Cup of Coffee and Crime

She was young, bright, and full of promise. Martine Vik Magnussen had left her home in Norway to study in London, chasing her dreams in one of the world’s most vibrant cities. But after a night out celebrating with friends, Martine vanished—only to be found days later, buried beneath rubble in the basement of a luxury apartment building. What followed was a disturbing discovery, a high-profile sus...

Today's bitesize episode dives into two heartbreaking cases involving young boys — both of whom had their childhoods stolen in drastically different ways. 13-year-old Olly Stephens was killed for no other reason than standing up for what he believed in — lured by someone who claimed to love him, and left to die. 11-year-old Jordan Brown was convicted of murdering his stepmother and spent nine year...

Our Facebook Community Members spoke, and the response was an overwhelming yes! During our season hiatus, I’ll be periodically bringing you bonus bitesize episodes—stories originally shared on my TikTok account before this podcast grew.  Today's bitesize episode features two tragic cases, both involving women who were simply seeking love. Alice Ruggles began a relationship with an Army soldie...

In the final episode of Season 4, join me as I discuss the case of 47-year-old single mother Joanne Witt, who was found murdered in her El Dorado Hills, California, home. As investigators searched for her killer, the case took an unexpected turn. A brutal crime against a woman with no known enemies soon unraveled into a story of secrets, deception, and a forbidden romance with deadly consequences....

A devoted father or a calculated killer? On a sweltering June morning in Georgia, 22-month-old Cooper Harris was strapped into his car seat as his father, Justin Ross Harris, drove him to daycare—only Cooper never made it there. Left in the blistering heat for seven agonizing hours, the toddler’s tragic death seemed, at first, like a horrific accident. But as investigators dug deeper, troubling de...

As a dedicated firefighter, 51-year-old Robbie Doerr had built a life centered around service and family. To those who knew him, he was loyal, hardworking, and devoted to his wife, Becky. But on a cool February night in 2019, Robbie was shot dead outside his home in Evansville, Indiana—a crime that seemed senseless at first. Was this a random attack, or something more personal? As investigators se...

Mary Lynn Witherspoon was a beloved teacher in Charleston, South Carolina—graceful, kind, and dedicated to her students. But behind her poised exterior was a growing fear she couldn’t escape. For over 20 years, she was the target of an obsessive stalker who violated her privacy in chilling ways, leaving her feeling unsafe in the very place she should have been most secure—her own home.  When,...

Clare Bernal was a 22 year old British woman with her whole life ahead of her. She was ambitious, kind-hearted, and building a career she loved.. But what began as a brief romance with a co-worker soon turned into a chilling ordeal of obsession and fear. When Clare ended the relationship, she thought it was over. But her ex-boyfriend refused to let go, stalking her relentlessly and making terrifyi...

Celeste Manno was a 23-year-old Australian woman—a bright, compassionate young woman with her whole future ahead of her. She had a loving family, a promising career, and a kind heart that made a lasting impact on everyone she met. However, to one fleeting ex-colleague, a routine encounter with Celeste spiraled into a dangerous obsession, turning her promising future into a terrifying nightmare whe...

Melissa Lamesch was just days away from welcoming her first child when tragedy struck. The 27-year-old EMT, known for her compassion and dedication to helping others, was found dead in her Illinois home following a fire. At first, the blaze seemed to be a tragic accident, but as investigators delved deeper, a chilling truth began to emerge. What started as a mysterious fire unraveled into a shocki...

Steven Clark was 23 years old when he vanished without a trace during a Mother/Son walk along the beach on a chilly December afternoon in 1992. He was funny, intelligent, and full of quiet determination—a young man who had overcome so much after a life-changing childhood accident. What began as a typical seaside outing would become one of England’s most perplexing missing persons cases. Decades la...

Jill Bluestone was a loving mother raising her 4 children alongside her husband in Gravesend, Kent, England, where their family life seemed picture-perfect. But behind closed doors, tensions simmered, and the cracks in their marriage began to show. On a tragic evening in August 2001, an act of unimaginable violence shattered their family forever, leaving a community reeling with grief and unanswer...

29 year old Ryan Poston was a successful young attorney with a bright future ahead of him, but behind the scenes, his personal life was unraveling. On a quiet October night in 2012, a volatile relationship would lead to an unforgettable night of chaos and tragedy, leaving behind a trail of shocking revelations and unsettling questions. Join me as we delve into a case that highlights the dark dynam...

Kyron Horman was a bright and curious 7-year-old with a love for science and an infectious smile. On the morning of June 4, 2010, he arrived at school, excited to showcase his science project at the school fair. But by the end of the day, Kyron had vanished without a trace, leaving behind a trail of unanswered questions and a community in shock. What happened to Kyron after he walked into Skyline...

When 41 year old mother and Social Worker, Lisa Knoefel, opened her home and heart to foster daughter Sabrina Zunich, she hoped to provide a safe haven for a teenager in need. But behind the picture-perfect suburban life in Willoughby Hills, Ohio, dark secrets were festering. In the early hours of a November morning, tragedy struck, leaving her family and community reeling. What led to the violent...

Emma Walker was a bright, ambitious high school cheerleader with her whole life ahead of her. Riley Gaul was the college freshman who couldn't let her go. Their relationship began as young love but spiraled into a dangerous obsession. When Emma decided to end things, Riley's desperation took a dark and fatal turn. Join me as I unravel the heartbreaking story of a young life cut short, a community...

On a bright January morning in Melbourne Australia, four-year-old Darcy Freeman was on her way to her first day of school—a moment filled with the excitement and hope of new beginnings. But by the end of that day, Darcy’s name would be etched into Australia’s collective memory for the most heartbreaking of reasons. What unfolded on the West Gate Bridge that day would devastate a family and leave a...

Evelyn Hernandez was a young mother balancing work, dreams, and the imminent arrival of her second child. But on a spring day in 2002, Evelyn and her five-year-old son, Alex, disappeared from their San Francisco neighborhood without a trace. Months later, a grim discovery in the San Francisco Bay provided a chilling piece of the puzzle. As investigators delved into Evelyn's life, questions swirled...

Twelve-year-old Tia Sharp was a happy, adventurous girl visiting her grandmother’s home, a place that should have offered safety and comfort. But when Tia vanished without a trace, her family’s worst nightmare began. The search for Tia would captivate the nation, with friends, neighbours, and even the prime suspect pleading for her safe return. A week later, a harrowing discovery would expose a be...

When 15-year-old Paige Ann Doherty left her Clydebank home for her part-time job, no one could have imagined the horror that would soon follow. A short walk to a local deli would be her last, leading to a brutal encounter that sent shockwaves through the community. As police searched for answers, a dark truth unraveled, revealing a senseless act that left a family shattered and a town reeling. Joi...

A young father with a promising future, brutally murdered. A second murder just weeks later, sparking a high-speed chase and a manhunt across California. In the shadow of those events lay a web of connection, suspicion, and unanswered questions. Was this a series of tragic coincidences, or was there something far darker at play? Join me as we delve into the chilling details and complex relationshi...

An aspiring model with big dreams. A quiet Colorado Springs neighbourhood. In October 2012, 19-year-old Kara Nichols vanished without a trace, leaving behind questions that would haunt her family and investigators for years. As leads dried up, a dark undercurrent of her life began to surface, complicating the search for answers. Who was Kara, and what secrets lay behind her sudden disappearance?...

A self-proclaimed prophet. A family cloaked in secrecy. In 2004, police uncovered a horror that would send shockwaves through a quiet Fresno neighbourhood—nine bodies, all related, all brutally murdered. As investigators peeled back the layers, they discovered a chilling world of control, manipulation, and unthinkable abuse at the hands of Marcus Wesson. What drove this man to such darkness? And h...

In the final episode of Season 3, I delve into two young lives full of promise, a New Year's Eve celebration in the peaceful Marlborough Sounds, and a disappearance that has sparked debate for decades. Ben Smart and Olivia Hope's night should have ended without hiccup, until they made a decision to board a stranger's yacht and become the subject of one of New Zealand's most contested criminal case...

In February 2023, the peaceful town of Quincy, Illinois, was shattered by the shocking murder of Becky Bliefnick, a devoted mother of three. Found in her own home, the brutal nature of the crime left investigators scrambling for answers. As they delved into her life, a seemingly harmless comment made during a popular TV game show began to take on new significance, hinting at a possible motive. But...