Probation Violator Charged in Fatal Shooting of Kentucky State Trooper | Crime Alert 10.02.26

This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human. Hey, Ryan Reynolds here for Mint Mobile. Now, I don't know if you've heard. But Mint's premium wireless is $15 a month. But I'd like to offer one other perk. We have no stores. That means no small talk. Crazy weather we're having. No, it's not. It's just weather. It is an introvert's dream. Give it a try at mintmobile.com/switch. Up from payment of $45 for $3 a month plan, $15 a month equivalent required. New customer offer for $3 a month only. Then full price plan options available, taxes and fees extra. See mintmobile.com. Crime alert, hourly update, breaking crime news now. I'm Sydney Silvani. A Kentucky community is in mourning after a routine traffic stop on Interstate 65 turned deadly, leaving a state trooper dead and a career criminal behind bars once again. 51-year-old Emily Branch was denied bond Tuesday on a charge of murder of a first responder in the shooting death of Kentucky State police trooper Hayden Phillips. Trooper Phillips, a 30-year-old three-year veteran assigned to post-3 in Bowling Green, was a devoted husband and father of three young boys. On Monday afternoon, Phillips conducted a traffic stop in Warren County when he was senselessly gunned down on the sign of the highway. A statewide blue alert was immediately issued, leading to Branch's capture later that evening in West Louisville by Louisville Metro police officers. Robert Records revealed Branch was serving five years probation for securities fraud and was actively wanted on a probation violation warrant before the shooting. Prosecutors emphasized Branch's extensive criminal history, including convictions for attempted domestic assault, violating a no-contact order and a 2009 conviction for illegal firearm possession by a felon. Records show he was arrested twice this year alone for probation violations. In Kentucky State Police Commissioner Colonel Philip Burnett Jr. condemned the suspect's cowardly actions, promising the agency will seek justice and stand beside Phillips' family. Phillips' wife, Jordan, shared her grief on social media, promising to stay strong and carry on for their three sons. At a news conference, U.S. Attorney Kyle Bumgarner pledged the Justice Department's full support to give state prosecutors every tool needed to pursue the maximum sentence. Hayden was murdered on the side of the road doing what is routine, doing a traffic stop. He was senselessly murdered. What do we have left? We have a wife that expected her husband to come home. We have three little boys who don't have a dad because he served us, because he served our community, because he wanted to keep each of us safe. A candlelight vigil for trooper Phillips was held Thursday evening in Glass Glow, and Governor Andy Bashir ordered state flags lowered to half-staff on Sunday, October 4th, urging prayers for the family and support for the Kentucky State Police Foundation. In Florida, a 29-year-old mother faces four felony counts of child neglect after allegedly abandoning her four young children, including a two-month-old infant and a two-year-old toddler, to go on a three-day Bahamas cruise. Natalie Belazar was arrested Monday, September 28th by U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers at Port Miami, as she disembarked from the Carnival Conquest. The investigation began after the infant's father saw a post on Belazar's WhatsApp story depicting a cruise ticket purchase. The father visited her apartment Saturday and heard a television and children's voices inside without adult supervision, prompting his call to 911. When first responders forced entry, they found all four children hiding together in a bathroom. Police confirmed the children were never dropped off with their great-grandmother, as Belazar claimed, and her brother reported receiving a text from her Saturday evening, asking him to check on them. Belazar appeared in court Tuesday, September 29th, where her bond was set at $10,000, and she was ordered to stay away from her children who are in foster care. The judge expressed shock at the defense's request for supervised visits. "Judge, I would ask for either pre-trial services with an alternate bond, please." "Okay." "And if you would agree to supervise visitation." "I don't think I want to do that." "Who leaves the kids for a little kid's elongation at this time?" "They go on a cruise." "Judge, at this time is only an allegation. She denies the allegation." "We arrested her disembarking from the cushion. I understand that, Judge." Belazar's formal arraignment is set for November 24th, with her attorney stating she denies the allegations. More crime and justice news after this. They say higher education is outdated, irrelevant, but at Grand Canyon University, they don't settle for the status quo. They shatter it. GCU empowers learners of every generation offering on-campus, online, and hybrid learning environments. Hands-on classes are designed to prepare you for skills for industry, and online programs have a supportive community from all over the country. This is Purpose Driven Education. Take action. Find your purpose. Grand Canyon University. Visit gcu.edu. In Pennsylvania, a 32-year-old man with a criminal history dating back to 2016 is facing homicide and rape charges after allegedly sexually assaulting a woman before launching a deadly midnight home invasion hours later. Elijah Hemingway allegedly ambushed a woman Wednesday morning along a walking path in Wilkinsburg sexually assaulting her and stealing her cell phone. Early Thursday morning, authorities say Hemingway broke into an Edward home in his underwear and launched a knife attack on a sleeping couple. 46-year-old pediatrician, Dr. Idris Evans, was killed while his wife sustained critical injuries. During the struggle, Evans' wife yelled for their children, ages 8 and 12, to escape. She told police the suspect appeared psychotic, claimed to be God, and that her husband called out the name Elijah, though police have not confirmed a prior relationship. When interviewed Hemingway, claims Evans invited him inside and attacked him, but detectives found no stab wound on Hemingway and recovered physical evidence connecting him to both crime scenes. Hemingway, released without bail in July for a February burglary, now faces seven charges, including criminal homicide, aggravated assault, burglary, rape, and sexual assault. For more crime and justice news, be sure to join us for crime stories with Nancy Grace on Fox 1, YouTube, Sirius XM, and now streaming on 2B. With this crime alert, I'm Sydney Solvoney. You fell in love at first crunch, and now the crispy chicken crunch wrap slider is back at Taco Bell, but with a twist, it's crispy, all-white meat chicken nuggets inside a slider side's crunch wrap. But now you can enjoy them with the kick of Hidden Valley Diablo Ranch, or try the tortilla chip coated nuggets on their own. They're waiting for you. The crispy chicken crunch wrap slider, a brand new classic, is back, only at Taco Bell. This is an iHeart podcast, Guaranteed Human.