Crime Stories with Nancy Grace - Mother Suspected Of Murder After Body Of 9-Year-Old Melodee Buzzard Found: Crime Alert Recap Saturday 12.27.2025

Episode Date: December 27, 2025

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 some of our top stories this week: A man and woman discovered Melodee’s body while taking pictures in Wayne County, Utah, Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown said at a Tuesday news conference. A grandmother shopping for Christas gifts at Barnes & Noble is stabbed to death by a deranged madman who just arrived in town. He claimed he killed her because, "she was the closest person to him." A state trooper in Delaware is killed while working an overtime shift at the DMV after stepping into gunfire to protect others. Santa Claus is pulled over for speeding on an Ohio road, not in his sleigh, but a silver Ford Escape. Drew Nelson reports. A man from Michigan has been arrested after security footage revealed him trying to persuade children at a residence in northern Scott County to let him in by falsely claiming their parents were injured outside. Stay informed, stay safe, and stay ahead with "Crime Alert Hourly Update.”See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed human. This new year swaps someday with today. You've already got the idea, so make it real in 26 with a pro-level website. GoDaddy makes it easy with the lowest-priced website builder,

guaranteed. Ready to build a confetti-ready site in minutes? New customers start for free at go-dadi.com. That's go-dadi.com to get the lowest-priced website Builder. Guaranteed. Crime alert, hourly update, breaking crime news now. Crime alert, hourly update, breaking crime news now. I'm Nicole Parton. Ashley Buzzard appeared in the Department 9 of the Santa Barbara

County Superior Court in Santa Maria today for her arraignment after her daughter's body was discovered in Utah. Represented by a public defender, Adrian Galvin, Ashley pleaded not guilty and rejected all additional allegations, which elicited a strong reaction from those in the audience with obvious gasp and crying from the attendees. Galvin also requested a gag order to prevent the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office from disclosing any evidence or materials that are not publicly available. Judge John McGregor approved the motion and scheduled Ashley's trial for January 7th. Melody's paternal grandmother, Lily Dinas, expressed her deep distress over the

situation, but said she will wait patiently for the legal process to unfold. Dennis is also cautioning the public about donating to any GoFundMe campaign, saying the family has not asked for any financial support. Residents of Ashley's Vanderberg Village neighborhood have voiced their confusion and frustration over the not guilty plea and said they were feeling like Ashley was receiving preferred treatment. However, they are relieved that now the mother is behind bars. A man and a woman discovered Melody's body on December 6 while taking pictures in Wayne County, Utah. Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown said at a Tuesday news conference, it was clear that she died from gunshot wounds to the head. Brown said an FBI analysis of DNA confirmed the body was

Melodies. He said investigators have uncovered a significant amount of evidence that indicates Buzzard killed her daughter. Detective searched Buzzard's home, a rental car, and a rented locker storage and found an expended cartridge case and a live round of similar ammunition. Official said the murder weapon has not been found. The sheriff's office previously said that the mother had not been cooperating during the search for Melody, who was last seen on a security video on October 7. She was wearing a wig at a rental car business where Buzzard picked up a Chevy Malibu. Detective said they believe Buzzard tried to alter her daughter's appearance with the wig.

and she also is known to wear wigs herself. The pair took a three-day road trip from California to Nebraska with the return trip, including the state of Kansas, the sheriff said. Melody was last seen on the return leg of the trip on October 9 near the Utah, Colorado border. Officials say she wasn't with Buzzard when she returned home on October 10. I'm Jennifer Gould, a 65-year-old grandmother, browsing magazines at a Barnes & Noble was slaughtered in cold blood

when a homeless drifter allegedly plunged a knife into her back for no reason other than she was quote the closest person to him end quote this is a further first degree premeditated apparently an innocent victim was killed this incident Rita Launcherich was peacefully shopping for Christmas presence at the Legacy Avenue bookstore around 7.53 p.m. when 40-year-old Antonio Moore allegedly emerged from a phone charging station to commit an act of pure savagery. In a heart-wrenching twist of faith, the mortally wounded woman managed to call her husband on her cell phone to tell him she had been attacked. The scene inside the Palm Beach Garden Shop was a picture of

Holiday horror. Responding officers found Launcherich unresponsive on the floor with the weapons still buried in her body as shocked shoppers looked on. Witnesses heard the woman scream, quote, He stabbed me, end quote, before Moore bolted from the store. Despite being rushed to surgery at St. Mary's Medical Center, the victim died of her wounds at 9.22 p.m. Aaron Johnson lives in the area and spoke to News 12. I was shocked, to be honest, like, I've never heard of that before, like, around here, especially. The alleged killer is reportedly a homeless drifter with a disturbing history. Moore had also arrived from Georgia by bus just one week prior to the slaying. Records indicate a prior rap sheet in Georgia, including a 2017 arrest for battery and obstruction of law enforcement

alongside a 2018 arrest for simple battery. Moore was apprehended in the nearby woods shortly after the bloodbath. The cold-blooded suspect allegedly confessed to the killing, telling detectives he felt a, quote, internal buildup, end quote, and a fight or flight impulse while charging his phone. He admitted he had no prior interaction with the woman he chose to execute and targeted her simply because of her proximity. Moore was charged with first-degree premeditated murder

and is being held without bond in the Palm Beach County Jail. Palm Beach Gardens Police Department is asking anyone with information to call them at 561-799-4584. Barnes & Noble said they do not comment on ongoing investigations. I'm Drew Nelson. A state trooper in Delaware is killed while working an overtime shift at the DMV after stepping into gunfire to protect others. Corporal Grade 1, Matthew T. Snook, better known as Ty, was 34 years old, a 10-year veteran of the Delaware State Police. Snook was shot and killed on Tuesday while assigned to the Karen L. Johnson Division of Motor Vehicles on Hessler Boulevard near Wilmington.

Police say a 44-year-old man entered the DMV as a customer shortly after 2 p.m. investigators say the man approached snook at the reception desk and opened fire snook was hit police say he shoved a dmv employee out of harm's way as the shooter fired again a responding officer confronted the gunman and shot him the suspect died witnesses inside the building described chaos and fear vosti albino valise returned to the dmv the next day to retrieve her belongings she told wcAU she was inside with her parents and son when the shooting began i looked to my life left and I see everybody running towards us. Falez says her family hit the floor. Her mother had recently undergone surgery. My son and my dad got a hold of my mom. I got a hold of her jacket and we kind of like dragged her out and we limped out of the building.

Falez describes the moments after escaping through a side door. We leaned up against the brick, tried to stay away from glass and then we heard more shots. We heard about three or four more shots. And then we heard another two shots and then it was over. Snook was rushed to a hospital and pronounced. dead. Investigators say several people suffered minor injuries not related to gunfire. Another trooper was also treated and released. Outside Troop 6 in Wilmington, mourners gathered throughout the day. Flowers lined the entrance. A squad car sits with its lights flashing

in Snook's honor. A shirt left at the scene says, Heroes need saving too. A close friend of Snook shared a statement with WCAU, quote, he was the kind of man who lived to protect others. Learning it was him didn't surprise me, but losing my friend is a pain I can't put into words. He was a devoted husband, a new father, and a true hero. He will never be forgotten. Snook is survived by his wife and their one-year-old daughter. Delaware's governor ordered state flags lowered to half-staff in his honor. Authorities have not released the motive for the shooting. This new year swap someday with today. You've already got the idea. So make it real in 26 with a pro-level website.

GoDaddy makes it easy with the lowest-priced website builder, guaranteed. Ready to build a confetti-ready site in minutes? New customers start for free at go-dadi.com. That's go-dadi.com to get the lowest-priced website builder, guaranteed. I'm Nicole Parton in Kentucky. A man from Michigan has been arrested after security footage revealed him trying to persuade children at a residence in North Scott County to open the door, falsely claiming that the children's parents were injured outside.

Everything caught on the ring doorbell cam. Anthony Britton 35 from Southfield, Michigan, faces charges of making false report and second-degree burglary following the incident, as stated by Sheriff Jeremy Nettles. The video shows Britain knocking on the door around 6.45 p.m. telling the children that their parents were hurt and outside lying on the ground. Come, hey, come open the door. We can't answer the door right now, but if you'd like to leave a message, you can do it now. Your mom and dad are out here hurt.

They're laying on the ground right here, I promise you. I was walking through the neighbor and I promise you, I'm not harming anybody. I'm not home here, anybody. They are hurt. Hey, sir. At the time, the children were with a babysitter. No one opened the door. The babysitter reported the man,

though she did not fully grasp the extent of his claims initially, according to the sheriff. This evening could have turned out dangerous based on the individual's behavior and his attempts to lure someone outside or at least to open the door, said the sheriff. Authorities reported that Britain had left a national. nearby recovery center prior to the incident. That same night, he called 911, claiming that people

were chasing him in the woods. Deputies responded and transported him to another location, but did not link the two events together at that time. It wasn't until several days later that the parents viewed this video and shared the footage with law enforcement, prompting them to recognize the situation. This led the sheriff's office to identify Britain, as the man captured on the camera, realizing officers had picked him up on that night and given him a ride. It's truly alarming to think that this could have transpired. Wonder what could have happened, the sheriff reported. I'm relieved that no one opened the door, that he didn't attempt to force his way in, said Sheriff Nettles.

Deputies indicated that Britain appeared to be under the influence of something during the encounter. The sheriff mentioned that Britain expressed remorse but said he didn't really. know why he did it. We can't ascertain what his intentions were that night or what would have happened if they opened the door, said Sheriff Nettles. He emphasized that this case serves as an important reminder for everyone to keep their doors locked at all times. Well, crime and justice news after this. That business idea you've been sitting on this new year. Stop waiting for the perfect time. GoDaddy Arrow uses AI to build your website, logo, and marketing in minutes, not months,

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