Crime Junkie

When a fire destroys the Krentel home, family and friends are devastated to learn that one member, Nanette, didn’t make it out. But despite her death clearly being a homicide, her death remains unsolved.  If you have any information about the murder of Nanette Krentel, please contact the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office at 985-898-2338 or Crimestoppers at 504-822-1111.   Source materials for th...

When 20-year-old Ashley Loring HeavyRunner goes missing on the Blackfeet Reservation in Montana, her older sister Kimberly is forced to pick up the slack of a system that’s designed to fail those it’s supposed to protect. Her investigation leads her to three people who may know what happened to her sister… but none will talk.  If you want a deeper dive into Ashley Loring HeavyRunner’s case, check...

When a young mother is reported missing, investigators quickly realize she was probably murdered. Their prime suspect is her husband, but a slew of suspicious statements and circumstantial evidence isn’t enough to put him behind bars... until a lucky discovery gives them everything they need. If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, help is available. You can contact the natio...

Elizabeth Santos’ unexpected and tragic death in 2020 left behind a million questions. Some believe it was the result of a mental health crisis, but many of her loved ones think she’s a victim of foul play, and they’ve been pushing for answers. The  NAMI HelpLine can be reached Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m., ET. Call 1-800-950-NAMI (6264), text "HelpLine" to 62640 or email at  helpline@...

When a young mother is found brutally beaten to death in 2007, investigators are able to quickly apprehend her killer. But as the years go by, he decides to open up and reveal he has a darker past than anyone could’ve ever imagined. Memphis PD is still trying to identify the other woman Michael says he murdered around December of 1993, so if you have any information about a Black woman who may hav...

Oakley Carlson was only four years old when she went missing in 2021. Investigators launched a desperate search to bring her home, but with each new piece of evidence, they learned that home may not have been the safest place for her. And the systems put in place to protect her may have been the very thing that put her in the hands of the people responsible for her disappearance. If you know anyth...

In 1981, a young boy named Adam was abducted by a stranger from a shopping plaza. It would take almost three decades to bring closure to his family but in that time Adam’s legacy would forever change the way America views and handles missing children cases. You can learn more about the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children here. Source materials for this episode cannot be listed here...

When mother-of-three QC Chadwick and her husband, Peter, don’t pick their kids up at the bus stop, their friends and neighbors immediately know something’s wrong. But, they never could have guessed the horrors that had already occurred behind closed doors… and the lengths a man would go to in order to avoid capture. To donate or to learn more about how you or someone you know can receive support a...

When 23-year-old Phoenix Coldon walks out the front door of her family home, her parents never could have guessed that she wouldn’t come back. The search for her only turned up more questions, and over 10 years later, many of those questions still remain.  If you have any information about the disappearance of Phoenix Coldon, you can call the St. Louis County Police at 636-529-8210. Or, you can su...

When Julie Kibuishi’s body is discovered in Sam Herr’s apartment, investigators immediately launch a manhunt to track Sam down. But things take an unexpected turn when a new suspect places himself front and center, and confesses to a crime so callous, it’s as if it’s a movie.    Source materials for this episode cannot be listed here due to character limitations. For a full list of sources, please...

In the late 1960s and early 1970s, multiple young women and girls go missing in the Vernon-Tolland area of Connecticut. For years, investigators have wondered if these seemingly unrelated cases might share too strong a connection to be ignored. Three, in particular —Janice Pockett, Lisa White, and Debbie Spickler—bear striking similarities to each other, and have become known as the Vernon-Tolland...

When 17-year-old Tracy Kirkpatrick is found murdered in March 1989, investigators struggle to find any evidence pointing to who killed her. Despite numerous efforts to dig up leads and strong tips through the investigation, the case has remained a mystery for nearly 40 years. If you have any information about the murder of Tracy Kirkpatrick, call the Frederick Police Department at 301-600-2102. Or...

When Theresa Allore vanishes from her college campus in Quebec, Canada, in 1978, local police dismiss her as runaway and force her family to start their own investigation that would span across 45 years. Over the decades, they piece together evidence and uncover an array of conspiracies, from a potential serial killer on the prowl to the possibility of corrupt law enforcement. You can visit Theres...

David Josiah Lawson headed off to college in Arcata, California with big dreams only to be stabbed to death at a party off-campus. But a case that seemed straightforward when it began proves to be anything but… and years later, his mom is still fighting for justice. Anyone with knowledge about the murder of David Josiah Lawson is asked to call the Arcata Police Department’s confidential tip line a...

When Christina Calayca disappeared on a camping trip in Ontario, Canada, in 2007, investigators expected to find her in a few short hours. But despite numerous search efforts, no sign of her was ever found. And 16 years later, her family is still searching for answers. If you know anything about Christina’s whereabouts, please contact them at 888-310-1122 or go online to OPP.CA and click the Conta...

When 15-year-old Sharmini Anandavel doesn’t come home from her first day at a new job, her family is immediately suspicious of one of their neighbors. But despite an overwhelming amount of circumstantial evidence, her death remains unsolved… at least, in the eyes of the law.   Source materials for this episode cannot be listed here due to character limitations. For a full list of sources, please v...

When Nichol Olsen and her two daughters are found shot in the home they shared with her boyfriend, a theory quickly emerges that lays the blame on Nichol. But to those who knew her, that’s not an option, and points to someone else as the culprit. Over three years later, the question still remains: what happened in that house on January 9, 2019?   Source materials for this episode cannot be listed...

Aaron Taylor was 36 and experiencing homelessness when he was lit on fire on Christmas Day in 2007. Police think they know who’s responsible, but a lack of physical evidence, coupled with reluctant witnesses, has kept this case open for years. But multiple people know what happened… and investigators are hoping they’ll come forward. If you have any information about the death of Aaron Taylor, plea...

Natanalie Perez was chasing her dream of being a singer when she fell victim to a violent sex-trafficking ring in Florida and disappeared in June of 2012. More than a decade later, her family and investigators from the Anti-Predator Project are still trying to find her…or find out what happened to her. If you have information about Natanalie, contact the  Anti-Predator Project hotline 24/7 at 305-...

In 1963, Ernesto Miranda was arrested for kidnapping, rape, and armed robbery. Ultimately, he gave police a confession, but only because he didn’t know he had the option not to talk to them… or to get an attorney. Miranda’s path through the justice system set a  precedent  for informing those arrested of their rights. And now the Miranda Warning is something so ingrained in us Crime Junkies that w...

There are Crime Junkies far and wide and SURPRISE! Conan O’Brien is in fact a Crime Junkie. On this special bonus episode, Ashley sits down with Conan to deep dive into what it is about true crime that has got them absolutely hooked. From the first case that caught each of their attention to the one that keeps them up at night, Ashley and Conan share it all!   Can’t get enough of these two? Listen...

When 16-year-old Phylicia Simone Barnes is found dead in a river 40 miles from where she was staying, her family suspects one man is responsible. But bringing him to justice is far more difficult than anyone could have expected. You can visit bellyscrub.com to stay up to date with everything pertaining to the release of John Butler’s upcoming podcast series,  A Confidence in the Round.   Source ma...

When 16-year-old Phylicia Simone Barnes goes missing while visiting her half-sister in Baltimore, the whole community comes together to search. But what started as a missing person's investigation that consumed the city of Baltimore quickly turns into something far more sinister.    Source materials for this episode cannot be listed here due to character limitations. For a full list of sources, pl...

For our 5-year celebration episode, we take a look back at the impact Crime Junkie has made. From funding DNA testing to solving crimes, nothing would have been possible without the support of everyone who has tuned in every week for the last 5 years!  To learn more about National Crime Junkie Day and the organizations we have supported over the years, visit www.nationaltoday.com/national-crime-ju...

When federal prosecutor Jonathan Luna was found face-down in a creek with multiple stab wounds, homicide seemed like the obvious answer. Over time, though, public officials started to pose a different theory: that he took his own life. But for those who knew Jonathan, that wasn’t an option – and the more they learned about the circumstances surrounding his death, the more they started to wonder if...