Crime Stories with Nancy Grace - Season 2 / Year 2025

Northern California mom of four, Nikki Cheng vanished amid allegations of abuse from her husband. her vehicle found in a remote location far from her home. Where is Nikki Cheng?

Join Nancy as she delves into the Bryan Kohberger case, examining key details and crucial pieces of the investigation ahead of his 2025 trial.

Multiple documentaries released purporting to tell the truth about Sean "Diddy" Combs, but what will be revealed? 

In the meantime, Sean ‘Diddy' Combs may be feeling forgotten behind bars. The mogul's holidays have been described as ‘bleak', with equally dismal holiday meals to match, including a steak and cheese sub served on a hotdog bun. Combs missed his twins' 18th birthday, which they marked with a casual yacht trip to St. Barts, and now Combs' isn't even the most high-profile inmate at the MDC. Combs reportedly reeling over the support inmates show CEO-killer Luigi Mangione, while he's been shunned over federal sex-trafficking allegations.   

Inmates at the MDC are reportedly hailing Luigi Mangione as a hero.  Mangione remains in the SHU or Special Housing Unit, separated from gen pop for the time being. Mangione will eventually move to the same floor as Sean ‘Diddy' Combs, who's reportedly jealous of the attention the accused killer is receiving. Despite their husband and wife legal counsel, sources do not believe Combs and Mangione will interact as "they have really nothing in common."    

Henrico County Police Detective Megan Lynch responded to Henrico Doctors' Hospital regarding a 5-month-old male in the NICU found with a fractured left femur.

Further examination revealed the child also had a fractured right tibia and multiple rib fractures. Investigators noted similarities between these injuries and those suffered by four males in the NICU during the previous summer.

Following the earlier unexplained injuries, the hospital installed surveillance cameras throughout the NICU. Detective Lynch reviewed the surveillance footage and reported her findings. On November 10, Nurse Erin Strotman was recorded in the room with the baby identified as "Y.H." in hospital records. The footage showed Strotman grabbing Y.H. by the legs and applying pressure, placing her weight on them, and pushing the baby's legs backward until his feet reached his head. The video shows Y.H. crying and appearing to be in distress.

Seven potential abuse cases are now under investigation, and police say more may be uncovered. Henrico County investigators are reviewing hundreds of hours of surveillance footage to piece together the events. Reports indicate that at least three affected families attended Strotman's court appearance. One father, speaking publicly, stated that another couple reported their child had suffered 12 fractures.

Strotman has been formally charged in one baby's case, with the investigation ongoing. Her public defender stated that she has not yet entered a plea. Strotman remains in custody without bail, and her next court appearance is set for March 24

On a Tuesday afternoon, a driver in the 700 block of 15th street in Miami Beach sees a 6-year-old boy running across 15th street, unsupervised and in a high traffic area. Calling 911, the driver relates what he is seeing, and officers arrive on scene in a matter of minutes.  Police see the child leaving an apartment complex by himself and ask the boy where he lives. The child leads the officers to his apartment to show them he isn't lost and the apartment door is answered by the oldest person in the apartment, the boys 12-year-old sister. 

Officers find there are a total of five children in the apartment between the ages of 6 and 12, with no adults in the home. The officers report a strong odor of urine, the children are not bathed, their clothes are dirty and there is no food in the house. The apartment doesn't have a functioning stove, no electricity, and no working toilet. . Asking the children if they are hungry, they all say 'yes' and tell the police their last meal had been around 10 p.m. the night before. 

The children tell the police they have been without electricity for around two months. Trying to locate their parents, the children tell the police they have no way of contacting their mother, but they know she works at a hotel in Miami. They don't know where their father works. 

Police officers finally contact the children's mother, Azra Nikocevic and get her to come to the police station.  Officers question Nikocevic about what the children have told them about going to bed hungry and having no electricity.  She tells investigators the electricity to their apartment has been cut off for about 6 weeks because they got behind on the bill. She also tells investigators she is trying to get assistance with food stamps but denies depriving her children of food. 

Azra Nikocevic and Sanel Canovic are arrested after leaving their five children ages six to 12 unattended in a filthy apartment with no food, no electricity, and no working toilet. The mother gave a statement to police and denies depriving her children of food while the children's father refused to speak to police without an attorney.  Both are charged with five felony child neglect charges, and the children were taken into protective custody while authorities investigate. 

At least 24 people are dead and dozens more unaccounted for,  as fires fueled by severe drought conditions and strong Santa Ana winds continue across Southern California. Thousands of firefighters  still battling blazes across 45 square miles of Los Angeles County. The Palisades Fire in Pacific Palisades is the largest of the fires at 24,000 acres, thousands of homes and buildings destroyed and is only 11% contained. The Eaton Fire in Altadena is at more than 14,000 acres and is now at 27% contained, while the Hurst Fire near Sylmar is 89% contained having burned nearly 800 acres. The Kenneth Fire burned  1,025 and is contained. Over 105,000 people remain under mandatory evacuation and another 87,000 are under evacuation warnings. Still under investigation, how the fires started. 

Police responded to a shooting in New Haven. When they arrived, they found Kevin Jiang shot to death in the street. About 100 feet away sat his Prius. Jiang had been shot multiple times.

Officers initially considered the shooting a possible case of road rage. Surveillance video from a nearby home captured the sound of a car crash before Jiang's Prius entered the frame, followed closely by a dark SUV. Jiang's Prius came to a stop as the SUV reversed. Jiang exited his car and walked toward the SUV, stepping out of the frame. Seconds later, eight gunshots and a scream were heard.

A witness told police she looked out her window after hearing the gunshots and saw the shooter standing over Jiang, who was already on the ground. The gunman fired additional shots at close range. Detectives at the scene noted stippling on Jiang's face, indicating he had been shot at close range. New Haven homicide detective David Zaweski believed the evidence suggested something more than a random shooting or road rage.

That same night, police in North Haven responded to a separate incident at Sims Metal Management, a scrapyard near a highway entrance. A security guard reported a dark SUV had driven through the yard and become stuck on snowy railroad tracks. Officer Jeffrey Mills arrived and identified the driver as Qinxuan Pan. Pan's license came back clean. Mills didn't notice anything suspicious but recalled a yellow jacket, a black briefcase, and a blue bag with a Massachusetts logo inside the SUV. Officers arranged for Pan to stay at a nearby hotel for the night.

At 11 a.m., as Sgt. Mills was finishing his shift, an employee at Arby's reported finding a bag containing a gun and bullets. Mills responded and recognized the yellow jacket, black briefcase, and blue bag from Pan's car. Arby's was next door to the Best Western where Pan had been dropped off.

By then, Mills had learned about the New Haven homicide and the search for a dark-colored SUV. He checked the Best Western and confirmed Pan had checked in but never stayed. Mills alerted New Haven police. Tests later confirmed the .45-caliber handgun found at Arby's matched the shell casings from Jiang's murder scene.

The SUV Pan abandoned on the railroad tracks remained at a tow facility. Investigators discovered it had been reported stolen from a car dealership in Malden, Massachusetts, where Pan lived. A dealership employee told police Pan had taken the vehicle for a test drive but never returned it.

Now, New Haven police were investigating a homicide, Malden police were handling a stolen vehicle case, and North Haven police had recovered the stolen SUV and the suspected murder weapon. All agencies were searching for the one man connecting them—Qinxuan Pan.

Sean "Diddy" Combs reportedly rushed to the hospital hours after prosecutors filed a superseding indictment in his federal racketeering case.

The disgraced rap mogul is now accused of criminal activity spanning two decades and of sex trafficking two additional victims in addition to ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura. Alongside the amended indictment, more alleged victims have come forward in lawsuits, claiming sexual assault at the hands of Combs.

Combs was transported from the Metropolitan Detention Center to Brooklyn Hospital Center under the cover of darkness to avoid whispers and speculation from other inmates and prison staff. He underwent an MRI but did not require an overnight stay and was returned to prison a few hours later.

In the moments before a civil case was to get underway, the family of Ellen Greenberg and Philadelphia officials come to an agreement to reopen the death investigation of the young teacher. The settlement means that after 14 years, the  Philadelphia Medical Examiner's office will reopen and reinvestigate Greenberg's manner of death.  Ellen Greenberg was found stabbed 20 times in the head, back, neck and chest. Then her death was ruled a suicide.

The attorney for the Greenberg's, Joseph Padraza, Jr says the settlement includes an agreement that the Philadelphia Medical Examiner's Office will conduct an "expeditious" review of the manner of Greenberg's 2011 death. The settlement is reached days after Doctor Marlon Osbourne, who conducted the autopsy, as the former assistant medical examiner with the ME's office, signed a sworn verification statement in which he says he now believes Ellen's manner of death should be designated as something other than suicide. Doctor Osbourne initially ruled Ellen Greenberg's death a homicide then changed the ruling to suicide.

In a public statement, Doctor Marlon Osbourne said after reviewing additional information in the Ellen Greenberg case file obtained from the Philadelphia Police Department as well as a consult with Doctor Lucy Rorke-Adams, a pediatric neuropathologist, he decided to make the change. In his verification, Osbourne writes that he is now unsure of the series of events that happened that day. He also says he doesn't know "whether the door was forced open as reported; whether Ellen's body was moved by someone else inside the apartment with her at or near the time of her death, and the findings of Lindsey Emery, M.D., from her neuropathological evaluation of Ellen's cervical segment sample."

Sean "Diddy" Combs will spend a lonely Valentine's Day in the MDC after filing his second defamation suit against NBC, receiving two new lawsuits alleging sexual assault, and prematurely accepting support from Kanye West, whose days-long meltdown on X has likely ended his career.

Instead of breakfast in bed, Combs will eat cereal in the mess hall at 6 a.m., returning five hours later for a chicken patty sandwich or chickpea burger. Instead of champagne and caviar, he will have chili with whole wheat bread.

Combs filed a $100 million lawsuit against NBC Universal, Peacock TV, and the production company Ample, alleging that their documentary, The Making of a Bad Boy, "assumes Combs' guilt" and falsely labels him as "the embodiment of Lucifer." Combs specifically objects to Al B. Sure's insinuations that he was involved in the deaths of Kim Porter, Notorious B.I.G., Andre Harrell, and Heavy D, as well as Rodney Jones' accusations that he sexually assaulted minors. His attorneys argue that the defamatory claims not only damaged his reputation but also jeopardized his right to a fair trial scheduled for three months from now.

Kanye West showed his support for Combs by posting "FREE PUFF" on both his Instagram and X, formerly known as Twitter. West then posted a series of messages demanding Combs' release, including a plea to the President, stating, "PLEASE FREE MY BROTHER PUFF."

"Up and Vanished" host Payne Lindsey joins the program to discuss the focus of "Up and Vanished: In The Midnight Sun" - The Disappearance of Florence Okpealuk. 

Thirty-three-year-old Florence Okpealuk was last seen on West Beach in Nome, Alaska.

When Blaire could not reach her sister, she posted on Facebook, asking if anyone had seen Florence, and began searching around town. Florence had not been to work or the grocery store, and neither her ex nor her friends had seen or heard from her. Blaire felt she had exhausted all leads when Naomi, a bartender at Board and Trade, messaged her. Naomi said she last saw Florence on her birthday, but a man at the bar claimed he saw Florence on West Beach with a miner the night she did not come home.

Blaire and several family members canvassed West Beach, asking anyone willing to talk if they had seen Florence. Eventually, a man told Blaire he saw Florence leaving a nearby tent around 4 p.m. He asked Blaire to wait while he rummaged inside his tent, then returned with Florence's socks, shoes, and jacket. Bewildered, Blaire asked where Florence was and why he had her belongings. The man became quiet but insisted he did not bring Florence to West Beach and claimed he found her belongings outside his tent.

An older man in the neighboring tent offered a different account. He said he saw Florence with his neighbor the night before, riding down the beach on an ATV. The ATV did not return until the next morning, but his neighbor was the only rider.

Blaire reported Florence missing at 6:15 p.m. that evening, two days after she last saw her sister.

Payne Lindsey, host of the "Up and Vanished" podcast, traveled to Nome to investigate Florence's disappearance. Lindsey contacted Naomi, the bartender from Board and Trade, who received a tip from a patron that Florence was last seen on West Beach. Naomi said the man who reportedly saw Florence worked as a freelance gold miner and also drove a taxi for Checkers Cabs. He lived in a tent on West Beach and was known locally as "Oregon John.

James Craig and his wife Angela were married for over 20 years. They created a beautiful family of six, loving, happy family, happy children. Between work and taking care of their children, the Craigs still manage to fit a workout into their daily routine. The husband and wife go for a run or hit the gym together almost every day, and when they return home, James Craig makes protein shakes or fruit smoothies for breakfast while Angela delves into getting the kids ready for the day.   

Angela complains of having a really nasty headache, along with problems focusing her eyesight.  She goes to the hospital saying she felt tingly and cold.   Doctors cannot figure out what's wrong with her.   Angela goes to the hospital multiple times, only to be sent home.  When she goes back for a third time, that's when she's checked in and her condition deteriorates, coding quickly.  Angela passes away. 

One of Summer Brooks' dental assistants recalls opening a package for Dr. Craig—that had potassium cyanide in it. She googles the symptoms of cyanide poisoning, and is horrified at how closely they match Angela's symptoms. She immediately calls Craig's partner, Ryan Redfearn, hoping he has some other explanation for the contents of the package...but he doesn't. While visiting Angela, Redfearn tells a nurse about the cyanide, explaining there's no medical use for the element in their practice. As a mandatory reporter, the nurse calls police.  

With suspicions raised, Angela Craig is sent for an autopsy with additional toxicology screening. Tests reveal the otherwise healthy mom of six died of poisoning from both cyanide and tetrahydrozoline, a common ingredient in eyedrops. While investigators have no definitive evidence Angela's food and drinks were poisoned with cyanide, the tests reveal her cyanide levels increased while she was in the hospital.   

Police then check Craig's computer finding strange searches.  One of them was how to poison someone, how to make poison and top five or top 10 undetectable poisons that people won't be able to find after someone has died and will not signal foul play.

Less than 24 hours after his wife's death, dentist James Toliver Craig is arrested for Angela's murder and additionally charged with tampering with evidence. A 52-page arrest affidavit details Craig's concerning computer searches, three poison orders, an ongoing affair, and proof Craig took several measures to cover his tracks.   

Police then learn the dentist  allegedly tried to hire his cellmate to kill Aurora PD's lead detective Bobbi Jo Olson for $20,000. Calling Olson the "worst, dirtiest detective," James Craig tried to recruit Nathaniel Harris to take her out for cash or free dental work. Olson wasn't the only person on his list. Craig also asked Harris to kill another Aurora PD officer and two inmates ‘Roger' and ‘Tommy.' 

After 9-year-old Hayden Manis has been missing for five years, the case is only recently reported to the police, sparking a mystery that leaves authorities and the community searching for answers. Nancy Grace discusses the baffling situation with Delaware County Prosecutor Eric Hoffman.

Donna Adelsonhas requested bond, citing unbearable jail conditions, but her plea was denied. The judge deemed her a flight risk, referencing her plans to flee the country before her conviction.

As more Epstein files continue to be released, the question remains: when will we finally get the full picture? Nancy breaks down what we know—and what we still need to uncover.

When Danielle Lopez disappears after a weekend camping trip, all that's left is a cryptic coffee purchase and her abandoned blue Hyundai found in a remote, muddy woodland road.

After 22 years of relentless hope for justice in his daughter's murder, Jerry Harris tragically took his own life outside the sheriff's office, unable to bear the weight of his grief any longer.

Gabriel has been missing for 14 years, taken by his mother at just 8 months old. New clues suggest he may have been given to a family in Arizona, reigniting hope in the search for him.

Law enforcement released the 911 recording after prosecutors unsealed a court document containing a transcript of the call.

The filing responds to Kohberger's argument that the jury should not hear the 911 call. His attorneys argue that the call was improperly submitted as evidence, claiming many statements in the recording are hearsay.  

Judge John Judge previously ruled that the statements in question fall under the present sense impression and excited utterance exceptions. However, defense attorneys are raising the argument again before Ada County Judge Steven Hippler.  

In the call, the roommates sound distressed as they report that someone is not waking up. Meanwhile, Kohberger's attorneys claim he was framed as they continue to fight for his acquittal.

Emily Pike, 14, sneaks away from the group home where she lives. When she does not return, Mesa police are contacted, and she is reported missing.

Her mother is not informed until she has been missing for a week. Police say the group home is responsible for notifying her case manager, who would then contact Pike's family or tribe. Authorities post her picture on social media, print flyers, and alert the media, stating that Emily Pike is missing and may have run away.

Nearly a month after Pike disappears, the Gila County Sheriff's Office reports that searchers found the remains of an unidentified female in a wooded area near U.S. 60, about 20 miles northeast of Globe, Arizona. The remains are difficult to identify but appear to belong to a missing Native American girl. Within 24 hours, authorities confirm the remains are those of 14-year-old Emily Pike.

The Gila County Sheriff's Office reports that detectives found the head and torso in large contractor trash bags, while the legs were in separate bags. Investigators search the area but do not find the arms and hands. This information, meant for law enforcement only, reaches friends and family without warning.

A preliminary autopsy report notes visible trauma to Pike's face and head. Authorities do not find clothing, jewelry, or identification with the remains. The cause of death remains undetermined. Investigators believe someone killed Pike elsewhere before dumping her dismembered remains. Her arms and hands remain missing.

The sheriff's office says investigators recovered surveillance footage from Mesa, where Emily was last seen alive, but have not found footage from the rural area where her remains were discovered. Officials urge anyone with information to come forward.

The San Carlos Apache Tribe is offering a $75,000 reward for information leading to Pike's killer.