Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else.
Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday.
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A call from someone you love in crisis is terrifying enough - but what if the voice begging for help isn’t really them? We break down how AI voice cloning is fueling virtual kidnapping scams, why panic is the weapon scammers count on, and the one conversation your family should have before the phone rings. If this happens to you, report it right away: if money changed hands, contact your local FBI field office or call 1-800-CALL-FBI; even if you didn’t lose money, file a report at IC3.gov Source...
In the summer of 1973, the Jaeger family wakes at a Montana campground to every parent's nightmare: their young daughter, Susie, is gone. Searches turn up nothing, until a man begins tormenting the family with chilling calls and letters. He has Susie, and he has no intention of giving her back. As investigators race to find her, more victims begin to surface. The case finally breaks when a determined mother joins forces with the FBI’s newly formed behavioral profiling unit. Together, they uncove...
Ashley Flowers introduces the unsolved 2008 Lane Bryant murders, a perplexing case with a surviving witness and suspect composite, yet no arrests. She explains how her initial Crime Junkie investigation uncovered more questions than answers. This episode serves as an introduction to CounterClock Season 8, where investigative journalist Delia D'Ambra promises to delve into previously locked away details, unexpected leads, and potential new theories surrounding the notorious crime.
Bobby, Sherilynn, and 6-year-old Madyson Jamison went to the Sans Bois Mountains in southeastern Oklahoma in search of a fresh start. The family planned to live off the land in a remote, rugged area of Latimer County. But on Oct. 8, 2009, they vanished – leaving behind their truck with all their belongings inside. Their remains were found four years later, less than 3 miles from where the truck was abandoned. Now, more than a decade later, the circumstances surrounding their deaths remain a myst...
In 2016, Christopher "Cole" Thomas disappeared after a drug deal in North Carolina. His coworkers' changing stories and discovered surveillance footage and phone data pointed to a deeper conspiracy. As investigators and a private investigator delved deeper, they uncovered a possible double-cross and more individuals involved. Despite arrests and the family's desperate attempts to find answers, Cole's whereabouts remain unknown, highlighting the difficulty of solving cases where fear silences witnesses.
This episode delves into the mysterious death of Spencer Irwin, a 30-year-old whose body was found naked and dismissed by authorities as an overdose, despite his mother Kelly's insistence that he didn't use hard drugs. Kelly's tenacious investigation uncovered crucial details like missing belongings, contradictory toxicology reports, and surveillance footage of a suspicious vehicle. An expert forensic pathologist's review of crime scene photos further highlights the case's mishandling and raises questions about a potential ligature mark, propelling Kelly's fight for a proper investigation.
This episode delves into the brutal 2007 murder of 19-year-old Brittany McGlone, found dead in her boyfriend's bed after an unusual change in routine. Investigators initially focused on her boyfriend, his family, and other acquaintances, but the case eventually shifted to Chad Carr, her boyfriend's sister's older boyfriend, whose past violent offenses and suspicious alibi painted a disturbing picture. Despite an arrest for capital murder years later, a grand jury issued a no-bill, leaving Brittany's family still fighting for justice and answers.
New information in the Melissa Casias case reveals escalating tensions, with FBI involvement sparked by media attention and a private investigator's aggressive public accusations against the Casillas family. The episode further explores a bizarre encounter involving a woman named Wendy, who delivered graduation money to Melissa's daughter but now denies knowing the family, leading to a confusing tangle of matching and mismatched identities. This investigation ultimately uncovers an unexpected link between a person tied to Wendy's number and a defense contractor, hinting that a subcontractor theory might be more plausible than initially thought.
In June 2025, Melissa Casias dropped her husband off at work in Los Alamos, New Mexico… then did something nobody expected. She turned around and drove home. By that afternoon, she had vanished, leaving behind her wallet, her keys, both of her personal phones wiped to factory settings, and a family already splitting in two over what to believe. Her husband, Mark, insists she walked away on her own. Her parents and siblings are certain something far worse happened to her. Surveillance video prove...
This episode unravels the decades-old murder of Melanie Howell, a 22-year-old nursing student found stabbed in her Los Angeles apartment. Despite a fingerprint matching a killer in 2014, authorities mysteriously kept his identity private. The podcast reveals the killer's name, Paul Bustamante, and uncovers his connection to a second, similarly brutal murder, raising questions about a potential serial killer.
In the summer of 1969, Stephanie Casberg walked out the front door of a Milwaukee restaurant after her waitressing shift — and was never seen alive again. Days later, her dismembered remains were found near a condemned bridge along the Root River, leaving investigators with a chilling conclusion: the work of someone methodical, skilled and patient. More than five decades later, the case has led detectives from a co-worker who lied his way into the narrative to a convicted child predator who terr...
On the heels of our investigation into Laura Sweetman’s death, the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office fulfilled our FOIA request, providing new audio files—including recordings of Laura arguing with her estranged husband, Dave, and deputies’ interview with him. Laura was found dead in her Gilbert, Arizona bathtub in December 2013, and despite early red flags, her case was ruled undetermined and quietly closed. Now, these newly obtained materials raise fresh questions. Listen to our update on Laura...
This episode explores the suspicious 2013 death of Laura Sweetman, found dead in her bathtub, and the subsequent inadequate investigation. It uncovers Laura's tumultuous marriage, an abusive husband, Dave Sweetman, multiple other relationships, and critical overlooked details in the autopsy and toxicology reports. The hosts also expose the checkered pasts of the medical examiner and toxicologist involved, questioning the integrity of the entire process and calling for renewed public attention to the case.
In May 2020, Nick Cordova was shot in the head while on FaceTime with his children. Suspicion initially focused on one man, but surveillance video showed he was not the shooter.. Nearly six years later, Cordova’s family is still pleading for answers. If you have any information about the death of Nicholas “Nick” Cordova in Gilbert, Arizona, contact the Gilbert Police Department at 480-503-6500. To remain anonymous, reach out to Silent Witness at 480-948-6377. Head over to our Crime Junkie YouTub...
On Feb. 23, 2020, 6-year-old Joseph “Jo-Jo” King III was found unresponsive at home with his stepfather. The initial explanation was simple: he had accidentally suffocated inside a toy chest. But the toy chest was not airtight. Parts of the scene were wet. And the autopsy was later amended to include “concern for possible homicidal drowning.” Still, the manner of death remains undetermined. Jo-Jo’s stepfather is in prison for abusing him less than a year before his death, but no one has been cha...
An arrest has been made in the 1990 Lovers' Lane murders of Cheryl Henry and Andy Atkinson. More than 30 years after the killings, a DNA match led investigators to a suspect. Listen for the full update and to learn what investigators need your help with. Already familiar with this case? You can skip to 32:23 to hear the latest update. If you had any contact with Floyd William Parrott or you think you might know something about this case or others he could have committed, please call the Harris C...
At a busy campsite one summer night, Darrel “Bubba” Johnson Sr. says goodnight and zips up his tent. By sunrise, he’s gone. No Bubba. Just a borrowed flashlight, a phone that pings but is never found, and stories that don’t make much sense. Did Bubba wander off…or did something more sinister happen in the dark? Source materials for this episode cannot be listed here due to character limitations. For a full list of sources, please visit: https://crimejunkiepodcast.com/missing-darrel-bubba-johnson...
In July 2015, Mary Yoder, a healthy 60-year-old chiropractor, went to work as usual. Later that day, she began feeling sick. Within 48 hours, she was dead. At first, her sudden decline seemed like a medical mystery. But investigators soon uncovered evidence of poisoning, launching a murder investigation that divided her family and the community. What appeared to be a clear path forward quickly grew more complicated. Detectives uncovered a digital trail they believed tied office manager Katie Con...
In the summer of 2015, Mary Yoder, a healthy 60-year-old chiropractor, went to work as usual. Later that day, she began feeling sick. Within two days, she was dead. At first, her sudden decline seemed like a medical mystery. But investigators soon uncovered evidence of poisoning, launching a murder investigation that divided her family and the community. As questions mounted, grief quickly gave way to suspicion. Subtle details about Mary’s final days, conflicting information about her diagnosis ...
This episode delves into the infamous "Mr. Cruel" case, a serial predator who abducted young girls in Melbourne, Australia, from 1987 to 1991. Despite meticulous planning, unique rituals, and extensive police task force efforts including FBI profiling, his identity remains a mystery. The discussion explores detailed victim accounts, police investigative challenges, and various theories, including potential links to a child exploitation network and specific suspects, highlighting the case's enduring impact.
In 1981, a Harvard graduate student vanished after stepping out of Logan Airport the night after Thanksgiving. As investigators searched for answers, they focused on a suspect connected to another murder – a woman who was killed just two years earlier. He was convicted in one case and widely believed responsible for the other. But after reviewing thousands of pages of records, we found gaps that raise difficult questions: Was the wrong man blamed? And is the real killer still out there? Head ove...
Robin Altman investigates the suspicious suicides of her brother, Stephen, and mother, Mary Ann, decades after their deaths. Her findings, supported by forensic experts, suggest both were homicides staged to look like suicides, with evidence pointing towards her stepdad. Despite compelling new evidence and expert opinions, law enforcement has repeatedly closed the cases, leaving Robin to advocate for justice and legislative change.
On June 2, 2022, Rachel Hansen opened her eyes to a dark figure standing over her bed, staring at her. She screamed, and the person took off. But the very next night — just after 2 a.m. — a dark figure entered her Gilbert, Arizona, apartment again, kicked down her bedroom door and shot her in the abdomen before fleeing. Head over to our Crime Junkie YouTube channel to WATCH this episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_ytPB_pg6M Source materials for this episode cannot be listed here due to ch...
The 1986 shooting of 16-year-old twin sisters Jill and Julie Hansen stunned the small town of Willow Creek, California. The investigation into who shot the girls and set fire to the Hansen family home is marked by twists and turns, with evidence ultimately pointing back to a suspect close to the family. Did tunnel vision cause investigators to overlook critical pieces of evidence? Head over to our Crime Junkie YouTube channel to WATCH this episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHIUhNT36u8 Sou...
This episode delves into the tragic 2023 house fire that killed Summer Day and her three children, initially deemed an accident. However, investigations reveal a tumultuous relationship between Summer and her firefighter husband, Sean, marked by alleged abuse and a protective order. Suspicious details emerge, including a pot of oil on the stove as a likely fire source, potentially removed smoke detector batteries, and questions about Sean's alibi. The episode highlights critical failures in the Chicago Fire Department and Police Department's handling of the case, suggesting a conflict of interest and leading to a strong appeal for a thorough, independent reinvestigation.
This episode delves into the mysterious deaths of Bobby and Barbara Moore. It starts with Detective Bobby Moore investigating a 1974 DC murder, only to later marry the victim's wife, Barbara. Their move to small-town Indiana and Bobby's subsequent appointment as town marshal unravels into a bitter divorce, culminating in Barbara's shooting death, for which Bobby is acquitted. Five months later, Bobby himself is murdered in a suspected act of revenge, with Barbara's son, Samuel, becoming the prime suspect in this still-unsolved cold case that tore a community apart.
This is the full sit-down interview between Ashley and Elizabeth Smart -- a powerful 90 minutes of raw, unedited conversation with one of the most real and honest and deep-down GOOD human beings we've ever had the privilege of knowing. To learn more about the programs and services the Elizabeth Smart Foundation offers please visit https://www.elizabethsmartfoundation.org/ Source materials for this episode cannot be listed here due to character limitations. For a full list of sources, please visi...
This episode delves into the baffling 2000 murder of Kelly D. Wilson, a popular Dayton R&B radio DJ known as Nikki Brooks. Found dead in her apartment with no signs of forced entry, police struggled to identify a suspect or motive, especially after initial leads and DNA tests yielded no definitive answers. Decades later, a dedicated detective continues to pursue new forensic technology and community tips, hoping to bring long-awaited closure to Kelly's family. The case highlights the enduring challenges of unsolved crimes and the impact on loved ones.
Marilyn “Niqui” McCown was the first missing person’s case covered on Crime Junkie. Now, nearly 25 years after she vanished, fresh reporting uncovers never-before-heard details from police files that challenge everything we thought we knew. What if Niqui’s story never truly ended — and the answers are still closer than anyone realized? If you know anything about the disappearance of Marilyn “Niqui” McCown, please contact the Richmond Police Department at (765) 983-7247. If you or anyone you know...
A luxury vacation to Mexico with college friends ended in tragedy when Shanquella Robinson died of what her friends said was alcohol poisoning. But Shanquella’s family always believed there was more to the story, especially when a video surfaced of her being brutally beaten just hours before she died. That video and a pair of autopsies coming to two different conclusions has shrouded Shanquella’s death in mystery. Years later, there are still so many questions. What exactly killed Shanquella and...
