Crime Stories with Nancy Grace - Mom Refuses to Allow EMTs Access to Dying Child | Crime Alert 03.24.25

Episode Date: March 24, 2025

Washington State EMTs respond to a call about a child overdosing, but the child’s mother refuses to let them inside. Owner of a stolen car more concerned about his mother's ashes left inside. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an iHeart Podcast. Crime Alert. I'm Nancy Grace. Breaking crime news now. Washington State first responders answer a child overdose call. When EMTs arrive, the child's mother refuses to let them inside to treat the toddler. Cops have to force their way in. Thankfully, the child's grandma already administered two doses of Narcan, and after treatment, the child is expected to survive. The mother, Summer Ward, found carrying a plastic bag full of meth. Nancy, in addition to the three-year-old that overdosed, Ward is also a mother to a two-year-old. Both children were taken into protective custody after the incident. The meth was found in a small plastic bag concealed

in Ward's clothes. It's unclear how her child was exposed to the drugs, but thanks to the grandmother's quick thinking, the child should recover. Summer Ward, 27, now charged with child endangerment, criminal mistreatment, drug possession, and obstructing an officer. After his mom's death, Larry Carter Jr. commissions a custom Dodge Charger in her favorite color, purple. Carter occasionally takes the car for joy rides like he used to with his mom. On the rides, he always carries a portion of his mom's ashes. One morning, he finds his garage open, the car stolen, along with it, his mom's ashes.

He immediately reports the theft and calls Florida cops again the next day. Overnight, the thieves return and put the ashes in the mailbox. Although there's no sign of the car yet, Carter's thankful to have his mother's ashes returned. Florida cops still searching for the suspects. More crime and justice news after this. A devastating crash on Interstate 35 in Austin, Texas has left five people dead and several others injured. Police say the driver responsible was under the influence. Authorities report that 37 year old Solomon Araya has been charged with five counts of intoxication manslaughter and two counts of intoxication assault. The late-night collision involved 17 vehicles and sent 11 people to the hospital. Among the dead, three adults, a child, and an infant. The exact cause of the wreck remains

under investigation. Austin police say it was, quote, very large and very complex. The crash shut down the southbound lanes of I-35 for more than 13 hours before reopening. Eyewitness Edgar Vieira told local station KXAN that bystanders tried to help, but without the right tools, they did what they could. Araya is currently in custody at Travis County Jail. A startling development in a decades-old Hawaii murder case. A suspect in the 1977 killing of a teenager has been released from custody. Sydney Sumner brings us this report. Nearly 48 years after 16-year-old Don Momohara was found strangled at McKinley High School,

police linked Gideon Castro to the crime through DNA evidence. Castro, a 1976 graduate of the school, was arrested in January at a Utah nursing home and charged with second-degree murder. Last month, he waived extradition to Hawaii, appearing by video from his hospital bed. But this week, Honolulu prosecutors cited complications with a key witness and the state of evidence, leading a Utah judge to order Castro's release. Chris Bronson, a spokesperson for the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office, confirmed he had been freed. The case went cold for decades despite initial witness descriptions of a suspect's vehicle. New DNA technology finally connected Castro to the crime, but prosecutors insist this is only a temporary delay.

Honolulu police say the investigation remains active. With the case still open, authorities say they're committed to justice for Don Momohara. Thanks, John. Despite splitting with his children's mom, Eric Fisher is still a very active, loving father to two children. That's why his ex-wife's so concerned when he texts her not to bring the children for a visit. He makes concerning statements about his frame of mind in those texts. Illinois cops head to his Macomb apartment for a welfare check. He's not there. Immediately, he's reported missing. Eric's last purchase at a nearby Walmart. Cops find surveillance video of him leaving the store.

He purchased a bike, air pump, and deodorant. He comes out of the store, hops on the bike, and heads north from the parking lot. His phone last pings five miles away. If you have info on Eric Fisher, please call Macomb, Illinois, PD, 309-833-4505. 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.

This is an iHeart Podcast.