New Details, New Concerns: Buzzard Murder Case & Reiner Insanity Battle

Hopefully, you had a wonderful Christmas and now we head into the well, happy new year part of the year.

We have got a great show for you today.

We have a big show for you today.

So, first, let’s get to it.

Ashley Buzzard, she appeared in court and plead not guilty to, you know, first-degree murder and the death of her 9-year-old daughter, Melanie Buzzard.

Challenges mount for a potential insanity defense in the Nick Reiner murder case.

Brian Hobberger is still struggling to adapt to life in the Idaho maximum security prison.

A Utah judge issues key pre-trial rulings in the Tyler Robinson case.

Little renewed hope in the search for a missing Texas teen, a guy by the name of Christian Hall.

Guess what? A substitute teacher and her partner were arrested in Texas.

A heroic rescue, a father saves an abducted daughter on Christmas.

and a reality television participant arrested on some serious sex crimes, including something with his dog.

Um, a teen was arrested after allegedly fatally shooting his mother the day after Christmas.

I guess he didn’t get what he wanted.

Uh, we’ve got this day in legal history, our quote of the day, and our dumb criminal.

Let’s talk about it.

Hi, lawyer.

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Good day, everyone.

My name is Scott Rich and this is Crime Talk.

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Now, before we get to today’s docket, once again, let me wish you all a happy post Christmas week as we roll into the new year.

Hopefully, you have all your New Year resolutions ready to go and going to instill that discipline to keep them going more than a week or two.

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All right, let’s go ahead and get to the docket for uh Monday, December 29th, 2025.

And uh first on the docket, yep, the Buzzard case.

That’s right.

Ashley Buzzard formally pled not guilty to first-degree murder in the death of her 9-year-old daughter Melanie Buzzard during an arraignment in Santa Barbara County Superior Court this morning.

Now, the hearing presided over by Judge John McGregor in a Santa Maria courtroom elicited audible reactions from attendees, including gasps and murmurss as the plea was entered.

Now, Buzzard also denied special allegations attached to the charge, including that the personal and intentional discharge of a firearm causing death and committing the murder by lying in weight.

Prosecutors from the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Office stated that they would not pursue the death penalty, but intend to seek sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole if Buzzard is convicted.

Obviously, as of right now, she is given the presumption of innocence.

Well, the courtroom this morning was filled with several of Melody’s family members, emotions running high, obviously, and observers uh participating via the court Zooms feed shared a pink bow as a symbol of remembrance for the child.

Now, Buzzard appeared in civilian clothes rather than jail attire and waved her right to a preliminary hearing within 10 court days, extending the timeline to no later than February 24th of 2026.

The judge also granted a defense motion for a temporary protective order restricting the sheriff, Bill Brown, and sheriff office personnel from making public statements about the case or releasing non-public evidence and documents.

A hearing on the motion is scheduled for January 7th, 2026 in Lampak.

Now, the criminal complaint further alleges that the offense involved significant violence, cruelty, and callousness, noting the victim’s particular vulnerability, and that the defendant exploited a position of trust.

It describes the act as a demonstrating planning and sophistication.

Let’s give you a little bit of background if you’re not familiar with this case.

Now, Melanie Buzzard was reported missing back on October 14th of 2025 after a prolonged school absence prompted notifications to police in Lamp, California.

Investigators revealed that Ashley Buzzard and her daughter had departed on a multi-state road trip uh in a rented car back on October 7th of this year.

Now, they were traversing uh states including Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Wyoming, Colorado, Nebraska, and Kansas.

But surveillance evidence captured Melody alive for the last time on October 9th of this year near the Utah Colorado border.

Now, Ashley Buzzard returned alone back to California on October 10th of this year.

And police noted that efforts to evade detection such as the use of wigs by both her and her daughter and at least one license plates change on the rental car.

On December 6th of 2025, individuals photographing in a remote area near Canainville in Wayne County, Utah, discovered human remains showing multiple gunshot wounds to the head.

FBI DNA analysts confirmed the remains as melodies on December 22nd.

and ballistic examinations linked cartridge cases from the Utah site to an expended case found at Buzzard’s California residence and similar ammunition in her rental car.

Now, Ashley Buzzard was arrested on December 23rd and remains held without bail at the Northern Branch Jail in Santa Maria.

Now, the murder weapon has not been located and no motive has been publicly disclosed.

The multi- agency investigation included collaboration with the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, and law enforcement entities across several states.

Could there be jurisdictional issues, right? Could there be a change of venue perhaps? Interesting.

So, although the fatal shooting is believed to have occurred in Utah shortly after the October 9th sighting, prosecution is proceeding in Santa Barbara County, California.

Now, law enforcement has emphasized that there’s evidence of premeditation and preparatory action originating in California, including the victim’s residency there.

Now, while criminal venue typically aligns with the location of the offense, jurisdictions may assert authority over preparatory elements or when crimes span state lines supporting California’s prosecutorial role in this particular case.

Now, the case is expected to remain in Santa Barbara County and um you know, we’ll see.

I mean, I’m sure Utah would say, “Hey, we would take the case.

That’s where the remains were recovered.

” Uh more than likely, that’s where the autopsy uh was performed and they could probably prove with some certainty that that’s where the actual murder took place, which is normally where it’s it happens, right? We’ll see.

It’d be interesting for the defense to say change of venue, right? Um here they maybe even could say there’s no jurisdiction whatsoever.

Now, I think they’ll probably cross that hurdle quite easily.

The prosecution would um because of these alleged preparatory actions in the state of California.

But it becomes an interesting issue.

I mean, desperate times call for desperate actions.

doesn’t mean the defense may not throw a couple of these things in there just to muddy the water a little bit.

Next on the docket, challenges mount for potential insanity defense in the Nick Reiner murder case.

So, as the proceedings advance in the case against Nick Reiner, charged with murders of his parents, acclaimed director Rob Reiner and photographer Michelle Singer Reiner, the prospects of an insanity defense face, you know, some substantial obstacles under California law.

Now, Reiner, who is 32, stands accused of two counts of first-degree murder with special circumstances stemming from the fatal stabbing discovered in the family’s Brettwood residence on December 14th of 2025.

The charges expose him to life imprisonment without parole or possibly the death penalty upon conviction, although that seems unlikely.

Now, he remains in custody without bail under close observation for safety concerns.

Now, California employs a stringent standard for not guilty by reason of insanity please requiring the defense to demonstrate by a prepoundonderance of the evidence more likely than not due to a mental disease or defect that the accused lack the capacity to comprehend the nature and quality of their actions or to distinguish right from wrong.

This cognitive test rooted in long-standing legal precedent succeeds infrequently as juries often view it skeptically, perceiving it as an attempt to really just evade accountability for serious offenses.

Now, compounding these difficulties in Riner’s situation are reported circumstances suggesting awareness and his intent.

Sources indicate a verbal altercation between Reiner and his father at a social gathering the evening prior to the incident, potentially evidencing premeditation, a key element for first-degree murder.

Subsequent actions, including reportedly securing lodging at a Santa Monica hotel before his arrest near the University of Southern California, may further illustrate lucidity and planning.

Now, the procedural structure exacerbates challenges, right? trials may be bifurcated.

You have a guilt phase and then you have the sanity phase where the defense assumes the burden of proof.

This shift can undermine credibility as it requires acknowledging the act while asserting mental incapacity.

Nevertheless, Riner’s documented history of schizophrenia treatment and prior substance abuse issues could inform um alternative strategies.

Such factors might support arguments against premeditation, potentially reducing charges maybe to seconddegree murder or mitigating sentences if conviction occurs.

Perhaps influencing decisions on capital punishment or favoring manslaughter considerations, although that may seem a little unlikely, at least at this stage from what we know.

Well, the defense council, Alan Jaxis, has emphasized that the case is going to be complex.

They postponed the arraignment to uh January 7th of next year to allow more time to prepare.

Now, during an initial court appearance, Reiner appeared in protective attire indicating um risk of uh self harm.

Now, the investigation continues with limited public disclosure of the evidence, and the outcome is obviously going to hinge on comprehensive mental health assessments and judicial interpretations of intent versus impairment in the highprofile strategy that Jackson will more than likely employ.

Now, while no motive has been officially disclosed and evidence remains limited in public view, the antecedent argument and the subsequent conduct may bolster arguments for premeditation.

Conversely, Riner’s mental health history could raise defenses aimed at negating intent or mitigating charges.

Now remember, under California’s insanity defense, which is codified in their penal code, it adheres to the historic McNoten rule requiring proof by a prepoundonderance of the evidence that a mental disease or defect, rendering the defendant completely incapable of understanding the nature and the quality of the act, or of distinguishing right from wrong.

satisfaction of either cognitive element suffices with wrong typically denoting moral wrongfulness.

Now, this standard traces its origin back to 1843 in England following the Daniel Mcnotton aqu quiddle for the fatal shooting of Edward Drummond amid delusions of persecution.

Now, public outcry prompted the House of Lords to consult judges, yielding the enduring cognitive test that prioritizes intellectual comprehension over under volitional control.

Procedurally, a dual plea often leads to a bifurcated trial, guilt phase first, followed by sanity determinations if necessary, with the defense bearing the evidentary burden.

Expert evaluations are routine and success is uncommon due to stringent criterias and jury skepticism.

Conditions like substance addiction alone do not qualify.

Now, a favorable insanity verdict entails commitment to a state facility for treatment with indefinite duration subject to review confirming restored sanity and reduced danger.

Now in Riner’s case, indications of coherent behavior approximate to and following the incident pose well some significant hurdles for uh such a plea if that’s how the defense ch plans to proceed.

Though thorough psychiatric assessments may shape negotiations, trial approaches or sentencing outcomes, including potential facility transfers for, you know, effective defense participation.

Now, the uh Los Angeles Police Department Robbery Homicide Division is overseeing the ongoing inquiry with early uh stage uh proceedings obviously anticipating that is going to be an extended extended uh litigation process.

Ladies and gentlemen, this is going to be an interesting case.

We’ve talked about this.

Is it drugs or is it mental health disease? You know, maybe there’s a little bit of both, right? we are self-medicating because of the mental health issues which is really quite common.

Now normally for NGRI cases to go well obviously you need a good doctor.

You got to you got to have a good doctor and the defense is probably jumping on that right now.

Probably paying these experts an exorbitant amount of money to get this done as quickly as possible.

Maybe even a preliminary competency evaluation.

We recently did an NGRI case.

It worked out well.

Our doctor said NGRI states doctor did that as well.

Um we have another NGRI case pending which you know there’s history of mental illness and um you know that certainly helps as well.

Uh but there’s no guarantees and yes juries are skeptical of NGRI and I can assure you the prosecution is as well.

Next, Brian Cobberger still struggling to adapt to life in the Idaho Maximum Security Prison.

That’s right.

You all remember Brian Coberger.

You know, the guy convicted of the 2022 stabbing deaths of four University of Idaho students.

Well, he’s reportedly facing significant challenges adjusting to incarceration at the Idaho Maximum Security Institution where he’s housed.

Now, following his guilty plea and sentencing to four consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole back in July of this year, sources indicate that Coberger has exhibited difficulty coping with the loss of personal control in inherent in prison life.

Prison insiders speaking through retired homicide detective Chris McDonnu describe Coberger as uh demanding and overly communicative with staff.

Guards have characterized him as a high maintenance due to his uh persistent written grievances which consume additional time amid an already understaffed facility operating on extended shifts.

Now, these complaints began shortly after his arrival and um covered issues such as meal portions, food quality, and disturbances from other inmates.

Now, Coberger is continued to be housed in solitary confinement, spending 23 hours per day in his cell with limited exercise time.

And despite this isolation, he has reportedly uh uh been harassed and received threats from fellow prisoners transmitted through the vent system there at the prison.

Now, although he has requested transfer and expressed concerns about self harm, evaluations have determined that his current placement remains appropriate and no moves have been approved.

Now, investigative journalist Howard Blum, author of the book um on the case, attributes Cobberger’s struggles to a personality marked by a strong need for control and intellectual superiority.

Blum notes that the uh structured deprivation of prison contrasts sharply with Cobberger’s prior self-perception leading to poor adaptation.

He suggests that Coberger may eventually seek external outlets, positioning himself as an authoritative figure on criminal psychology.

Blum has further compared Cobberger’s potential future demeanor to that of the fictional character Hannibal Lectar, portraying him as an aspiring to an elevated detached role capable of profound insight into the criminal mind while remaining above the fray.

Now, this observation aligns with Coberger’s background in criminology studies and his reported uh condescending interactions with others.

And as of December of this year, approximately 5 months into his sentence, Coberger continues to file formal complaints regularly, further straining relations with staff and potentially increasing tensions with inmates aware of his financial resources from prior donations.

And experts have emphasized that such behavior risks drawing unwanted attention in a high security environment.

Ah, yes, Brian Coberger in custody thinks that he knows better.

Now, we have all know somebody that always thinks that they know better and uh they’re going to let everybody know about that.

It gets interesting when somebody’s in custody.

It happens more frequently than you would think.

Uh, a lot of defendants and people go to prison that are housed even in the county jails before they go to prison think that they are smarter than everybody else in the room and they want to let everybody know that and they will be the strictest adherence.

They will they will demand the strictest adherence to the rules, which is really ironic for somebody that’s in custody for not following the rules will demand this ultimate due process.

even in custody.

It’s almost comical to see take place sometime when people let everybody know that, you know, they’re not getting their appropriate food, they’re uh being harassed, they’re not getting their time to go to the law library, um you name it, ladies and gentlemen, it is an interesting cast of characters and a lot of narcissistic people uh in custody.

And clearly Brian Coberger fits that mold.

It’s going to be interesting.

It’s going to be interesting to watch how this develops somehow.

I think that uh maybe not now, but maybe years down the road, it’ll end very damish where somebody in custody who’s serving a lengthy sentence will take their shot at Brian Coberger.

Next on the docket, a Utah judge issues some key pre-trial rulings in the Tyler Robinson case.

So today, the fourth district court judge Tony Graph issued two significant rulings on um the highprofile prosecution of Tyler Robinson, who has been charged with the aggravated murder of Charlie Kirk.

Now, the ruling addresses media access and transparency in the case stemming from the September 10th, 2025 shooting at Utah Valley University, where Kirk was fatally shot at a public event.

Prosecutors do intend to seek the death penalty, alleging that the act was politically motivated.

Now, Judge Graph granted a motion by a coalition of media organizations for limited intervenor status following them to participate in future discussions regarding courtroom access and restrictions.

This decision balances public interest in the proceedings with concerns over the potential prejudice to Robinson’s right to a fair trial.

Second, the judge ordered the release of audio recordings and transcripts from a closed October 24th hearing uh with uh specified redactions to protect sensitive security protocols and other confidential matters.

The redactions will be implemented in the coming weeks to ensure compliance with courtroom decorum and constitutional protections.

Now, these rulings follow earlier decisions by the judge, including provisions that require Robinson to appear in civilian attire during pre-trial hearings while maintaining necessary security restraints and uh prohibitions on media depictions of those restraints to preserve the presumptions of innocence.

This case is obviously going to draw lots of attention due to the uh implications relating to politics and the victim’s prominence um as a co-founder to Turning Point USA.

Now, Robinson is next scheduled to appear in court on January 16th, where additional motions, including one to disqualify the Utah County Attorney’s Office, may be addressed.

Uh, proceedings continue under the heightened scrutiny, and the judge is emphasizing impartiality and adherence to the legal standards throughout the proceedings.

Now, I understand if the court wants to have a conversation with the sheriff about security measures.

I get that.

I’ve had hearings regarding security measures uh for clients over the years.

And guess what? They’re all done in open court.

Okay? Now, more than likely, um Mr.

Robinson is going to have civilian attire as the courts granted him that.

More than likely, because it’s a death penalty case, and you got to give him the presumption of innocence.

But gee, do you think a jury, if they ever get to a jury in this particular case, will say, “I wonder why Mr.

Robinson isn’t going to lunch with his attorneys? Why is he not um outside the courtroom with his family before the hearing begins for the day? Oh, gee, you think they’re going to figure out that he’s in custody?” See, so we engage in this legal fiction that somehow the jury, if they think that he’s in custody, that it’s going to somehow prejudice him.

It’s a firstderee murder case, ladies and gentlemen.

Now, maybe if he was in custody, maybe say municipal court for shoplifting, and he’s in custody, maybe it could prejudice, thinking, well, maybe the guy’s homeless, maybe he has nowhere to go, he doesn’t have any money, he probably did it, right? But we’re talking about a case where they’re seeking the death penalty in a homicide case.

Of course, the man is going to be in custody.

He’ll more than likely have a brace on his leg that will not allow him to run.

They have to click it.

It’ll it pops every time he sits down.

He doesn’t seem to be a behavioral problem.

Um, I’ve had clients that, you know, couldn’t control themselves in court over the years and they get a stun gun uh strapped to their back and literally the sheriff can sit there and buzz them if they get out of hand.

So, I don’t see it.

What are they going to do? Tell them that he’s going to have shackles.

It’ll be hidden from the media.

Okay, everybody knows in custody.

I hate engaging in this legal fiction because that is what it is.

and they think if we engage in this legal fiction somehow that’s going to reserve one’s right to a fair trial.

Everybody knows who’s in custody.

Get over it.

But at least the court is saying they’re going to allow the media to televise and report on this particular case.

I am a firm believer that I think every courtroom should be available for the world to see and it should be able to be streamed by anybody who wants to do it because then we get to see if the system is working.

Is the judge being fair and impartial? Is the prosecutor pursuing justice or are they just being jerks? Is the defendant receiving competent counsel? Those are all things that we need to see.

Next, renewed hope in the search for um a missing Texas teen, a kid by the name of Christian Hall.

So, 20 years after a 15year-old boy from Corpus Christi, Texas, departed on a sailing voyage and vanished at sea, police and family members continued their efforts to locate him.

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, also known as NickMick, has released a newly created age progressed image depicting what Christian Glenn Hall might appear to look like today at age 35 in hopes of generating some possible fresh leads.

So, Christian Hall was employed as a deckhand on the 74 foot vessel Gypsy 2 to earn some additional money.

And in November of 2005, he sought permission from his family to join the boat’s owner, then 39-year-old David Todd Andrews, also known as Dusty, on a journey to Florida.

Despite the family’s refusal, Hall proceeded with the trip.

On November 24th, 2005, the pair departed from a docking site along the John F.

Kennedy Memorial Causeway in Corpus Christi.

They were reportedly cited later in the Gulf of Mexico off the Louisiana coast where the vessel was observed taking on water.

A civilian boater offered assistance, but it was declined.

No confirmed sightings of Hall, Andrews, or the Gypsy 2 have occurred since that encounter.

Hall’s family reported him missing on January 4th of 2006, and police noted that Andrews lacked permission to take the teenager on the voyage.

Hall’s aunt, a woman by the name of Carla Bow, expressed optimism that her nephew may still be alive.

She emphasized the family’s enduring affection and desire for his return, stating that renewed awareness through the age processed image could encourage him to reconnect if he believes he is forgotten.

Now, limited details have emerged regarding the circumstances of the disappearance over the past two decades, and the case remains active with Nickmick assisting in dissemination efforts.

Now, individuals possessing any information related to Christian Hall’s whereabouts are urged to contact Nickmick at 1 800 the lost or 800-843-5678 or contact the Corpus Christi Police Department.

Next on the docket, a substitute teacher and her partner were arrested in Texas.

What could it possibly be for? H police in Midotheian, Texas have arrested a former substitute teacher and her boyfriend in connection with investigation into the alleged sexual assault of a child and a couple of sunundry other offenses.

Madison Paige Jones, who’s 30, was taken into custody on December 19th facing charges of one count of aggravated sexual assault of a child, two counts of indecency with a child by sexual contact, and one count of possession of child pornography.

She was booked into the Ellis County Jail with a bond set at $90,000.

Now, Jones had served as a substitute teacher in Midlothean Independent School District for four occasions during the past year, three days at Baxter Elementary School on October 28th and 29th and November 3rd and one day at Heritage High School on November 19th.

Now, district officials, of course, uh have uh stated that there is no evidence linking the alleged crimes to any uh district schools, students, or activities involving Jones in her professional capacity.

Following notification from the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Midlotheian School District promptly terminated Jones employment and informed affected families.

The district confirms that its procedures for monitoring criminal history records operated effectively and that required reports were submitted to the Texas Educational Agency.

The second suspect, Zachary Donginger, 37, of Happy, Texas, was arrested on December 23rd in Loving County.

He faces a charge of sexual performance by a child and is currently detained at the Winkler County Detention Center pending arraignment.

Police have indicated that Jones and Dong Linger uh were in a dating relationship.

Now, this investigation began back on December 17th following report of a possible sexual assault involving a child.

Police have not disclosed further details regarding these specific allegations, but the case remains active.

Individuals with any information relevant to the investigation are encouraged to contact the Midlotheian Police Detective, specifically Dawson Frasier at 469 672005.

Next on the docket, a father makes a dramatic rescue of his kidnapped daughter.

Also in Texas, police in Montgomery County, Texas, have reported the successful rescue of a 15-year-old girl who was allegedly abducted at Knife Point while walking her dog on Christmas Day.

Now, the teenager’s father played a pivotal role in her recovery by utilizing parental control features to track her cell phone location, leading him directly to the site where she was being held.

Now, deputies from the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office responded to a residence in the Porter area at approximately 4:50 p.

m.

on Christmas Day after the girl failed to return home following her routine dog walk.

Concerned for her safety, the father activated the location tracking tool on her device, pinpointing it in a remote, partially wooded location in a neighboring Harris County, roughly 2 miles from their house.

Upon arriving at the scene, the father discovered his daughter and her dog inside a maroon pickup truck occupied by a 23-year-old man identified as Giovani Rosales Espinosa of Porter, who was partially undressed.

The father assisted his daughter in escaping the car and promptly returned her home before notifying the police.

An investigation revealed that Espinosa had allegedly threatened the teenager with a knife and forced her entry into the truck.

Eyewitness accounts provided crucial descriptions of the suspect and the vehicle, enabling deputies to locate and apprehend Espinosa without resistance shortly after.

Now, Espinosa faces charges of aggravated kidnapping and indecency with a child.

He’s currently detained at the Montgomery County Jail without bond and is confirmed by the sheriff there.

He’s still there.

Detectives from the major crimes unit continue to investigate the incident.

Montgomery County Sheriff Wesley Doolittle commended the rapid response in a public statement, noting the contrast between the holidays intended celebration and the severity of the alleged crime.

He praised the efforts of the deputies and investigators ensuring the suspect’s swift removal from the community while emphasizing ongoing vigilance to protect residents.

The teenagers reportedly recovering with her family who stated that they had no prior acquaintances with the suspect and express profound relief at her safe return.

What a great story.

Good, happy outcome.

Just goes to show you, ladies and gentlemen, even on Christmas Day, there’s going to be bad guys out there committing crimes of opportunity and using a knife, order somebody into the truck of the car to go do terrible things with them.

Now, obviously, he’s entitled to the presumption of innocence, and he’ll get that until he is convicted or pleads guilty to the charges in the case.

Uh, speaking of somebody else who probably wants the presumption of innocence, a reality TV star.

Yeah, he may want the presumption of innocence, particularly since some of the allegations involve animals.

So, a 43-year-old man who appeared on a short-lived A&E docue series about non- monogamous couples has been arrested and charged with felony offenses related to child sexual abuse materials and sexual misconduct with animals.

Ladies and gentlemen, if you didn’t see him on his A&E show, ladies and gentlemen, please meet Tony McCallister, formerly featured on the 2015 series Neighbors with Benefits, who’s facing charges of pandering obscinity involving a minor and sexual conduct with an animal, according to official court records.

Now, the arrest occurred in Warren County on December 23rd with Mollister arraigned shortly thereafter.

A judge set bond at $250,000 and he was ordered to have no contact with minors or animals.

He remains in custody pending his next court appearance which is scheduled for December 30th.

No plea has been entered at this time.

But what do we know from the court records? Well, it alleged that Mr.

McAllister knowingly uploaded child sexual abuse materials to an online account and engaged in prohibited sexual acts with two dogs in his possession.

Police seize the animals during the investigation and they are reportedly receiving appropriate care and hopefully a little bit of counseling as well.

Additionally, a woman associated with Mr.

McCollister’s residence, a woman by the name of Erica Grove has been charged with a misdemeanor count of sexual conduct with an animal and received a court summon.

The case is uh obviously bringing some new attention to Neighbors with Benefits, a controversial program that premiered on A&E back in March of 2015.

The series followed several married couples in a suburban Ohio community who practiced consensual non- monogamy or swinging while maintaining conventional family and professional lives.

It portrayed participants as ordinary parents and community members navigating alternative relationships.

However, the show faced significant public criticism upon release and was cancelled after only two episodes with the network declining to broadcast additional filmed content.

At the time of the series, Mr.

Mcllister and other cast members describe their participation as an effort to normalize non- monogamous lifestyles and dispel associated stereotypes.

Obviously, the current allegations stand in marked contrast to that public image that he was trying to achieve.

Details regarding the origin of the investigation uh or the timeline of the alleged offense have not been disclosed by the prosecution and the charge the charges carry potential for substantial penalties under Ohio law if conviction is obtained and officials have indicated that uh you know further developments may occur as the probe continues.

Check the phones ladies and gentlemen.

Check the phones.

Check all of the devices.

Yes, please check all the devices, check all the animals.

Anyway, Mr.

McAllister uh could not be reached for comment because he’s in custody.

And anyway, the case uh remains uh open for further investigation.

Somehow, I think that’s going to go a little little deeper than most people thought it was going to.

And uh you know, you can do what you want, you know, in your bedroom.

That’s fine.

But when you take it into the little doggy area, animal area, that’s just getting a little freaky, don’t you think, ladies and gentlemen? I think yeah, you should probably go to prison.

If uh if that’s if that’s the case, um handled one of those cases once.

It was the most bizarre thing I’ve ever seen in my life.

And um I don’t know, like you know what I say, don’t mess with children.

Also, don’t mess with animals.

Okay? Don’t mess with animals.

That’s just weird.

taking it to a whole new level.

Just weird.

Next, a Pennsylvania teen arrested for shooting his mom the day after Christmas.

I wonder if he didn’t get what he was looking for at Christmas.

So, uh, an 18-year-old young man has been taken into custody following allegations that he shot his parents outside their home in Green County, Pennsylvania on December 26, resulting in the death of his mother.

And, well, his father survived with some substantial injuries.

The Pennsylvania State Police responded to reports of a shooting at a residence on Garrison Ridge in uh Freeport Township shortly before 2 p.

m.

on the day after Christmas.

Upon arrival, officers discovered a married couple suffering from gunshot wounds.

The woman identified in some reports as Mary Null was transported to a hospital in critical condition and later pronounced dead.

Her husband was treated for his injuries and subsequently released in stable condition.

Police identified the couple’s son, Jared Null, a whole 18 years of age, as the suspect.

The shooting reportedly occurred outside the family home while younger siblings were inside but unharmed.

The children have since been placed in the care of a relative.

Now, following the incident, young Mr.

Null allegedly fled the scene on foot into the surrounding terrain.

Law enforcement initiated an extensive manhunt deemed him armed and dangerous.

And the search involved helicopters, tracking dogs, and ground teams navigating some challenging rural areas.

But the Pennsylvania State Police Sergeant Richard Cizer emphasized the operations intensity, noting the deployment of multiple resources and the potential risk to the community posed by an armed suspect with an active homicide warrant.

And then on December 27th, the West Virginia State Police located apprehended Mr.

Null without incident after he crossed into their jurisdiction.

He is currently detained in West Virginia pending extradition back to the uh state of Pennsylvania where he faces charges of obviously homicide and attempted homicide.

They uh police have described the investigation as a an isolated domestic incident with no ongoing threats to the public.

Next on the docket, this day in legal history, the Treaty of Etcha.

That’s right, December 29th, 1835.

On this day, the United States government representative signed the Treaty of the New Echot with a minority fraction of the Cherokee Nation.

And this agreement seated all Cherokee lands east of the Mississippi River to the United States.

Although the majority of the Cherokee leaders opposed this little treaty and did not authorize the signitories, the US Senate ratified the treaty and it provided the legal foundation for the forced removal known as the Trail of Tears of 1838 and 1839 during which thousands of Cherokee people perished.

On this date, December 29th, 1845, Texas became the 28th state to join the United States of America, when President Pulk, James K.

Pulk, signed the ordinance of annexation.

Now, Texas had a complicated path to statehood because it had formerly been part of Mexico and then it was actually an independent republic and then the United States Congress passed the annexation of the Republic of Texas.

joint resolution on March 1st, 1845.

Then voters in Texas approved the ordinance of annexation in October before it was approved by the US uh Congress and signed into law by President Pulk on this day in 1845.

The United States Supreme Court later ruled in Texas v.

White that despite its unique path to statehood, Texas did not have the right to secede from the Union.

And also on this day, 1890, wounded knee massacre.

That’s right.

The United States Army troops from the Seventh Cavalry killed an estimated 150 to 300 Lakota people, predominately women and children, nearly wounded Knee Creek on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.

The incident arose during efforts to disarm Lakota um practitioners of the ghost dance movement and suppress perceived unrest.

So, it’s good to know that right after the holiday, you go and, you know, engage in a little bit of mass genocide, I guess.

Anyway, uh if you anyone’s ever been to the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, I believe it is the still one of the poorest uh zip codes in the country.

I actually had the pleasure to go up there years ago.

It was a child abuse resulting in death case.

And coincidentally, my client was from the Pine um Ridge Indian Reservation there in South Dakota.

So, we uh had to go up and do some mitigation.

And it was just as depressing as I’m sure it was on this day in history.

Yes, it was.

It’s funny.

Some of those Indian reservations, they got oil and gas, they got gambling, and some don’t.

It’s It’s a complete uh different world to say the least.

Next, how about our quote of the day? Keeping with our NGRI.

That’s right.

Not guilty by reasons sanity given the Reiner case that could be using it.

To establish a defense on the ground of insanity, it must be clearly proved that at the time of the commitment of the act, the party accused was laboring under such a defect of reason from disease of the mind as not to know the nature and quality of the act he was doing.

or if he did know it, that he did not know he was doing what was wrong.

” End quote.

And finally, our dumb criminal of the day.

Shall we head back down to Florida? As it seems like they a lot of our dumb criminals come from Florida.

So, in a holiday caper that seems scripted for a seasonal cautionary tale, a 44 year old woman has been accused of turning Santa’s helper into the Grinch during the early hours of Christmas Day at a local hotel.

Police report that Erica Rothenbeller entered a lobby of a red roof in shortly after dawn on Thursday and proceeded to inspect the gifts beneath the decorated tree.

Of course, there was surveillance footage allegedly showing her selecting and removing six children’s toys valued collectively at $48 before quietly departing the premises.

The presents, according to the police, appear to have been intended for young guests or possibly part of a charitable collection at the hotel, though details are still a little fuzzy on that.

But when the officers later located Miss Rothenber, she reportedly offered an unprompted explanation, insisting she believed the items were meant for children staying in the building.

Investigators noted, however, that she has no children of her own.

charged with theft.

Rothen Beller now faces a thirdderee felony rather than a simple misdemeanor owning to prior convictions, poor shoplifting at a Wind Dixie supermarket, and a Waw Wa convenience store.

Now, the escalation transforms what might have been a minor infraction into a potential 5-year prison sentence.

She is currently being held at the Pines County Jail on a $5,000 bond.

Now, while the stolen gifts amounted to less than 50 bucks, these incident serves as a little reminder that even smallcale holiday mischief can carry outsiz consequences, particularly for those with a prior criminal record of treating retail establishments as unintended gift shops.

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, I think you’re going to see more and more of this, I think, as people have become frustrated with um people that routinely commit crime.

Here in the state of Colorado, we still have the two prior felony rule, but it’s been relaxed.

It was a general rule.

If you have two prior felonies, you were not eligible for probation, so you had to go to community corrections or prison.

And then the legislature changed it a couple years ago and says, “Well, if you commit these and maybe you have one more of those, then you’re going to have to go to prison.

” Unless, of course, the DA waves the two prior felony rule.

I think you’re going to see more and more of that.

Maybe not here in the state of Colorado, but around the country.

I think people are just tired.

I think people, they have fatigue of people stealing other people’s things.

And it’s all well and good and oh they’re poor and they needed it and blah blah blah until it’s your stuff and then people get upset.

All right, ladies and gentlemen, that’s all we have for you today.

Thanks for watching.

We’ll see you next time and remember the Constitution matters.