-year-old Linda Slauson in Oregon; he lured her in, killed her, displayed her with his “shoe collection,” and cut off her foot as a macabre model.
• Woody’s Reaction: “Serial killers and sick fucks have been around forever, right?”
• Context: Brudos’ case serves as a chilling reminder of serial crimes predating widespread media coverage.

2. Advocacy Updates: Hashtags for Justice

[06:10, 07:00, 55:00]

• Ongoing cases highlighted: #JusticeForBradley, #JusticeForAO, and #JusticeForHaley.
• Funding Update: A GoFundMe for new scientific evidence in Haley’s case is at 39%. Woody urges donations: “Wouldn’t it be amazing, right, if they come back and it’s scientifically undisputable…?”

3. Recent Crime News

Indiana Judge & Wife Shot in Home Invasion

[08:20]

• Incident: Tippecanoe County Judge Stephen Meyer and wife Kimberly shot by a group allegedly seeking revenge—perpetrators included habitual offenders.
• Woody’s Take: Praises the justice system’s resilience:

  “This horrific violence will not shake my belief in the importance of peacefully resolving disputes.” — Judge Meyer [10:44]

• Insight: Even those in power and law can be targeted; “Lord knows it’s not always perfect and shit like that happens, right?” [11:35]

Fugitive Capture: Olympic Snowboarder Turned Cocaine Kingpin

[13:10]

• Subject: Ryan Wedding, ex-Olympian, captured in Mexico after a decade on the run—accused of trafficking, murders, and being on FBI’s Most Wanted.
• Quote:

  “This homeboy… got the fucking director of the FBI to get on the private plane with him and bring him in.” [14:57]

• Context: Woody muses on criminals misusing talent: “He transferred [Olympic drive] into being a drug runner.”
• Fun Fact: Wedding also allegedly orchestrated the murder of a witness in Colombia; had $40M in assets seized.

4. Family Crimes – Patricide in Florida

[21:15, 24:36, 25:50]

• Story: Derek Rosa, age 15, pleads guilty to stabbing his mother 46 times (at age 13); sentenced to 25 years plus 20 years probation.
• Horrifying Details:
  • Rosa took selfies with his mother’s corpse, sent images to a friend (“The friend thought Rosa was joking… But when he learned the images were real, he was in shock and disbelief.” [25:54])
  • Fascination with “Friday the 13th’s” Jason Voorhees.
  • Called 911 to confess.
• Judge and Stepdad in Court:

  “Your mom was a loving mother. Her death destroyed our family and changed our lives forever.” — Frank Ramos, stepfather [26:45]

• Woody’s Reflection: “It just takes all kinds to make the world go ‘round… planes, trains, and automobiles, and today, subways.”

5. Violent Subway Attack in The Bronx

[28:36]

• Incident: Random slashing of a 17-year-old for accidental bumping—a sobering look at urban transit violence.
• Woody’s NYC Advice:

  “You never know who you with… bump into them, and I just happen to be carrying a box cutter. What does that say? That’s definitely a weapon.”

• Snapshot of Subway Safety: Major crime reportedly dropped 4% in 2025, but isolated violence persists.

6. Inside Law Enforcement: Dog The Bounty Hunter’s Son Sues

[33:10]

• Story: Dog the Bounty Hunter’s son, Garry Chapman, back in the news after being fired/reinstated from police in Alabama and now suing for retaliation related to whistleblowing.
• Woody’s Take:

  “You should do that, right? …But boy… you’re blacklisted and you’re blackballed.”

• Inside Scoop: Explains how departmental politics and retaliation often play out in law enforcement.

7. Worldwide Crime: UK NHS Gambling Fraud

[41:24]

• Case: Alec Gandy, senior NHS Trust manager, steals over £120K for gambling, using fake temp worker accounts with friends’ and ex-wife’s details.
• Outcome: 2.5 years in prison; accomplices get community sentences.
• Woody’s Blunt Assessment:

  “He just stole it, right? … Prisons are full of dummies—he makes fake accounts and, whatever, he’s a supervisor so he approves it.”

8. Americans in Russian Prisons: The Yacht Gun Case

[48:30]

• Case: Charles Wayne Zimmerman sentenced to five years in a Russian jail for having a rifle aboard his yacht—claims it was for self-defense.
• Woody’s Warning:

  “Let me tell you something… you don’t want to go to a Russian prison, that you just don’t want to go there.” “The US government is not going to swoop in and save your ass on that one.”

• Context: Dangers for Americans traveling abroad, especially in hostile jurisdictions.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Serial Killers’ Timelessness:

  “Serial killers and sick fucks have been around forever, right?” — Woody Overton, [03:45]

• On Olympic Athlete-Turned-Felon:

  “Use your skills, right? He transferred [all] that hard work for snowboarding into being a drug runner.” — Woody Overton, [14:15]

• On Youth Crime:

  “Nothing shows a little love and a little overkill like repeatedly do it with your hands, bang on the table 46 times to see what that feels like. That’s your mama, right? She birth you…” — Woody Overton, [22:35]

• On Law Enforcement Culture:

  “Today, you’re blacklisted and you’re blackballed… you file a formal complaint… you’re going to catch a little bit of blowback.” — Woody Overton, [34:05]

• On Russian Prisons:

  “Five years in Russian prison is like 105 in American prison.” — Woody Overton, [49:14]

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Timestamp | Segment / Topic | |-----------|---------------------------------------------| | 03:15 | Jerry Brudos historical murder | | 06:10 | Justice for Bradley, AO, Haley advocacy | | 08:20 | Indiana judge shooting & arrests | | 13:10 | Fugitive Ryan Wedding, ex-Olympic snowboarder| | 21:15 | Derek Rosa: Florida matri- and infanticide case | | 28:36 | Bronx subway box-cutter attack | | 33:10 | Dog the Bounty Hunter’s son’s policing lawsuit| | 41:24 | UK NHS gambling fraud | | 48:30 | American yachtsman sentenced in Russia |

Tone and Language Notes

Woody’s delivery remains:

• Casual, sometimes irreverent (“homeboy’s going to prison for the rest of his life”)
• Deeply empathetic while discussing victims and families
• Willing to call out both criminal stupidity and systemic failures
• Blunt and often laced with dark humor
• Steeped in law enforcement perspective (“papering his personal file”; “you gotta deal with all this jealousy…”)

Closing Thoughts

Even solo, Woody’s storytelling draws listeners into the tragic, absurd, and at times unfathomable world of real crime. His mix of cold case advocacy, personal anecdotes, and lawman insight makes for an episode that’s both substantive and entertaining—with a consistent call to never lose hope in seeking justice.

[56:58]

“Prayers for everybody that you healthy and strong and you prosper. Prayers for #JusticeForBradley, #JusticeForAO, #JusticeForMsBarbaraBlunt… I love and appreciate each and every one of you.” — Woody Overton

If you missed this episode, you’ll come away with a nuanced, sometimes gritty perspective on true crime, criminal justice, and the real stories behind national headlines—always through the eyes of a seasoned investigator who “never gives up.”