Death Lies & Alibis

Most listeners have heard the headlines about Lucasville — the 1993 riot at the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility — but few have ever heard what it sounded like from the inside. In this episode we play a real radio transmission from within the prison and center the episode on George Gates, an inmate negotiator who spoke to the outside world while the riot was still unfolding. We explore the stak...

In this episode we dissect the "tunnel tapes"—real-time recordings and notes made during the Lucasville prison riot that captured conversations, accusations, and decisions as they happened. The host explains how law enforcement listened in through phone lines and the prison's narrow utility corridors, and how someone inside transcribed those exchanges line by line. We explore the dual realities he...

This episode reconstructs the April 1993 Lucasville prison uprising from the perspective of the men who were inside when control collapsed. At 3:03 p.m. on Easter Sunday, a single moment allowed a maximum security prison to be overrun. Over the next 11 days more than 400 inmates moved freely through the facility, officers were taken hostage, hostages were moved and threatened, and the state of Ohi...

April 11, 1993 — Lucasville, Ohio. What begins as a normal afternoon deteriorates into total chaos when, at 3:03 p.m., an officer is surrounded, pulled down and disarmed. Within minutes keys are taken, cell doors open, hostages are seized and control inside the prison collapses. This episode reconstructs that fateful day and the ten-day uprising that followed. We lay out the timeline of events fro...

Host Christy takes listeners deep inside the 11-day Lucasville uprising of April 1993, where a dispute over mandatory tuberculosis testing ignited a larger explosion of tension inside Ohio’s Southern Ohio Correctional Facility. This episode walks through the buildup — overcrowding, staffing shortages, a new hardline warden, entrenched racial gangs, and grievances about brutality and medical care —...

Host Christy takes listeners back to rural Logan County, Ohio, to examine the 1979 disappearance and murder of Arthur Smith. The episode reconstructs the night he walked out of Rink's department store, the ten-day search that followed, and the moment a local farmer discovered Smith's bound body in an open soybean field. We follow the timeline in detail: Arthur’s routine closing that Friday night,...

Host Christy examines the disappearance and death of Abby Lynn Butcher in rural Perry County, Ohio. This episode covers the 16-day search, the moment Abby was last seen on February 16, 2022, and the discovery of her body behind an oil well on Reading Township Road 143. Guests and sources include family members and close friends—her partner Jason Rehart and his mother Gloria, sisters January, Lita...

In this episode of Death, Lies, and Alibis, host Christy picks up where Episode One left off and follows the unraveling of Sydney’s final weeks: the hotels, garages, houses, and the names that keep surfacing. We examine timelines, the trail of suspicious fires (Drago Drive, Sherwood Avenue, Holiday Inn, Cherry Valley Lodge), and the cluster of men repeatedly connected to her last days. Topics cove...

This episode of Death, Lies, and Alibis explores the life and tragic death of Sydney Larcher Bryson, a woman whose struggles with addiction, complicated relationships, and alleged involvement with law enforcement and criminal networks left her vulnerable. Found discarded in garbage bags, Sydney’s story raises questions about confidential informant use, trafficking, and the failures of systems mean...

In Zanesville, Ohio, this episode examines the 2001 ambush murder of coach Darius “DM” Ford on Tunis Road, the suspicions that surrounded Stacey and Toby Coffey, and the family’s long search for answers. Over two decades later the case remains unsolved; the episode revisits the facts, memories, and the community’s call for anyone with information to come forward. Credits: Times Recorder 

In this episode we travel to New Straitsville, Ohio, to examine the suspicious death of Amy Jo Nelson — an apparent homicide that local authorities initially dismissed as an overdose while vital evidence was cleaned from the scene. We explore Amy’s life, her medical struggles, and the immediate failures that left her family searching for answers. The episode also looks at the opioid context, alleg...

In this episode of Death, Lies, and Alibis, host Christy explores the 2001 disappearance of Patty Atkins from the Honda plant in Marysville, Ohio. Patty, a single mother and supervisor, vanished after leaving work to meet a co-worker she was secretly seeing; she had reportedly given him large sums of money and believed they were starting a new life together. The episode reviews witness accounts, i...

This episode examines the July 2022 crash in which 17-year-old Mackenzie Shirela drove into a warehouse wall at nearly 100 mph, killing her boyfriend Dominique Russo and friend Davion Flanagan. Evidence showed the act was deliberate, and Mackenzie was later sentenced to life with parole possible after 15 years. The episode focuses on Mackenzie’s last jail phone call before her verdict, highlightin...

Christy analyzes Mackenzie Shirella’s first jail call before sentencing, breaking the conversation down piece by piece to point out deflections, minimizing, and lack of remorse. The episode highlights troubling moments where Mackenzie and her mother frame media attention as fame and avoid responsibility. The episode centers on the victims, Dominique and Davion, and examines how the caller’s words...

In this episode of Death, Lies, and Alibis, join host Christy as she delves into the unsettling mystery surrounding the disappearance of Crystal Ann Corbin. Set against the backdrop of Morgan County, Ohio—a community that hides dark secrets beneath its quaint charm—this story unveils a chilling narrative of a woman who vanished without a trace. Through an in-depth exploration of Crystal's life, re...

In this gripping episode of Death, Lies, and Alibis, host Christy delves into the haunting cold case of Margaret Cicely Durant, a young woman found tragically murdered in a frozen field near her home in Grandview Heights, Ohio, back in 1987. Margaret's case remains unsolved, shrouded in mystery and suspicion, leaving her family and community seeking answers for nearly four decades. As we explore t...

In this gripping episode of "Death, Lies, and Alibis," host Christy takes us into the heart of Zanesville, Ohio, a quaint town overshadowed by the haunting mystery of a brutal unsolved murder. Brandon Smith, a beloved 25-year-old, was tragically killed in his own home in 2009, leaving his family and community grappling with unanswered questions. Listeners are drawn into a chilling narrative as Chr...

In this gripping episode of Death, Lies, and Alibis, host Christy delves into the chilling and unresolved case of Cody Morris, a beloved community member whose life ended unexpectedly on a cold December night. Nestled in the quaint town of Cambridge, Ohio, the tranquility of the township is shattered by lingering questions and whispered theories surrounding Cody's tragic demise. Christy takes list...

Welcome to a milestone episode of "Death, Lies, and Alibis." Join host Christy as she reflects on two years of relentless pursuit of truth and justice, where every episode amplifies the voices of forgotten victims. This episode isn't only a celebration of past achievements but also a look forward to future endeavors aimed at uncovering hidden truths. Christy opens up about the personal journey of...

"Answers Among the Ashes: The Collins Case" is finally here. On March 8, 2007, the peaceful town of Roseville, Ohio, was rocked by tragedy. A fire destroyed the home of Ronnie and Connie Collins—but the flames couldn't erase the truth. Join us on Death, Lies & Alibis as we unravel the haunting details, explore unsettling questions, and dig deep into a mystery that's waited nearly two decades f...

Podcast Episode Description: The Disappearance of Jeffery Fultz   In late 2023, 74-year-old Jeffery Fultz vanished from his small-town home in Cambridge, Ohio, without a trace. Known for his quiet routines, love for westerns, and a passion for fixing anything broken, Jeffery wasn’t someone who would just walk away from his life. Yet, one day, he was gone—leaving behind everything he needed to surv...

Join us this Saturday at midnight as we delve into the perplexing disappearance of Jeffrey Fultz, an ordinary man from Cambridge, Ohio, who vanished without a trace. Imagine waking up to the realization that a loved one has disappeared, leaving no farewell or explanation, just mysteriously gone. For over a year, his family has tirelessly searched for answers, knocking on doors, reaching out, and h...

The episode delves into the intricate case surrounding Ross Zwelling and Jeremy McGilton, two men whose past is rife with violence and manipulation. Allegations suggest Ross manipulated Dan Holdcroft by providing incriminating evidence against Jeremy, revealing a dangerous plot potentially leading to the murder of Leiland Cannon. With both men now imprisoned, facing severe accusations, law enforce...

Join us in this episode of "Death, Lies, and Alibis" as we delve deep into the twisted narratives surrounding Ross Zwelling and Jeremy McGilton, two men whose lives are enveloped in crime and manipulation. Discover the intriguing details of Ross's alleged attempts to manipulate Dan Holdcroft, as old threats and new mysteries converge. Explore the murky depths of Leiland Cannon's murder, a case ove...