Body Bags with Joseph Scott Morgan: Forensic Anthropology and the Suicide of Gabby Petito's Murderer

Celeste Rivas Hernandez was just 13 when she was reported missing from her family home in Lake Elsinore, 70 miles southeast of Los Angeles. Celeste, at 5 feet, 3 inches tall and 120 pounds, is reported last seen wearing a black shirt, gray pants, and Hello Kitty sandals. And according to close sources and family members, she has a boyfriend named "David." Celeste, just entering her teen years, becomes friends with singer D4vd on social media and runs away to Hollywood to see the rising star. Celeste is returned home to Lake Elsinore by the police. Celeste remains in school for a month, then in May, "D4vd" (David Anthony Burke) picks Celeste up in a Tesla to go to the movies, and she never returns home. Residents in the Hollywood Hills grow tired of a dusty, 2023 Tesla Model Y with a Texas plate parked on the street for a month and report the vehicle. Days later, employees at Hollywood Tow notice a foul odor coming from the Tesla and call the police. When officers arrive, they discover human remains wrapped in plastic, placed in a bag, and hidden in the frunk of the Tesla. Police identify the person/victim as female, 5 feet 2, weighing 71 pounds, with wavy black hair, wearing a tube top and black leggings. Reports later state the remains are severely decomposed, partially dismembered, and identified as Celeste Rivas Hernandez, the child who was reported missing more than a year ago. Authorities report the Tesla is owned by singer/songwriter D4vd, who is reported to be living in the Hollywood Hills neighborhood near where the Tesla was abandoned. Follow "Crime Stories with Nancy Grace" for the latest updates in the Celeste Rivas Hernandez case and more crime cases of victims and loved ones seeking justice.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

31 Dec 52min

A 46-year-old Alaska cardiologist charged with possessing child sex abuse material was found dead inside his burned Wasilla home just one day after his release on bond, as investigators continue to determine how the fire and his death occurred. A Christmas Day drive through the Sierra nearly ends in disaster when an SUV spins out on icy Highway 50 and hangs over a steep drop, until an Air Force staff sergeant rushes in and helps save the trapped couple. A quick-thinking Long Island seventh grader escaped through a window and called 911 after realizing a burglar had broken into his home, leading police to arrest the suspect within minutes. Drew Nelson reports.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

31 Dec 6min

James Fyfe leaves his Massachusetts security screening job to follow his dreams of becoming a cop. New Orleans catches Fyfe’s eye, actually circulating ‘help wanted’ posters amid a hiring slump. Fyfe begins as a patrol officer in Algiers and works his way up the Fourth District Task Force into property crimes. After time on the Violent Crime Abatement Investigation team, Fyfe finally gets a shot in the homicide division, just as NOLA sees a huge spike in violent crime. While many detectives only handle about five homicide cases a year, Fyfe is assigned to nearly 40 cases over three years because he keeps clearing them! Since 2022, Fyfe has closed 24 consecutive cases he is assigned to, with his co-workers keeping track on a white board they’ve dubbed the "Fyfe-o-meter." Fyfe’s work helps the homicide division bring its ‘clearance rate’ from 40% in 2022 to above 76%. As 2024 nears the end, Thanh Vu tends her supermarket, but three "customers" are seeking more than groceries. Thanh, 61, was held at gunpoint while thieves emptied the register and pocketed cigarettes. When Thanh fights back, she’s shot and left for dead. Joining Nancy Grace: James Fyfe - Homicide Detective, New Orleans Police Department, Criminal Law Degree from Northeastern University, and Master’s at Suffolk University; Increased Homicide Unit’s Clearance Rate from 40% to 75% from 2022-2024 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

30 Dec 45min

Two teenagers in Florida have been indicted in the killing of 14-year-old Danika Troy of Pace, whose body was discovered earlier this month. Authorities say a reserve police officer and his wife are facing criminal charges after investigators concluded their biological and foster children were subjected to severe abuse. A man accused of fatally shooting his grandfather two years ago has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and is expected to testify against his mother, whom prosecutors say orchestrated the killing.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

30 Dec 6min

A mother in St. Cloud, Florida, hires around-the-clock nursing care in her home to help care for her teenage daughter. The 18-year-old is developmentally disabled, non-verbal, quadriplegic with cerebral palsy, and has minimal vision. To cover the 24 / 7 schedule, nurses work 12-hour shifts, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. in their St. Cloud home. Checking on her disabled daughter Saturday morning, the mother notices red scratches around her daughter's mouth and eyelid; the scratches were not present the previous evening, and as a quadriplegic, it is impossible for her daughter to scratch herself in such a way, so she reviews surveillance camera footage from the previous night and calls the police immediately. The nurse during this time was Nia Ayers, a 24-year-old Licensed Practical Nurse who had cared for the girl on Friday night into Saturday morning for over a year. She has been licensed since 2021 and has not had a single disciplinary action or even a complaint in her nursing career. Joining Nancy Grace: Ben Powers - Criminal Defense Attorney, Facebook: Legal Powers PLLC, Dr. Jeff Kieliszewski - Forensic Psychologist, Author: “Darksides;" YouTube: "Dr. Jeff Kieliszewski, Forensic Psychologist" Chief Douglas Goerke - St. Cloud Police Department in Florida; stcloudfl.gov 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) Dave Mack - Investigative Reporter, "Crime Stories" See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

29 Dec 42min

Jarrod Noll, 18, allegedly shoots his mom and dad outside the family home in southwest Pennsylvania and walks into the woods. Two younger siblings inside the house call 911. Noll captured after 24 Hours on the loose!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

29 Dec 6min

Shortly after 7:40 a.m., Alyssa Castro and her boyfriend are in their car in their south Wichita neighborhood when a neighbor waves them down. As the woman approaches, they see what appears to be blood on the woman's hands. The woman asks to borrow a phone to call 911, then takes off with the phone back into a house. 911 dispatch is called about a possible stabbing and relays a message to first responders that a woman says there has been a stabbing in her home. Dispatch relays information that the person calling says the stabbing was in self-defense. She was trying to save herself from her mother. Arriving at the home at 7:52 a.m., Wichita police find a woman outside the home with cuts on her hands and blood on her clothing. Inside the house, they find 81-year-old Anita Avers unresponsive in her bed with multiple stab wounds. Both women are taken to the hospital. Mock is ultimately charged with murder. This month, Angelynn "Angie" Mock is undergoing a court-ordered mental competency evaluation. This has temporarily paused her first-degree murder case. The evaluation process typically takes 60 days. A new court date has not yet been scheduled. Arrest and Charge: Mock was arrested on October 31, 2025, and charged with first-degree murder in the stabbing death of her 80-year-old mother, Anita Avers, in Wichita, Kansas. Custody Status: She remains in custody at the Sedgwick County Jail on a $1 million bond. Competency Evaluation: Her attorney requested a mental health evaluation, which was granted by a Sedgwick County judge on November 14, 2025. The case was taken off the docket while the evaluation is completed, a process that typically takes around 60 days. The evaluation will determine if she is mentally fit to stand trial. Alleged Motive/Context: According to a police affidavit, Mock, who has a history of mental health issues including a diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder, told police she stabbed her mother in self-defense, claiming her mother was the devil. Her stepfather reported that Mock had experienced delusions in the past, including saying "They're all robots" or "They're not real people". Joining Nancy Grace today: Jim Elliott - Attorney with Butler Snow, Legal Counsel for Various Georgia Municipalities and Other Governmental Entities Caryn Stark - Forensic Psychologist, Renowned TV and Radio Trauma Expert and Consultant; Instagram: carynpsych, FB: Caryn Stark Private Practice Dan Murphy - Former NYPD Detective-Sergeant, Joint Terrorism Task Force, Former Chief Security Officer, US Bancorp, Co-Host of "Gold Shields" Podcast, and Author: “Workplace Safety: Establishing an Effective Violence Prevention Program” Dr. Priya Banerjee - Board-certified Forensic Pathologist and Anatomic Pathologist, Anchor Forensic Pathology Consulting Melissa McCarty - Reporter & Host of the “Killer Genes” podcast, Author of “The Making of a Crime Reporter;" TikTok: McCarty143, Instagram: MelissaMcCarty1 Dave Mack - Investigative Reporter, ‘Crime Stories’ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

28 Dec 45min

Just blocks from the White House, a quiet act of service ended in tragedy. Two young National Guard members were ambushed; one was killed instantly, and another was left in critical condition. This week on Zone 7, Sheryl McCollum welcomes Dr. Sunny Slaughter to reflect on what happened that day and what it reveals about leadership, language, and the power of restraint. Together, they explore how hate takes root, why communication can be a matter of life and death, and what it truly means to serve with empathy when the world feels like it’s falling apart. Highlights: • (0:00) Sheryl McCollum reveals Zone 7’s 2026 return to weekly episodes and the kickoff. of the 10-8 Tour • (1:00) Welcome to Zone 7 with Sheryl McCollum and guest Dr. Sunny Slaughter • (4:15) The ambush that killed Sarah Beckstrom, 20, and critically injured Andrew Wolfe, 24 • (7:00) How compassion, not politics, defines law enforcement and military duty • (10:00) “Take the temperature down to zero”: Dr. Slaughter’s warning against political violence • (12:30) Dr. Slaughter’s experience teaching “lens, language, and law” and why empathy is operational readiness • (17:00) Service as calling, not career: advice for the next generation of guardsmen and officers • (20:45) Sheryl and Dr. Slaughter on gratitude, resilience, and learning through hardship • (27:00) Finding meaning after loss and the power of service on purpose• (30:00) Preparing for crisis: why every law enforcement professional must plan for the unexpected • (35:00) The Florida eviction tragedy and how quickly crisis can turn fatal • (36:15) Final reflections: honoring the National Guard members through unity, compassion, and continued service Guest Bio Dr. Sunny Slaughter is a law enforcement instructor, expert witness and crisis communication strategist who specializes in counterterrorism, extremism, and emerging threats. As CEO of Sunny Slaughter Consulting and founder of the Sunny Slaughter Group, she helps agencies nationwide build crisis-ready leadership. A former military spouse and longtime advocate for justice and public safety, Dr. Slaughter has served as a U.S. Department of Homeland Security instructor and continues to guide federal, state, and local agencies in strengthening community resilience. About the Host Sheryl “Mac” McCollum is an active crime scene investigator for a Metro Atlanta Police Department and the director of the Cold Case Investigative Research Institute, which partners with colleges and universities nationwide. With more than 4 decades of experience, she has worked on thousands of cold cases using her investigative system, The Last 24/361, which integrates evidence, media, and advanced forensic testing. Her work on high-profile cases, including The Boston Strangler, Natalie Holloway, Tupac Shakur and the Moore’s Ford Bridge lynching, led to her "Emmy Award for CSI: Atlanta" and induction into the National Law Enforcement Hall of Fame in 2023. Social Links: • Email: coldcase2004@gmail.com • Twitter: @149zone7 • Facebook: @sheryl.mccollum • Instagram: @officialzone7podcast Enjoying Zone 7? Leave a rating and review where you listen to podcasts. Your feedback helps others find the show and supports the mission to educate, engage, and inspire. Preorder Sheryl’s upcoming book, "Swans Don’t Swim in a Sewer: Lessons in Life, Justice, and Joy from a Forensic Scientist," releasing May 2See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

28 Dec 40min