1 00:00:00,440 --> 00:00:03,880 Speaker 1: Crime Alard Hourly Update, Breaking Crime News Now. 2 00:00:03,720 --> 00:00:07,200 Speaker 2: I'm Sidney Sumner. A dramatic moment unfolded in the murder 3 00:00:07,240 --> 00:00:10,800 Speaker 2: trial of Utah Children's Grief author Corey Richards as her 4 00:00:10,840 --> 00:00:16,000 Speaker 2: alleged handyman lover, broke down in court while testifying. Robert Grossman, 5 00:00:16,120 --> 00:00:19,520 Speaker 2: forty three, an Iraq war veteran, took the stan Wednesday 6 00:00:19,600 --> 00:00:22,919 Speaker 2: and described a series of intimate text messages exchanged with 7 00:00:23,079 --> 00:00:26,480 Speaker 2: Richins just weeks before her husband's death in twenty twenty two. 8 00:00:27,080 --> 00:00:30,360 Speaker 2: According to testimony, less than a month before her husband, 9 00:00:30,560 --> 00:00:34,680 Speaker 2: Eric Richins died, Corey Richins sent Grossman a message asking 10 00:00:34,880 --> 00:00:37,040 Speaker 2: if I was divorced right now and asked you to 11 00:00:37,080 --> 00:00:41,200 Speaker 2: marry me tomorrow, you would, Grossman replied, yes, in love 12 00:00:41,280 --> 00:00:44,720 Speaker 2: with y O you, of course I would, Prosecutors say. 13 00:00:44,760 --> 00:00:47,960 Speaker 2: The messages reveal the pair discussing a future together. In 14 00:00:48,000 --> 00:00:51,480 Speaker 2: another text shown to jurors, Richins allegedly wrote that life 15 00:00:51,479 --> 00:00:54,320 Speaker 2: would be perfect if her husband could just go away 16 00:00:54,480 --> 00:00:58,520 Speaker 2: and you could just be here. Richins muses about purchasing 17 00:00:58,600 --> 00:01:01,560 Speaker 2: a mansion with Grossman, living in the guest house and 18 00:01:01,600 --> 00:01:04,800 Speaker 2: renting out the main house as an event center. Richins 19 00:01:04,840 --> 00:01:07,520 Speaker 2: suggests they hang out every day on a little farm 20 00:01:07,640 --> 00:01:11,080 Speaker 2: and raise her children. As the texts were displayed in court, 21 00:01:11,120 --> 00:01:15,119 Speaker 2: Grossman became emotional and wiped away tears During his testimony. 22 00:01:15,240 --> 00:01:19,120 Speaker 2: Grossman also described a troubling conversation he had with Richins 23 00:01:19,360 --> 00:01:22,720 Speaker 2: just days after her husband died. He told jurors she 24 00:01:22,840 --> 00:01:25,320 Speaker 2: asked him if he had ever killed anyone, referring to 25 00:01:25,360 --> 00:01:28,399 Speaker 2: his military service in Iraq, and questioned him about how 26 00:01:28,440 --> 00:01:31,039 Speaker 2: it made him feel. Grossman said at the time he 27 00:01:31,120 --> 00:01:33,760 Speaker 2: had no suspicion that Richins might have been involved in 28 00:01:33,800 --> 00:01:38,160 Speaker 2: her husband's death. Prosecutors alleged Richins killed Eric Richins in 29 00:01:38,240 --> 00:01:41,479 Speaker 2: March twenty twenty two by slipping four times the lethal 30 00:01:41,520 --> 00:01:45,040 Speaker 2: dose of fentanyl into a Moscow mule cocktail she prepared 31 00:01:45,080 --> 00:01:48,600 Speaker 2: for him. Additional charges accuse her of a previous attempt 32 00:01:48,680 --> 00:01:51,680 Speaker 2: to kill Eric by spiking his sandwich with fentanyl a 33 00:01:51,720 --> 00:01:55,800 Speaker 2: month earlier, on Valentine's Day. After his death, Richins went 34 00:01:55,840 --> 00:01:59,000 Speaker 2: on to self publish a children's book about coping with grief, 35 00:01:59,240 --> 00:02:01,440 Speaker 2: saying it was meant to help her sons and other 36 00:02:01,560 --> 00:02:05,200 Speaker 2: children deal with the loss of a parent. Prosecutors argue 37 00:02:05,280 --> 00:02:07,840 Speaker 2: Richards plan the killing in hopes of starting a new 38 00:02:07,880 --> 00:02:10,440 Speaker 2: life with her lover and believe she would inherit her 39 00:02:10,520 --> 00:02:14,000 Speaker 2: husband's estate, valued at more than four million dollars. Her 40 00:02:14,040 --> 00:02:17,359 Speaker 2: defense team, however, maintains that Eric Richards died from an 41 00:02:17,400 --> 00:02:21,639 Speaker 2: accidental overdose. They say it's unclear how Eric ingested the 42 00:02:21,720 --> 00:02:24,960 Speaker 2: drug and that investigators did not thoroughly test the drink's 43 00:02:25,000 --> 00:02:28,600 Speaker 2: cup for evidence. Corey Richins has pleaded not guilty and 44 00:02:28,639 --> 00:02:32,320 Speaker 2: the trial continues. More crime and justice news after. 45 00:02:32,040 --> 00:02:39,520 Speaker 1: This I'm Nicole Parton. A twenty eight year old woman 46 00:02:39,560 --> 00:02:42,880 Speaker 1: from Ohio has been arrested in relation to the tragic 47 00:02:42,960 --> 00:02:47,600 Speaker 1: deaths of two young sisters whose bodies were discovered inside 48 00:02:47,680 --> 00:02:53,280 Speaker 1: abandoned suitcases buried in shallow graves. Eliah Henderson was arrested 49 00:02:53,320 --> 00:02:57,079 Speaker 1: this week and faces charges of murder and child endangerment. 50 00:02:57,120 --> 00:03:01,119 Speaker 1: As confirmed by law enforcement officials, the Lynn Police Department 51 00:03:01,200 --> 00:03:04,600 Speaker 1: reported that officers responded to a call for assistance around 52 00:03:04,639 --> 00:03:07,920 Speaker 1: six pm on Monday in the vicinity of East one 53 00:03:08,040 --> 00:03:10,920 Speaker 1: hundred and sixty second and Midland Avenue. A man was 54 00:03:10,960 --> 00:03:13,840 Speaker 1: walking his dog in a snow covered area when he 55 00:03:13,960 --> 00:03:18,440 Speaker 1: stumbled upon the horrifying site. The caller indicated he found 56 00:03:18,520 --> 00:03:22,120 Speaker 1: what looked like a body inside a suitcase, said Cleveland 57 00:03:22,160 --> 00:03:26,160 Speaker 1: Police Chief Annie Todd during a briefing on Tuesday. Upon arrival, 58 00:03:26,240 --> 00:03:30,120 Speaker 1: officers located the deceased individual, who was buried in a 59 00:03:30,240 --> 00:03:34,440 Speaker 1: shallow grave inside a suitcase. Police quickly began searching the 60 00:03:34,480 --> 00:03:38,600 Speaker 1: area for any potential evidence and discovered another shallow grave 61 00:03:38,680 --> 00:03:42,800 Speaker 1: containing a second suitcase with another body. The county Medical 62 00:03:42,840 --> 00:03:47,480 Speaker 1: examiner later confirmed that the victims were sisters. Authorities identified 63 00:03:47,520 --> 00:03:51,360 Speaker 1: the victims as two young black females, one sister believed 64 00:03:51,360 --> 00:03:54,360 Speaker 1: to be between eight and thirteen years old, the other 65 00:03:54,960 --> 00:03:58,680 Speaker 1: estimated to be between ten and fourteen. Although it remains 66 00:03:58,760 --> 00:04:01,080 Speaker 1: unclear how long the body had been on the site, 67 00:04:01,240 --> 00:04:04,320 Speaker 1: Chief Todd noted that it appeared the girls had been 68 00:04:04,360 --> 00:04:07,560 Speaker 1: dead for some time. There was not a recent occurrence, 69 00:04:07,640 --> 00:04:10,840 Speaker 1: she said. In a body camera footage obtained by Cleveland 70 00:04:10,880 --> 00:04:15,200 Speaker 1: Fox affiliate w j W, an officer remarked on one 71 00:04:15,280 --> 00:04:19,200 Speaker 1: of the bodies, noting it was folded in a fetal position. 72 00:04:19,760 --> 00:04:23,240 Speaker 1: As of Tuesday afternoon, police had not identified the victims 73 00:04:23,279 --> 00:04:26,679 Speaker 1: and had no suspects. However, Henderson was arrested and taken 74 00:04:26,720 --> 00:04:31,240 Speaker 1: to the Cuahoga County Jail on Wednesday, neighbors inform WOIO 75 00:04:31,440 --> 00:04:35,440 Speaker 1: that Henderson resides directly across from where the suitcases were found. 76 00:04:35,440 --> 00:04:39,080 Speaker 1: Police arrested her while executing a search warrant. Part of 77 00:04:39,080 --> 00:04:42,280 Speaker 1: the investigation led us to the residents. It has been 78 00:04:42,320 --> 00:04:45,640 Speaker 1: a continuous and exhaustive investigations. 79 00:04:45,880 --> 00:04:49,039 Speaker 3: She die like this disappearing act. She had asked you 80 00:04:49,120 --> 00:04:52,200 Speaker 3: for something, asked you for help, but then she had disappeared. 81 00:04:52,520 --> 00:04:55,400 Speaker 3: She had mover. So you can't go down to the 82 00:04:55,480 --> 00:04:59,080 Speaker 3: courts because you need an address to even file emotion. 83 00:05:00,120 --> 00:05:03,200 Speaker 3: You can't go to CPS because CPS only ask two 84 00:05:03,320 --> 00:05:07,440 Speaker 3: questions as a food er BIZ in a house. You 85 00:05:07,520 --> 00:05:09,679 Speaker 3: can't go to the police because they need to address 86 00:05:09,720 --> 00:05:10,640 Speaker 3: a welfare check. 87 00:05:11,160 --> 00:05:14,839 Speaker 1: Councilman Michael Pollan Sick expressed his outrage over the incident, 88 00:05:14,920 --> 00:05:19,800 Speaker 1: insisting that those responsible must face justice, saying, in part, 89 00:05:19,880 --> 00:05:23,560 Speaker 1: what kind of monster would do this to two children? 90 00:05:24,120 --> 00:05:29,200 Speaker 1: Justicecard them like their trash, not in Collinwood. This is unacceptable, 91 00:05:29,240 --> 00:05:31,599 Speaker 1: he said. We will not tolerate this. There must be 92 00:05:31,680 --> 00:05:37,080 Speaker 1: accountability for those two children. Police confirmed another child was 93 00:05:37,120 --> 00:05:39,720 Speaker 1: located inside the home with a woman. That child has 94 00:05:39,760 --> 00:05:43,039 Speaker 1: since been removed and placed in the care of DCF. 95 00:05:43,320 --> 00:05:45,440 Speaker 1: It is believed the woman is the mother of the 96 00:05:45,520 --> 00:05:46,919 Speaker 1: two girls found dead. 97 00:05:48,760 --> 00:05:52,760 Speaker 4: I'm Jennifer Gould. A morning cup of Joe turned into 98 00:05:52,800 --> 00:05:56,120 Speaker 4: a midnight wake and a quiet upstate New York hamlet 99 00:05:56,440 --> 00:05:59,839 Speaker 4: when a sixty three year old man allegedly dumped hot 100 00:06:00,480 --> 00:06:04,440 Speaker 4: over his wife's head during a marital spat, only to 101 00:06:04,520 --> 00:06:07,520 Speaker 4: be beaten and strangled to death by his own son. 102 00:06:07,920 --> 00:06:12,880 Speaker 4: Moments later. Neighbor Don Powers spoke to ww NYTV. 103 00:06:13,400 --> 00:06:16,640 Speaker 1: They're not my little and I was, but I thought 104 00:06:16,640 --> 00:06:19,080 Speaker 1: they're okay. I haven't seen him since, you know, I 105 00:06:19,160 --> 00:06:19,719 Speaker 1: see him out. 106 00:06:19,839 --> 00:06:20,800 Speaker 5: I just waved to them, you know. 107 00:06:21,160 --> 00:06:25,440 Speaker 4: New York State police say the deadly domestic explosion erupted 108 00:06:25,480 --> 00:06:29,400 Speaker 4: inside a residence on Pyrit's Russell Road in the town 109 00:06:29,440 --> 00:06:33,920 Speaker 4: of Russell Saint Lawrence County. Philip Knickerbocker and his wife, 110 00:06:34,040 --> 00:06:37,520 Speaker 4: Jacqueline were reportedly in the heat of an argument about 111 00:06:37,560 --> 00:06:42,160 Speaker 4: their marriage when the older man snapped, pouring the coffee 112 00:06:42,240 --> 00:06:45,640 Speaker 4: on her head and trying to punch her in the face. 113 00:06:46,279 --> 00:06:49,599 Speaker 4: Their forty year old son, Hans Knickerbocker, was in his 114 00:06:49,720 --> 00:06:53,200 Speaker 4: bedroom at the time, but stormed into the living room 115 00:06:53,240 --> 00:06:58,279 Speaker 4: after hearing the chaos. Hans did not just intervene. Police 116 00:06:58,320 --> 00:07:02,440 Speaker 4: say he unleashed a savage beating, punching his dad in 117 00:07:02,480 --> 00:07:06,480 Speaker 4: the head before wrapping both hands around the man's throat. 118 00:07:06,960 --> 00:07:11,280 Speaker 4: According to court docs, Hans then applied his full body weight, 119 00:07:11,360 --> 00:07:16,400 Speaker 4: pressing his elbow into his father's windpipe and restricting his 120 00:07:16,560 --> 00:07:21,120 Speaker 4: breathing until the older man was dead. State troopers arrived 121 00:07:21,120 --> 00:07:24,160 Speaker 4: at the scene around seven forty nine pm following a 122 00:07:24,280 --> 00:07:28,560 Speaker 4: nine to one one call and found Philip's body slumped 123 00:07:28,680 --> 00:07:33,120 Speaker 4: on the living room couch. Hans was immediately detained and 124 00:07:33,240 --> 00:07:37,040 Speaker 4: initially hit with a charge of criminal obstruction of breathing, 125 00:07:37,600 --> 00:07:41,920 Speaker 4: but that was upgraded to second degree murder after an 126 00:07:42,000 --> 00:07:45,920 Speaker 4: autopsy at Glen Falls Hospital confirmed the cause of death 127 00:07:46,040 --> 00:07:52,360 Speaker 4: as asphyxia due to strangulation. Hans Knickerbocker was rearraigned in 128 00:07:52,480 --> 00:07:56,679 Speaker 4: Cantontown court and ordered held without bail at the Saint 129 00:07:56,760 --> 00:08:01,600 Speaker 4: Lawrence County Jail. State Police said the investigation remains ongoing. 130 00:08:03,640 --> 00:08:06,440 Speaker 6: I'm Drew Nelson, a southeast Portland business owner, says a 131 00:08:06,480 --> 00:08:09,480 Speaker 6: heroic kitten saved his life as a fast moving fire 132 00:08:09,560 --> 00:08:13,320 Speaker 6: destroyed the home he spent years rebuilding. Donald van Wermer, 133 00:08:13,400 --> 00:08:17,880 Speaker 6: longtime owner of Alternative Solutions Dispensary on Southeast Powell Boulevard, 134 00:08:18,160 --> 00:08:20,640 Speaker 6: was asleep in his Tillamuck home when the fire broke 135 00:08:20,680 --> 00:08:23,400 Speaker 6: out roughly two weeks ago. The house, which he had 136 00:08:23,440 --> 00:08:26,960 Speaker 6: renovated himself over the years, was soon engulfed in flames. 137 00:08:27,240 --> 00:08:29,760 Speaker 6: Van Warmer says he likely would not have woken up 138 00:08:29,760 --> 00:08:32,720 Speaker 6: in time if not for his young cat Fred. According 139 00:08:32,760 --> 00:08:35,920 Speaker 6: to Van Wermer, the kitten suddenly began clawing and crying 140 00:08:35,960 --> 00:08:38,120 Speaker 6: out while jumping on him in the middle of the night. 141 00:08:38,320 --> 00:08:40,640 Speaker 5: And I got woken up to my cat, Mary Allen, 142 00:08:41,080 --> 00:08:44,960 Speaker 5: scratching on me, freaking out. And I looked up and 143 00:08:45,000 --> 00:08:47,880 Speaker 5: the flames were already through the whole attic of the house. 144 00:08:48,080 --> 00:08:50,480 Speaker 6: That's Van Warmer behind the counter of his pot shop 145 00:08:50,480 --> 00:08:54,000 Speaker 6: and an exclusive interview with KPTV. By the time he 146 00:08:54,040 --> 00:08:56,920 Speaker 6: realized what was happening, the fire had already raced through 147 00:08:56,960 --> 00:08:59,280 Speaker 6: the upper part of the home. Van Wermer says he 148 00:08:59,320 --> 00:09:01,760 Speaker 6: only had second to react before the fire cut off 149 00:09:01,840 --> 00:09:04,160 Speaker 6: his escape. He dropped to the floor and called toward 150 00:09:04,200 --> 00:09:07,240 Speaker 6: the door as flames rolled across the ceiling and burst 151 00:09:07,240 --> 00:09:09,079 Speaker 6: outward through the doorway, and. 152 00:09:09,080 --> 00:09:11,280 Speaker 5: The flames were going over top of me, but I 153 00:09:11,320 --> 00:09:14,120 Speaker 5: was on the ground because they were rolling out the door. 154 00:09:14,360 --> 00:09:16,600 Speaker 6: Ben Warmer says he suffered burns to his chest and 155 00:09:16,640 --> 00:09:19,640 Speaker 6: face while escaping, but managed to make it outside alive. 156 00:09:20,040 --> 00:09:22,800 Speaker 6: He later learned just how quickly the fire had spread 157 00:09:22,840 --> 00:09:25,400 Speaker 6: through the structure. He also said he was thankful his 158 00:09:25,400 --> 00:09:28,400 Speaker 6: girlfriend and daughter were not home at the time. Fred 159 00:09:28,640 --> 00:09:32,040 Speaker 6: unfortunately did not survive the fire. The nine week old 160 00:09:32,120 --> 00:09:35,120 Speaker 6: kid had only recently joined the family. Van Warmer says 161 00:09:35,160 --> 00:09:38,120 Speaker 6: he had brought Fred home just weeks earlier and immediately 162 00:09:38,120 --> 00:09:39,800 Speaker 6: believed the little cat was special. 163 00:09:39,960 --> 00:09:42,440 Speaker 5: When I got Fred, I told him this is my 164 00:09:42,600 --> 00:09:45,400 Speaker 5: lucky cat, one of the smarter cats I've ever had. 165 00:09:45,600 --> 00:09:48,040 Speaker 5: So I thought we had a lot of time together 166 00:09:48,240 --> 00:09:51,000 Speaker 5: for the next sixteen twenty years with that guy. But 167 00:09:51,360 --> 00:09:52,440 Speaker 5: that can't save my life. 168 00:09:52,559 --> 00:09:54,559 Speaker 6: Van Warmer says the loss of the cat has been 169 00:09:54,559 --> 00:09:57,160 Speaker 6: difficult because he believes the kitten's actions gave him the 170 00:09:57,240 --> 00:10:00,000 Speaker 6: chance to escape a fire that might otherwise have killed 171 00:10:00,240 --> 00:10:02,880 Speaker 6: him in his sleep. Fire crews later told him they 172 00:10:02,880 --> 00:10:06,320 Speaker 6: believe a dehumidifier inside the house sparked the blaze. The 173 00:10:06,400 --> 00:10:09,560 Speaker 6: home he spent years restoring is destroyed, with damage he 174 00:10:09,679 --> 00:10:12,480 Speaker 6: estimates at more than one million dollars. Van Warmer is 175 00:10:12,520 --> 00:10:15,440 Speaker 6: now trying to rebuild while recovering from his injuries. He 176 00:10:15,440 --> 00:10:17,880 Speaker 6: has started fundraising efforts to help cover the cost of 177 00:10:17,920 --> 00:10:20,880 Speaker 6: rebuilding the house and replacing what was lost. For now, 178 00:10:20,920 --> 00:10:23,320 Speaker 6: he says he is grateful to be alive and determined 179 00:10:23,320 --> 00:10:26,280 Speaker 6: to rebuild the life he nearly lost, while remembering the 180 00:10:26,320 --> 00:10:29,439 Speaker 6: small cat he credits with saving it. For the latest 181 00:10:29,480 --> 00:10:32,360 Speaker 6: crime and justice news, follow Crime Alert hourly update on 182 00:10:32,440 --> 00:10:35,720 Speaker 6: your favorite podcast app with this crime Alert. I'm Drew Nelson.