Crime Capsule: Ripped from the pages of a reporter's notebook

It's the kind of place you go to clear your head. Tree-lined. Quiet. Safe. But on October 13th, 2022, that illusion was shattered along a stretch of greenway in Raleigh. At the center of it all— a 15-year-old boy: Austin Thompson. The first calls came in just after 5 p.m. Gunshots. Multiple victims. Chaos. What unfolded next would become one of the deadliest mass shootings in Raleigh's history. Five people were killed. Two more were injured. Among the victims—an off-duty police officer… shot in his own neighborhood. There was no clear motive. For hours the city didn't know where the shooter was. As the sun set fear took over. Entire neighborhoods were locked down. Residents were told: stay inside, lock your doors, don't move. Parents waited in panic as schools that were delayed in releasing students. Helicopters circled overhead because somewhere out there the suspect was still moving. Eventually, law enforcement tracked him to a home nearby. A standoff followed. Austin Thompson was taken into custody after shooting himself in the head. He survived. And that's when the real questions began. How does a teenager carry out something like this? And more importantly—could it have been stopped? In this interview with Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman we break down the details of this tragic event in Raleigh's history. CRIME CAPSULE PODCAST ON FACEBOOK CRIME.POD ON INSTAGRAM CRIME CAPSULE ON YOUTUBE TO HELP SUPPORT THE SHOW: BUY US A CUP OF COFFEE!  

It was like something out of a horror movie. A mother from North Carolina goes missing and ends up dismembered in an alligator infested swamp in Texas. Laura Ackerson and the father of her children, Grant Hayes, were embroiled in a heated custody battle over their two young sons. Grant's new wife, Amanda, who had a baby daughter of her own with Grant, was also at odds with Laura about the ongoing custody dispute. Prosecutors say Grant and Amanda lured Laura to their apartment in Raleigh, killed her, and then dismembered her body with an electric saw. They then carried her remains in coolers in the back of a rental truck to Texas where they dumped them in a swamp near Amanda's sister's home. In this episode, the prosecutor walks us through the complex case investigators were able to build against the killer couple. We also hear from the  forensic scientist who was able to all but guarantee their conviction with a single saw mark on a her bone. CRIME CAPSULE PODCAST ON FACEBOOK CRIME.POD ON INSTAGRAM CRIME CAPSULE ON YOUTUBE TO HELP SUPPORT THE SHOW: BUY US A CUP OF COFFEE!    

It's been three months...three months since Savannah Guthrie and her siblings have seen their mother, Nancy Guthrie. Investigators believe the 84-year-old was kidnapped from her Tucson, Arizona home in the middle of the night from her bed. Despite a massive search, surveillance video of the suspect, a one million dollar reward, and unprecedented national media attention, no one has been able to find Nancy. Up until now, we've only heard from Savannah Guthrie on short social media clips. This past week she sat down with her dear friend and colleague, retired veteran anchor Hoda Kotb who has been filling in for Savannah in her absence. In this episode, we break down the extended version of this interview-what Savannah reveals about the investigation, her unbreakable bond with her siblings, how her mother is a shinining example of strength and faith for her children. She also asks once again for anyone who knows anything to come forward. At times heartbreaking, but also hopeful, Savannah is poised and resolute vowing not to allow the kidnappers to steal her joy or that of her family. She is set to return to the Today Show on April 6. She shares with Hoda that she doesn't know how she will do it because she has been forever changed by the tragedy, but she is willing to try.

22-year-old Cole Thomas disappeared in Benson, North Carolina on November 25, 2016. It was like he simply vanished without a trace. He was an electrical contractor and the crew members he was traveling with all had different stories about what may have happened to Cole. One consistent thread was that there was a drug deal that went bad and Cole left the car never to be seen again. A massive search of wooded areas and swamplands in the area turned up no clues. Cole's parents immediately drove from Florida to North Carolina to help with the search, but nothing was found. Cole's father, Chris Thomas, believes his son is dead. He had hoped that one of the men Cole was with would at least tell them where Cole's body is. In this episode, we unpack the details of this decade long cold case with Chris who has been conducting his own investigation. We also check in with Benson's police chief who handled the case back when he was on the street. Our goal is that by keeping the case in the public eye someone will come forward with information that could lead to justice for Cole and much needed answers for his family. CRIME CAPSULE PODCAST ON FACEBOOK CRIME.POD ON INSTAGRAM CRIME CAPSULE ON YOUTUBE TO HELP SUPPORT THE SHOW: BUY US A CUP OF COFFEE!

Law enforcement officers are dealing with intense situations that often involve danger and heartbreaking outcomes. As a result, they have unique mental health issues that are not always addressed by the agencies they work for. Nearly 200 law enforcement officers across the country take their own lives each year. A nonprofit that studied the issue from 2016 to 2024 revealed that they are 54-69 percent more likely to die by suicide than people in other careers. Researchers think this number is low because it is an underreported issue. Spouses and family members of these officers are often blindsided by their deaths. In this episode we speak with the wife of an officer who died by suicide. She shares what she now believes were signs in retrospect that her husband needed help. We also speak to an expert about how to spot red flags in advance. If you or someone you know needs support call or text the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988.   CRIME CAPSULE PODCAST ON FACEBOOK CRIME.POD ON INSTAGRAM CRIME CAPSULE ON YOUTUBE TO HELP SUPPORT THE SHOW: BUY US A CUP OF COFFEE!  

In this bonus episode, veteran prosecutor Melanie Shekita shares her memories of the most high-profile cases she has handled in her almost three decades with the Wake County District Attorney's Office in Raleigh, North Carolina. From murders to child sex crimes, Melanie has prosecuted some of the most challenging and emotional cases. She talks about why she is passionate about finding justice for the victims and how she has been able to do this difficult work for so many years.  To learn more about Melanie: Melanie Shekita | Wake County Follow and support CRIME CAPSULE: CRIME CAPSULE PODCAST ON FACEBOOK CRIME.POD ON INSTAGRAM CRIME CAPSULE ON YOUTUBE TO HELP SUPPORT THE SHOW: BUY US A CUP OF COFFEE!  

In 1994, Beth-Ellen Vinson was chasing a dream. She wanted to be a star. A trained dancer, she knew it wasn't going to happen in the small Eastern North Carolina town where she grew up in. So, she moved to the state capital, Raleigh, where musical theater was flourishing. But in order to pay the bills she had to get a job that paid real money. The 17-year-old went to work as an escort. Just one month after moving to the big city to find fame in the footlights, Beth-Ellen became famous for all the wrong reasons. On August 16, 1994, the teen left the apartment she shared with her boyfriend and other roommates to meet a client. Early in the morning her car was found running, the door ajar, one high heel still inside near a car dealership. Beth-Ellen had vanished. Seven days later her body was found near some warehouses in an industrial area. She had been stabbed 30 times. To this day, her murder is unsolved. It's a cold case that continues to haunt her family, friends and investigators. In this episode, we interview private investigator and podcaster Matt Duff. He shares what he has learned about one of North Carolina's most enduring mysteries.   WHO KILLED BETH-ELLEN (MATT DUFF) CRIME CAPSULE PODCAST ON FACEBOOK CRIME.POD ON INSTAGRAM CRIME CAPSULE ON YOUTUBE TO HELP SUPPORT THE SHOW: BUY US A CUP OF COFFEE!

It's been ten days since Nancy Guthrie was seen alive... Now, we have definitive evidence of a kidnapping. Authorities have released surveillance photos from Nancy Guthrie's Nest cameras that reveal the kidnapper appearing to be casually making his or her way into the home with a handgun. Ther person is masked, but the photos are clear enough and the clothing is distinctive enough that there's a good chance someone knows this person. This is the biggest break in the case so far. In this episode of CRIME CAPSULE DAILY we discuss this latest development, recent searches, and videos released by the family. For context, we recorded this Tuesday afternoon directly after the release of the photos. CRIME CAPSULE PODCAST ON FACEBOOK CRIME.POD ON INSTAGRAM CRIME CAPSULE ON YOUTUBE TO HELP SUPPORT THE SHOW: BUY US A CUP OF COFFEE!

Welcome to CRIME CAPSULE DAILY where we examine national crime stories making headlines. As former crime reporters, Chelsea Donovan and I (Amanda Lamb) can't help but investigate every high-profile crime case in the news. It's in our DNA. It's the kind of curiosity that never leaves you after spending 50+ combined years in the business. Some people might call it an obsession. We are using our expertise to discuss what we know, what we don't know, and what we hope to learn. The goal is to shed some new light on this case based on our years in the trenches. This episode focuses on the abduction of Savannah Guthrie's mother, Nancy Guthrie, and the continued search for her five days after she was reported missing. We recorded this show Thursday afternoon right after the Pima County Sheriff's latest press conference. We are sharing what we learned, dispelling myths, and examining the powerful and emotional video made by Savannah Guthrie and her siblings where they are pleading for their mother's kidnappers to reach out to them. This is a case that has captivated the country not just because the victim has a famous daughter, but because she is someone's mother, someone's grandmother, someone we could all imagine knowing and loving.  If you have information that could help solve this case please call: 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or the Pima County Sheriff's Office at 520-351-4900. CRIME CAPSULE PODCAST ON FACEBOOK CRIME.POD ON INSTAGRAM CRIME CAPSULE ON YOUTUBE TO HELP SUPPORT THE SHOW: BUY US A CUP OF COFFEE!

Today, we're launching a new segment of CRIME CAPSULE where we examine national crime stories making headlines. As former crime reporters, Chelsea Donovan and I (Amanda Lamb) can't help but investigate every high-profile crime case in the news. It's in our DNA. It's the kind of curiosity that never leaves you after spending 50+ combined years in the business. Some people might call it an obsession. We are using our expertise to discuss what we know, what we don't know, and what we hope to learn. The goal is to shed some new light on this case based on our years in the trenches. This episode focuses on the abduction of Savannah Guthrie's mother, Nancy Guthrie. We recorded this show Wednesday afternoon and acknowledge the information is changing by the minute. This is a case that has captivated the country not just because the victim has a famous daughter, but because she is someone's mother, someone's grandmother, someone we could all imagine knowing and loving. If you have information that could help solve this case please call: 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or go to https://88crime.org/ to leave an anonymous tip.  CRIME CAPSULE PODCAST ON FACEBOOK CRIME.POD ON INSTAGRAM CRIME CAPSULE ON YOUTUBE TO HELP SUPPORT THE SHOW: BUY US A CUP OF COFFEE!

In January 2008, drivers on their morning commute saw something horrible—a body along the side of a major highway in Wake County, North Carolina. When investigators arrived, they thought they would find a hit-and-run victim, but instead, they found a murder victim. A 21-year-old accounting student from a local university had been stabbed to death thirty times and left on the side of the road to die. Immediately, their attention turned toward Latrese Curtis' husband, Darin, and the man she was having an affair with, Steven Randolph. But both men quickly cooperated with authorities and were ruled out as suspects. Still, investigators suspected there might be some connection between her affair and her death. What they discovered was something no one ever expected. Investigators pieced together the puzzle of a bizarre love triangle that included jealousy, rage, and unrequited obsession in order to find justice for Latrese. In this interview the lead investigator on the case shares his memories of what would turn out to be the most bizarre case he ever investigated. CRIME CAPSULE PODCAST ON FACEBOOK CRIME.POD ON INSTAGRAM CRIME CAPSULE ON YOUTUBE TO HELP SUPPORT THE SHOW: BUY US A CUP OF COFFEE!

In April 1968, witnesses reported seeing a small fire in a field in what was then rural North Carolina. The next day, some passersby made a brutal discovery-the charred body of a woman who had been murdered. Immediately, investigators started trying to figure out who the woman was and who had killed her. But with no DNA technology available at the time, they had little to go on. Still, detectives with the Wake County Sheriff's Office continued to work the case. In 2004, after 36 years of investigation, they were able to identify a suspect only to discover the man had died in the 1990's. But the identity of the victim was still unknown. In 2024, the WCSO teamed up with the State Bureau of Investigation to try and get new traction on the case. Amazingly, the woman's hair had been preserved from the crime scene. Investigators sent it to a lab that specialized in creating a DNA profile from older cases with small or degraded samples. Not only did Astrea Forensics come up with a strong profile, but it was enough for forensic genealogist Leslie Kaufman to create a family tree. Eventually, after months of work, Leslie identified the victim and investigators were able to provide closure for her family.   CRIME CAPSULE PODCAST ON FACEBOOK CRIME.POD ON INSTAGRAM CRIME CAPSULE ON YOUTUBE TO HELP SUPPORT THE SHOW: BUY US A CUP OF COFFEE!

Jenna Nielsen was the married mother of two and 8-months pregnant at the time she was killed behind a Raleigh, North Carolina convenience store in the early morning hours of a balmy summer day in 2007. She was just doing her job as a USA Today paper carrier, trying to make a little extra money to help support her growing family. Immediately, there was hope the case would be closed quickly. Witnesses in the area who saw a man running from the scene helped police make a detailed composite, and there was DNA evidence. Early on, there were promising leads, but the case went nowhere. A man sits in a Mexican jail charged in a homicide in his native country and he is suspected in a 2002 murder in North Carolina. Investigators say he's a person of interest in Jenna's murder, but they haven't been able to get him extradited to the U.S. In this powerful bonus episode, Jenna's son who was 3 at the time of her murder speaks publicly for the first time about his memories of his mother, his loss, and his desire for justice for Jenna. Follow Crime Capsule: CRIME CAPSULE PODCAST ON FACEBOOK CRIME.POD ON INSTAGRAM CRIME CAPSULE ON YOUTUBE TO HELP SUPPORT THE SHOW: BUY US A CUP OF COFFEE!

He was a beloved surgeon in the Virginia Beach community for close to 40 years. Dr. Javaid Perwaiz came to the US from Pakistan and settled into the Hampton Roads Community. He made a name for himself as a sought after solo OBGYN, delivering thousands of babies and performing standard OBGYN care. But around 2019, his beloved practice would come tumbling down as FBI agents raided his office, seizing patient records, and even diagnostic equipment. This all started because a nurse tipped off the FBII when she noticed a high number of surgeries and insurance claims that weren't adding up. They discovered that Perwaiz performed unnecessary surgeries on women like hysterectomies, sterilizations, removing ovaries, and C-sections for patients who didn't need them. He betrayed their trust and their bodies. In this bonus content from the Crime Capsule Podcast veteran reporter Margaret Kavanagh shares her experience and insight covering this case. CRIME CAPSULE PODCAST ON FACEBOOK CRIME.POD ON INSTAGRAM CRIME CAPSULE ON YOUTUBE TO HELP SUPPORT THE SHOW: BUY US A CUP OF COFFEE!

Jenna Nielsen was the married mother of two and 8-months pregnant at the time she was killed behind a Raleigh, North Carolina convenience store in the early morning hours of a balmy summer day in 2007. She was just doing her job as a USA Today paper carrier, trying to make a little extra money to help support her growing family. Immediately, there was hope the case would be closed quickly. Witnesses in the area who saw a man running from the scene helped police make a detailed composite, and there was DNA evidence. Early on, there were promising leads, but the case went nowhere. A man sits in a Mexican jail charged in a homicide in his native country and he is suspected in a 2002 murder in North Carolina. Investigators say he's a person of interest in Jenna's murder, but they haven't been able to get him extradited to the U.S. In this powerful episode, Jenna's family and the prosecutor assigned to the case talk about their ongoing quest to get justice for Jenna. Follow Crime Capsule: CRIME CAPSULE PODCAST ON FACEBOOK CRIME.POD ON INSTAGRAM CRIME CAPSULE ON YOUTUBE TO HELP SUPPORT THE SHOW: BUY US A CUP OF COFFEE!

Mary and John McCullough did everything in their power to help their adopted son, Christopher, as he struggled with mental illness and addiction. And when he lost physical custody of his son, their grandchild, they continued to support Christopher and their precious grandson. But on a hot August day in 2023, Christopher showed up to his parents' home with one thing in mind, MURDER. He attacked his parents, beating them severely. Mary died from the attack. John survived, but with emotional trauma that can never be erased. In this episode, the prosecutor who put Christopher behind bars for life, Melanie Shekita, walks host Chelsea Donovan through the dramatic trial that featured bizarre testimony from Christopher. CRIME CAPSULE PODCAST ON FACEBOOK CRIME.POD ON INSTAGRAM CRIME CAPSULE ON YOUTUBE TO HELP SUPPORT THE SHOW: BUY US A CUP OF COFFEE!

It looked like they had it all. A lovely little girl, good jobs, a beautiful home, and a baby on the way. But something was very wrong... In November 2006, Michelle Young, who was pregnant at the time, was found beaten to death in her suburban home. Her two-year-old daughter was left alone in the home with her mother's body. The victim's husband, Jason Young, said he was on a business trip several hours away at the time of the murder. But he refused to speak to investigators. After learning more about Jason's serial infidelity, they strongly believed he had something to do with his wife's murder. A complex investigation followed where prosecutors picked apart Jason's detailed alibi piece by piece. He testified on his own behalf, charming jurors, leading to a subsequent mistrial. But the prosecutor, Howard Cummings, refused to give up seeking justice for Michelle. In this episode, we take your behind the scenes of this heartbreaking case. CRIME CAPSULE PODCAST ON FACEBOOK CRIME.POD ON INSTAGRAM CRIME CAPSULE ON YOUTUBE TO HELP SUPPORT THE SHOW: BUY US A CUP OF COFFEE!

In this powerful interview for this week's episode of CRIME CAPSULE: Ripped from the pages of a reporter's notebook, a mother shares her family's devastating loss over the murder of her son. He had been on a long road to recovery from addiction when a store owner in downtown Raleigh accused Mark Garrity of shoplifting a bottle of Gatorade and then stabbed him to death in broad daylight in front of many onlookers. Taiseer Zarka was found guilty and sentenced to more than five years in prison which Mark's mother, Amy, believes is a small price to pay for taking her son's life. Chelsea Donovan covered this case from the beginning. In this interview, Amy shares her heartbreak and her frustration over a justice system she believes failed her son. 

In July 2008, a mother of two young daughters is reported missing by her friends in an idyllic suburb of Raleigh, North Carolina. There is a massive search to find Nancy Cooper. Her husband tells local police she went jogging and never returned. A few days later, a dog walker finds Nancy's body in an undeveloped subdivision a few miles from her home. Quickly, the investigation would lead detectives straight to Nancy's husband, Brad Cooper. But an affair and a failing marriage were not enough to arrest him. They needed evidence, and Brad was smart at covering his tracks, or so he thought. He created an elaborate alibi that police needed to unravel if they were ever going to solve the case. In this episode of Crime Capsule: Ripped from the pages of a reporter's notebook, we speak to Nancy's family about their heartbreaking journey to get justice for Nancy and to create awareness about domestic violence. For more about our podcast and updates about upcoming content follow us on social media:    FACEBOOK INSTAGRAM YOUTUBE BUY US A CUP OF COFFEE!

Eric Miller and his wife Ann Miller married after a college romance, had a baby girl, and thriving careers. Eric was a promising pediatric AIDS Researcher at a major university. Ann was a chemist at a top tier pharmaceutical company. But Ann yearned for more. Her desire for money and men would lead her down a lethal path that ended in Eric's death. It would be years before investigators could unravel the complex web of lies and startling physical evidence. This is a story of a deadly chemical romance, epic deceit, and a road for justice with many twists and turns. The murder weapon was arsenic. Someone put it in Eric's beer, injected into his IV in the hospital, and mixed into his chicken and rice dinner. It took years, a suicide, intense scientific testing, and precise police work to finally catch and convict the killer. Join veteran television crime reporters, Amanda Lamb and Chelsea Donovan, as they peel back the curtain on this case that Amanda covered from the beginning and eventually wrote a book about. They speak to the prosecutor in charge of the case and the attorney who defended Ann's lover. This case has been the subject of countless true crime documentaries, but you've never heard the story quite like this, from the people who were there… For more about our podcast and updates about upcoming content follow us on social media:    YOUTUBE Crime Capsule Podcast on Facebook Crime.capsule on Instagram To support us: BUY US A CUP OF COFFEE!  

Lance Corporal Maria Lauterbach, just 20 years old was a United States Marine who disappeared from Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, on December 14, 2007. At the time of her disappearance, Lauterbach was eight months pregnant. She expected to face the rigors of marine life...but instead faced the most unthinkable tragedy from a fellow marine. Lauterbach's body was found burned and buried in Cesar Laurean's backyard and authorities revealed he had fled to Mexico. It would take months to locate him and for the State Department to get him back to the United States after making a deal to table the death penalty. In this episode, reporter Chelsea Donovan shares her experience covering this complex case with co-host Amanda Lamb. Together, along with an interview from the man who prosecuted Laurean, Dewey Hudson, they peel back the layers of exactly what happened in this high-profile case involving a man sworn to uphold the law of the land. For more about our podcast and updates about upcoming content follow us on social media:  FACEBOOK INSTAGRAM YOUTUBE BUY US A CUP OF COFFEE!