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The Murder Diaries

Cloud10
The Murder Diaries is a victim-focused true crime podcast.  Hosts Natalie and Paige use straightforward storytelling to spotlight cold cases, missing persons, and suspicious deaths— often incorporating original audio from the victim’s friends and family. The podcast also includes monthly interviews about the true crime genre as a whole, whether that’s discussions on ethics, survivors sharing their stories, or other relevant topics.  Connect with us at themurderdiariespodcast.com or on socials @themurderdiariespod
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Episodes

MD rewind: Colleen Ritzer

We're off this week to enjoy a Springbreak. Enjoy this rewind episode and we'll see you next week! Colleen was a popular, young math teacher from Massachusetts in 2013 when she was brutally murdered at the place she loved most DOING what she loved most. Originally aired: May 27, 2021 Resources: Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qd8EH0Q_vKQ Sword and Scale: Episode 88 Town Museum website: https://salemwitchmuseum.com/locations/welcome-to-danvers/ Article: https://nthfmemorial.org/everyone-ma...

Apr 13, 202345 min

MURDERED: Tara Calico

In 1988, on a beautiful day in Belen, New Mexico, a 19-year-old woman got ready to do one of her favorite things: her daily bike ride. She put on a white t-shirt with the local bank’s logo on it, white shorts with green stripes, and white sneakers. She grabbed her bright yellow Walkman with a Boston cassette tape. Before leaving home on a neon pink mountain bike, she told her mom, “Come and get me if I’m not back by noon.” It was the same route she took everyday. At some point, the route she kne...

Apr 06, 202329 min

MISSING: Roxanne Paltauf

Roxanne Paltauf said goodbye to her family after 4th of July celebrations to be with her boyfriend. The two were going to spend a few days together at a motel in the rougher part of town. It was their second anniversary and a motel was the best option to spend and extend amount of time together. They both lived at home and their families didn’t approve of the relationship... After an argument at the motel Roxanne disappeared and has been missing for 16.5 years. This is her story. If you have any...

Mar 30, 202334 min

MUERTE MISTERIOSA: Debanhi Escobar

Bienvenido al podcast Murder Diaries. Esta es la versión en español de nuestra cobertura de la misteriosa muerte de Debanhi Escobar. For the English version of this episode, please click here: Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-murder-diaries/id1475609603?i=1000606231324 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/episode/76xq5oNRHBgXPSjqScNFX0?si=iMJKlFWSRHq6-AKUoCdRrA Find us @themurderdiariespod on Instagram and Tik Tok. RESOURCES: https://mexiconewsdaily.com/news/2-former-motel-employe...

Mar 28, 202340 min

MURDERED: Karen Bodine

In January of 2007, 37-year-old Karen Bodine was found at the entrance of an old, gravel quarry in Rochester, Washington—a small town an hour outside of Seattle. A passing motorist discovered Karen’s nude body posed in a prone position with her head resting on a vehicle seat as if it were a pillow. It’s been 16 years, and we still don’t know who killed Karen Bodine. In fact, the Lacey Sheriff's department isn’t any closer to finding the person or persons responsible than they were almost two dec...

Mar 23, 202343 min

Missing: Natalee Holloway

What was supposed to be a joyful last hurrah ended in tragedy. Her name led news programs for months after her mysterious disappearance. Nearly 20 years later, the familiar senior portrait of the beautiful and intelligent young woman from Alabama periodically shows up in articles and news programs. That’s because her disappearance is still a mystery. Her remains have never been found. Her name was Natalee Holloway. This is her story. Resources: https://www.eonline.com/photos/28082/untangling-the...

Mar 16, 202332 min

MURDERED: Debanhi Escobar

An eerie photo of a young woman standing alone on the edge of a dark deserted highway has come to symbolize this growing crisis in Mexico- the disappearance and murder of women. It sparked a fire among women and activists in a country where women’s disappearances and murders are often downplayed or ignored altogether. This woman had a bright future ahead of her and yet like thousands of others, her life was cut short. But because of this photo, her case is providing hope and solace to a nation o...

Mar 09, 202334 min

MURDERED: Jenny Lin

The case we’re going to talk about today knocked a safe, San Francisco suburb to its knees. As one friend of the victim put it, “it broke the shell of safety.” Jenny Lin was 14 years old in May 1994 when her parents weren’t able to reach her at home, where she was supposed to be after school. As the workday came to an end, her father arrived home. The TV was on, but the house was empty. Calling for his younger daughter, he heads up the stairs, and it quickly set in something was wrong when he no...

Mar 02, 202334 min

MISSING: Asha Degree

What should have been a day to celebrate love, quickly turned into a parent’s real-life nightmare and flipped the rural community of Shelby, North Carolina upside down. If you have any information on the case, please call (704)-672-6100 Resources: https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/nc-girl-asha-degree-disappeared-10-years-ago/story?id=11591506 https://www.wbtv.com/story/37493875/finding-asha-leads-still-pouring-in-18-years-after-child-vanished/ https://newspaperarchive.com/crime-clipping-aug-10-2001-241...

Feb 23, 202335 min

MURDERED: Phil Hartman

If the name Phil Hartman doesn’t already ring a bell for you, I have no doubt you'll be familiar with at least some of his work. He was a writer, actor, and comedian. Notably, in his career, he co-created Pee-wee Herman, and landed a spot on SNL where he thrived for 8 seasons, during which he became well-loved for his impersonation of Bill Clinton. Phil was a comedy genius who no doubt had years of making people laugh ahead of him. Unfortunately, the world lost one of it’s most talented entertai...

Feb 16, 202334 min

MYSTERIOUS DEATH: Ellen Greenberg

When Ellen Greenberg is found dead in the apartment she shares with her fiancé, investigators are quick to label it suicide despite the twenty stab wounds she suffered. What ensues is an ongoing battle surrounding the classification of Ellen’s case and one family’s search for justice. To support the Greenberg family: please sign the petition, follow Justice for Ellen on FB and GoFundMe. https://www.change.org/p/justice-for-ellen-rae-greenberg-justiceforellen https://m.facebook.com/JusticeForElle...

Feb 09, 202334 min

MISSING: Rachel Cooke

In 2002 19 year old Rachel Cooke was visiting home in Georgetown, TX from college in SD for the holiday break. On the morning of January 10th she left her parents’ house for a run. She never returned. In the 23 years since Rachel went missing the family, community, and investigators have been tormented at the lack of answers and the empty place in their lives Rachel once filled. This is her story. Anyone with any information should contact the Wilco Cold Case Unit coldcasetips@wilco.org. or the ...

Feb 02, 202325 min

MISSING: Madeleine McCann

There’s perhaps no more well-known missing person’s case than that of three-year-old Madeleine McCann who went missing from a Portuguese holiday resort in 2007. Over the intervening 15 years, there have been countless theories, suspects, court cases, and finger-pointing but all have ultimately amounted to nothing. If Madeleine is alive, the bright-eyed toddler would now be 19 years old, a young adult who is likely unaware of her true identity. And if she isn’t, then all the more reason to keep t...

Jan 26, 202331 min

MURDERED: Alexis Sharkey

When Alexis Sharkey didn’t show up for a movie date with her girlfriends on Friday the 27th of November 2020 they immediately knew something was wrong. Little more than 24 hours later, they would find out the devastating truth. Alexis was dead. Resources: https://abc13.com/alexis-sharkey-found-dead-in-houston-instagram-influencer-woman-missing-texas/8386200/ https://heavy.com/news/tom-sharkey-alexis-husband/ https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/alexis-sharkey-dead-houston-texas-upda...

Jan 19, 202330 min

MURDERED: Tristyn Bailey

A 13-year-old cheerleader is found brutally murdered on Mother’s Day 2021. Evidence directs investigators to a demented classmate, who pretended to be her friend. RESOURCES: https://www.the-sun.com/news/3288387/tristyn-bailey-killer-aiden-fucci-karma-on-ankle/ https://www.staugustine.com/story/news/crime/2022/05/09/tristyn-bailey-timeline-disappearance-killed-st-johns-county-aiden-fucci/9681093002/ https://www.news4jax.com/news/local/2022/05/05/nearly-1-year-after-tristyn-bailey-found-brutally-m...

Jan 12, 202333 min

MURDERED: Sierah Joughin

Tuesday July 19th 2016 began as any other for twenty year old, Sierah Joughin.She spent the day at home with before heading off to visit her boyfriend Josh in the early evening. She said goodbye to her mom, hopped on her new purple bicycle that she got at a garage sale to enjoy the fresh, country air while as she rode the 7 miles to Josh’s house. When Sierah was ready to return home around 6:30 she hopped back on her bike, and Josh followed along on his motorcycle. The two took a selfie as they ...

Dec 15, 202238 min

MURDERED: JonBenét Ramsey

The case I have for you today is the murder of JonBenét Ramsey, which has been the most requested by our listeners since Paige and I started The Murder Diaries. Honestly we avoided it for a long time, because of the amount of rumors and theories there are about what “really” happened. You can literally spend years going down rabbit holes on some of these arguments, but the thing is, no matter how convincing a theory might be, JonBenét Ramsey’s murder remains unsolved to this day, and she deserve...

Dec 08, 202238 min

MURDERED: Reagan Tokes

Today’s case is about a young woman who was living out her dream as a senior at Ohio State University. So close to graduation, Reagan Tokes was waitressing until she could put the psychology degree, she was almost done with to work. It’s after work one night in February of 2017, that she went missing. She had been abducted, taken away in her own vehicle. It didn’t take long to zero in on a suspect thanks to DNA. This is her story. Resources: Paula Zahn season 17, Ep 14 Unchecked Violence Datetli...

Dec 01, 202229 min

Thanksgiving Message

Happy Thanksgiving! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 24, 20224 min

MISSING: Dee Ann Warner

Dee Ann Warner vanished from her rural Michigan home after allegedly ending her marriage. Her husband claims she left the country with a wealthy man, but authorities and her family suspect foul play. If you have any information about Dee Ann Warner or the case, please contact the Lenawee County Sheriff’s Office by calling (517) 263-0524 or the Michigan State Police by calling (855) 642-4847. RESOURCES: Dateline: Missing in America Podcast Disappeared S10 E5 Charley Project https://charleyproject...

Nov 17, 202232 min

MURDERED: Cori Daye Desmond

Big Bear, CA. A resort, mountain town in Southern California’s San Bernadino mountains, popular with tourists from near and far throughout all seasons. About 15 miles out of town is the small town of Running Springs. It's there in a ravine off CA Highway 330 the body of 28 year old Cori Desmond was found wrapped in trash bags. Cori was from Redondo Beach, about 100 miles away. The question stood for investigators, how did she end up in a ravine so far away and who murdered her? This is her story...

Nov 10, 202226 min

Halloween Announcement

We hope everyone had a fun and safe Halloween! We're taking this week off, but will be back next week with a new case. See you then! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 03, 20224 min

MURDERED: Alice Ruggles

When 23-year-old Alice Ruggles is found murdered in her flat, investigators set their sights on her ex-boyfriend-turned-stalker. RESOURCES: An Hour to Catch a Killer with Trevor McDonald Killed by My Stalker S1E1 https://www.alicerugglestrust.org/alices-story www.thesun.co.uk/news/4609410/alice-ruggles-killer-harry-dhilllon-stalking/amp/ https://medium.com/lessons-from-history/the-tragic-murder-of-24-year-old-alice-ruggles-3519552b3b13 https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/mums-fight-action-afte...

Oct 27, 202236 min

MURDERED: Sierra LaMar

Sierra LaMar was 15 years old when she disappeared on the way to her school bus the morning of March 16th, 2012, which she never got the chance to board. Massive searches followed, and a volunteer team formed that searched weekly for over 3 years for her. DNA would lead to an arrest, but Sierra’s remain are still missing. As her Find a Grave site says, her family prays and hopes one day they can bring Sierra home to a proper resting place. This is her story. Resources: See No Evil s6 ep17 – Come...

Oct 20, 202228 min

MURDERED: Christina Yuna Lee

After a night out with friends, a stranger follows 35-year-old Christina Yuna Lee home and savagely attacks her. GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/christina-yuna-lee-memorial-fund Ad Links: https://www.apostrophe.com/Diaries RESOURCES: Article https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/14/nyregion/suspect-christina-yuna-lee-murder.html Article https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/suspect-indicted-in-brutal-murder-of-christina-lee-in-her-chinatown-apartment/3603030/ Article https://nypo...

Oct 13, 202231 min

MISSING: Pepita Redhair

According to indianlaw.org “…More than 1 in 2 Native American women have experienced sexual violence. Though available data is limited, the number of missing and murdered American Indian and Alaska Native women and the lack of a diligent and adequate federal response is extremely alarming to indigenous women, tribal governments, and communities. On some reservations, indigenous women are murdered at more than ten times the national average. Statistics define the scale of the problem, but do noth...

Oct 06, 202226 min

MURDERED: Alisha Canales-McGuire

When 24-year-old Alisha Canales-McGuire is gunned down at her sister’s front door, police uncover a botched murder-for-hire plot. If you or someone you know needs help, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) RESOURCES: Article https://www.cbsnews.com/news/alisha-canales-mcguire-arrests-in-botched-murder-for-hire-plot-that-killed-intended-victims-sister/ Obituary https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/skagitvalleyherald/name/alisha-canales-mcguire-obituary?id=15625981 ...

Sep 29, 202225 min

MURDERED: Sarah Stern

In the early morning hours of December 3rd 2016 a 911 call was placed reporting an abandoned 1994 Grey Oldsmobile car left on the Belmar, NJ Route 35 Bridge above the Shark River. Responding officers ran the license plate in their system and find that the belongs to a Michael Stern, so they give him a call. He answers, but he’s all the way in Florida. Police wanted to know then who had been driving the car. He responded, my daughter, referring to his 19 year old daughter, Sarah Stern. This is he...

Sep 22, 202236 min

MURDERED: Mengqi Ji

When a loving mother disappears from her Colombia, Missouri apartment, police begin to question her husband’s story. RESOURCES: On the Case with Paula Zahn, S24 E15: A Needle in the Mud Article https://www.komu.com/news/updated-timeline-of-mengqi-ji-disappearance/article_5e494265-1fea-5ee4-940a-f61424207d72.html Article https://www.columbiatribune.com/story/news/local/2021/10/28/parents-of-mengqi-ji-share-memories-of-daughter-ahead-of-joseph-elledge-murder-trial-boone-county/8549795002/ Article ...

Sep 15, 202233 min

MURDERED: Amie Harwick

Amie Harwick was a Marriage and Family Therapist by day and a GoGo dancer by night. Her lifestyle was unique, she might be breathing fire as a gig for a party at night and lecturing at a university the next morning. She dedicated her life to helping others Needless to say she had many, many layers and a colorful life. Dealing with an ex turned stalker was one of the darker parts of her life. While they were dating she endured violence at his hands. Post break up he tormented her, breaking in whi...

Sep 08, 202223 min
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