Crime Junkie
Crime Junkie
"But by the time they arrive, Steve and another firefighter are already there. He had gotten a call from his cousin who lives nearby that the house was on fire. And while I can't tell if the call came in before or after the neighbor's daughter reported it, as soon as he realized that something was wrong, he and the coworker hopped into one of their work vehicles and sped to the house ahead of his team." — Brett
"The first huge red flag is that there is no suit in her airways. So she was dead before the fire, exactly, because if she was breathing at all when the fire was going, even if she was sleeping or incapacitated in some way, you would expect to see suit. Yeah, smoke inhalation. Right. And it's no surprise that Neon wasn't breathing based on what the coroner finds next, because Neon has a gunshot wound to her head." — Ashley Flowers
"The scene, by now, when police are going back, has been gone through by this PI, has been gone through by the family, it's like extra contaminated. Yeah, it's been touched by numerous people." — Brett
The episode details the perplexing case of Nanette Crental, who was found deceased in her home following a mysterious fire. Initial investigations were hampered by the intensity of the blaze, which consumed the residence and destroyed crucial evidence, including security camera footage. Early theories by investigators suggested the possibility of suicide, a notion quickly disproven by the autopsy which revealed a gunshot wound to the head and no signs of smoke inhalation, indicating Nanette was deceased prior to the fire. This revelation shifted the investigation to a homicide inquiry, with the fire marshals examining the cause of the fire and the sheriff's office focusing on the death.
The investigation faced numerous challenges, including the discovery of accelerants at the scene, suggesting arson. Multiple potential suspects emerged, including Nanette's husband, Steve Crental, his brother Brian who had previously threatened Nanette, and Steve's son, Justin. Additional concerns arose regarding a possible stalker and the destruction of security footage from nine cameras and a separate gate camera. The integrity of the crime scene was further compromised by the actions of a private investigator hired by Steve and subsequent searches by Nanette's family, leading to contamination of potential evidence.
Despite initial theories and the identification of several individuals with potential motives, the case proved difficult to resolve. Nanette's family expressed significant distrust in the investigators due to perceived lack of communication and missteps in the investigation, leading them to pursue independent autopsies which officially ruled her death a homicide. The case continued to be mired in legal proceedings and investigative disputes, with the District Attorney's office eventually issuing a subpoena for all case files, seeking to re-examine the evidence with fresh eyes. As of the episode's recording, no arrests have been made, and the family continues to seek answers and justice for Nanette Crental.