Drop Dead Serious With Ashleigh Banfield

18-year-old Karoline Heintz was stabbed in the chest, stuffed into the back of her own Jeep and abandoned near her college campus. Police say her boyfriend, Royce Moser, blamed a “demon” for the killing, then turned to his mother, Rachel Moser, who allegedly brought out the gloves, disinfectant spray, and garbage bags and helped her son cover it all up. But Karoline’s family was already tracking her, and an AirTag hidden inside her Jeep led police straight to her body. In this episode of Drop Dead Serious, Ashleigh breaks down the horrifying Karoline Heintz murder case, the evidence now piling up against Royce and Rachel Moser, and the chilling Google searches investigators say Royce made after Karoline was killed.

Just when you thought the Lindsay Clancy case could not get any more disturbing, an Illinois mom, Corie Walsh, is accused of killing her two-year-old son, Barrett, after reportedly spending hours obsessing over Lindsay’s trial. And for the first time, several Lindsay Clancy jurors are spilling what really happened inside that jury room. In this episode of Drop Dead Serious, Criminal defense attorney Sara Azari joins Ashleigh Banfield to unpack the stunning 11–1 split, Kevin Reddington’s real strategy, whether Lindsay will face another trial, and the eerie connection to the Corie Walsh case.

She gave birth alone, ended her newborn son’s life, hid him in a trash bag, and went to McDonald’s. Now, former University of Kentucky cheerleader Laken Snelling has admitted it all in open court. In this episode of Drop Dead Serious, Ashleigh Banfield breaks down Laken Snelling’s chilling courtroom admission, the major contradictions in her original story and the evidence prosecutors say proved she concealed her pregnancy and attempted to cover up the birth. Why did prosecutors agree to a plea deal, and could Snelling serve just 10 years after admitting she deliberately deprived her baby of oxygen?

One holdout juror, one accusation of lying under oath, and one murder trial that went completely off the rails...? After seven days and roughly 36 hours of deliberations, the Lindsay Clancy trial has ended in a mistrial, but not before defense attorney Kevin Reddington argued that the jury was effectively split 11–1 in favor of acquittal. Was one juror refusing to follow the law on reasonable doubt, or was this simply a jury that could not agree? In this episode of Drop Dead Serious, Ashleigh Banfield is joined by Karen Read's defense attorney, David Yannetti, who knows firsthand what it means to face a mistrial, a deadlocked jury, and the possibility of doing it all over again in Massachusetts. 

After nearly 36 hours of deliberations, a THIRD note from the jurors in the Lindsay Clancy case prompted Judge Peter Sullivan to call an emergency sidebar over an apparent problem inside the jury room. In this episode of Drop Dead Serious, Ashleigh Banfield is joined by Criminal defense attorney Sara Azari to break down the extraordinary jury drama, whether one 'rogue' juror could derail the entire case, and what this means for the possibility of a verdict or a mistrial in the Lindsay Clancy murder trial.

After five days of deliberations and a second note saying jurors still cannot reach a unanimous verdict, Judge William Sullivan issued a rare Tuey-Rodriguez instruction, also known as a “dynamite charge,” urging them to return to the jury room and make one final push. With the trial now teetering on the possibility of a hung jury and mistrial, Ashleigh Banfield breaks down what this latest development means. In this episode of Drop Dead Serious, former homicide prosecutor Matt Murphy joins Ashleigh to explain what may be happening inside the jury room, and how long deliberations could continue. 

After nearly six weeks of testimony, 80 witnesses and more than 300 exhibits, the jury deciding Lindsay Clancy’s fate says it cannot reach a unanimous verdict. But the deadlock does not mean the trial is over. The jurors have been sent back to continue deliberating, leaving one enormous unanswered question: what is dividing them? In this episode of Drop Dead Serious, Ashleigh Banfield is joined by Judge Ashley Willcott to break down what happens next, how far the judge can push a deadlocked jury and when those instructions risk becoming coercive. They also examine the possibility of a mistrial, whether prosecutors would put Lindsay Clancy on trial again, how the jury’s unknown split could shape that decision and whether Patrick Clancy’s wishes could influence what comes next.

After weeks of intense scrutiny and growing frustration from Brooke Hanlon’s family and neighbors, Conor Hanlon, the man who says he found his wife bleeding and unconscious in their upstairs bedroom on June 6, has finally broken his silence and directly addressed rumors that he may have had something to do with her murder. 

Prosecutors argued that Lindsay deliberately killed her three children and left them “like broken toys,” while the defense blamed powerful medications, failed psychiatric care, and a psychotic break that left her unable to understand or control what she was doing.In this episode of Drop Dead Serious, Ashleigh Banfield is joined by Boston 25 investigative reporter Bob Ward, who has been inside the courtroom throughout the trial, and trial lawyer Sara Azari to break down the closing arguments, the strongest and weakest moments from each side, and the verdict options now facing the jury. Was this first-degree murder, manslaughter, or a case of legal insanity? And after weeks of emotional and conflicting testimony, did prosecutors actually prove that Lindsay Clancy was criminally responsible beyond a reasonable doubt?

The Lindsay Clancy murder trial is nearing its final and most consequential stage after explosive rebuttal testimony, conflicting mental health diagnoses and a dramatic defense demand for a mistrial. Prosecutors argue that Clancy was severely depressed and suicidal, but not psychotic, when she strangled her three children, Cora, Dawson and Callan. Her defense maintains that postpartum psychosis left her unable to understand or control her actions. In this episode of Drop Dead Serious, Ashleigh Banfield breaks down the prosecution’s final push against Lindsay Clancy’s insanity defense, the questions surrounding her alleged command hallucination, the inconsistencies raised in court and the religious testimony the judge ordered jurors to disregard. With closing arguments and deliberations approaching, the jury must decide whether Clancy was legally insane or fully criminally responsible for the deaths of her children.

A child sex abuse investigation in Vinton County, Ohio, has uncovered an alleged house of horrors involving 16 children, six defendants and 106 criminal charges. Gary Siders Jr., Elizabeth Siders, Gary Siders Sr. and Christina Siders have now been formally indicted on dozens of child endangerment charges after authorities allegedly found the children living in horrific conditions inside the family’s Hamden home. Gary and Elizabeth Siders now face additional sexual battery and unlawful sexual conduct charges involving another minor, while two newly named defendants, Josh Saunders and Brandon Henderson Sr., face charges including rape, gross sexual imposition and sexual battery. In this episode of Drop Dead Serious, Ashleigh Banfield breaks down how one investigation led police to the Siders home, the disturbing web of allegations now emerging and why Ohio authorities say their work is far from complete. All defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

The Lindsay Clancy murder trial is approaching a verdict after dueling forensic psychiatrists offered the jury two radically different explanations for the deaths of her three children, Cora, Dawson and Callan. Was Lindsay Clancy suffering from postpartum psychosis and unable to control her actions, or was she depressed but still capable of understanding right from wrong? As closing arguments begin, the jury must decide whether she is guilty of murder or not guilty by reason of insanity. In this episode of Drop Dead Serious, Ashleigh Banfield is joined by former homicide prosecutor Matt Murphy, who makes a stunning prediction about the verdict and explains why he believes the defense has outmatched prosecutors inside the courtroom. They break down Dr. Phillip Resnick’s controversial testimony, the prosecution’s missed opportunities, Massachusetts’ unique insanity standard and the evidence that could ultimately determine Lindsay Clancy’s fate.

The Lindsay Clancy trial has ignited a bitter national debate over murder, motherhood and mental illness. Clancy is accused of killing her three young children, Cora, Dawson and Callan, inside their Duxbury, Massachusetts, home in January 2023. Her defense argues she was suffering from postpartum psychosis and was not criminally responsible, while prosecutors say the evidence points to a deliberate and calculated plan. Now, as supporters rally outside the courthouse and the battle of the mental health experts intensifies, the question facing the jury is as difficult as it is devastating: Was Lindsay Clancy legally insane when she killed her children?

Luigi Mangione has pleaded guilty to two federal stalking charges resulting in the death of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, admitting under oath that he traveled to New York intending to shoot Brian Thompson and then carried out the killing on a Manhattan sidewalk. In a stunning courtroom statement, Luigi Mangione described his grievances with the healthcare industry but offered no apology to Brian Thompson’s family, who watched from the front row.  But Luigi Mangione’s guilty plea could also become his most powerful weapon against the separate New York state murder case. His attorneys immediately moved to dismiss the state charges under New York’s double-jeopardy protections, raising the extraordinary possibility that his federal admission could help him avoid a murder trial. Federal prosecutors are expected to seek life in prison, although the advisory sentencing guidelines call for roughly 24 to 30 years behind bars. In this episode of Drop Dead Serious, Ashleigh Banfield is joined by NewsNation field producer Tommy Christaldi, who was inside the packed federal courtroom, to reveal what happened during the bombshell plea hearing, how Brian Thompson’s family reacted and whether Luigi Mangione may have just gamed the system.

Six months after Nancy Guthrie vanished from her Tucson-area home, investigators still have not identified the masked person captured on her doorbell camera, determined who sent the alleged ransom notes or revealed what happened to the mother of TODAY show host Savannah Guthrie. Now, FBI agents have returned to the area behind Nancy’s home as a stunning mistake by the Pima County Sheriff’s Department exposes a previously secret message apparently sent through the ransom note’s Bitcoin address: “We are ready to pay. Contact us.” In this episode of Drop Dead Serious, Ashleigh Banfield speaks with former Pima County Chief Deputy Rick Kastigar, who supervised Sheriff Chris Nanos for decades, about what may be going wrong inside the Nancy Guthrie investigation. 

After weeks of testimony about Lindsay Clancy's mental health treatment, 13 psychiatric medications, conflicting medical records, and disturbing internet searches, did prosecutors prove Lindsay was criminally responsible, or did their own witnesses leave the jury with reasonable doubt? In this episode of Drop Dead Serious, Ashleigh Banfield is joined by veteran Boston 25 investigative reporter Bob Ward, who has been inside the courtroom throughout the Lindsay Clancy murder trial. He reveals what jurors are seeing, how they reacted to the graphic autopsy testimony and Patrick Clancy’s devastating 911 call, and what happened when Lindsay sobbed uncontrollably and cried out during court. 

Lindsay Clancy’s doctors testified that they never saw signs of psychosis or mania before she strangled her three children, five-year-old Cora, three-year-old Dawson and eight-month-old Callan, inside their Duxbury, Massachusetts home. But their testimony also revealed a deeply troubled postpartum mother. Did her doctors miss the warning signs of a psychiatric crisis, or did Lindsay remain rational enough to conceal what was really happening?In this episode of Drop Dead Serious, Ashleigh Banfield is joined by double board-certified psychiatrist Dr. Stacy Cohen to examine whether telehealth appointments, fragmented treatment and constant medication changes may have allowed critical symptoms to go unnoticed. They also confront the question at the center of Lindsay’s insanity defense: Could she have been psychotic when she killed her children even though none of the medical professionals treating her believed she was?

Brian Hooker has officially been spotted for the first time since leaving the Bahamas after his wife, Lynette Hooker, vanished. An exclusive photo obtained by Drop Dead Serious shows Brian at his mother’s home in Sacramento as the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service continues its federal murder investigation into Lynette’s disappearance. Do the feds finally have enough evidence to make their move, and if so, why hasn’t Brian Hooker been arrested?In this episode of Drop Dead Serious, former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani joins Ashleigh Banfield to explain how federal murder investigations work, why prosecutors often build nearly their entire case before making an arrest, and what the delay could mean for Brian. Brian Hooker has not been charged with a crime and denies any wrongdoing.

Instagram Influencer & OnlyFans Model Courtney Clenney was facing the possibility of life in prison for the fatal stabbing of her boyfriend, Christian “Toby” Obumseli. Instead, the 30-year-old Instagram influencer has secured the plea deal of a LIFETIME that could have her walking free in as little as 18 to 20 months. Clenney, known online as “Courtney Tailor,” was originally charged with second-degree murder with a deadly weapon after stabbing Obumseli inside their Miami apartment on April 3, 2022. Just weeks before her murder trial was expected to begin, she pleaded guilty to the reduced charge of manslaughter with a deadly weapon and received six years in prison, five years of probation and credit for the four years she has already served.In this episode of Drop Dead Serious, Ashleigh Banfield is joined by former Palm Beach County State Attorney Dave Aronberg to examine how a murder case built around disturbing videos, explosive audio recordings and disputed claims of self-defense ended with such an astonishingly lenient sentence. 

Was 35-year-old Lindsay Clancy a mother consumed by severe postpartum mental illness or a calculating killer who sent her husband away before strangling their three children? Lindsay Clancy, a former labor and delivery nurse, admits killing five-year-old Cora, three-year-old Dawson, and eight-month-old Callan with exercise bands inside their Duxbury, Massachusetts home in January 2023, then cutting herself and jumping from a second-story window. Prosecutors say she deliberately created an opportunity to be alone with the children and knew her actions were wrong. Her defense argues she was suffering from postpartum psychosis and should be found not guilty by reason of insanity. In this episode of Drop Dead Serious, Ashleigh Banfield is joined by renowned criminologist, attorney, and Criminal Appeal host Dr. Casey Jordan to dissect the most pivotal testimony and evidence to emerge from the Lindsay Clancy trial. They examine the disturbing evidence pointing to both psychosis and planning, and the question now facing the jury: Was Lindsay so mentally ill that she could no longer distinguish right from wrong, or was she fully aware that murdering her children was wrong?

Strange new clues are surfacing in the unsolved murder of Brooke Hanlon, the 35-year-old psychotherapist and new mother found stabbed to death inside her secluded Chester Township, New Jersey, home on June 6. Nearly two months later, no arrest has been made and investigators have not named a suspect. Now, Daily Mail reporter Dana Kennedy has uncovered troubling new details about the investigation, including questions surrounding Brooke’s husband Conor Hanlon’s frantic 911 call, the couple’s baby daughter, the family’s silence and when police began questioning neighbors.In this episode of Drop Dead Serious, Ashleigh Banfield speaks with Dana Kennedy about what she discovered while reporting from the scene, the unusual response she received from Conor Hanlon’s family and the critical questions authorities still have not answered. Conor has not been accused of any crime or wrongdoing, but with Brooke’s killer still unidentified, the mystery surrounding her brutal death only continues to deepen.

For the first time, the full Nancy Guthrie ransom notes reveal the alleged kidnappers’ complete series of demands, deadlines and chilling threats, including claims that Nancy “perished” and was “buried in nature.” But another bombshell is now raising serious questions about the investigation: Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos says no one has been ruled out, including two individuals previously detained in connection with this case and members of Nancy’s own family.In this episode of Drop Dead Serious, Ashleigh Banfield examines the ransom notes in full, breaks down the mystery DNA details, the latest evidence, and the troubling questions still surrounding the search for Savannah Guthrie’s missing 84-year-old mother.

Brian Hooker’s stepmother is revealing a shocking claim she says he made decades ago: that he “had to have someone killed” after running into trouble while living on a beach in Hawaii. Now, as Brian remains the prime suspect in the disappearance and suspected murder of his wife, Lynette Hooker, sources with knowledge of the investigation say the alleged Hawaii killing is being investigated.In this episode of Drop Dead Serious, Ashleigh Banfield speaks exclusively with Donna Hooker, who was married to Brian’s late father for more than 40 years. She describes the disturbing statement Brian allegedly made in the 1980s, his estrangement from his dying father and why she now believes he killed Lynette aboard their sailboat, Soulmate, before reporting that she disappeared from a dinghy near Elbow Cay in the Bahamas.

Six months after Nancy Guthrie vanished from her Tucson, Arizona, home, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos is making startling new admissions about the troubled investigation. In an explosive interview, Nanos takes aim at FBI Director Kash Patel, acknowledges the two have not spoken, and finally confirms investigators are using forensic genetic genealogy to trace the unidentified male DNA found inside Nancy’s home. In this episode of Drop Dead Serious, Ashleigh Banfield breaks down the biggest revelations from Sheriff Nanos’s interview with journalist Wyatt Sharp, host of The Sharp Exchange.EXCLUSIVE: Nancy Guthrie Sheriff Weighs In On The Investigation | Full Interviewhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWEgc-GHQK8The Sharpe Exchange:https://www.youtube.com/@TheSharpeExchange

Explosive new reporting from The New York Times reveals that Bryan Kohberger is now declaring his innocence and fighting to reopen the University of Idaho murders case. In his first public comments since his arrest, Kohberger told reporter Mike Baker he has an “absolute claim of innocence” and declared, “My actual innocence is my truth.” Kohberger is seeking to withdraw his guilty plea, claiming it was “hinged on by false promises and blatant disinformation,” and says, “I really do want that to be heard.” Now serving four consecutive life sentences for the murders of Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin, Kohberger says he wants his case taken to trial, even if prosecutors seek the death penalty again.In this episode of Drop Dead Serious, Ashleigh Banfield speaks with veteran criminal defense attorney and former prosecutor Mark Eiglarsh about Kohberger’s stunning attempt to undo his murder convictions.

Messages recovered from singer d4vd’s phone indicate fourteen-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez became pregnant by him at thirteen and later had an abortion. During David Anthony Burke’s preliminary hearing, prosecutors also revealed sexually explicit evidence, matching tattoos, blood spatter inside his Hollywood Hills garage, and a disturbing series of purchases allegedly made before Celeste’s severely decomposed and dismembered remains were discovered inside the front trunk of his Tesla.In this episode of Drop Dead Serious, Ashleigh Banfield reconstructs the nearly three-year timeline prosecutors presented in court, beginning when Celeste was only eleven years old. From the alleged sexual relationship and abortion messages to chainsaws, body bags, an inflatable pool and the millions Burke potentially stood to lose, Ashleigh examines the graphic forensic evidence, the prosecution’s alleged motive and the significant gaps the defense could use if the d4vd murder case goes to trial.

Just days before an affluent Houston man was supposed to stand trial for allegedly strangling his pregnant wife, authorities say he vanished, crossed an international border, and resurfaced in Italy under a fake identity. Lee Gilley, a 38-year-old software consultant, and his wife, Christa Bauer Gilley, appeared to be building an enviable life together in Houston’s historic Heights neighborhood. But behind that picture of success, prosecutors allege something horrifying was unfolding. On October 7, 2024, Christa was found unresponsive inside the couple’s Houston Heights home as their two young children slept nearby. She was nine weeks pregnant with their third child. The medical examiner later ruled her death a homicide caused by compression of the neck and upper back, and Lee Gilley was charged with capital murder in the deaths of Christa and their unborn baby. In this episode of Drop Dead Serious, Ashleigh Banfield speaks with Chambers County Sheriff Brian Hawthorne about Gilley’s alleged escape from house arrest and the growing international showdown over whether Italy will send him back. Italian authorities are demanding that Texas take both the death penalty and life without parole off the table before extradition can move forward, potentially limiting the punishment Gilley could face before he ever sets foot in a Texas courtroom.

Gruesome and horrifying new details came to light during the first day of D4vd's preliminary hearing as prosecutors began presenting evidence in the murder case of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. Detectives described the disturbing condition of Celeste's remains after they were discovered inside the front trunk of D4vd's Tesla, the court was shown graphic evidence recovered during the investigation, and prosecutors revealed new testimony about the welfare check at D4vd's Hollywood Hills home, the alleged "burn box," and other evidence they say connects to the case. In this episode of Drop Dead Serious, Ashleigh Banfield is joined by Lauren Conlin, reporter for Los Angeles Magazine, who spent the entire day inside the courtroom and witnessed every major moment firsthand. Lauren shares what it was like as Celeste's family reacted to the graphic testimony, what stood out from the prosecution's case, how the defense began pushing back, and the explosive details cameras could not capture from inside the courtroom during Day One of the hearing.David Anthony Burke, the singer-songwriter known professionally as D4vd, has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder with special circumstances, mutilation of human remains, and lewd acts. Prosecutors have not yet decided whether to seek the death penalty if Burke is convicted.Try Wildgrain: Get $30 off your first box and free Croissants for life when you visit https://Wildgrain.com/BANFIELD, or use promo code BANFIELD at checkout. D4vd Case Playlist:https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLxEAbh-aNbMJYJQZb9PHrh23KR0Em2NN4

As Lindsay Clancy’s triple murder trial begins in Massachusetts, prosecutors say the former labor and delivery nurse deliberately sent her husband away before strangling five-year-old Cora, three-year-old Dawson and eight-month-old Callan with exercise bands. Her defense says she was suffering from severe postpartum psychosis, heard a male voice commanding her to kill the children and herself, and was not criminally responsible. Could the Andrea Yates case reveal how Lindsay Clancy’s insanity defense will unfold? In this episode of Drop Dead Serious, Ashleigh Banfield sits down exclusively with Wendell Odom Jr., one of the attorneys who represented Andrea Yates, to examine the striking parallels between two of the country’s most devastating maternal murder cases. If you or someone you know is struggling with postpartum depression or another perinatal mental health condition, contact Postpartum Support International at 1-800-944-4773 or text HELP to 1-800-944-4773.

What is happening to the 16 children rescued from the alleged Ohio “House of Horrors” right now? The forensic interviewer who questioned the 13 Turpin siblings after their 2018 rescue, Denise Rodriguez Bowman, joins Ashleigh Banfield to explain how authorities may be working with the Siders children as they begin investigating what allegedly happened inside the Hamden, Ohio, home.Sixteen children were found inside a rural Hamden, Ohio home in conditions officials described as “pure evil,” and four adults inside the family are now charged: Gary Siders Sr., 73; his wife, Christina Siders, 67; their son, Gary Siders Jr., 36; and his wife, Elizabeth Siders, 33. 

A chilling 911 call made by Conor Hanlon after finding his wife, Brooke Hanlon, stabbed inside their secluded Chester Township, New Jersey, home is raising major questions about the still-unsolved murder. The 35-year-old psychotherapist and new mother was found bloody, unconscious and not breathing on June 6, and while the emergency was initially classified as a cardiac or respiratory arrest, the dispatch record was updated to “suspicious death” just 13 minutes later, according to Fox News Digital. In this episode of Drop Dead Serious, Ashleigh Banfield examines the frantic call, the delay before Brooke’s wounds are mentioned, the absence of any reference to the couple’s baby and the unanswered questions surrounding forced entry, Brooke’s final movements and Conor’s timeline. Ashleigh is joined by digital journalist Sally Miley, known as True Crime Mama on Facebook, TikTok and YouTube, to break down the Brooke Hanlon murder mystery and why investigators have released so little information. No suspect has been identified, no arrest has been made, and Conor Hanlon has not been accused of any crime or wrongdoing. Anyone who may know something about Brooke’s death can contact the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office Major Crimes Unit through the Morris County Communication Center at 973-285-2900, Chester Township Police at 908-879-5100 or CrimeStoppers at 973-267-2255. If you know anything about this case, you can also send us a tip at [email protected].

New details in the Siders family case are raising even more disturbing questions about the Ohio house of horrors where 16 children were found living in filthy, squalid conditions. Authorities say the children, ranging in age from 20 months to 18 years old, were discovered inside a Hamden, Ohio home after deputies executed a search warrant in a separate investigation. Four adults are charged: Gary Siders Sr., Christina Siders, Gary Siders Jr. and Elizabeth Siders.In this episode of Drop Dead Serious, Ashleigh Banfield breaks down the latest reporting on the Siders family, including hospital birth records, missing school records, truancy complaints, repeated moves across Ohio, the sealed search warrant, and new accounts from people near the home, including claims of a horrible smell coming from the basement and late-night trips to Dollar General. Ashleigh is joined by Angenette Levy, a seasoned journalist and host of Crime Fix on Law&Crime, who went to Hamden, Ohio, spoke with neighbors and local residents, and uncovered new details about the family’s movements, possible warning signs, and the unanswered question at the center of this case: how did 16 children fall through the cracks for years?Law & Crime: https://www.youtube.com/@LawAndCrimeCrime Fix with Angenette Levy: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLoW1SIeAWaWaucjKyz7lAmqMxO86PVzZiAngenette Levy:https://www.youtube.com/@Angenette5

Brian Hooker’s own behavior may be creating some of the biggest problems yet for his story about what happened to his missing wife, Lynette Hooker, in the Bahamas. In this episode of Drop Dead Serious, Ashleigh Banfield is joined by body language and behavioral expert Scott Rouse, who examines Brian’s network interviews and recorded phone call with friends, including what he describes as fake crying, missing signs of genuine grief, abrupt emotional shifts, past-tense language and repeated attempts to distract from simple questions. Rouse also breaks down why Brian’s unusually detailed explanations, his inability to pinpoint where Lynette allegedly went overboard and his promise to keep searching shortly before leaving the Bahamas could raise serious new questions about whether he was grieving, performing or trying to sell a story that simply does not add up. Brian Hooker has not been charged with any crime and is presumed innocent.Scott Rouse: https://www.youtube.com/@UC5ZB2xWAaqZAsywmpPAj_aA The Behavior Panel:https://www.youtube.com/@UCQiMD0r34vn-d7ZbYzXY_kg 

Breaking new information in the Lynette Hooker investigation is raising major questions about Brian Hooker’s timeline of the night his wife vanished in the Bahamas. Sources close to the investigation say that Lynette Hooker was dead before 8 p.m. on April 4, 2026, which would mean she was already dead before Brian’s story about a dinghy accident, a missing dry bag, lost passports, and an hours-long float to Marsh Harbour ever began.In this episode of Drop Dead Serious, Ashleigh breaks down the newest timeline development in the suspected murder investigation, including evidence that Lynette made it back to the couple’s sailboat, Soulmate, signs of a fight and foul play onboard, and why Lynette’s Apple Watch could become a critical piece of evidence in determining her final moments. Ashleigh is also joined by retired Coast Guard Investigative Service agent Eric Gempp, who helped investigate the Nathan Carman “murder on the high seas” case, to discuss the parallels between the two cases, the importance of Brian Hooker’s earliest statements, and how federal investigators build a no-body case at sea.

Sixteen children were found inside a rural Hamden, Ohio home in conditions officials described as “pure evil,” and four adults inside the family are now charged: Gary Siders Sr., 73; his wife, Christina Siders, 67; their son, Gary Siders Jr., 36; and his wife, Elizabeth Siders, 33. In this episode of Drop Dead Serious, Ashleigh is joined by retired Riverside County Detective Thomas Salisbury, the detective who helped rescue the 13 Turpin children from their California house of horrors, to discuss why he believes the Ohio case may be even worse and what investigators may be doing now.

Explosive new lies are surfacing in the Lynette Hooker investigation after sources with knowledge of the case said evidence shows Lynette made it back to the couple’s sailboat before she vanished. Now, Brian Hooker’s story about the dinghy, the dry bag, the missing passports, the so-called helpless float to Marsh Harbour, and his alleged search for Lynette are all facing new scrutiny. In this episode of Drop Dead Serious, Ashleigh Banfield speaks with Lynette’s friend Blaine Stevenson about the new boat evidence, Brian’s alleged lies, the missing passport mystery, and Facebook messages Brian sent to one of Lynette’s childhood friends in the days after she vanished.

Bombshell new evidence in the Lynette Hooker investigation suggests Brian Hooker’s story about what happened the night his wife vanished in the Bahamas was a lie. According to Lynette Hooker’s family, she did not fall off the back of the dinghy as Brian claimed. Instead, sources with knowledge of the investigation say evidence shows Lynette made it back to the couple’s sailboat, Soulmate, where there were signs of a fight, evidence of foul play, and evidence that Lynette was dead on board.

Just days after Nancy Guthrie vanished, a fake Bitcoin ransom scammer tried to exploit her family’s worst nightmare. Five months later, on July 2, Derrick Callella, a 42-year-old man from Hawthorne, California, pleaded guilty after prosecutors said he sent Bitcoin-related ransom messages to Nancy Guthrie’s family after she vanished and after an earlier ransom demand had already been made. Derrick Callella is expected to receive 5 years probation, not prison, when he is sentenced on Sept. 10. In this episode of Drop Dead Serious, Ashleigh Banfield is joined by former homicide prosecutor Matt Murphy, author of The Book of Murder and host of the podcast In The Well on MK True Crime, to discuss whether this punishment fits the crime and what the case could mean for scammers who target grieving families during active criminal investigations.

The Nancy Guthrie case just got even more confusing, as the FBI is now pushing back on reports that every alleged ransom note tied to Savannah Guthrie’s missing mother was fake. Reuters reported that FBI sources believe all of the ransom-related messages are bogus, but TMZ’s Harvey Levin says his FBI contacts are telling him something very different: that some of the original ransom demands may still be considered potentially legitimate. In this episode of Drop Dead Serious, Ashleigh Banfield breaks down the chaos over the Nancy Guthrie ransom notes, the FBI’s new statement saying the case is still being investigated as a kidnapping for ransom, the role of the Pima County Sheriff’s Department, and why the alleged messages sent to media outlets have become such a critical and controversial part of the investigation. Ashleigh is joined by James Hamilton, former FBI Supervisory Special Agent and founder of Hamilton Security Group, to discuss how investigators evaluate ransom demands, why different FBI sources may be giving different assessments, and what this latest twist means for the search for Nancy Guthrie.Check out Particle’s Face Cream here: https://particleformen.co/banfield and use my code BANFIELD20 for a 20% discount sitewide.

Alex Murdaugh is heading back to court for a new murder trial in 2027, and one overlooked piece of evidence could become a major problem for prosecutors: unknown male DNA found under Maggie Murdaugh’s fingernail. In this episode of Drop Dead Serious, Ashleigh Banfield breaks down the latest pretrial hearing in the Murdaugh murders case with Peter Tragos, host of The Lawyer You Know, including the defense’s argument that Alex Murdaugh’s orange jumpsuit and shackles could poison the jury pool before the retrial even begins, why mystery male DNA under Maggie Murdaugh’s fingernail may get new attention with modern testing, how much of Murdaugh’s financial crimes history jurors may hear, the Becky Hill jury tampering fallout, and whether Alex Murdaugh has a real shot at beating the murder charges this time around.Follow Peter Tragos:Lawyer You Know: https://www.youtube.com/@LawyerYouKnowReady to give Toups a try? Get 25% off your first order by going to http://toupsandco.com/banfield, and use code BANFIELD for 25% off your first order. 

A critical new detail in the Nancy Guthrie kidnapping mystery may help explain why investigators have been taking the first ransom note so seriously. According to new reporting from CBS, the first ransom note received on February 2, 2026, included a highly specific detail about Nancy Guthrie’s Apple Watch: that it had a white band and was on the floor of Nancy's bedroom. In this episode of Drop Dead Serious, Ashleigh Banfield is joined by Crime Junkie Breaking News Reporter, Brianna Whitney, who has seen the wording of the ransom notes and shares what stood out to her, including the strange language, the apology, and what it was like reporting on the Nancy Guthrie case in real time as the first clues were coming in.

The person who has repeatedly contacted TMZ claiming to know the identities of Nancy Guthrie’s kidnappers is now making an even bigger claim: that he has video of Nancy with the “main guy” on what may have been the last day of her life. In this episode of Drop Dead Serious, Ashleigh Banfield breaks down the latest alleged ransom communication, the new Bitcoin demand, the claim of a hidden phone containing video, photos, names, addresses, and information about two people allegedly involved in Nancy’s kidnapping. Digital forensics expert Heather Barnhart joins Ashleigh to explain what investigators can learn from email headers, crypto wallets, AI-generated messages, machine ID cookies, cell phones, and the digital trail criminals often leave behind. Is this new “video” claim the break investigators need, or the cruelest scam yet in the search for Nancy Guthrie?

Mackenzie Shirilla’s mother, Natalie Shirilla, is speaking out after Netflix’s The Crash reignited outrage over the deadly 2022 Ohio crash that killed Dominic Russo and Davion Flanagan. Mackenzie was 17 years old when prosecutors said she deliberately drove into a brick wall at 100 miles per hour, killing her boyfriend and friend. She was convicted in a bench trial and sentenced to 15 years to life, but Natalie insists the public still does not know the full story.In this episode of Drop Dead Serious, Ashleigh Banfield is joined by Chris Cuomo, who sat down for an exclusive interview with Natalie Shirilla and pressed her on the questions still surrounding her daughter’s case, from the crash evidence and trial strategy to Mackenzie’s prison interview, misconduct reports, and allegations about prison girlfriends.Cuomo Crime Time:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6KWjsqGTmSn_Bcobk4sfIQEXCLUSIVE: Mackenzie Shirilla's Mom Speaks Out for the First Timehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07TLSVuNg8

The Nancy Guthrie case just took another disturbing turn after new reporting revealed the chilling words allegedly sent after the 84-year-old Tucson grandmother vanished: “Hello Savannah. We have your mother, Nancy.” In this episode of Drop Dead Serious, Ashleigh Banfield breaks down the latest Nancy Guthrie ransom note details, including the alleged apology, the claim that Nancy “perished shortly after she was taken,” and the bizarre phrase that she was “buried with nature.” Ashleigh is joined by retired homicide detective and Cold Case Foundation director Chris McDonough, who weighs in on why the ransom notes may not fit a typical kidnapping-for-ransom case, what the “porch guy” video may reveal about the abductor, and whether a new theory about how Nancy was targeted could open an entirely different path in the investigation.Subscribe to The Interview Room:https://www.youtube.com/@UCaYSPdXtA5wIBkHk-OKsOMg 

The 39-year-old Lexington, South Carolina personal trainer vanished after being seen at Planet Fitness and was later found dead in a wooded area near a bridge. Now, the autopsy results are in, but instead of answering the biggest question, how did Elena die, they’ve left the case wide open. In this episode of Drop Dead Serious, Ashleigh Banfield breaks down the strange timeline before Elena disappeared, the bizarre Ring camera video from days earlier, the possible EMS dispatch involving a disoriented woman, and the new autopsy update showing no obvious trauma, no clear cause of death, and no final manner of death. Forensic criminologist and death investigator Dr. Laura Pettler joins Ashleigh to explain why investigators are now turning to toxicology, medical records, and histological testing of Elena’s organs to figure out what happened in those final days.

A stunning new report is raising disturbing questions in the disappearance of 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie, the mother of Savannah Guthrie, after sources say an old ransom note claimed Nancy was dead and “buried with nature.” In this episode of Drop Dead Serious, Ashleigh Banfield breaks down the unbelievable new reporting around the alleged ransom notes, and the claim that Nancy may have died shortly after she was abducted. Ashleigh also speaks with TMZ’s Harvey Levin, whose team received early communications in the case and worked with the FBI as investigators tried to trace the people behind them. Harvey reveals what TMZ did and did not receive, why he believed one mysterious tipster may have known something, and the moment the FBI suddenly stopped responding. As the Nancy Guthrie kidnapping mystery grows darker, the biggest questions remain unanswered: who took Nancy, where is she now, and did the ransom notes tell the truth?

Chilling New Details: A body has been found in the search for missing Lexington, South Carolina woman Elena Moore, but the coroner says there was “nothing obvious” at first glance. We've also learned that Elena Moore’s husband spent 14 years as a local deputy before becoming a private investigator. Police said early in the investigation that he was not a person of interest. In this episode of Drop Dead Serious, Ashleigh Banfield is joined by Sergeant Vicki Rains, who was featured in Netflix’s hit true crime docuseries, Missing: Dead or Alive? Rains served for more than 20 years in law enforcement, including with the Richland County Sheriff’s Department’s Victims Services Unit. She weighs in on the unusual timeline, the strange Ring camera video showing Moore disoriented days before she disappeared, the husband’s law enforcement background, and the questions investigators still need to answer. Previous Video: https://youtu.be/aZ6UHHD29FUElena Katherine Moore, 39, was last seen on June 11 after signing in at Planet Fitness in Lexington. Surveillance later showed her walking near Publix on Old Cherokee Road wearing the same olive-green zip-up hoodie and black athletic pants she had on earlier that night. Days later, police said they found a body wearing similar clothing, but official identification and cause of death were still pending.

Breaking: A body matching Elena Moore’s clothing was found in a wooded area after newly obtained surveillance video showed the missing 39-year-old walking near Old Cherokee Road the night she vanished. Elena Katherine Moore disappeared in Lexington, South Carolina after she was last seen leaving Planet Fitness on Whiteford Way on June 11, wearing an olive-green zip-up hoodie and black athletic pants. Police later obtained surveillance video showing Moore walking through the Publix parking lot at 100 Old Cherokee Road around 9:17 p.m., still wearing the same clothes. Days later, investigators say a tip helped lead them to a search area near Old Cherokee Road, where a body was found wearing clothing that matched Moore’s last known outfit. In this episode of Drop Dead Serious, Ashleigh Banfield breaks down the strange and troubling timeline surrounding Elena Moore’s disappearance and the unanswered questions now surrounding the death investigation being handled by the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division. Ashleigh also speaks with NewsNation National Correspondent Mills Hayes, who obtained bombshell Ring camera footage from about a week before Moore disappeared. The video appears to show Elena Moore confused and disoriented at a Lexington apartment complex, picking up someone else’s DoorDash order, trying to follow a homeowner inside, and later telling the homeowner, “I don’t know what I’m doing.”Mills Hayes:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/MillsHayessTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@millshayesssX: https://x.com/@MillsHayesTVReady to give Toups a try? Get 25% off your first order by going to http://toupsandco.com/banfield, and use code BANFIELD for 25% off your first order. 

Nancy Guthrie vanished from her Tucson, Arizona home more than 135 days ago, and investigators have released almost nothing about what happened to the 84-year-old grandmother. But now, a new cybersecurity report on so-called “wrench attacks” and “proxy target attacks” has raised a disturbing possibility in the case: was Nancy taken not because of what she had, but because of who she was connected to? In this episode of Drop Dead Serious, Ashleigh Banfield breaks down the new report, the brutal rise of crypto-related kidnappings and torture-for-password crimes, and why Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos says the task force is aware of the report and has flagged it to investigators. Ashleigh also speaks with security expert Spencer Coursen, a former U.S. Army Ranger and former special deputy U.S. Marshal, about how these attacks work, why criminals are moving from hacking to physical violence, and what families can do to protect themselves from ransom, extortion, and proxy targeting.

Anna Kepner was found dead under a bed on a Carnival cruise ship, and now the 16-year-old stepbrother who shared that cabin with her has been sent to jail. Timothy Hudson, the 16-year-old accused in the death of Florida cheerleader Anna Kepner aboard the Carnival Horizon, has been ordered into U.S. Marshals custody after prosecutors pushed to have him detained. In this episode of Drop Dead Serious, Ashleigh walks through the newly unsealed court documents, the cruise ship surveillance timeline, the phone evidence, and the DNA details prosecutors say are central to the case. Former Florida State Attorney Dave Aronberg joins Ashleigh to break down the federal charges, the adult prosecution, and what happens next for a teenager facing life in prison.