Crimes & Closets

Amanda was a happy, single mother of one child.  She was well-liked, and lit up the room when she walked in (we all know this is a bad sign). She got pregnant with another child after having a one night stand, which was out of character for her.  After church she went to meet up with the father of the child and is never seen again.  What happened to Amanda? Sources: https://dailyjournalonline.com/...

When two young girls, Shari Smith and Debra May Helmick, missing in rural South Carolina the police launched the largest man hunt the state has ever seen. The kidnapper continuously called the family of Shari Smith, taunting them, and eventually leading them to both of the girl's bodies. When Larry Gene Bell was finally arrested, police unsuccessfully attempted to link him to 3 other murders of yo...

Ellen Boehm may go down in history as one of the worst moms.  She struggles like many people do, but she makes some choices for her family that many, if not all moms, would never make.    Sources:  https://www.newspapers.com/clip/45652976/st-louis-post-dispatch/ https://owlcation.com/social-sciences/Ellen-Boehm Sleep, My Child, Forever by John Coston

In March 1997, Willa Jean Ferrier, Crystal Conaster, and Chris Boswell all spent the night at Willa Jean's after a fun night out. The next day, they were all found dead. Roscoe Garland testified that the murders were committed by his father, John Roscoe Garland, but dad blamed them all on his son. John Garland was ultimately convicted of the 3 murders based on circumstantial evidence, but the fami...

What would happen if you were being abused by your spouse and he just happened to be a police officer?  This is Jessica Lester's story of survival.  Jessica and Matthew started dating in high school and she got pregnant ends up with 2 young children, at a young age.  Her relationship with Matthew is far from perfect and he seems to be pretty controlling.  Nothing will prepare y...

Jody Lynn Newberry went missing after attending a small music festival in Wisconsin. This is the full, unedited phone call with Melodee, Jody Lynn Newberry’s sister. We hope to keep this case alive and want her family to have answers. To listen to the original episode, go to Season 1, Episode 12.

Blaze Bernstein was a beautiful, charismatic, and talented young college man, cooking and writing his way to success. Until he was brutally murdered, just for being who he was, a Jewish, homosexual, man, by a member of the neo-Nazi group. Sam Woodward faces life in prison for allegedly luring Blaze to meet him and then murdering him in cold blood. Blaze's family has started an organization and mov...

Helen was young woman with a bright future. She went on a trip on her own to visit and travel with her uncle for the summer. No one expected Asheville, NC to be a sinister place. Sources: https://amp.citizen-times.com/amp/3988376002 https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1936/12/12/issue.html https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1936/08/11/88687069.html?pageNumber=15 https://www.ny...

Anna Catherine Cardwell was a beautiful, college age, young lady, living in a small town {Wetumpka, Alabama}. Anna Catherine is found gunned down in what seemed to be a gruesome scene in her home. This shocked the small town, but what was even more shocking was that the person who committed this horrific violent act was in her friend circle. Join us in the closet this week for the murder of Anna C...

Todd and Stacey met at a young age and quickly found themselves with 3 children under 2 years of age.  This would be hard for many people and could cause a significant amount of stress.  Was it too much stress to cause Todd to snap and murder his children?   Sources: https://murderpedia.org/male. W/w1/willingham-cameron.htm https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/news/former-prosecutor-on-tria...

A familiar story: A young, middle class, American couple, with a beautiful home and children. Mistrust, jealousy, and entitlement take over and one of them ends up dead. The twist in this case is the consequence of the murder. Join us in the closet this week for the story of Scott and Traci Rhode.  Sources: 48 Hours Mystery: Point Blank. A Man’s Obsession With His Wife Lead to His Death? May 2008...

This story is different than any other we have covered.  Its sad when our justice system gets it wrong, but it is super sad when you ruin an 11 year old's life in the process.  Are you in agreement with the outcome? Sources: https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/metrowestdailynews/obituary.aspx?n=stacey-a-burns&pid=127322151 https://www.websleuths.com/forums/threads/nh-stacey-burns-41-wolfeboro-10-may...

In 2016, in a quiet suburban neighborhood in Wake Forest, NC, 3 Mazzella family members end up dead. The murderer ended up being a business partner, trusted friend, and neighbor that suffered from severe, untreated mental health issues. Join us in the close today for The Mazzella Murders, the deaths of Sandy, Stephanie, and Elaine Mazzella.  Sources: https://abc11.com/sandy-mazzella-jon-sander-wak...

Stacey was a devoted mother of 5 and a local elementary school nurse.  She was loved by everyone and had no enemies.  So who killed this loving mother in a small, quiet town in New Hampshire?  You be the judge.  Sources: https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/metrowestdailynews/obituary.aspx?n=stacey-a-burns&pid=127322151 https://www.websleuths.com/forums/threads/nh-stacey-burns...

When 5 bodies were found 100 miles apart, dead in Pennsylvania. A mad frenzy was on to determine the identities of these people who appeared to have died very tragically, especially the 3 young girls found in the woods of Pine Grove Furnace State Park. Join us in the closet this week as we walk through the investigation to learn their identities, history, and try to piece together the story of the...

If you want to hear a real fatal attraction story, listen to this episode as we discuss the Sheila Davalloo story.  She lived a double life with a husband and a lover. She thought getting rid of the competition would keep her side piece with her.  Then eliminating her husband was her next move.  I have strong opinions that she is a looney bin! Sources:  https://mysteryconfident...

Jeffery and Martha Freeman were successful business owners living in an upscale Nashville suburb. Mental health issues took a toll on the couple's marriage but they were trying to reconcile in April 2005, or so Jeff thought. Join us in the closet this week for the story of The Closet Killer.   Sources: http://murderpedia.org/female. F/f/freeman-martha.htm https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1253784/ http...

The Bob and Jackie Johnson took their daughters on a 2 week camping trip with their grandparents. All six people of them never returned home. What happened to this perfect looking family? Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wells_Gray_Provincial_Park_murders https://murderpedia.org/male. S/s/shearing-david.htm https://www.change.org/p/parole-board-of-canada-keep-david-ennis-aka-david-shearing-c...

Brad and Nancy Cooper lived a picture perfect life from outside their Cary, NC home. Brad was a successful, smart, IT engineer. Nancy was athletic, beautiful, fun, and was a wonderful mother to the couple's two young daughters. Nancy went for a run in the early morning of July 2008 and never returned. The events that followed are disturbing, complicated, and will leave you wondering what side you...

Join us as we talk about two Family Annihilator cases.  We welcomed Erin into the closet to discuss the Parente and Sartin families, who were murdered by someone who should love and protect them the most. Sources: The Parente Family: https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-2009-04-27-0904260098-story.html https://www.newsday.com/long-island/nassau/fight-over-5m-insurance-fund-in-parente-murders-s...

Two young people meet, have everything in common, fall in love and live happily every after. If only that was the case for Jason Allen and Lindsay Cutshall. Their lives and love story were cut short by one disturbed individual. A family friend updated a few things we mentioned in the episode: Jason actually grew up in Holland, Michigan (which is a neighboring city to Zeeland). He was my next-door...

William and Lila Young were a religious young couple living in Nova Scotia with 5 children. They had a heart to help the frail and sick while also spreading the gospel to their community, later specializing in maternity care for unwed mothers who were shunned by society. Their kind and serving hearts were quickly turned corrupt and their facility, The Ideal Maternity Home, quickly turned from a re...

Bobbie Jo and Zeb Stinnett were a happily married couple, expecting their first child.  They had their own business and they worked hard to better their lives and become financially independent.  Lisa Montgomery came along and ripped the happiness right out of them. Sources: https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Murder_of_Bobbie_Jo_Stinnett#/google_vignette https://www.cnn.com/2004/LAW/12/21/stole...

Brook Baker was a small town girl with big dreams. She wanted to be an investigative journalist and wasnt afraid to dig deep and expose truth. Until the day she was found brutally murdered in her off campus apartment in 1997. Despite DNA evidence, her murder remained unsolved until almost 2 years later when another college student, Erika Norman, was also murdered in a very similar way. The two gir...

Mark and Jennair Gerardot seemed to have it all, good marriage, good careers, a lovely house and dogs. Trouble is brewing for this perfect couple and it all ends in tragedy. Sources: Book- Irreparable by Mark Gerardot https://www.inquirer.com/news/mark-gerardot-jennair-meredith-chapman-murder-suicide-love-triangle-radnor-20201107.html https://heavy.com/news/2019/09/mark-gerardot-now-today/ https:/...