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

‘He said if he couldn’t have me, he’d kill himself’: Tad Cummins’ kidnap victim Elizabeth Thomas explains how she feared former teacher

 ‘He said if he couldn’t have me, he’d kill himself’: Tad Cummins’ kidnap victim Elizabeth Thomas explains how she feared former teacher
Sex Offenders

The Tennessee girl who vanished earlier this year with former teacher Tad Cummins said that as she feared for her life while with him, the public perception of her became skewed, as people reportedly began forming opinions before truly understanding what happened. “[People] think they know what happened,” Elizabeth Thomas said in an exclusive interview …

Little boy stops dad from reportedly beating mom by shooting him in the chest, killing him: Report
Family Crime
September 20, 2018

Little boy stops dad from reportedly beating mom by shooting him in the chest, killing him: Report

The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is investigating a fatal shooting after a boy allegedly killed his father on Saturday, during a domestic altercation. NBC10 reports that a 12-year-old boy shot his father, Kevron Thomas ‘Tommy’ Durham, 56, in the chest after the child intervened during a domestic violence dispute. According to TBI, the incident occurred in a home …

Student abducted by former teacher Tad Cummins opens up in first on-camera interview, says she was forced by gun to flee with him
Kidnapping
September 19, 2018

Student abducted by former teacher Tad Cummins opens up in first on-camera interview, says she was forced by gun to flee with him

In her first on-air interview, Tennessee girl Elizabeth Thomas sat down to discuss what happened before, during, and after the 38 days her former teacher, Tad Cummins, reportedly abducted her. Elizabeth was just 15 when she disappeared from her Columbia, Tennessee, home in March 2017. Her disappearance sparked an AMBER Alert and a nationwide hunt after …

‘I have no doubt there are more victims’: Nancy Grace thinks ‘serial killer’ Border Patrol agent left ‘other bodies’ out there
Serial Killers
September 18, 2018

‘I have no doubt there are more victims’: Nancy Grace thinks ‘serial killer’ Border Patrol agent left ‘other bodies’ out there

After details emerged regarding a Texas Border Patrol agent’s weekend arrest for allegedly killing four women, CrimeOnline‘s Nancy Grace said she there are likely more victims out there. “You don’t go from 0 to 120mph in the space of a week,” Grace told DailyMailTV host, Jesse Palmer. “We know now there are four murder victims …

Elizabeth Smart says abductor Wanda Barzee still carries husband’s disturbing ‘Book of Revelations’ that details kidnapping, raping girls: Report
Kidnapping
September 18, 2018

Elizabeth Smart says abductor Wanda Barzee still carries husband’s disturbing ‘Book of Revelations’ that details kidnapping, raping girls: Report

In her first sit-down interview since the news of her abductor’s upcoming prison release, Elizabeth Smart shared additional details on kidnapper Wanda Barzee, some of which have never been heard before. “…Just the feeling that kind of radiated from her. It just was dark. And it was evil. And I just knew that she — …

Daycare owner accused of drugging babies, tying ligatures around their necks to stop them from moving: Police
Child Abuse
September 18, 2018

Daycare owner accused of drugging babies, tying ligatures around their necks to stop them from moving: Police

A Texas daycare owner was arrested on Friday after the father of a 6-month-old baby attached a small camera to the infant’s carseat after becoming suspicious of abuse. FOX News reports that Rebecca Anderson, a licensed operator of “Becky’s Home Childcare” in Mequite, managed the daycare for over 20 years before recent disturbing details of child …

Interrogation video of Cherish Perrywinkle’s killer released five years later shows chilling reaction, as victim’s mom pleads to have video ‘taken down’
Murder
September 17, 2018

Interrogation video of Cherish Perrywinkle’s killer released five years later shows chilling reaction, as victim’s mom pleads to have video ‘taken down’

More than five years after the murder of 8-year-old Cherish Perrywinkle, chilling footage of the man who took a young girl’s life has emerged, and offers a glimpse into the calculated killer’s actions shortly after his arrest. News4Jax uncovered surveillance footage of child rapist and killer, Donald Smith, recorded the day after he kidnapped Cherish …

Mystery ‘doorbell woman’ identified: Victim who rang neighbors’ doorbells wearing wrist shackles thought she would ‘die that night’ after rape, abuse
Domestic Abuse
September 17, 2018

Mystery ‘doorbell woman’ identified: Victim who rang neighbors’ doorbells wearing wrist shackles thought she would ‘die that night’ after rape, abuse

A Texas woman captured shackled with broken wrist shackles while ringing strangers’ doorbells in the middle of the night last month revealed herself in an exclusive interview with Inside Edition. The mystery woman, who identified herself only as Lauren, said she fled from her boyfriend’s Montgomery home during the early morning hours of August 26, …

‘I hope the state puts her in a mental hospital!’ Family of Elizabeth Smart’s kidnapper won’t take her in, daughter reacts to ‘surprising’ prison release
Kidnapping
September 16, 2018

‘I hope the state puts her in a mental hospital!’ Family of Elizabeth Smart’s kidnapper won’t take her in, daughter reacts to ‘surprising’ prison release

Kidnapper Wanda Barzee apparently won’t be staying with family members upon her prison release this week, according to a relative. Barzee, 72, has completed a 15-year sentence in connection with the 2002 kidnapping of then-teen Elizabeth Smart, but the abductor could now faces additional issues: finding a home upon her release. Her new residence will …

Little boy disappears from neighborhood party as police continue search into 2nd day **FOUND SAFE**
Missing
September 16, 2018

Little boy disappears from neighborhood party as police continue search into 2nd day **FOUND SAFE**

UPDATE Delaware authorities confirmed an 8-year-old boy who disappeared on Saturday has been be found safe, according to CBS. Original Story Delaware police are searching for an 8-year-old boy who disappeared Saturday while attending a block party in his Wilmington neighborhood. First Update reports that Yaasir Ames vanished from the 200 block of W 36th Street at …

Missing girl found dead less than a mile from the park she was last seen at
Juveniles
September 15, 2018

Missing girl found dead less than a mile from the park she was last seen at

The body of a 10-year-old Alaska girl who disappeared on September 6 while playing at park was found on Friday, authorities confirmed. Anchorage Daily News reports that authorities found Ashley Johnson-Barr’s remains in a remote area in her home town of Kotzebue, a week after the FBI launched a search-and-rescue mission for the young girl. According to FBI …