Crime Stories with Nancy Grace - Doctor Charged With Child Sex Abuse Material Found Dead In Burned Home Days After Arrest | Crime Alert 6AM 12.31.25

Episode Date: December 31, 2025

A 46-year-old Alaska cardiologist charged with possessing child sex abuse material was found dead inside his burned Wasilla home just one day after his release on bond, as investigators continue to determine how the fire and his death occurred. A Christmas Day drive through the Sierra nearly ends in disaster when an SUV spins out on icy Highway 50 and hangs over a steep drop, until an Air Force staff sergeant rushes in and helps save the trapped couple. A quick-thinking Long Island seventh grader escaped through a window and called 911 after realizing a burglar had broken into his home, leading police to arrest the suspect within minutes. Drew Nelson reports.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Crime Alert, I'm Nancy Grace, an Alaska doctor previously named to the state's medical board, found dead in his burned-down home just days after his arrest on child sex abuse materials. Authorities first believe Ryan McDonough 46 is missing after discovering other residents escape the fire. Upon further investigation, his remains found in the home. Straight out to Drew Nelson for more. Nancy, the fire destroyed the family. home of Ryan McDonough on West Discovery Loop in Wasilla just one day after he was released from jail on a $50,000 cash bond posted by his wife. Alaska State Troopers now say preliminary

identification confirms the charred body found in the house is McDonough's. The state medical examiner is still working to determine his cause of death. Investigators say the origin on cause of the fire also remain under investigation. Fire crews arrived to find the home fully engulfed. Authorities confirm McDonough was the only person inside at the time as the other residents escaped unharmed. The discovery comes just days after McDonough pleaded not guilty to the child sex abuse material charges during an initial court appearance. He had been arrested as part of a joint, local, state, and federal investigation. Court records show the alleged material was uncovered after tips were sent to the National Center for missing and exploited children.

Neighbors described the shock rippling through the Wasilla community, some of them declining to speak to reporters. Others say they were disturbed by the allegations tied to a man they believed lived a quiet life in the neighborhood. Wasilla resident Damon Blankenship speaking to KTUUU. Angry seems so predominant in our world today. So many of them, I don't think we have even scratched the surface. Blankenship says the case makes him angry and rather unsettled. It's been an issue for a long, long time. we need to spend a lot more money putting these people in jail as far as I'm concerned. McDonough worked as an interventional cardiologist at Matsu Regional Medical Center and Matsu

Medical Group. Hospital officials say he was terminated the same day the charges became public. A spokesperson called the situation shocking and said the decision was immediate to fire him. In August, McDonough had been appointed to the Alaska State Medical Board by Governor Mike Dunleavy. He resigned from the board in November. A spokesperson for the governor said the administration was unaware of any criminal investigation at the time he was appointed. He learned of the charges when they were made public. Thanks, Drew. More crime and justice news after this.

A Long Island, New York, seventh grader is being praised for his quick thinking after escaping a burglary in progress and calling police while a stranger was inside his home. The break-in happened midday two. in Medford. 12-year-old Tristan Taylor was home alone inside his family's house on Eagle Avenue when he heard a sudden crash from the kitchen. Moments later, he realized someone was inside and moving through the house. Here he is speaking with WCBS reporter Carolyn Gusoff. I heard glass breaking. I said to myself, I'd have to get out the house. The quickest way possible. And that was how? The window. Tristan climbed out of a ground floor window and ran to safety. He hid behind the garage and

called 911 while the intruder continued rummaging through the house. He stayed on the line as officers rushed to the scene. You just had to be brave and called them. I was on the phone with them, waiting for them to get here. Suffolk County Police arrived in less than three minutes. Officers caught the suspect inside the house and took him into custody without incident. Family members said Tristan stayed calm throughout the whole ordeal. His grandmother praised his instincts and composure. He's our little hero. We were very proud that he was able to keep. keep his composure and, you know, call the police as quickly as he did, you know, basically without really, you know, thinking about it. He just automatically called 911.

Neighbors like Mike Campanella say the boy did exactly what he was taught. I would hope that, you know, my son would have done the same thing. When someone's breaking into the house, you know, precaution is to get out and then call the police. Police identified the suspect as a 53-year-old, Christian Garcia. He pleaded not guilty to charges of burglary and possession of burglar tools. Our partners at the New York Post likened Quick Thinking Tristan to Kevin McAllister from home alone, though unlike the movie, no one was injured.

A holiday drive through the Sierra nearly turns deadly when an SUV spins out on icy Highway 50 and dangles over a steep drop, that is, until a heroic U.S. Air Force Staff Sergeant steps in. The crash happened on Christmas morning along historic Highway 50 as a major winter storm moved through Northern California. Cal-Trans reported multiple spin-outs in the area as drivers faced snow, ice, and nearly no traction. One of those spin-outs left an SUV teetering hundreds of feet above a slope, held in place by a single tree. Staff Sergeant Ruben Talas stationed at Travis Air Force Base was driving through the area when his family saw the vehicle lose control. He tells KCRA he pulled over and ran toward the SUV without hesitation. I mean, I saw the car spin out, like I thought about my wife and my dad.

daughter. But if there's a family on that car, somebody has to help. Dash and cell phone videos shows Tala gripping the vehicle as it hangs over the edge. Other drivers stopped to help as the situation grows more perilous. I yelled at them, hey, do you have any rope? I need some rope. Then one guy ran back to his trap and gave me a rope. Then the other three guys, they were holding my hands to keep the car not moving. The driver and passenger remained trapped inside the SUV as it swayed. So the driver's really thankful. He's really thankful on me. And I think his wife is still in state of shop at that time. She was holding her two dogs. Once the rope was secured and the vehicle stabilized, the couple was pulled to safety one by one. Miraculously, nobody was hurt. One thing stuck with Sergeant Tala after the rescue. One of the dogs in the vehicle was named Luna, which is the same name as his young daughter.

KCR reports, first responders arrived shortly after the rescue was complete. Fight the praise, Tala brushes off the title of hero. I'm just doing my part to help somebody else. That's how we're trained in airports. Thanks, Drew. For the latest crime and justice news, go to crimeonline.com, and please join us for our daily podcast, crime stories, where we do our best to find missing people, especially children,

and help solve unsolved homicides. With this crime alert, I'm Nancy Grace. This is an IHeart podcast, Guaranteed Human.