Crime Junkie

On March 23, 1993, screams tore through the thin walls of a gated Indianapolis apartment complex as 19-year-old Carmen Van Huss fought for her life. Neighbors heard the attack, but no one called 911. Carmen was assaulted, mutilated, and killed. For decades, her murder remained unsolved – until a relentless investigator identified a suspect. And after more than 30 years, Carmen’s family finally saw justice.   Source materials for this episode cannot be listed here due to character limitations. For a full list of sources, please visit:  https://crimejunkiepodcast.com/murdered-carmen-van-huss/ Di

When 37-year-old Christine Banfield and 39-year-old Joseph Ryan were found fatally injured inside a Virginia home in 2023, investigators were initially told that Ryan was a violent intruder and that Christine’s husband, Brendan Banfield, a federal agent, had tried to save her. But as investigators examined digital evidence, they uncovered a different possibility: that Ryan had been lured to the home through a fake online persona and that the scene had been staged to conceal a double homicide. What happened in the 15 minutes between two 911 calls? And what does the evidence reveal about the sto

On November 30, 2018, 23-year-old Brittany Wallace Shank showed up barefoot and bleeding at a stranger's door asking for help. She said the man she was with had crashed their car and ran away. Deputies were on the way. But before they arrived, Brittany disappeared into the darkness. She has never been seen again. If you know anything about the disappearance of Brittany Wallace Shank, especially if you recognize the man in these sketches, you can contact the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Office at 269-467-9045.   Source materials for this episode cannot be listed here due to character limitations

Alberta O. Jones was breaking barriers in Louisville, Kentucky. She was the first Black woman prosecutor in the city’s history, she helped register some 6,000 Black citizens to vote, and she was a leader in the city’s civil rights movement. But on Aug. 5, 1965 –  before she could make even more changes in the highly segregated city – Alberta was found dead floating in the Ohio River. The night before, she reluctantly went out late to visit a close friend, setting off a 60-year mystery that has led to more questions than answers.  Was Alberta killed in a random robbery? Was she set up by her be

In November 2024, 15-year-old Tripp Brazeale was found hanging from a tree in the middle of the woods of Forrest City, Arkansas. His death was quickly ruled a suicide, but in the weeks and months that followed, details of the case began to emerge that led Tripp's family, friends, and a private investigator to realize things might not be as clear-cut as they were led to believe. If you or anyone you know is thinking about suicide, please be aware that emotional support can be reached by calling or texting the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988. If you want to learn more about filing public record

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 materials for this episode cannot be listed here due to character limitations. For a full list of

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 uncover the truth about what happened to Susie and bring long-awaited answers to three other grieving fami

In February 2008, six women were held hostage in a women’s clothing store in Tinley Park, Illinois.. Rhoda McFarland, Carrie Hudek Chiuso, Connie Woolfolk, Sarah Szafranski, and Jennifer Bishop were executed and the killer escaped leaving only one survivor. In Season 8 of CounterClock, host and investigative journalist Delia D’Ambra covers the Lane Bryant Murders and goes further into the case than any journalist has before. Through firsthand accounts and thousands of documents, Delia reconstructs what happened inside the store, why it may have happened, and who may have been responsible. For

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 mystery. Was it a murder-suicide? Or did the family encounter someone dangerous that day? What really ha

On Black Friday 2016, 22-year-old Christopher “Cole” Thomas was driving through rural North Carolina with two coworkers. Hours later, the coworkers approached police and said Cole had suddenly panicked, pulled over, and ran into the dark, never to be seen again. But their story later changed. Surveillance footage showed Cole was not alone. Phone data appeared to place the group at the scene of a late-night drug deal that went wrong. And somehow, the only person who disappeared was Cole.  In the years since, multiple men have been arrested, questioned, and released, but no one has been charged

Spencer Irwin was just 30 years old when he vanished one Sunday morning in July 2024. Days later, his body was found in a way that raised questions – naked, alone and quickly dismissed by authorities. But their assumptions about Spencer were wrong. As his mother began asking questions, the answers she received only raised more red flags: no autopsy, missing belongings and a timeline full of gaps no one seemed interested in filling. When toxicology results came back, they didn’t just complicate the story, they began to unravel it. Refusing to accept a conclusion that didn’t add up, Spencer’s mo

On May 4, 2007, 19-year-old Brittany McGlone did something she rarely did. Instead of going home after work, she went to her boyfriend’s house. By that afternoon, she was found dead in his bed, brutally beaten. She was naked, and her underwear was missing from the scene. In the home’s only bathroom, investigators found signs the killer may have showered before leaving. There were no signs of forced entry or robbery, only a small circle of people who knew she would be there. More than 15 years later, one man was arrested, but he was later released and walked free. Someone still knows what happe

The Melissa Casias case keeps unraveling, and the more we learn, the less anything makes sense. New details have emerged about the strange woman who showed up at Sierra's job to deliver $50 in graduation money, and the trail leads to a confusing tangle of mismatched names. Meanwhile, the family fracture has only widened, with a private investigator turning up the heat and the FBI now stepping in. Was Mark's theory about a subcontractor closer to the truth than anyone realized? Or is this just another dead end in a case that refuses to stay still? If you have any information about Melissa’s dis

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 proves she was alive walking along Highway 518 that day. But where she went next - and why - is a questio

In 1976, a 22-year-old nursing student was murdered in her Los Angeles apartment, leaving behind just one clue: a bloody fingerprint. Decades later, that print was matched—and the case was quietly marked solved. But no one ever publicly announced who did it. So we set out to find the answer… and to uncover what else he may have done.   Source materials for this episode cannot be listed here due to character limitations. For a full list of sources, please visit:  https://crimejunkiepodcast.com/murdered-melanie-howell/  Did you know you can listen to this episode ad-free? Join the Fan Club! Visi

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 terrorized his family by claiming to be the killer. More recently, a Crime Junkie episode playing throug

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 Sweetman now. If you have any information about the death of Laura Sweetman in Gilbert, Arizona, co

In December 2013, 42-year-old Laura Sweetman was found dead in the bathtub of her home in Gilbert, Arizona. Despite numerous red flags identified during early interviews, her death was ruled undetermined and the case was quietly closed. More than a decade later, our team has uncovered critical details that were overlooked, raising questions about whether the investigation was prematurely closed.  If you have any information about the death of Laura Sweetman in Gilbert, Arizona, contact us at [email protected].   Source materials for this episode cannot be listed here due to character limitat

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.   Source materials for this episode cannot be listed here due to character limitations. For a full list of sources, please visit: https

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 charged in connection with how he died. So what really happened inside that house?   You can learn more

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 County District Attorney’s Office at 713-274-5640 and mention "Lovers Lane". In honor of Andy & Che

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-sr/ Did you know you can listen to this episode ad-free? Join the Fan Club! Visit https://crimej

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 Conley to the purchase of the poison, setting off a high-stakes legal battle and creating new rifts amo

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 and unexpected decisions in the aftermath left some of her loved ones uneasy. When authorities reali

In the 1980s and early 1990s, a serial predator targeted young girls in the suburbs of Melbourne, Australia. He wore a mask and left little evidence behind. Investigators described him as calm and calculating, earning him the nickname, “Mr. Cruel.” More than three decades later, he has never been caught. But continued reporting by crime journalists and renewed hope from crime junkies have kept the case in the spotlight, fueling hope that his identity may one day be revealed.   Source materials for this episode cannot be listed here due to character limitations. For a full list of sources, plea

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?    Source materials for this episode cannot be listed here due to character limitations. For a full list of

In 1984, when Robin Altman was just 22 years old, her brother Steven was found hanging by his neck in an apparent suicide. 12 years later, tragedy struck this family again when Robin's mother Mary Ann took her own life by self-strangulation. But Robin had a nagging feeling that something wasn't right. There was one question she could not get out of her head: what if these deaths weren't suicides at all? What if her brother Steven and her mother Mary Ann were murdered? Robin embarks on a journey to find the truth. If you have any information about the death of Mary Ann Hayes, please contact No

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.   Source materials for this episode cannot be listed here due to character limitations. For a full list of sources, please visit:  https://crimejunkiepodcast.com/murdered-rachel-hansen/ Did you know you can listen to this episode ad-free? Join the Fan Club! Visit https://crimej

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?   Source materials for this episode cannot be listed here due to character limitations. For a full list of sources, please visit:  https://crimejunkiepodcast.com/murdered-jill-and-julie-hansen/ Did you know you can l

A Chicago house fire killed a firefighter’s wife and their three children. The city called it a tragic accident. But as we pulled records and spoke with those who knew the family best, the story began to unravel. This is the untold story of the Day-Stewart family fire.   Head over to our Crime Junkie YouTube channel to WATCH this episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOQTToywl1Y Source materials for this episode cannot be listed here due to character limitations. For a full list of sources, please visit:  https://crimejunkiepodcast.com/mysterious-death-of-the-day-stewart-family/ Did you kno

What began as a whirlwind romance in the midst of a murder in 1970s DC, ended in a mysterious tragedy in small-town Indiana. Separated by five months, the deaths of Bobby and his wife, Barbara Moore, tore a town and a family apart. If you know anything about the death of Bobby Moore, please reach out to the Indiana State Police Cold Case Investigations at: 1-800-453-4756 or you can reach out anonymously through Crimestoppers at crimetips.org.   Source materials for this episode cannot be listed here due to character limitations. For a full list of sources, please visit:  https://crimejunkiepod

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 visit:  https://crimejunkiepodcast.com/audio-extra-a-conversation-with-elizabeth-smart/ Did you kno

R&B radio fans in Dayton, Ohio, knew Kelly Dee Wilson as her on air name Nikki Brooks. When Wilson turned up murdered in her apartment after her show in March 2000, the community was shocked.   Source materials for this episode cannot be listed here due to character limitations. For a full list of sources, please visit:  https://thedeckpodcast.com/kelly-dee-wilson/ Did you know you can listen to this episode ad-free? Join the Fan Club! Visit https://crimejunkiepodcast.com/fanclub/ to view the current membership options and policies. Don’t miss out on all things Crime Junkie! Instagram: @crime

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 is thinking about suicide, please be aware that emotional support can be reached by calling or te

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 who, if anyone, is responsible?  If you have any information about the death of Shanquella Robinso

Before dawn on July 4, 1997, Bonnie Lee Schultz was driving home after a late night out with friends. She was never seen again. For nearly 30 years, Indianapolis investigators suspected her husband’s involvement in her disappearance, but with no sign of Bonnie or her car, the case went cold. Could detectives have overlooked an unidentified predator who targeted her?  If you have any information about Bonnie’s disappearance or her missing vehicle, contact the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department at 317-327-6160 or email us at [email protected].   Source materials for this episode can

Before dawn on July 4, 1997, Bonnie Lee Schultz was driving home after a late night out with friends. She was never seen again. For nearly 30 years, Indianapolis investigators suspected her husband’s involvement in her disappearance, but with no sign of Bonnie or her car, the case went cold. Could detectives have overlooked an unidentified predator who targeted her?  If you have any information about Bonnie’s disappearance or her missing vehicle, contact the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department at 317-327-6160 or email us at [email protected].   Head over to our Crime Junkie YouTube

In August 2008, a woman in rural Kentucky survived one of the most brutal assaults we have ever reported, but her strength that night ensured her attacker was identified and arrested. Years later, he is a free man living in the community. As we examined his past, we uncovered unsettling similarities to another case that has haunted a family for decades. Now, two families are searching for answers — and they need your help. If you know anything about the murder of Elena Sanchez Hawkins, please call the Kentucky State Police Post 4 at (270)766–5078 or email us at [email protected]. If you ar

When 20-year-old Amanda Wienckowski vanished one night in Buffalo, her mom, Leslie, refused to sit back and wait for answers. She begged police to listen and even parked outside the house where Amanda was last seen — for weeks — hoping her daughter would walk out the front door. What followed would test every ounce of a mother’s strength: a case full of contradictions, silence from the system, and a fight that would stretch on for more than a decade. This is the story of a mother who wouldn’t let the world forget her daughter — no matter how long it takes for justice.  You can track the status

In November 2024, Ashley Flowers sat down with John Ramsey at his home for a one-on-one conversation about the murder of his daughter, JonBenét Ramsey. In the year since that interview, John has met with the Boulder Police Department and appeared in multiple media outlets, pushing for additional testing in his daughter’s case. Ashley has also continued meeting with people connected to the case, and hopes to one day soon have an update to share. Following Boulder Police’s most recent update on Dec. 12, 2025, it appears more testing is planned and efforts continue to solve the nearly 30-year mys

Law enforcement Explorer programs were created to mentor teens interested in policing. But decades of weak oversight created an environment where officers could manipulate that trust. Some exploited their roles, using their authority to groom, abuse, and silence the very teens they were entrusted to guide. Resources: RAINN – Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network: 24/7 hotline and resources for survivors of sexual assault and abuse. Call 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or visitrainn.org National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC): Research, education, and tools to support prevention and survivor re

In 2021, 23-year-old Sandra Birchmore was found dead in her apartment. And what Massachusetts investigators quickly called a suicide slowly revealed itself to be something much more sinister. Because out of the woodwork came friends, family, and co-workers with stories that Sandra had told them about her life. Stories of grooming, sexual abuse, and years of misconduct at the hands of several Stoughton Police officers… which began when she was barely a teenager.  Three officers later resigned from the department. With a 2026 federal trial pending, the whole state has been left to wonder whether

For decades, police said Rowena Wilkinson Zapalac died via suicide by masturbation. But her family always believed there was more to Rowena’s death than met the eye. Could she have been the victim of a serial killer passing through Texas, or could her case be connected to the deaths of two other women in the area? If you have any information about the deaths of Rowena Wilkinson Zapalac or Melody Ann Bush, please contact the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office at (979) 968-5856 or email us at [email protected]. Click HERE to view and sign Joleta’s petition asking Fayette County to change Rowena’

When a couple from Oso, Washington, is discovered missing, it doesn’t take long for detectives to develop a prime suspect. But solving the case, finding their bodies and capturing the killer took approximately 100 days, using a combination of old-school investigative methods and modern forensic tools. Click HERE to view the footage from SnoHawk 1’s camera, courtesy of the Snohomish County Sheriff's Office.   Head over to our Crime Junkie YouTube channel to WATCH this episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ntgTjRbQpI Source materials for this episode cannot be listed here due to character

A rising Broadway star. A mysterious SOS alert. And a car left abandoned at a trailhead wrecked by Hurricane Helene. When 28-year-old Zelig Williams vanishes on October 3rd, 2024, there’s no sign of a crash, his phone, or him. Is this the result of a mental health emergency, a tragic accident or did someone lure Zelig into the woods, never intending to let him leave? If you have any information on the disappearance of Zelig Williams, you can contact the Richland County Sheriff’s Department at 803-576-3000. If you’d like to remain anonymous, you can call the Crime Stoppers of the Midlands at 8

In 1985, 27-year-old Linda Sherman vanished – just as she was making plans to leave her tumultuous marriage. For five long years, her family had no answers — until a human skull appeared beneath a restaurant window near a St. Louis, Missouri-area airport -- where her husband was a regular. Decades later, Linda’s daughter is still searching for the truth about what happened to her mother. If you have any information about the murder of Linda Sherman, please contact St. Louis Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-866-371-8477 or submit a tip online here. You can also contact the North County Police Coop

In June of 2023, a woman was brutally murdered in Floyd County, Kentucky, while attending a gathering at the home of a local dentist. The slaying rocked the small communities of eastern Kentucky as months ticked by, rumors swirled and no one was held accountable. Finally, in July 2024, three men were charged in connection to her death and the trial is right around the corner.   Head over to our Crime Junkie YouTube channel to WATCH this episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDhAPpAINgA Source materials for this episode cannot be listed here due to character limitations. For a full list of s

In 1980, the tiny town of San Miguel, California, was shaken when two kindergarten girls vanished in broad daylight from a main street. Despite a long list of local child predators and bizarre clues, the trail went cold in a matter of years. But now, nearly 5 decades later, the very detective who solved the Kristin Smart case has come out of retirement to take another look, and he’s closer than ever before to a solve. Terry’s family is currently trying to raise $10,000 for a billboard on Highway 101 and $25,000 to create a reward for information.  If you’d like to  help her out with that we’v

His friends brought him home saying he was drunk, but the truth tells a much different story.  18-year-old Christion Olson heads out for a night with friends on July 12th, 2024. But when he comes home early the next morning, the unimaginable happens. His family is left to grapple with tragedy while they search for answers. Only to be met with silence, shifting stories, and people that might be more interested in protecting themselves than sharing the truth.  Nearly everything about that night feels wrong—and maybe that’s why it seems like everyone there that night has something to hide… If yo

A frantic phone call, an abrupt departure, and then… silence. When Everett and Lydia Thompson disappear along with their two young sons, the trail leads to one man whose story keeps changing. But instead of swift action, investigators initially delay and brush off a family’s cry for answers. Potentially giving the suspect time to erase evidence – and the Thompson family themselves. Nearly thirty years later, their fate remains a chilling mystery that may have been solvable from the start. If you know anything about the disappearance of the Thompson family, call the Chicago Police Department’s