Federal charges unsealed against the stepbrother of Anna Kepner, the 18-year-old cheerleader found dead aboard a Carnival cruise ship. Bahamian authorities release Brian Hooker, who claims his wife fell overboard from their dinghy on a trip across Elbow Cay back to their yacht. Sydney Silvagni reports. 

Federal charges unsealed against the stepbrother of Anna Kepner, the 18-year-old cheerleader found dead aboard a Carnival cruise ship. Bahamian authorities release Brian Hooker, who claims his wife fell overboard from their dinghy on a trip across Elbow Cay back to their yacht. Sydney Silvagni reports.&nbsp;

Nancy Grace dives deep into the day’s most shocking crimes and asks the tough questions in her new daily podcast – Crime Stories with Nancy Grace. Nancy Grace had a perfect conviction record during her decade as a prosecutor and used her TV show to find missing people, fugitives on the run and unseen clues. Now, she will use the power of her huge social media following and the immediacy of the internet to deliver daily bombshells!

Theme Music: Audio Network

Crime Stories with Nancy Grace

Nancy Grace dives deep into the day’s most shocking crimes and asks the tough questions in her new daily podcast – Crime Stories with Nancy Grace. Nancy Grace had a perfect conviction record during her decade as a prosecutor and used her TV show to find missing people, fugitives on the run and unseen clues. Now, she will use the power of her huge social media following and the immediacy of the internet to deliver daily bombshells!

Theme Music: Audio Network

Charges for Anna Kepner's Stepbrother 'T.H.' Revealed | Crime Alert 04.14.26

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/a829b0a7-6990-4056-a7e6-b42c004be95d/transcript

15- and 17-year-old boys in custody after shooting at "random" Austin targets Saturday and Sunday. Parents of rape victim begging University of California Santa Barbara to request assistance from larger law enforcement agencies to get attacker behind bars as quickly as possible. Sydney Silvagni reports. 

15- and 17-year-old boys in custody after shooting at "random" Austin targets Saturday and Sunday. Parents of rape victim begging University of California Santa Barbara to request assistance from larger law enforcement agencies to get attacker behind bars as quickly as possible. Sydney Silvagni reports.&nbsp;

Two Teens Arrested in 10 "Random" Shootings, Austin Weekend Terror | Crime Alert 05.18.26

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/c8b75cce-5dcb-4f30-ae68-b44e003e2f5d/transcript

Nick Reiner, 32  pleads not guilty to the December 2025 murders of his parents, director Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner.    His preliminary hearing has been postponed to Sept. 15, 2026, as  the defense is still waiting for evidence. There is roughly 2 terabytes of discovery and autopsy results. Reiner is now represented by a public defender after his previous high-profile attorney Alan Jackson withdrew.

Reports suggest Reiner is in a high-observation mental health unit in jail. Reiner has faced severe, long-term mental health challenges, including diagnoses of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, and was under a mental health conservatorship between 2020 and 2021.

The murderders happened after Michele and Rob Reiner leave Conan’s party without their son after his off-putting behavior, like wearing a hoodie to a formal event and interrupting Bill Hader’s private conversation, leads to an embarrassing public row.

Reiner, however, doesn’t make his own way to Brentwood. Instead, he pops up in Santa Monica at 4 a.m. Sunday morning, checking into The Pierside hotel. Desk staff don’t notice anything off about Reiner’s appearance, but the next morning, housekeepers find sheets covering the windows, and blood all over Reiner’s bedding and shower.

The Reiners’ troubles with their middle child have been bubbling to a head for months. Every photo of the family from the September premiere of Rob’s latest film, "Spinal Tap: The End Continues," picture the 32-year-old sporting a deep scowl.

By November, Nick Reiner moves back into his parents’ guest house, which he’s trashed on multiple occasions, leading up to a blowout fight the day after Thanksgiving that left Michele “at her wits’ end.”

 

Joining Nancy Grace:
Philip Dubé - Court-Appointed Counsel, Los Angeles County Public Defenders: Criminal & Constitutional Law; Forensics & Mental Health Advocacy; X: PhilipCDube, IG: PhilipDube, YouTube: PhilipDube3922
Dr. Bethany Marshall -  Psychoanalyst, Author: "Deal Breaker," and featured in hit show "Paris in Love" on Peacock; Instagram & TikTok: drbethanymarshall, X: @DrBethanyLivee 
Scott Eicher - A founding member of the FBI’s Cellular Analysis Survey Team (C.A.S.T); Historical Cellular Analysis Expert; Former FBI agent of 22 years; Former Police Officer and Homicide Detective with Norfolk Virginia Police Dept. having served 12 years; Currently with Precision Cellular Analysis handling Criminal, Defense and Civil Cases
Rob Shuter - Host: Naughty But Nice Podcast, Author of Newly-released Novel “It Started With A Whisper;" Former Publicist of Sean Combs; IG: @naughtygossip
Dr. Kendall Crowns - Chief Medical Examiner Tarrant County (Ft Worth), Host of Podcast, "Mayhem in the Morgue," and Lecturer: Burnett School of Medicine at TCU (Texas Christian University)
Kayla Brantley - Reporter-At-Large for DailyMail.com and Host of DailyMail’s Podcast: 'The Trial of Diddy;' X: @_KaylaBrantley, Instagram: @KaylaBrantley
Sydney Sumner - Investigative Reporter, ‘Crime Stories’ 

Nick Reiner, 32 &nbsp;pleads not guilty to the December 2025 murders of his parents, director Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner.&nbsp; &nbsp; His preliminary hearing has been postponed to Sept. 15, 2026, as&nbsp; the defense is still waiting for evidence. There is roughly 2 terabytes of discovery and autopsy results. Reiner is now represented by a public defender after his previous high-profile attorney Alan Jackson withdrew.
Reports suggest Reiner is in a high-observation mental health unit in jail. Reiner has faced severe, long-term mental health challenges, including diagnoses of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, and was under a mental health conservatorship between 2020 and 2021.
The murderders happened after Michele and Rob Reiner leave Conan&rsquo;s party without their son after his off-putting behavior, like wearing a hoodie to a formal event and interrupting Bill Hader&rsquo;s private conversation, leads to an embarrassing public row.
Reiner, however, doesn&rsquo;t make his own way to Brentwood. Instead, he pops up in Santa Monica at 4 a.m. Sunday morning, checking into The Pierside hotel. Desk staff don&rsquo;t notice anything off about Reiner&rsquo;s appearance, but the next morning, housekeepers find sheets covering the windows, and blood all over Reiner&rsquo;s bedding and shower.
The Reiners&rsquo; troubles with their middle child have been bubbling to a head for months. Every photo of the family from the September premiere of Rob&rsquo;s latest film, "Spinal Tap: The End Continues," picture the 32-year-old sporting a deep scowl.
By November, Nick&nbsp;Reiner moves back into his parents&rsquo; guest house, which he&rsquo;s trashed on multiple occasions, leading up&nbsp;to a blowout fight the day after Thanksgiving that left Michele &ldquo;at her wits&rsquo; end.&rdquo;
&nbsp;
Joining Nancy Grace:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.instagram.com/philip.dube/?hl=en">Philip Dub&eacute;</a> - Court-Appointed Counsel, Los Angeles County Public Defenders: Criminal &amp; Constitutional Law; Forensics &amp; Mental Health Advocacy; X: PhilipCDube, IG: PhilipDube, YouTube: PhilipDube3922</li>
<li><a href="http://www.drbethanymarshall.com">Dr. Bethany Marshall</a> -&nbsp; Psychoanalyst, Author: "Deal Breaker," and featured in hit show "Paris in Love" on Peacock; Instagram &amp; TikTok: drbethanymarshall, X: @DrBethanyLivee&nbsp;</li>
<li><a href="http://pcaexperts.com">Scott Eicher</a> - A founding member of the FBI&rsquo;s Cellular Analysis Survey Team (C.A.S.T); Historical Cellular Analysis Expert; Former FBI agent of 22 years; Former Police Officer and Homicide Detective with Norfolk Virginia Police Dept. having served 12 years; Currently with Precision Cellular Analysis handling Criminal, Defense and Civil Cases</li>
<li><a href="http://robshuter.substack.com">Rob Shuter</a> - Host: Naughty But Nice Podcast, Author of Newly-released Novel &ldquo;It Started With A Whisper;" Former Publicist of Sean Combs; IG: @naughtygossip</li>
<li><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mayhem-in-the-morgue-with-dr-kendall-crowns/id1832515666">Dr. Kendall Crowns</a> - Chief Medical Examiner Tarrant County (Ft Worth), Host of Podcast, "Mayhem in the Morgue," and Lecturer: Burnett School of Medicine at TCU (Texas Christian University)</li>
<li><a href="https://www.instagram.com/kaylabrantley/?hl=en">Kayla Brantley</a> - Reporter-At-Large for DailyMail.com and Host of DailyMail&rsquo;s Podcast: 'The Trial of Diddy;' X: @_KaylaBrantley, Instagram: @KaylaBrantley</li>
<li>Sydney Sumner - Investigative Reporter, &lsquo;Crime Stories&rsquo;&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

Nick Reiner Pleads Not Guilty to Parents Murders, After High Profile Lawyer Walks Away 

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/1e868450-ed9b-44c3-8189-b44d01020e7c/transcript

In this episode of Mayhem in the Morgue, Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Kendall Crowns examines how forensic pathology, DNA evidence, and meticulous evidence preservation can revive years-long cold cases, specifically focusing on the 1990 Lover’s Lane murder and the 1993 Brown’s Chicken massacre. Dr. Crowns details the physiological realities of neck trauma and the four stages of hemorrhagic shock, and explains how tools like the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) allow investigators to match decades old DNA to identify potential suspects. The episode closes with Dr. Crowns sharing lessons learned from testifying in court and the importance of using precise language.



Highlights

(0:00) Welcome to Mayhem in the Morgue with Dr. Kendall Crowns

(0:15) The Lover’s Lane murders, cold case questions, and Dr. Crowns’ follow-up to a recent Crime Stories with Nancy Grace discussion

(1:15) Cheryl Henry and Andy Atkinson are reported missing before searchers discover their bodies in the woods

(2:15) What incised wounds reveal about sharp force trauma to the neck

(3:00) Why injuries to the carotid arteries and jugular veins can lead to hemorrhagic shock and rapid death

(9:00) What Henry and Atkinson likely endured before losing consciousness

(10:15) A 2026 tip, CODIS, and the DNA match that may move the Lover’s Lane case toward trial

(12:00) How DNA and trace evidence are collected during autopsy and preserved for future testing

(14:45) The Brown’s Chicken massacre and how discarded food evidence led to preserved DNA samples

(21:30) Breakthrough in the case and the identification of the suspects

(22:45) Why substitute medical examiners sometimes testify in older cases and the importance of using precise language in court

(29:30) Smith v. Arizona, the confrontation clause, and legal changes affecting substitute testimony

(31:15) Closing thoughts on how modern forensic science continues to solve cold cases



About the Host: 

Dr. Kendall Crowns is the Chief Medical Examiner for Travis County, Texas, and a nationally recognized forensic pathologist. He has led death investigations in Travis County, Fort Worth, Chicago, andKansas. Over his career, he has performed thousands of autopsies and testified in court hundreds of times as an expert witness. A frequent contributor to Crime Stories with Nancy Grace, Dr. Crowns brings sharp medical insight and dark humor to the often misunderstood realities of forensic pathology.



About the Show

Mayhem in the Morgue takes listeners inside the bloody, bizarre, and often unbelievable world of forensic pathology. Hosted by Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Kendall Crowns, each episode delivers real-life cases from the morgue, the crime scene, and the courtroom. Expect gallows humor, hard truths, and unforgettable investigations.



Connect and Learn More

Learn more about Dr. Kendall Crowns on Linkedin. Catch him regularly on Crime Stories with Nancy Grace and follow Mayhem in the Morgue where you get your podcasts.

If you liked this episode, don’t keep it to yourself; follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a review.

In this episode of&nbsp;Mayhem in the Morgue, Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Kendall Crowns examines&nbsp;how forensic pathology, DNA evidence, and meticulous evidence preservation can revive&nbsp;years-long cold cases, specifically focusing on the 1990 Lover&rsquo;s Lane murder and the 1993&nbsp;Brown&rsquo;s Chicken massacre. Dr. Crowns details the physiological realities of neck trauma and&nbsp;the four stages of hemorrhagic shock, and explains how tools like the Combined DNA Index&nbsp;System (CODIS) allow investigators to match decades old DNA to identify potential suspects.&nbsp;The episode closes with Dr. Crowns sharing lessons learned from testifying in court and the&nbsp;importance of using precise language. 
Highlights
(0:00) Welcome to Mayhem in the Morgue with Dr. Kendall Crowns
(0:15) The Lover&rsquo;s Lane murders, cold case questions, and Dr. Crowns&rsquo; follow-up to a&nbsp;recent Crime Stories with Nancy Grace discussion
(1:15) Cheryl Henry and Andy Atkinson are reported missing before searchers discover&nbsp;their bodies in the woods
(2:15) What incised wounds reveal about sharp force trauma to the neck
(3:00) Why injuries to the carotid arteries and jugular veins can lead to hemorrhagic&nbsp;shock and rapid death
(9:00) What Henry and Atkinson likely endured before losing consciousness
(10:15) A 2026 tip, CODIS, and the DNA match that may move the Lover&rsquo;s Lane case&nbsp;toward trial
(12:00) How DNA and trace evidence are collected during autopsy and preserved for&nbsp;future testing
(14:45) The Brown&rsquo;s Chicken massacre and how discarded food evidence led to&nbsp;preserved DNA samples
(21:30) Breakthrough in the case and the identification of the suspects
(22:45) Why substitute medical examiners sometimes testify in older cases and the&nbsp;importance of using precise language in court
(29:30) Smith v. Arizona, the confrontation clause, and legal changes affecting substitute&nbsp;testimony
(31:15) Closing thoughts on how modern forensic science continues to solve cold cases 
About the Host:&nbsp;
Dr. Kendall Crowns is the Chief Medical Examiner for Travis County, Texas, and a nationally recognized&nbsp;forensic pathologist. He has led death investigations in Travis County, Fort Worth, Chicago, andKansas. Over his career, he has performed thousands of autopsies and testified in court&nbsp;hundreds of times as an expert witness. A frequent contributor to Crime Stories with Nancy Grace, Dr. Crowns brings sharp medical insight and dark humor to the often misunderstood&nbsp;realities of forensic pathology. 
About the Show
Mayhem in the Morgue takes listeners inside the bloody, bizarre, and often unbelievable world&nbsp;of forensic pathology. Hosted by Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Kendall Crowns, each episode&nbsp;delivers real-life cases from the morgue, the crime scene, and the courtroom. Expect gallows&nbsp;humor, hard truths, and unforgettable investigations. 
Connect and Learn More
Learn more about Dr. Kendall Crowns on Linkedin. Catch him regularly on Crime Stories with&nbsp;Nancy Grace and follow Mayhem in the Morgue where you get your podcasts.
If you liked this episode, don&rsquo;t keep it to yourself; follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a review.

Mayhem in the Morgue:  Cold Cases, Lover’s Lane Murder, and the Brown’s Chicken Massacre

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/9ef655a5-49f7-4a71-9822-b44b01529666/transcript

Charges for Anna Kepner's Stepbrother 'T.H.' Revealed | Crime Alert 04.14.26

In 1 playlist(s)

Crime Stories with Nancy Grace

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips