Nevaeh Buchanan

Warning. This episode contains graphic crime scene detail. Please listen with discretion. All witnesses, suspects, and purses of interest are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Welcome to Primetime Crime. I'm your host, Kylie. Let's talk right now in true crime, and then together we're going to work on warming up some pulled cases. Let's go. Hey, guys, welcome to this week's episode of Primetime Crime. It's Kylie. We are going to get into a little right now in true crime. Right off the bat, I have Elec Murda news his new trial has officially been set for April fifth, twenty twenty seven. The judge that is presiding over this case, I really like her. She seems to really have everything together as far as what she wants, what she's going to allow, what she's not going to allow. She did say that the trial might end up having to be pushed back a couple of weeks, and she's willing to do that, but we're not going to be putting it back any further than that. So that is currently where things stand. Elex's team very much wanted him to be able to have his laptop so he could go through evidence and so on and so forth, and the judge ruled that no, he's not allowed to have his laptop. He is going to be treated like any other defendant and they aren't allowed to have their laptop, so he is not going to be allowed to have his. They also had asked that he not be in shackles and just be quote unquote normal in the courtroom, and that was also denied. So I do appreciate that she is treating him like any other defendant and he's not getting special privileges because he is who he is, because you know, he's eating this up. He is one thousand percent all about being back in front of everyone and everything. I'm really curious to see if he's going to testify what that's going to look like. But I'm already planning that April is going to once again take over my life because I didn't have this podcast back during the last trial, but it a million percent took over my life and actually is what prompted me to start my podcast essentially in a roundabout way. So I will continue to keep you guys updated on this one. I'm going to be following along as always. So next thing, I want to talk about is a little bit of Rex Hereman news, the Long Island serial killer. The big breaking news this week is that the therapist that was his therapist while he was in prison for three years is not licensed to practice. She's been practicing without a license four years and she is currently facing felony charges of tens of thousands of dollars in bogus insurance reimbursements. So her name is Alison Winter. She was fifty two. Like I said, Rex Heureman's jailhouse therapist for almost three years, and she definitely has a lot going on. She was apparently arrested in November of twenty twenty four on grand larceny charges as well as a scheme to defraud as well as fourteen counts of unauthorized practice of a profession for allegedly posing as a licensed social worker between twenty eighteen and twenty twenty four. I personally don't know how people get away with this and they're still billing insurance. It's just a wild, insane ride. I don't understand it. None of it makes any sense. But just another little bit of saga in the Rex Huborman case, because again, it seems to be every single week since he has been officially sentenced, there has been different things that have been coming out, so that is kind of the latest on that. I don't really know if there is anything more that will come of this one, but if there is, I will be sure to keep you guys updated and let you guys know one thing I totally forgot to mention on last week's Right Now in True Crime that I wanted to update you on because it is so so important. I have gotten to know Hoeputin over the last couple of years and become familiar with her story, and I have had her on the podcast to talk about the tragedy that happened to her children, Alec and Lydia, and I have learned so much about phil acide and coercive control and everything that Hope went through and what she is doing to help change the laws and protect children. And I wanted to let you guys know that House built two nine nine five. The Alec and Lydia Act was officially passed and signed by Governor Hobbes in Arizona on the twenty second of June, which was a huge monumental way to honor Alec and Lydia and help save other children. So I just wanted to give a shout out to Hope for everything that she has done. She is helping to save children and prevent what happened to her children from happening to any other families, and not just in Arizona, but hoping that this is going to go across the United States hopefully, because that is exactly what needs to happen. Children need to be at the front and center in family court, and ultimately this passing of this bill is going to help save lives. And Hope truly has done this as a passion project and has been able to use her own pain and her own personal tragedy to put something like this in place so that way this doesn't happen to other children and it doesn't happen to other families. So I did want to take a minute to recognize her and all of her hard work, and just everybody that has supported Hope and shared posts and really been behind her as a voice against villacide, because it truly does take village. She is a really amazing woman and she worked her butt off to get everything passed through, but she couldn't do it alone. So everyone that has supported her and has been behind her, has shared her story, has been willing to listen to her story because her story is obviously very heartbreaking and a lot of people don't like to listen to stories that involve children, but it's so important and this is the reason that it's important, because laws are being put into place, things are going to change, and children's lives are going to be saved, and ultimately that is the end goal. So hope, if you're listening to this, I love you so much and I am so so proud of you, and I hope that you know how proud Alec and Lydia are of you. We do have an update in Charlie Adelson's appeal journey. His appeal has officially been denied, so we do not have to go through another trial for him again, and I am very grateful for that because, in my opinion, I think it is pretty obvious that Charlie Adelson is exactly where he needs to be. In other appeal news, Corey Richins has filed a motion to get a new trial, citing that the judge that oversaw her trial was unfairly biased towards the prosecution and that could have swayed the jury in some way, shape or form. I personally think that she is grasping at straws because I don't think that anything that the judge did made me feel like he was unfairly biased towards the state. They also talked about the fact that they were allowed to bring in all of the financial aspects of things, all of the potential financial crimes that were in Corey's past, and kind of made it a similarity to Elec Murda and how all of the financials were allowed in his trial and that led to him being convicted for the murders of his wife and son. And similarly, with Corey, she had quote unquote financial motivation and then was essentially convicted for the murder of her husband Eric. So there's a lot going on there with that one. I'll continue to keep you guys updated. If there is any breaking news on anything Corey Richard's related, I will be sure to bring it to you here. But that about does it for right now in true crime. I do want to do a little bit of a background episode on all that's going down in Ohio right now, but I need to be able to sit and dig in a little bit more on that, so I'll probably talk about that whole story on next week's episode right now on True Crime, but for now, we are going to go ahead and get into this week's case. Already, guys, Today we are diving into a brand new case. We are going to be discussing the abduction and subsequent murder of five year old Neveya Buchanan out of Monroe, Michigan in two thousand and nine. I do want to give a content warning on this episode. The details of this case are extremely disturbing and it also involves a child, so please take care when listening. I totally understand if this is one that you have to skip because it is tough, and honestly, with cases like this, I very much go back and forth on if I should cover them or not. But ultimately, exposure is key to getting justice because unfortunately, the person that did this to Nevea is still at large, and as long as they are out there and haven't been held accountable, we run the risk of this happening again. So talking about it and sharing about it is the first step. Let's go ahead and get into Nevea's story now. Nevea A Maya Buchanan was born on February third of two thousand and four to her parents, Jennifer Buchanan and Shane in a host. The next part of this is going to be taken directly from Nevea's obituary, so you can get an idea of who Nevea was. Novella was an excellent student. She enjoyed every day at preschool and recently had graduated from the Discovery Preschool program at Cantrick. She could often be found spending time at the playground or hanging out with her new best friend, Austin. She thought that she was hot stuff while driving her power wheels Escalade or riding her scooter. She also loved motorcycles, so that, like I said, was taken directly from her obituary. Nevea is also described as having a smile that could warm the room and a personality that could tame a wild heart. She had a huge love for life. Her favorite movie was The Jungle Book, and she was a tomboy who hated to wear dresses. Ended only five years old when her life was tragically taken. Nevea sounds like she was truly an amazing kid. So Nevea lived with her maternal grandmother Sherry and her mom, Jennifer, in Monroe, Michigan. Monroe is about twenty minutes from the Ohio border. They lived at the Charlotte Arms Apartments located at one one six' Six North Macomb street In, Monroe. Michigan it does appear that the complex has since been renamed and it is now Called Sterling Point. Apartments this apartment complex was considered lower income housing at the. Time the complex was three floors and one hundred and eighty. Units nevea and her family lived on the ground. Floor nevea's, Father, shane lived In, Toledo, ohio and it doesn't seem like he had a lot of involvement in her life prior to her going. MISSING i believe it had been about three years since he had had any communication With, nevea meaning the last time he had had any communication with her was when she was two years. Old, so needless to, Say shane And jennifer were not together at the time That nevea went. Missing navea's, Mom, jennifer had recently spent a few weeks in jail before being placed on probation in connection with a home. Invasion i've also seen additional reports that report That jennifer had also been in jail previously When navella was, younger which is why her, Grandmother cherry had legal custody Of nevea and still had legal custody of her at the time of her. Death But jennifer was back home now and she was focused on building a better life for her and her. Daughter so let's fast forward To, Sunday may twenty fourth of two thousand and. Nine it Was Memorial day. Weekend sherry was at work that, day So jennifer was home With. Nevea jennifer had a friend and her friend's child who was going to be spending the, night so they were. Over so the adults were hanging out and is, typical the children were outside. Playing it was the early months of summer and that is what they. Did there was a playground at the complex that the children would often spend time, at but they would also play around the, complex or they would go to other children's apartments in the complex and play. There this was not unusual For. Nevea she was always out. Playing so on this particular, day it was around five pm And nevea had had an. Accident she had used the restroom on. Herself she was so involved in playing that she accidentally used the restroom on. Herself so she went back home to change, clothes and she changed into a sleeveless light blue shirt with red and white horizontal stripes and a WHITE v neck collar and jean. Shorts she told her mom that she was going to go upstairs to her Friend austin's, apartment and she grabbed a popsicle and then went out the. Door So austin was a little, older he was, eight and he lived upstairs from the and he was her best. Friend this was honestly about a ten second commute From nevea's apartment To austin's. Apartment so around six thirty, pm the child of the friend who was staying with them at the apartment came in and Told jennifer That nevea was playing in the street on her, scooter which she wasn't supposed to. Do, now there's also reports that it could have been the parking lot that she was playing, in but, essentially wherever she, was it was an area that was off limits To, nevea and she knew that she wasn't supposed to be playing. There So jennifer knew that she said she was going to be going, upstairs so she wasn't even supposed to be. Outside she was supposed to be upstairs In austin's. Apartment So jennifer proceeded to get up from the couch and go outside and Find nevea and make sure that she was not doing something she wasn't supposed to. Do and she went out and. Couldn't she asked some of the other kids who were outside if they had seen, her and they all said. No then in her, travels she ran across the apartment manager who also said the same. Thing she had also not Seen, nevea so she kept searching and. Searching she went door to. Door she was going to all Of navea's friends apartments trying to find. Her she wasn't At austin's, apartment and then she eventually made her way to the back of the complex and that is where she Found nevea's, scooter but there was No nevea in. Sight NOW i have seen various reports on what happened, next but from different Articles i've, seen it appears at this point in time That jennifer called a friend of, hers thirty nine year Old George kennedy to help her. Search george was close To jennifer And, nevea And nevea even called Him Daddy. George it does appear that at one point in Time jennifer And george had, dated but they were not actively dating at the time That novella had. Disappeared So jennifer Asked george to help her look For, nevea and that's exactly what they. Did they searched the local playgrounds and also searched a Nearby kmart store that was kind of caddy corner to the apartment, complex thinking Maybe nevea had wandered off over, there but there was no sign of. Her so somewhere between eight and eight, fifteen a nine to one call was made to Report nevea. Missing jennifer also Called cherry to let her know That nevea was, missing And chery was just about to leave from work when she got the, call and she arrived back home before law enforcement showed up at the. Apartment Once nevea was reported, missing law enforcement set up a large scale search For. Nevea this included a canine unit and. Helicopters there were also police officers and volunteers From monroe because words spread. Fast Once nevea went, missing investigators began to Interview jennifer, extensively and it was at this point in time they realized exactly Who George kennedy. Was he was a convicted, Felon he had served time for home evasion and also was a registered sex. Offender once investigators realized he was close With jennifer and involved In nevea's, life they arrested him for violating his parole as he was to have no contact with children due to his sex offender. Status at twelve thirty am On, monday An amber alert was issued For. Nevea amber alerts In michigan in two thousand and nine were a bit different than they are present. Day they were facts to RADIO ntv stations and then were sent to phones that opted into the, alert so not everybody got the. Alert when the alert was, issued all one hundred and eighty units of the complex were searched as well as the residents, questioned and nearby quarry was searched by divers and sonar equipment and cadaver equipment were also brought. In Lake monroe was searched with no sign Of. Nevea the only possible witness at this point was a man Named Tim. Finley he had visited his sister who lived at the. Complex he left the apartment complex around seven pm and he said he hadn't noticed any children playing, outside but he did see a little red car speed out of the complex parking, lot and in his mind he thought that was a little. Weird but other than this, sighting no one saw or heard, anything and nobody Saw. Nevea as investigators continued to Question, jennifer they learned that she had another person in her life that had a sketchy passed a man Named Roy. Smith he was forty eight years, old and this is an individual Who jennifer had met Through George kennedy and no shock. Here he was also a registered sex. Offender in nineteen ninety, one he was charged with third degree sexual conduct for sexual assault and he was sentenced to fifteen years and had only been released a year. Earlier he was also taken into custody for parole violations as he also was not to have any contact with. Children there was also this really weird thing that was discovered That george And roy had traded vehicles. Recently roy had traded his van To, george And george ended up getting His thunderbird in. Exchange On may twenty, seventh investigators obtained a search warrant For George kennedy's, home which was really just a low budget motel room that he had been. Renting they found some stuff that set off alarm. Bells they found bloody clothes and blood on the, walls and there were pictures inside of underage, girls which we can assume were probably inappropriate given his. History, allegedly in my, opinion the clothing was sent off for comparison to NVEA'S dna and it ended up coming back as not a. Match When george was questioned about where the blood came, from he said he didn't know how the blood got there and thought that maybe at some point he had cut his. Hand in a jailhouse interview he did With Mark, Reader George kennedy said the following, QUOTE i didn't take, her AND i definitely didn't kill. HER i have no. CLUE i wish THAT i did have some. CLUE i am hoping that she ain't. DEAD i still got my fingers crossed that they are going to find her. Alive end. Quote, so following the, arrest of these two. Individuals they continue to Question jennifer and they ended up doing a thorough search of her home and her different electronic. Devices she said she had nothing to, hide and it was even noted that she never retained legal counsel and the reason for this is she said she didn't have anything to hide and she didn't need it because she did nothing. Wrong she also said that she had no idea who would want to hurt her. Child investigators continued to scour the apartment complex and question, neighbors and they followed up on all. Tips tips were pouring in by the. Dozens they had questioned at least two hundred and forty people related to her case at this. Point On may thirty, first another man came into the picture as a possible, suspect sixty five year Old James, easter who was reported to police as someone to look into because he was reportedly burning items in his backyard Following nevea's. Disappearance he also was a little. Sketchy he was charged with indecent exposure in the late nineties after he decided to take off his clothes behind them In Row library because he said it was a, nice warm day and he wanted to just relish in the, nice warm. Day two kids came across him and called the, cops so he was brought in for, questioning and they did everything they could to try to break. Him they were trying to Pin nvea's abduction on, him and he said he had nothing to do with her, disappearance and he maintained his. Innocence he was let, go and once he got back, home he once again began to burn. Items they, were, however keeping an eye on him because they knew that there was something a little off about this. Guy so he was then arrested for charges related to burning property and then was officially named as a person of interest In navea's. Case james would go on to give several concerning statements about her. Disappearance following his, arrest he was asked by AN fbi agent what he thought had happened To, nevea and he said the following. Quote IF i was a bad guy AND i was looking for something like a little girl or a little, CHILD i would have drove my pickup in. THERE i would have made a horseshoe around the office and the POOL i would have pulled. Onto this turned on my hazard, lights pretending to have a car, problem and THEN i would have snuck up along the blind side of those pine. Trees and then he made a comment about how there's always maintenance workers out. There so, yes this is absolutely him describing how at the exact apartment complex That nvea was abducted, from how he would abduct a. Child and if you're asking, yourself how does he have familiarity with the apartment complex That nvella went missing, From i'm about to tell. You. So it turns out That James easter was dating a gal Named janie and she lived at that same, complex and interestingly, enough she may have been one of the last people to See. Nevea she told The Detroit Free press that around five or six, pm she Saw nvea go by with a little boy behind her on her. Scooter she was riding her scooter like a normal, child and then minutes later she noticed the scooter had been abandoned under her. Window she said she didn't hear any yells or anything that stood out to her that would lead her to believe that anything bad, happened but that is an interesting little. Tadbit, nonetheless law enforcement then ended up Searching james's place and they found, pornography a duct, tape and gloves that were all in a trash, can and they also found several barbie, dolls which when they Questioned james about, them he said they were for his. Granddaughter in the next few, days they would announce That James easter was no longer a person of, interest and they announced that they were looking for the owners of a green van and a silver van that was last seen near an elementary school in the. Area they also stated that they were questioning another person of interest that drove an ice cream truck as. WELL a twenty thousand dollars reward at that point in time was being offered for information Into nevea's. Disappearance everyone in the, community of, course was on edge Since nevea had been, abducted and they all very much held out hope that she was going to Be fountain. Safe but the longer it went on without any word From, nevea it became more and more likely that they weren't going to find her. Safe On june fourth of two thousand and, nine the search For novaa ended in a tragic. WAY a individual Named Guy, bickley along with his, father decided that morning that they were going to go fishing down on The River. Raisin they arrived there about nine thirty am and they fished all. Morning then around twelve o'clock they decided to go to another, spot and that is where they made a. Discovery So guy reported that they had gone down on the banks and he saw some concrete kind of on the b and it was kind of described as being off to one side where they were going to be sitting up to, fish and he said there was some rocks adjacent to the cement, area and to, him in his, mind he thought that somebody had maybe tried to fill a hole with some cement that had just started to erode a little. Bit he didn't really think much of it and went to sit down on the rocks and put his feet on the concrete area so that way he could sit there and. Fish but once he sat, there he started to smell. Something he didn't know quite what it. Was he thought maybe there was some fish that had died somewhere and that's what he was. Smelling so he decided to get, up and when he got, up he realized that the concrete that he had been by had kind of started to crumble a little, bit so he was kind of using his shoe to kind of kick it around a little, bit, again not really thinking of, anything and that is when he saw what he believed to be human. Flesh he got his dad and then immediately they left and they called nine to one, one so investigators came out to the scene and they announced that they had indeed found human, remains and the remains were of a young, girl and they did believe that this young girl Was nevella because of the clothes that she was. Wearing they were found in a shallow grave that was dug alongside the, riverbed and the remains had been placed there and concrete had been poured on top of the. Remains, obviously whoever did this put that cement there as a way to conceal the remains and probably believed that they wouldn't be. Found BUT i really think that day that Guy bickley and his father being there was a stroke of luck and they picked that spot to go, fishing because if, not who knows If nevea would have been. Found but of course they did have to wait to make sure that the forensics matched and they were going to be doing other, testing of, course to confirm that this was in Fact. Nevea the sheriff did go on to make a statement that of course put the community on, edge and they basically, said whoever did this is likely still out and about In monroe in the. Community on that very same, day Both George kennedy And Roy smith were transferred from the jail to state. Prison not really sure if that was just coincidental or. What they never were arrested on any charges related To neva's. Death the remains that were found were sent to The Wayne County Medical examiner and investigators began their. Work they blocked off the area where the remains were, found and they were scouring everything they could to try to find any type of forensics to figure out who could have done. This around the same, Time jennifer was doing a lot of Interviews jenner for Is navea's. Mom On june, ninth she went On Nancy grace alongside a friend of. Hers nancy questioned how she could let her daughter be around not just, one but two convicted sex. Offenders she responded and, said everybody deserves a second. Chance and as you can, Imagine Nancy grace did not respond well to that. Statement she also responded to the fact That george had been convicted of sexually assaulting a fifteen year, old and she responded That george had basically told her that it was a consensual, encounter and that is in fact what she, believed that it was a consensual. Encounter but as we, know fifteen is not the age of consent In, michigan so it was never consensual in any, way shape or, form And nancy was sure to tell her. That On june tenth of two thousand and, Nine jennifer went on The channel nine to five to Five mojo in The Morning show to say that she thinks that whoever did this To nevea was possibly somebody That george was involved, with maybe one of his girlfriends or somebody that he. Knew so at this point in, Time jennifer was out doing a lot of, interviews LIKE i, said and she was getting a lot of public, scrutiny and the media was having a heyday and they were picking her. Apart so it was at this point in time that she stopped giving, interviews which was probably a, really really good decision on her. Part so around the same, time the remains had officially been identified as those Of Nevea, buchanan but they still were awaiting autopsy, results so in the, Meantime nvea's family began to plan her. Funeral On june, thirteenth they had a beautiful funeral For nevea and there was a lot of people there from the community to support her and her. Family she was laid to rest At Saint Joseph cemetery and it was a full celebration honoring her. Life the next, day following the, funeral the autopsy report had come back and it had indicated That nevea's cause of death was indeed, exphyxiation and it led them to believe that the concrete had been poured on top of her while she was still, alive which is the most, horrific, inhumane horrible detail of this case THAT i cannot wrap my head. Around it's. Awful there was no other sign of trauma On. Nevea there was no other injuries to her body other than. That it was not reported whether or Not nevea had been sexually, assaulted but one thing, remains this crime is absolutely. Horrific they also determined that the cement had been mixed, incorrectly which is the reason why her remains ended up being found in the first. Place according To nivea's, cousin who was Named Sean, lawson there were also carp fibers that were found On nevea's body and underneath her. Fingernails at this point in the, investigation they had about twelve hundred tips that they had gone through and got over In nivea's, case but by the Time august had rolled, around the tips had significantly slowed. Down on the one year anniversary Of nevea's abduction and subsequent, murder they held a press conference where they shared that they had yet to make any, arrests but were questioning Another monroe resident as to their, involvement and they assured the community that the case was not closed and it was still open and very. Active they said at that point in, time they weren't at a point where they could go out and make an, arrest but it was progressing in that. Direction they then continued to say that they aren't publicly naming any suspects or persons of interest at that. Time by twenty, Twelve jennifer said that she hadn't spoken to the police About neva's case in nearly two, years every single time it seemed like they had a, lead they ended up right back at square one again for one reason or. Another the tips had stopped coming in as much and they were getting maybe one a month if that about In neva's. Case but everything changed On may twenty second of twenty fourteen when it was revealed In monroe's local paper that investigators thought they knew who Killed. Nevea they never gave this person's, name but they did say it was a male and somebody that was born and raised In, Monroe, michigan and this person had a lot of issues stemming from their teenage, years and they believed that this was a crime of, opportunity and also said at that point in, time this person was serving time in prison for domestic assault charges and that they were going to be in prison for at least ten, years and there was also another charge looming for allegedly trying to murder someone else at the. Prison AND i think it's wild that this was poorted, on especially because it was said they're ninety nine percent sure that this was the, person but nothing was done about, it which is so, frustrating and saying that this person's in prison for the next ten years doesn't exactly Give nevea any. Justice and still as the years, pass there have been no arrests made In nevea's. Case then in twenty, sixteen all of this was taken. Back they backtracked and said there's been nothing new that has come out In nevea's case since twenty. Twelve SO i assume that they wanted what they previously had said in twenty fourteen just to kind of go, away so they. Backtracked this abduction and murder changed everything For neva's. Family, Sherry neva's, grandmother moved out of the apartment shortly after the. Murder jennifer also left and went to move in with a. Friend nevea's dad now visits the river every year With neveus half siblings as a way to honor and remember, her AND i do have to give him a shout. Out, shane he was not super involved In deveya's life prior to her, disappearance at least in the last few years of her. Life when she went, missing he literally moved his life To, Monroe, michigan set up a tent in the parking lot of the apartment complex and that is where he lived until they were able to find out what was going. On he was very present and always, there And i'm sure he made a lot of. MISTAKES i think he even had a worn out for his arrests for black child, support but he still showed. Up and sometimes people do. Change sometimes people make bad decisions and then something tragic happens and it changes their outlook and. Perspective SO i did want to recognize him for showing up and being, there because since he wasn't super involved in her, life he could have easily just not been. There there is a memorial that is set up down by Where nevea was, found And Guy bickley says that he often visits that area to remember her and he feels connected to. Her nivea's cousin Founded justice For, nevea which is an organization that helps advocate for her case as well as other cases of many other missing, children and they have done a lot in her honor to honor her and remember. Her the reward For nevea's case is up to fifty thousand. Dollars anyone with information can contact The Detective bureau at seven three four two four oh seven five three to zero or Crime stoppers at one eight hundred seven seven three two five eight. Seven so that is where everything stands With nevea's. Story thank you guys so much for. Listening if you made it to the end of this, episode thank. YOU i know it's a very tough. Case it was a hard one to, do but considering we are so many years down the line and there's still no, ARRESTS i figured exposure is the, key, Right so that is where we're. At so as, ALWAYS i appreciate you. Guys please leave a five star review wherever you are. Listening it only takes a few seconds and it is the best way to push this podcast out to other people so we can get more eyes and ears on these. CASES i hope you guys have a good weekend AND i will see you. Soon. Bye