Leigh Egan

Leigh Egan is a crime-fighting journalist and editor who specializes in breaking news and investigative true crime coverage. With more than a decade of experience under her belt, Leigh’s work can be found in a number of high-profile national publications. For Leigh, learning didn’t stop after college. She considers herself a lifelong learner who frequently takes media and journalism courses to keep abreast of the latest happenings and innovations in her field. Tips: legan@crimeonline.com

Quinton Simon: Missing Tot’s Babysitter Found Him Unattended at Pool Months Before Disappearance, While Mom Slept Inside [Report]

 Quinton Simon
Missing

Missing Georgia toddler Quinton Simon’s babysitter says she’s concerned that the tot may have drowned, since she previously spotted him unsupervised at his family’s pool over the summer. As CrimeOnline previously reported, 1-year-old Quinton’s mother, Leilani Simon, reported him missing on October 5; she said her current boyfriend saw the child at about 6 a.m. …

Taylor Hackel
Missing
October 28, 2022

BOLO: Police Searching for John Paul II Institute Student Missing for Days

UPDATE – Taylor Hackel has been found in Europe, “according to a Facebook post from a family member,” WSAU reports. No additional information is available at this time. Original Story Washinton DC police are searching for a missing John Paul II Institute student who hasn’t been seen since 5 p.m. Monday. According to the Metropolitan …

Vanessa Marcotte
Murder
October 27, 2022

Vanessa Marcotte: Killer Who Randomly Murdered & Raped Google Exec Out Jogging Takes Plea Deal

A Massachusetts man pleaded guilty this week to the 2016 killing of Google executive, Vanessa Marcotte. Angelo Colon-Ortiz pleaded guilty Wednesday to second-degree murder and unarmed robbery at the Worcester County District in Massachusetts. He took a plea deal that reduced his initial charges of first-degree murder, prosecutors said. According to CNN, Worcester County District …

Hend Bustami in bikini
Murder
October 27, 2022

Woman Who Said She’s Too ‘Good Looking’ for Arrest After Skipping Restaurant Tab is Now Accused of Murdering Her Mother

A Las Vegas woman who previously accused police of detaining her because she’s too “good looking” is expected to be slapped with murder charges in connection with her mother’s death. According to ABC 4, police arrested 28-year-old Hend Bustami at around 5 a.m. Wednesday in Barstow, California, after her 62-year-old mother was found stabbed in …

collage of Adam and Harmony Montgomery
Murder
October 26, 2022

Missing Harmony Montgomery’s Dad Murdered Her, Gave Wife ‘Cover story’ & Told Her to Lie to Cops: Court Docs

The ex-stepmother of missing New Hampshire girl, Harmony Montgomery, told police that the child’s father killed her, then told her to lie to investigators, New Hampshire prosecutors said. During an interview in June, 32-year-old Kayla Montgomery reportedly told detectives with the Manchester Police Department that Harmony’s father, Adam Montgomery, killed the child in December 2019, …

Quinton Simon
Missing
October 26, 2022

Quinton Simon: Grandmother Tells Missing Georgia Boy’s Father That Tot May Have Drowned in Bathtub While Mom Was ‘High’

The grandmother of missing Georgia tot Quinton Simon, 1, apparently thinks the child died accidentally, according to a conversation she had with the child’s father. As CrimeOnline previously reported, Quinton’s mother, Leilani Simon, reported him missing on October 5; she said her current boyfriend saw the child at about 6 a.m. in the family’s Savannah …

Thomas Valva Snapshot
Trials
October 26, 2022

‘I’m going to beat them with belts’: Dad, Fiancée’Repeatedly Lashed Out’ at 8-year-old Thomas Valva, Who Froze Inside Unheated Garage

A New York detective took the stand Monday at the Suffolk Superior Court and said the father and stepmother of deceased 8-year-old Thomas Valva were caught on text messages discussing punishments and beating two children with belts. As CrimeOnline previously reported, 43-year-old Michael Valva is currently on trial for the murder of Thomas, who froze …

Murder
October 26, 2022

‘I got sick of her sh**’: Convicted Killer Paul Flores Tells Woman He Killed Kristin Smart and Buried Her Under Skate Ramp [Report]

A woman who once met convicted California killer Paul Flores reportedly claimed that he told her years ago that he killed California Polytechnic State University student Kristin Smart, in the summer of 1996. As CrimeOnline previously reported, a jury convicted Flores, who attended Cal Poly in 1996 with 19-year-old Smart, of murder earlier this month. …

Missing
October 25, 2022

Missing Virginia Woman Last Seen Days Ago May Need Medication: Police

Virginia police are searching for a Norfolk woman who hasn’t been seen since Sunday. According to Norfolk police, Anna J. Midas, 28, was last seen at around 8:20 p.m. in Norfolk, in the 7800 block of Woodall Road. She was last seen wearing a pink ballcap, a long black coat, and purple pants, WAVY reports. …

collage of Adam and Harmony Montgomery
Court
October 25, 2022

Missing Harmony Montgomery’s Dad Says He’s Not Guilty After Police Charge Him with Murder

The father of missing New Hampshire girl Harmony Montgomery pleaded not guilty Tuesday, following his arrest for second-degree murder and related charges. As CrimeOnline previously reported, Montgomery, 32, was arrested Monday and charged with murder, falsifying physical evidence, witness tampering, and abuse of a corpse. The charges are in connection with the disappearance and presumed …