Crime Stories with Nancy Grace - Crime Alert 10.22.24 | Grandmother Found Bludgeoned Dead with Hammer

Episode Date: October 22, 2024

Neighbor finds grandmother bludgeoned dead with a hammer in quiet neighborhood. Man takes an Uber to commit a crime, tells driver about his plans.  For more crime and justice news go to crimeonline.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You're listening to an iHeart Podcast. Crime Alert, I'm Nancy Grace, breaking crime news now. A neighbor has not seen Cynthia Lanchester, 76, in days and goes to check on her. The neighbor sees the front door ajar and pushes it open. Inside, Cynthia's lying in a pool of blood, a hammer at her side. The neighbor calls 911. While police process the scene. Cynthia's grandson, Joshua Lanchester, arrives. After an interview, cops determine Lanchester beat Cynthia to death

with the hammer. Nancy, cops have released very few details about why they think Joshua Lanchester is responsible and are remaining tight-lipped about the investigation. Neighbors described Cynthia as a kind and quiet woman who they never expected to meet a violent end. Joshua Lanchester waived his arraignment and his next court date has not yet been scheduled. Joshua Lanchester, 23, charged with murder. Carlos Flores orders an Uber to his friend's Florida home and strikes up a conversation with the driver. He tells the driver he's upset his friend hasn't paid him back the hundred bucks he loaned him the week before. Flores tells the driver he has a laundry detergent container full of gasoline, a match, and a knife and plans to burn the friend's home down as soon

as they get there. The second Flores gets out of the car, the Uber driver calls 911. Cops arrive just as Flores is about to light several trails of gas he poured around the home. Carlos Flores, 33, charged with arson, making threats to kill, and ag assault. More crime and justice news after this. Now with the latest crime and justice breaking news, Crime Online's John Limley. In Pennsylvania, a mother has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the brutal murders of her two young children. Lisa Snyder, now 41, was convicted last month of first-degree murder for the deaths of her 8-year-old son, Connor, and 4-year-old daughter, Brindley. The children were found hanging in the basement of their Albany Township home about 60 miles northwest of Philadelphia in September of 2019. Both children were taken off life support just days after being discovered. During sentencing in Berks County, Snyder remained emotionless, declining to speak in court. President Judge Teresa Johnson also

imposed additional time for child endangerment and evidence tampering, bringing the total to more than 17 years on top of the life sentences. The judge noted that Snyder showed no remorse throughout the trial. Snyder initially claimed that her son had been bullied and intended to take his own life, but investigators found no evidence supporting that claim. Authorities uncovered disturbing online searches by Snyder, including queries on suicide

and how to kill someone. Additionally, she had watched episodes of a crime series titled I Almost Got Away With It. The coroner confirmed that both children died by hanging, ruling their deaths as homicides. While the defense argued that the case was based on speculation, the jury disagreed, convicting Snyder on all counts. The judge had earlier rejected a plea deal in which Snyder sought to plead no contest but mentally ill to third-degree murder. In a case that has sparked national debate, former Marine Daniel Penny, discharged from service in 2021, is now facing serious criminal charges in connection with the

death of Jordan Neely. We bring in Sydney Sumner of Crime Online for more. The incident occurred on a New York City subway where witnesses reported that Jordan Neely, who had a history of drug addiction, mental illness, and homelessness, was shouting and demanding money from passengers. It was at that point that Daniel Penny, with the assistance of two other passengers, restrained Neely, placing him in a chokehold for over three minutes. Neely's body eventually went limp, and he was later pronounced dead. The city's medical examiner ruled the death a homicide, citing compression of the neck as the cause. Penny's defense team contends that the Long Island native never intended to kill Neely,

arguing that Penny's actions were aimed at subduing him until authorities could arrive. According to Penny, Neely had been acting aggressively, reportedly shouting, I'm going to kill you, and expressing a readiness to die or face a life sentence in prison. In their defense strategy, Penny's attorneys have suggested that other factors may have contributed to Neely's death, including the presence of synthetic cannabinoids, commonly known as K2, found in his system. They also argued that widely circulated video footage shows that Penny did not apply continuous pressure during the chokehold, claiming this contradicts the idea that he intended to render Neely unconscious or kill him.

Meanwhile, prosecutors maintain that Penny's actions were both reckless and negligent, regardless of whether there was intent to kill. Penny, who's currently out on a $100,000 bond, could face up to 15 years in prison if convicted of second-degree manslaughter and up to four years if convicted of criminally negligent homicide. Thanks, John. Vendula Rose, 30, plans a hiking trip in Alabama. She takes the week off and tells family where she's going. She leaves her Maryville, Ohio home September 20 and backpacks the Pinotti Trail three days. She then spends the night in South Carolina, returning to Alabama the next day for more hiking in Chia Ha State Park.

She's scheduled to go back to work October 4, but doesn't show up or answer her phone. Cops find Vendula's car still parked at the Pinotti Trailhead. Inside are odd notes and a box of ammo missing seven rounds. Searches covering nearly 40 miles of trails turn up nothing. Vendula Rose, 5'6", 140 pounds, red hair, brown eyes, and carrying a large red backpack. If you have info on Vendula Rose, please call Cleburne County, Alabama Sheriffs, 256-463-2277. For the latest crime and justice news, go to CrimeOnline.com. And please join us for our daily podcast, Crime Stories. With this crime alert, I'm Nancy Grace. You're listening to an iHeart Podcast.