Crime Stories with Nancy Grace

Deep in the Maine woods near the Canadian border, the Damron family sets up a homestead on 20 acres of land with a Yurt they use as a home. The family of eight consists of father and mother, Dale and Lisa Damron, their 5 children, and 80-year-old Richard Turgeon. Turgeon is not a blood relative but has lived with the family for so long that the children call him grandpa. After two winters in the yurt with no running water, no indoor plumbing and power supplied by generator, Dale and Lisa Damron, and the youngest children move into a trailer offered to them by friend, Andrew Losiewicz, a mile away up the driveway from the Yurt, while 13-year-old Stefanie and her 18-year-old sister, Star, live with grandpa Richard Turgeon, in the yurt. After a serious argument about chores around the yurt, Stefanie goes for a walk in the woods to calm herself. Not uncommon, as Stefanie knows the woods like the back of her hand. Lisa and Dale Damron are in town on a job interview when Star calls to tell them about the argument and Stefanie running into the woods. It is 3 p.m., and the Damron thinks Stefanie will return shortly. As the sun goes down and Stefanie hasn’t returned, the Damrons are concerned and take to the woods, calling out for Stefanie. When Stefanie hasn’t returned the next morning, the Damron report her missing to the Maine State Police, and organized searches begin. Investigators conduct a neighborhood canvas and video search, K9 teams and volunteers conduct grid searches over the Damrons’ property for days, and the FBI’s Child Abduction Rapid Deployment—or CARD team is brought in to look for Stefanie’s activity online. Stefanie’s Father, Dale Damron, says he didn’t think Stefanie could get online and wasn’t aware the flip phone they got for “grandpa” Richard Turgeon could access the internet. A quick check of the phone and the FBI realizes Stefanie could have been using the flip phone to get online. Joining Nancy Grace: Franz Borghardt - Criminal Defense Attorney, Founder of Borghardt Law Firm, Former Prosecutor, Adjust Professor at Louisiana State University Teaching Criminal Litigation, website: www.borghardtlawfirm.com, Instagram and Facebook: BorghardtLawFirm, Dr. Jeff Kieliszewski - Forensic Psychologist, Author: “Darksides", darksides.podia.com, YouTube: "Dr. Jeff Kieliszewski, Forensic Psychologist" Brian Fitzgibbons - Director of Operations for USPA Nationwide Security, Leads a team of investigators specializing in locating missing persons, website: www.uspasecurity.com, Instagram: @uspa_nationwide_security, former Marine and Iraq war veteran Christie Rand - Volunteer Searcher for Stefanie Damron Chris Carson Sr. - Neighbor of Stefanie Damron Family Dave Mack - Investigative Reporter, ‘Crime Stories’ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Investigators in Virginia have announced a breakthrough in the nearly 35-year-old murder of 18-year-old Laurie Ann Powell, finally identifying the individual responsible for her death in 1988. Police have arrested a suspect in a 1997 Long Island homicide that was once considered potentially linked to the Gilgo Beach serial killings, providing long-awaited clarity for a decades-old investigation. Two members of the West Virginia National Guard were shot while on duty in Washington, D.C., in an incident that occurred close to the White House, raising questions about security for personnel assigned to federal locations. An internal affairs review has concluded that the 2023 death of a 19-year-old Rutland, Vermont police trainee could have been prevented, citing failures by supervising officers to adhere to department pursuit policies.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At age 10, Erica Bilheimer got a fresh name with a fresh start. Adopted by Heather and Steven Snapp, she chooses to now be known as "Hollynn" Snapp. Hollynn and the Snapps remain in close contact with her previous foster mother, Leslie Hunt, who took care of Hollynn for more than a year. Over time, Hollynn doesn’t change much. At 19, Hollynn stands just 4 feet, 9 inches tall, and is diagnosed with a low IQ; she has the mental capacity of a 10-year-old child. On October 5, Hollynn texts Heather she’s attending a party at a home on Bell Ridge Drive with a man a trusted friend introduced her to, 52-year-old Steven Linkous. In her text, Hollynn mentions Linkous didn’t want her telling anyone his name, which Heather finds odd. Hollynn texted Heather an address in Kingsport and said, "Hey, this is where I am, and this iswho I am with, although he didn't want me to tell you his name," but she told Heather his name in the text. Foster mom, Leslie Hunt, assumes Hollynn started inpatient treatment when Hollynn hadn’t reached out in more than a week, but is shocked to see a Facebook post from Heather Snapp, asking if anyone has seen or spoken to Hollynn. Heather tells Leslie about Hollynn’s last text, and they agree that if Hollynn had access to a phone, she would have reached out by now. Heather struggles to get local authorities to take a missing person report, so the women report Hollynn missing to the Sullivan County Sheriff's Office. After Hollynn is reported missing, Hollynn’s friend comes forward about leaving Hollynn at Linkous.’home Hollynn was last seen on October 5 at a "party" on Bell Ridge Drive in Kingsport, Tennessee. Witnesses said she had taken a beating and was not coherent. Hollynn is described as weighing 90 pounds, with brown hair, hazel eyes, and an ‘Eye of Providence’ tattoo on her forearm. Anyone with info is asked to call Sullivan County Sheriffs at 423-279-7330 or the TBI at 1-800-TBI-FIND. Joining Nancy Grace: Detective Anthony Stevens - Lead Detective in the Hollynn Snapp case, Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office, TN Captain Richard Frazier - Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office, TN Leslie Hunt - Hollynn's Former Foster Mom Heather Snapp - Hollynn's Adoptive Mom Caryn Stark - Forensic Psychologist, renowned TV and Radio trauma expert and consultant, www.carynstark.com, Instagram: carynpsych, FB: Caryn Stark Private Practice Steve Fischer [FISH-er] (San Bernardino, CA) Missing Persons Private Investigator, Search & Rescue Specialist, & Owner of Search Investigations, website: search investigations.org, Facebook: SearchInvestigations, X: @SF_Investigates Franz Borghardt - Criminal Defense Attorney, Founder of Borghardt Law Firm, Former Prosecutor, Adjust Professor at Louisiana State University Teaching Criminal Litigation, website: www.borghardtlawfirm.com, Instagram and Facebook: BorghardtLawFirm Sydney Sumner - Investigative Reporter, ‘Crime Stories’ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lawyers representing Luigi Mangione are requesting that the death penalty be halted in his federal murder trial, citing a purported "conflict of interest" involving Attorney General Pam Bondi, as detailed in a recent court submission.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Austin police respond to a home in Del Valle after receiving a 911 call about a 7-year-old girl who discovered starved and locked inside a bedroom closet. Six other children are also found in the home, but police say it appears they are physically healthy. According to reports, the child was soiled and barricaded in a closet with heavy boxes blocking the door. An arrest affidavit reveals Virginia Marie Gonzales is accused of locking the 7-year-old girl in a closet for “weeks at a time.” The affidavit further states the girl’s grandmother told police that the child had trouble controlling her bladder and often ate things she shouldn’t. This allegedly led to her siblings being instructed to keep her locked in the closet. The 7-year-old was hospitalized and is now recovering. During the investigation, detectives learn about another child, Ava, who has been missing for years. Virginia Marie Gonzales, Ava‘s mother, was arrested on a charge of serious injury to a child in connection with the 7-year-old’s case. According to police, the missing now 9-year-old child was last seen when she was just 2 years old and in the custody of her mother, Virginia Marie Gonzales. Now, Gonzales has rejected a plea offer related to her arrest. The State offered Gonzales a 40-year prison sentence in exchange for her guilty plea. She and her attorney, Gabe Hernandez, rejected the offer, calling it “utterly absurd.” Gonzales is still in custody. Trial is set to begin January 26, 2026. Joining Nancy Grace today: LeAnne Marie - Friend of Mom, Virginia Gonzales Bronwyn Blake - Adjunct Professor, University of Texas School of Law; Chief Legal Officer, Texas Advocacy Project; Founder: Teen Justice Initiative (advocating for teen victims of dating violence); Facebook and Instagram: @TexasAdvocacyProject Dr. Angela Arnold - Psychiatrist in Atlanta: Expert in the Treatment of Pregnant/Postpartum Women, Former Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Obstetrics and Gynecology: Emory University, Former Medical Director of The Psychiatric Ob-Gyn Clinic at Grady Memorial Hospital Daryl Parker - Private Investigator at Blackfish; Former Lieutenant in the Fannin County Sheriff's Office, Private Investigator at Blackfish Intelligence Former Marine, Former Texas Police Officer worked with the Innocence Project of Texas for the last ten years); Instagram: @blackfishintel, FB – blackfishintelligence Virginia Bagby - Director of the ChildHelp National Child Abuse Hotline; Facebook and Instagram: @ChildHelp 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) Christina Aguayo - National News Anchor, Salem News Channel; Facebook: @ChristinaAguayoNews, Instagram: @Christina.AguayoNew See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.