Man Kills Mom and Her Boyfriend, Then Lives with Their Bodies for Weeks | Crime Alert 10AM 03.27.26

Crime alert, hourly update, breaking crime news now.

I'm Junelson.

A Georgia man is sentenced to spend the rest of his life in prison after killing his mother

and her boyfriend, then living with their bodies inside an Atlanta apartment per week.

The man is 46-year-old Neil Russell.

The victims are his mother Henrietta Russell, and her longtime boyfriend Marvin Spencer.

The killings happen in late February 2025 in Atlanta.

Russell was convicted of murder and other charges, sentenced to two consecutive life terms

plus 25 years.

Under current sentencing rules, he will not be eligible for parole for at least 60 years.

Prosecutors say money may have played a role and pointed to what happened right after the killings.

When his mother got paid, herself security on the first, he immediately went to an ATM machine

named to her account.

That's Fulton County Chief Senior Assistant District Attorney Travis Thomas on WSB.

Family members began to worry when they could not reach Marvin Spencer.

His daughter, Maria Spencer, said March 7th was supposed to be her father's 76th birthday,

but instead it became the day she learned he was dead.

She had tried calling him for days, and when she called Henrietta Russell's phone,

Neil Russell answered.

She had never met him and felt something was wrong, so she went to the apartment

and asked for a welfare check.

When the officers spoke on the stand, they said that from outside the door,

they could smell the decomposing bodies.

Assistant District Attorney Lauren Polk,

police could not get inside right away.

And prosecutors say there was a standoff that lasted about four hours

during which Russell spoke with officers and 9-1-1.

After SWAT made entry, investigators found both victims inside.

Authorities said Henrietta Russell had been strangled, and Marvin Spencer had been stabbed.

District Attorney Funny Willis.

So he's supposed to be there to help her, but instead what he does is take her life.

Daughter Maria Spencer later described what she walked into on WSB.

I wasn't expecting the force to be what it was,

and I definitely wasn't expecting the force to be as bad as it was.

Prosecutors said the motive is still not fully clear.

They noted Russell had a history of drug use and had just left rehab around that time.

The defense pointed to a lack of DNA and fingerprint evidence during their trial.

More crime in Justice News after this.

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At the Center's Ford disease control and prevention in Atlanta,

the agency is still working to replace bullet-damaged windows

months after a deadly shooting at its headquarters,

leaving visible reminders of the attack on campus.

CDC employees raised concerns during the staff meeting

about windows that remained covered after being damaged

in a shooting more than seven months ago.

Acting Director Dr. J. Batacharya acknowledged the issue

and told the staff that repairs are a priority.

According to the Associated Press,

Batacharya said the agency is working on replacing the windows,

while another official confirmed that permanent replacement work is underway.

In a follow-up email to employees,

CDC officials said repairs began this month.

Each window must be custom-made.

Installation depends on whether and the project is on schedule.

The damage dates back to an August attack.

Authorities say a 30-year-old man identified as Patrick Joseph White

fired more than 180 rounds into the CDC campus,

about 150 windows were shattered.

Some of those rounds pierced to blast resistant glass

and sent shards and offices across the building.

Investigators say White had been first stopped by CDC security

before driving to a nearby CVS pharmacy

and opening fire toward the campus.

Police officer David Rose responded to the scene and was killed.

White also died.

No CDC employees were physically hurt,

though many described their fear.

Authorities said White blamed the COVID-19 vaccine

for making him depressed in suicidal.

In the month since, some employees have expressed frustration

with the federal response.

U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.,

who oversees the CDC, made a brief visit to the campus

after the shooting but did not meet with staff.

Batacharya said he has asked Kennedy to approve a plan

to rename the CDC's street entrance in honor of Officer Rose

and that Kennedy agreed.

A Georgia man is arrested after police say they found him hiding

inside a refrigerator in a vacant apartment

telling officers he broke in because it was called outside.

The arrest happened in Guinnette County near Norcross

on Treehouse Parkway, northeast of Atlanta.

Police identified the suspect as 25-year-old Jose Quintanilla.

Officers were called to the apartment late at night

after a neighbor reported hearing banging noises

coming from a unit that was supposed to be empty.

When police arrived, they entered through an open window

and began searching room by room.

They checked closets.

They checked cabinets.

Then they moved into the kitchen.

Here, you can hear them open the fridge.

Guinnette, please show me your f***ing hands right now.

Manos Arriba.

Manos Arriba.

In this momento,

Manos.

Manos.

I can see his hands.

Hands hands.

Manos, Manos en tu cabeza.

Oh, I'll have nothing.

I'll have nothing.

I'll have nothing.

You're under arrest.

Why?

You got those?

What?

I'm just trying to get something.

As far as sleep, Manos, hold it outside.

We got somewhere pretty asleep.

Police said he had managed to fit his entire body

into the appliance and shut the door

while officers searched the unit.

Corporal Ryan Winter Wheatle with Guinnette County Police

described the discovery as unusual,

noting that officers check anywhere

someone could hide and said the unplugged fridge

had enough space for him to get inside.

Police say the apartment was under renovation at the time.

Investigators alleged Kintaniya caused about $2,000 in damage

inside the unit, including pulling electrical wires

from newly installed sheet rock.

Kintaniya claimed he did not damage anything inside the apartment.

He now faces charges, including first degree burglary,

second degree criminal damage to property

and obstruction of a law enforcement officer.

He has since bonded out of jail.

For the latest crime and justice news,

follow Crime Alert's hourly update

on your favorite podcast app.

With this crime alert, I'm Dr. Nelson.

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