Crime Stories with Nancy Grace - Man Accused in Strangling Mother of Two Was Out on Bond| Crime Alert Recap Sunday 11.17.24

Episode Date: November 17, 2024

Breaking 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 one of our top stories this week. A Minnesota man accused of strangling a mother of two was already out on bail and unsupervised for a prior strangulation charge when the crime occurred.  Stay informed, stay safe, and stay ahead with "Crime Alert Hourly Update.” See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You're listening to an iHeart Podcast. Crime Alert, hourly update, breaking crime news now. I'm Drew Nelson, a Minnesota man accused of strangling a mother of two was already out on bail and unsupervised for a prior strangulation charge when this new crime occurred. Christopher Neal, age 45, is charged with second degree murder in the death of 38-year-old Victoria Gamble, who was a mother of two, found dead in her Sauk Rapids apartment. An autopsy last month confirmed that Gamble died from strangulation and ruled her death a homicide. Investigators say Neal met Gamble at a bar the night before her death.

Her boys were her center of her universe. It's like months of waiting. It's been really difficult. I'm just extremely sad and mad. The victim's friend, Melissa Stover on KSTP. Surveillance footage from that night showed Gamble and Neal interacting before the two left together in Gamble's black Chevy Equinox. They went to her apartment building, got there about 1.15 a.m., according to electronic key logs. About two hours later, Neal was seen leaving alone, attempting to avoid the camera. When officers arrived later that day, Gamble's car, keys, and other belongings were

missing. Less than a week later, police found Neal at a Louisiana hotel where he was arrested with Gamble's stolen vehicle. He allegedly admitted to taking her car and being in her apartment but claimed limited memory of the events. At the time of the crime, Neal was free on bail for a domestic assault case less than two weeks earlier in Aitken County, where he had allegedly strangled another woman while a child was present. Despite the violent nature of that case, Neal was released without monitoring or strict conditions. Advocates for Gamble's family are expressing frustration at what they call a failure in the system. Loved ones wrote on a fundraising page for her children, quote, our justice system failed Victoria. Gamble, who was a devoted mother, was described as a loving and bubbly person who cherished her two sons. The fundraising effort is underway to help support her children and preserve her memory. Stover,

her friend, says my promise to her is that they are taken care of. Neil is currently in custody in Aitkin County. If convicted, he faces up to 40 years in prison. A court date for the murder charge has not yet been set. I'm Jennifer Gould. An evening out for a Mississippi mom and her son turns into a terrifying ordeal when a police officer allegedly mistakes the child for an armed robbery suspect. Ishikita Wade and her son, Amar Anderson, pulled into the Civic Center West apartments in South Haven as they stepped out of their car. Flashing blue lights from a patrol car suddenly appeared in their rear view. Without warning, Wade claims an officer jumped out of the vehicle, drew his weapon and pointed it at her nine-year-old son. Here's Amar talking to Fox 13 News. I was shocked and nervous that because I never got pointed a gun at me before.

The officer was responding to a 911 call about an armed robbery at the nearby apartment complex. The victim had described the suspect as, quote, a heavyset male African-American wearing a sweatshirt and blue jeans who fled the scene on foot toward Terman Drive, end quote. Amar is five feet tall, weighs 150 pounds, and is black. However, the officer was then reportedly informed the suspect was not a black man after all, but instead a, quote, heavy set white male, end quote. Amar and his mom were also informed after the mix-up that the weapon pulled by the officer was a stun gun. The child was never detained or hurt. Despite the admission of error, Wade filed a formal complaint the following day demanding answers over the mistaken identity. In a statement released by the South Haven Police Department,

they confirmed that officers were searching for an armed suspect and that officers are, quote, often required to make split-second judgments in uncertain situations, end quote. They also say the matter is under review and that the department takes all complaints seriously. South Haven police have not said, though, if the suspect they were looking for was ever caught. I'm Nicole Parton. A Texas mother has been sentenced for her involvement in the tragic death of her eight-year-old son, Kendrick Lee, whose decomposing body was found in their home while she abandoned her three other children alone with their dead brother. Gloria Williams, 38, received a 50-year prison term

after pleading guilty in October to two counts of injury to a child related to Kendrick's death at their Houston apartment. According to a statement from Harris County District Attorney, here she is. We are grateful that the judge gave us a fair hearing, that she listened to all of the evidence, evaluated it in a fair manner, and I think justice was served. We always did this because of the kids. I'm speaking for those who couldn't speak out during this process, and I think that we did a fair job of that. Earlier this year, Williams' husband, Brian Coulter, 34, was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole

for fatally beating Kendrick in late 2020. Quote, parents are expected to safeguard their children, not harm them, as they are some of the most defenseless members of our society, stated Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg in a news release. This case is deeply disturbing, not only because a child lost his life, but also due to the utter neglect shown by these parents. During Coulter's trial, two of Kendrick's siblings testified that they witnessed him beating him multiple times. After Kendrick died, Coulter concealed the body and he and Williams relocated to another apartment, leaving the three siblings behind with their dead brother. 2021, William's 15-year-old son contacted authorities to report that his brother had been dead for a year and his body was decomposing in the room next door. This according to Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez. The skeletal remains of Kendrick were found wrapped in a blue blanket within the apartment, which was described by Gonzalez as being in an appalling state. The apartment was filthy with soiled carpets, no furniture, a complete lack of bedding or blankets.

There were roaches and flies making it uninhabitable for these children. During a press conference announcing the charges in 2021, Lieutenant Dennis Willard characterized Coulter as, quote, manipulative, but emphasized that Williams had accepted accountability for her son's death. The other children have been placed in the care of the Department of Children and Family Services. 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. You're listening to an iHeart Podcast.