Lesbian Detectives

In 1978, 13-year-old Scott and 8-year-old Amy Fandel disappeared from their remote Alaska cabin after being left alone for the night; an unfinished pot of macaroni and a quiet house were the only immediate clues. Searches, family tensions, and competing theories followed, but no definitive evidence ever emerged. Decades later, the case remains unsolved, and the family continues to seek answers. Ca...

In this episode, hosts Sierra and Elizabeth investigate the 1995 disappearance of 19‑year‑old Donald “Donnie” Izzett Jr., tracing his terrified Mother’s Day call, a turbulent relationship with a man named Shane, a 2019 confession from a former friend, and later evidence at a Mississippi burn site. The episode explores the family’s decades‑long search for answers, the civil suit against Shane, and...

Hosts Sierra and Elizabeth examine the 2005 disappearance and murder of 19-year-old  Rashawn Brazell, who vanished after leaving his Brooklyn apartment on Valentine’s Day and whose dismembered remains were later found near subway tracks. The episode follows the investigation, forensic leads, a suspect's arrest, and the eventual dismissal of charges. Despite a renewed probe and an arrest years late...

In this episode of Lesbian Detectives, Sierra and Elizabeth examine the 2021 unsolved murder of Katherine "Katie" Janness and her dog Bowie in Atlanta's Piedmont Park. They cover Katie's life and community, the disturbing details found at the scene — including a carved message — the limited eyewitness footage, investigative response, and the lingering questions and theories surrounding a case that...

Hosts Sierra and Elizabeth examine the 1998 Boston murder of Rita Hester, a transgender woman whose violent, unsolved death reverberated through the LGBTQ+ community. The episode recounts Rita's life, the crime scene and investigation, media misgendering, and how her death led to the Remembering Our Dead project and the first Transgender Day of Remembrance. The hosts discuss theories, community im...

In 1996, 15-year-old Jack Morgan vanished from his San Diego home and was never seen again. In the aftermath, his photos disappeared, his belongings were discarded, and silence surrounded his name. In this episode, we explore his disappearance, the troubling events that followed, and the theory shared by family members that Jack may have been a gay teen navigating conflict in the 1990s—adding anot...

On a quiet spring night in 1989, nurse Cindy James disappeared from Richmond, British Columbia after years of reported stalking, harassment, and strange attacks. Her body was found two weeks later, drugged, bound, and with unanswered questions about who — if anyone — was responsible. The episode examines Cindy's long history of threats and mysterious incidents, the divided investigations over whet...

In this episode of Lesbian Detectives, hosts Sierra and Elizabeth examine the 1987 disappearance and confirmed homicide of Cam Lyman, a transgender man who lived in isolation with his dogs. They trace Cam's transition, the rise of George O'Neill as his caretaker who controlled his finances, the decade-long mystery, and the 1997 discovery of Cam's remains in a septic tank. The hosts discuss theorie...

In this episode of Lesbian Detectives, Sierra and Elizabeth investigate the 1983 disappearance of 4-year-old Nyleen Kay  Marshall from a Montana picnic, the large-scale search that followed, and the disturbing anonymous letters and calls that suggested she may have been taken and abused. They cover reported sightings, a suspect’s false confession, the suspicious death of Nyleen’s mother Nancy whil...

This episode examines the 1996 unsolved murder of 23-year-old Jodi LeCornu — shot in a snowy parking lot after a mysterious late-night encounter with a man in a white BMW. We trace Jodi’s life, the evidence and witness accounts, her twin sister Jenny’s decades-long fight for answers, and discuss theories about what might have happened that night.   Case Suggestion: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/...

In this episode, Sierra and Elizabeth investigate the unsolved June 1988 murders of Loretta Lynn and Frances O'Donnell—young mothers attacked in their homes while their children survived. The hosts review witness accounts, DNA developments, and theories linking the cases. Listeners are invited to weigh in, share tips, and follow the hosts as they explore possible connections, forensic advances, an...

This episode examines the 1988 disappearance and death of 12-year-old Sara Kay Keesling, in Riverside, California, the failure to properly investigate her death at the time, and the decades-long fight by family and community to get answers. The hosts recount the discovery of Sara’s body, the initial "undetermined" ruling, the 2023 cold-case reclassification as a homicide, and the main theories — i...

In this episode of Lesbian Detectives, hosts Sierra and Elizabeth recount the 1974 disappearance and murder of 17‑year‑old Laura Ann Aime , explore evidence tying the crime to Ted Bundy, and explain how modern DNA forensics finally confirmed the suspect decades later. The hosts share Laura’s background, the details of her last night, the investigation’s challenges, and their personal reactions whi...

On this episode of Lesbian Detective… She came home to be closer to the people she loved. At just 18 years old, Brittany Phillips was starting over—back in Tulsa, back near her family, and focused on building a future in the medical field. Everything about her life seemed normal. Safe. Familiar. Until one night, it wasn’t. After a routine evening—dropping off a friend and speaking with her mother—...

In this episode, Sierra and Elizabeth investigate the 2017 disappearance and murder of 21-year-old Candice Taylor in Columbus, Ohio, focusing on the chilling discovery of severed legs and months of messages sent to her mother by someone impersonating Candice. They outline the timeline, the mother's doubts and ongoing search for answers, the limited details released by police, and why the case rema...

On this episode of Lesbian Detectives, Sierra and Elizabeth examine the 2004 unsolved murder of Lena Wheless in High Point — a brutal killing on Christmas Eve with no arrest and lingering questions about motive and evidence. The hosts review the case details, discuss possible theories and suspects, and urge anyone with information to contact the authorities.

In May 1999, young parents Candice  Kyser and David Keller were found shot to death inside their home in Fort Mitchell, Alabama. Just hours earlier, they had spent Mother’s Day weekend with family before returning home with their toddler daughter. By morning, both were gone. Their child was still inside the home—alive. More than two decades later, the case remains unsolved. No witnesses. No clear...

This episode examines the 1991 unsolved murder of 18-year-old Nicole Molly Aguilera in Phoenix, who was found brutally stabbed while her infant daughter slept nearby. Hosts Sierra and Elizabeth recount the crime scene details, the impact on Nicole’s daughters, and the theories they explore about who might have been responsible. Decades later the case remains open; the podcast urges anyone with inf...

This episode of Lesbian Detectives tells the story of Josiah Brisco, a young man shot at his front door in June 2020, and his mother, Dawn Jackson’s unrelenting fight for answers and justice. The hosts explore the timeline, witness accounts, alleged police mishandling of the scene and investigation, and the community questions about who knew Josiah and why the case stalled. Listeners are asked to...

In this episode of Lesbian Detectives, Sierra and Elizabeth investigate the 1984 unsolved murder of Vanessa Renee Brown — a 23-year-old mother found brutally killed in an abandoned lot, with the words "Good Rape" carved into her back. They examine her life, last known movements, the cab driver she was set to testify against, and the decades of corruption in Philadelphia’s homicide unit that may ha...

On Valentine’s Day 1982 a teenage body was found along I‑40 in northern Arizona and given the placeholder name “Valentine Sally.” Witnesses recall her last being seen at a nearby truck stop with an older man in a black cowboy hat with a peacock feather; a half‑dissolved aspirin stuck in a tooth became one of the few lasting clues. Decades later genetic genealogy uncovered her real identity as 17‑y...

In this episode, hosts Sierra and Elizabeth revisit the case of Jane Doe No. 40 — later identified as Judy Shin Gifford — a teenager whose body was found buried at Lake Merced in 1976. We cover her background, the discovery, and the decades-long search that finally restored her name. The hosts discuss family dynamics, possible theories, and the unanswered questions that still surround Judy's unsol...

In this episode, Sierra and Elizabeth examine the unsolved 1993 murder of Renata May Bateman, a mother whose body was found in the Scottsdale desert. Her daughter pushes for answers as missing evidence, unexplained phone calls, and three men connected to the case raise troubling questions about police handling and possible cover-up. Listen as the hosts share Renata’s life story, the family’s fight...

This episode examines the tragic case of Erica Parsons, a child who was isolated, abused, and ultimately murdered by her adoptive family. Hosts Sierra and Elizabeth recount Erica's life, the years of deception, the investigation, and the legal aftermath, stressing failures in the systems meant to protect vulnerable children. They reflect on the emotional impact, discuss accountability, and urge li...

Hosts Sierra and Elizabeth examine the chilling 1956 disappearance and later discovery of sisters Barbara and Patricia Grimes, who vanished after seeing an Elvis Presley movie and whose bodies were found weeks later along German Church Road. The episode outlines the initial investigation, conflicting timelines, key suspects (including a mysterious man who claimed psychic knowledge), botched police...