Real Life Real Crime – “True Crime Time For September 9, 2025”
Hosts: Woody Overton & Cindy Overton
Date: September 9, 2025
Episode Overview
In this episode of True Crime Time For, Woody and Cindy Overton take listeners on a tour of brutal, bizarre, and sometimes darkly humorous true crime stories from across the U.S. They discuss heartbreaking cases—from child endangerment and a newborn left in a dumpster, to wrongful convictions overturned, postal fraud, and an ingenious cocaine smuggling attempt. The hosts bring their signature empathy, banter, and insider perspectives, especially focusing on the importance of advocacy, fighting for the wrongfully accused, and reminding the community to stay alert and keep sending in tips.
Key Discussion Points and Insights
1. Child Abuse in Portland, Oregon
[02:46 – 04:44]
- Case Recap:
Joseph Washington was convicted for abusing his 20-month-old son, whom he punched twice, leading to a perforated small intestine. He tried to evade responsibility by dropping the child off at his mother’s home; she rushed the boy to the hospital, saving his life. - Sentencing:
Washington received 10 years for first-degree assault, third-degree assault, and first-degree criminal mistreatment. - Hosts’ Perspective:
Emphasize gratitude for the mother’s intervention and the severity of Washington’s actions.
“He beat his child, took him home to his mama… and essentially left him for dead.” — Cindy [04:32]
2. Threat Against Veterinary Hospital over Spider Monkey – Tennessee
[05:06 – 08:14]
- Case Recap:
Joseph McDormand, worried about his pet spider monkey, threatened to “blow up” the University of Tennessee’s veterinary hospital after being told to wait for service hours. He was charged with harassment and threat of mass violence. - Hosts’ Banter:
They riff on the oddities of exotic pet ownership and how threats are taken very seriously today.
“You can't be saying that shit nowadays.” — Woody [08:07]
3. Family Matters: Newborn Left in Dumpster – Columbus, Georgia
[08:33 – 12:15]
- Case Recap:
Zinnia Hernandez gave birth in a motel bathroom, double-bagged the newborn with placenta and umbilical cord, and left the baby in a dumpster, where he survived for ~6 hours before rescue. - Legal & Social Notes:
Hernandez charged with criminal attempt to commit murder and other crimes. The hosts highlight Georgia’s Safe Haven Law, which allows legal surrender of infants up to 30 days old at specified locations.
“That baby survived. In a plastic bag. Double plastic bag, meant to survive.” — Cindy [10:16]
4. Large-Scale Check Theft by Postal Worker – Washington, D.C.
[12:18 – 23:24]
- Case Recap:
Hashicaro Sila Muchumba, a postal worker, stole over $1.6 million in checks, spent $100,000 at strip clubs, and tried to flee to Zambia. Convicted of various frauds and lost his U.S. citizenship. - Restitution:
Must pay $651,068 in restitution and forfeit $1.27 million in gains. - Hosts’ Reaction:
Woody and Cindy express disbelief at the magnitude and question postal hiring criteria.
“Who doesn’t trust the fucking postman, right?” — Woody [23:39]
“Do you get on a payment plan? ... They never getting that money back.” — Cindy [35:48]
5. Newborn in Dumpster vs. Mother Charged with Capital Murder – Bond Amounts
[40:00 – 41:14]
- The hosts discuss disparities in bond amounts, comparing the Georgia mother who abandoned her child ($20K bond) to the Texas mother charged with capital murder after stabbing her son ($600K bond).
6. Gruesome Domestic Homicide – Texas
[36:32 – 41:14]
- Case Recap:
Officer Ehaniree comes home to find his wife, Wilma Medina, attacking their son. The boy dies from knife wounds. Medina cited paranoia and delusions about people entering her home. - Legal Action:
Medina is charged with capital murder and held on $600,000 bond.
“Fifty years old and got a nine-year-old but dead baby now. That’s not a bond for capital murder.” — Woody [40:27]
7. Wrongful Conviction Overturned – Brian Hooper (Minnesota)
[27:36 – 33:35]
- Case Recap:
Brian Hooper served 27 years for a murder he didn’t commit, largely due to false testimonies and recanted jailhouse snitch statements. The main witness later confessed to the killing; Hooper was released. - Innocence Project Role:
Advocates for his innocence led to vacated charges. - Hosts’ Reflection:
Woody and Cindy highlight the perseverance needed in wrongful conviction cases and hope for other cold cases to be solved.
“Don’t give up. … This just goes to show that Barbara Blunt’s case and Bradley and AO’s case can be solved. But people will talk sooner or later.” — Woody [33:00]
8. Domestic Violence via Train Attack – Indiana
[33:47 – 35:34]
- Case Recap:
De Morica Turner threw his girlfriend into the path of a train after an argument. Convicted after strong evidence contradicted his defense, sentenced to 36 years. - Hosts’ Comments:
Discuss sentencing inconsistency versus white-collar crime cases.
9. Ingenious Cocaine Smuggling Scheme – Brooklyn, NY
[41:40 – 47:29]
- Case Recap:
DEA agents found $300,000 worth of cocaine hidden inside 45 cigar boxes, under a layer of real cigars. Two suspects charged; operation busted via confidential informant. - Tactics Discussion:
Woody details the process and necessity of using CIs (confidential informants), even though it bothers Cindy when CIs get off easy after participating in major crimes.
“That’s the deal you’ve got to make with the devil.” — Woody [46:04]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On Safe Haven Laws:
“Authorities have taken the opportunity to remind the public about Georgia’s Safe Haven Law...” — Cindy [11:21] -
On Sentencing Inequality:
“He only gets like five years but he’s got to pay the money back, which he’s never going to do because it went up when his strippers g-strings do.” — Woody [35:34] -
Emotional Realness:
“Do not give your wife stories about babies and plastic bags in a dumpster and make her cry at 7:30 in the morning.” — Woody [11:55] -
On Fighting for Justice:
“Never give up, never surrender… Even if you’re going for justice, like in cold cases, or if you’re truly innocent, don’t give up.” — Woody [32:59]
Timestamps for Key Segments
- Intro & Announcements – [01:32 – 02:34]
- Portland Child Abuse Case – [02:46 – 04:44]
- Spider Monkey Threats – [05:06 – 08:14]
- Columbus Dumpster Newborn – [08:33 – 12:15]
- DC Postal Fraud – [12:18 – 23:24]
- Wrongful Conviction Overturned (Hooper) – [27:36 – 33:35]
- Muncie Domestic Violence via Train – [33:47 – 35:34]
- Gruesome Texas Domestic Homicide – [36:32 – 41:14]
- Brooklyn Cocaine Cigar Boxes – [41:40 – 47:29]
- Host Reflections & Community Messages – [48:31 – End]
Conclusion & Community Notes
The episode closes with Woody and Cindy reflecting on the importance of vigilance, the heartbreak in these cases, and their dedication to cold case advocacy. Listeners are urged to continue submitting tips and to remember that justice—though slow—is possible, thanks to persistence and community effort.
“Cops only got to get lucky once.” — Woody [45:05]
For ongoing updates and to submit tips:
Call: 313-RLRC-TIP
This episode is a testament to the emotional and legal complexities of real-life crime—combining dark truths, hope for justice, and the vital role of community and investigative persistence.
