Crime Stories with Nancy Grace - Bryan Kohberger Sentencing Looms | Crime Alert Recap Saturday 07.19.25
Episode Date: July 19, 2025Breaking crime news as it happens throughout the day! Follow "Crime Alert Hourly Update" now on your favorite podcast app: https://link.chtbl.com/Crime_Alert Here's some of our top stories this week:&...nbsp; While Bryan Kohberger cut a plea deal with the state, taking the death penalty off the table, the now convicted quadruple murder will officially hear he fate. A shocking arrest is made in the brutal strangulation & beating death of a paddleboarder in Maine; a 17-year-old boy who is no stranger to the area has been taken into custody. A handcuffed suspect greets a familiar deputy by name following a road rage incident that ended with the father of three drunk, violent, and breaking into a stranger’s home with his children in Wayne Township, Ohio. Rex Heuermann, the alleged serial killer linked to the Gilgo Beach murders, appeared in court once again on Thursday, marking just over two years since his arrest. The much-anticipated Frye hearing regarding DNA evidence continued, drawing significant attention. Stay informed, stay safe, and stay ahead with "Crime Alert Hourly Update.” See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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This is an iHeart Podcast. time from the Ada County Courthouse in Boise. With Coburgers guilty plea, he
avoided a potential death sentence. From once there has been a sweeping gag
order surrounding this case. Now, Fourth District Judge Stephen Hippler agreed
to lift that order. Media representatives also asked him for to
immediately unseal hundreds of documents in the case. But the judge
says he would
go through the documents carefully to determine which ones could be made
public. That process will not start until after Wednesday's sentencing. Our
Nicole Parton has more on what the lifted order means. Allowing attorneys,
prosecutors, law enforcement personnel, and others associated with this notable case to communicate freely with the media.
It is a little bit like a, you know, water will find low ground.
In this case, the media is going to write about something regardless about this case. The lifting the non-dissemination order does not require the council or others
who were previously bound by it to speak.
And the state has indicated they don't intend to until after the sentencing.
At this point, I just don't think that I can justify the continuation of the non
dissemination order. I think the rights of the public to information in this case
is paramount.
Hipler determined that the gag order was unnecessary now that Kohlberger has
entered a guilty plea, meaning the case will not proceed to trial. The broad order had been in effect since 2023 and faced challenges
from multiple news outlets, which argued it infringed upon the First
Amendment rights of a free press.
Earlier in July, the 30 year old Kohlberger pleaded guilty to the murders
and accepted a plea deal that entails serving four consecutive life sentences.
This agreement, which has sparked differing opinions among the victims' families, enabled
Kohlberger to evade the death penalty and a highly publicized trial.
Prosecutors revealed that Kohlberger, a criminal justice student at the time of the murders,
had meticulously premeditated the attack that resulted in the deaths
of Madison Mogan, Kaylee Consolves, Zaina Kernoodle, and Ethan Chapman. The students were
discovered dead in a rental home near the University of Idaho campus on November 13, 2022. Investigators
pointed to DNA evidence, cell phone data, and surveillance footage that linked Koberger to the stabbings,
which sent shock waves through the campus community and left residents of Moscow a
peaceful college town in northern Idaho terrified. Motive for Brian Koberger's attack on the four
students is still unknown. War crime and justice news after this.
War crime and justice news after this.
I'm Jennifer Gould. The two-week manhunt that gripped a tranquil main town with terror is finally over. But the shocking truth has only deepened the horror. A
17-year-old boy has been arrested in the savage killing of sunshine, Sunny Stewart, the
beloved 48 year old marine biologist whose lifeless body was found
brutalized after a solo paddle boarding trip. President Susan Creighton spoke
to CBS 13. Just relieved there's been an arrest. There was all kinds of rumors
circulating about the New England serial killer. I'm glad there's been an arrest. I hope they can make it stick. The stunning breakthrough in
union brings a suspect to justice. But the chilling question now is why was
sunny killed Stewart, a vibrant tenants harbor resident and boat captain
renowned for her radiant smile and passion for the sea ventured out alone
on July 2nd her destination., the secluded 600-acre
Crawford Pond accessible via Mic Mac Cove Campground where she had rented a camper.
She never returned. A frantic midnight call sparked a massive multi-agency search. A drone
aided the grim discovery. Sunny's body was found near 100 Acre Island
after 1 a.m. on July 3rd.
An autopsy revealed the awful truth.
Stewart died from strangulation and blunt force trauma,
her death a homicide.
The Maine State's police major crimes unit
plunged into a relentless investigation.
Detectives canvassed every inch of the area,
painstakingly
reviewed hours of campground surveillance footage and chased down
every lead. The suspect, a local Maine teen who had been vacationing near the
pond with his family each summer was nabbed without incident. This union
residents spoke to ABC News. It's a scary thought that you know, somebody
around here has done something really horrific.
The 17-year-old whose identity is shielded under Maine's juvenile laws was hauled to
Long Creek Youth Development Center in South Portland.
Officials are keeping a tight lip on if he knew Stewart or what twisted motive drove
him to commit such a savage act, citing the ongoing investigation. While currently being held as a juvenile in Maine, as in many states, prosecutors can
petition the court to have juvenile charges with severe crimes like murder tried as adults,
a decision that would determine if his case moves to adult court proceedings.
In the meantime, police are urging anyone with information or who may have witnessed anything in that area from July 2nd
between six and nine p.m. To contact them at 207-624-7076.
Process.
I'm Drew Nelson. You know, you're a repeat offender when the cops greet you
by name as they're cuffing you. Suspect Seth Schluter greeting
Deputy Hudson following a road rage incident ending with the father of
three drunk, violent and breaking into a stranger's home in Wayne Township,
Ohio. Last Friday around 5 30 p.m. 30 year old Schluter stopped his car in
the middle of state route 7 27 near the Stone Lake Park. Damn a woman honked and drove around him.
Schluter with his young kids in the car
followed her to her house on Leir Road.
Got to the house and when she arrived there,
the homeowner, the husband was on the front porch.
He went out and spoke to the guy and then
she the the wife or victim fled behind the
residence. He then went to retrieve her
chief deputy Mike White with the Claremont County Sheriff's Office on WXIX
when they came back from behind the residence, he entered the home and at
that point the mail inside ended up striking him so much for trying to call
him Sluder down. Deputies say his Children were all under the age of five.
He pulled them out of the car and entered the couple's home without permission.
Inside, Schluter ransacked the place.
When the couple entered the home, he punched the husband in the face and ran off with his kids.
The husband was treated at the scene for minor injuries.
The woman told reporters she hadn't even realized that Schluter followed her home until he was already in their driveway.
Deputies tracked Schluter down later that day at a convenience store on State Route 727. Here is Detective Sergeant Yvonne Shepherd. the the
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the the the the back of the cruiser. His kids were turned over to relatives. A judge set his bond to
$200,000. Surprise. He has a history of domestic violence, burglary, drug
possession and previous DUI, including one in an elementary school zone.
Sluder now faces charges including aggravated burglary assault,
menacing child endangerment and two counts of DUI.
I'm Nicole Parton, Rex Heuerman, the alleged serial killer linked to the
Gilgo Beach murders, appeared in court marking just over two years since his
arrest. The much anticipated friar hearing regarding DNA evidence continued,
drawing significant attention. The man from Massapequa Park charged with the killings
of seven women listened intently as the defense
called forensic DNA expert profiler Dr. Dan Crane
to testify.
Crane expressed reservations about the DNA testing methods
employed in this case,
suggesting that this particular program being utilized,
which involves cutting edge DNA analysis techniques,
signifies a, quote, paradigm shift from traditional protocols.
As previously reported, this hearing commenced in March and focuses on the potential admissibility
of specific DNA evidence in the trial.
The decision made here could greatly influence the proceedings of an already intricate and
highly scrutinized case.
Despite the highlighted public interest, the actual trial may still be far off with the
defense indicating that it is unlikely to start before 2026.
Before setting a trial date, the court must first rule on the admissibility of the DNA
evidence and address the defense's
request to separate the cases.
For the latest crime and justice news, follow Crime Alert Hourly Update on your favorite
podcasting app.
With this crime alert, I'm Nicole Parton.