Least of These

Hey guys! I’ve been super sick so my friend, Holly, is here filling in with the case of Renae Marsden. Renae Marsden was a 20 years old when she jumped to her death at The Gap in Sydney, Australia after her boyfriend of 18 months broke up with her. After her death the truth began unraveling on who her boyfriend truly was. Listen to her tragic story now. If you or anyone you know is struggling with...

A trial, a plea deal, and a bunch of excuses. After 16-year-old Natalie Finn starved to death at the hands of her foster mother, Nicole, both Nicole and Joseph Finn were charged in her murder. Nicole took her case to trial, and the truth about what was happening behind the closed doors of  805 15th Street in De Moines was revealed through the testimony of the surviving children. What their testimo...

March 28th, 2024, marks four years since Mary Collins was brutally murdered at the hands of people she trusted. In those four years, only one of the four, Kelly Lavery, has been convicted. Lavi Pham, James Salerno, and America Diehl are still awaiting trial. Salerno and Diehl are currently free on bond. This week Mary's grandmother, Mia joins the podcast with an update. Every year from March 2...

A pet rescue, 10 reports, and a boarded window.  On October 24th of 2016, Natalie Finn was found unresponsive on her bedroom floor. The 16-year-old was taken to Blank Children’s Hospital where she was later pronounced deceased. As investigators began to piece together what happened, they found that Natalie wasn’t the only child being abused inside the Finn home.  Full investigative report: https:/...

I was supposed to be off this week but I couldn’t wait to bring y’all an update on Tony’s case.  On January 12th, 2023 Walker County Deputies were called to the home of 33-year-old Anthony “Tony” Mitchell for a welfare check. He was arrested and booked in the county jail. Two weeks later, on January 26th, 2023, he was taken to Baptist Hospital and later pronounced deceased. The doctor who treated...

An arrest, two trials, and a heartbroken father. After Cara Knott was murdered in December of 1986 police honed in on a suspect, one of their own, California Highway Patrolman, Craig Peyer. Nineteen days after the murder Peyer was arrested but it would take two trials before a jury finally rendered a verdict.  For some it was hard to believe a “good cop” could commit such a heinous crime.  In the...

An unlikely suspect, a news segment, and scratch marks. Two days after Christmas, on December 27th, 1986, 20-year-old Cara Knott was driving back to her parent’s home after spending a few days with her boyfriend. Before she left she called her parents to let them know she was on her way.  Cara never made it home. Within hours her family launched a search party and found her white VW Bug parked on...

A silent alarm, a gun store robbery, and surveillance video. On November 12th, 2013, 30-year-old Chelsea Small was working her job at Advance America Cash Advance on Telegraph Road when an unknown man walked in and shot her. In the span of a minute, the man walked in, murdered Chelsea and stole less than $250 in cash from the register. Despite the crime being captured on video surveillance, the id...

Dropped charges, opposing testimonies, and sudden passion. As the murder trial of Lisa Jones Dykes continued, Charles Beltran took the stand as a prosecution witness. Lisa Dykes testified in her own defense and her story was not only different than Beltran’s but everyone else’s too. The jury reached their verdict in under two hours but Dyke’s defense team had one more trick up their sleeve.  Spons...

A hairdresser, a relator, and the grim reaper. The trial for Lisa Jo Dykes in the murder of Marisela Botello began on December 5th, 2020. Those who knew Lisa Dykes, Nina Marano, and Charles Beltran testified before the jury about the relationship between the three and what happened after Marisela went missing.  What they had to say left the courtroom stunned. Least of These on Facebook: https://m....

An international manhunt, missing evidence, and a repossessed Cadillac. Charles Beltran, Lisa Dykes, and Nina Marano were all charged in the murder of Marisela Botello-Valadez. As the case moved to trial it was discovered that the lead detective at the Dallas Police Department failed to turn over evidence to prosecutors. As fireworks flew in the courtroom over the missing evidence, the relationshi...

A missed flight, a wannabe rapper, and a sugar mama pyramid scheme. In October of 2020, 23-year-old, Marisela Botello left her home in Seattle, Washington and traveled to Dallas, Texas to visit a friend. On her last night in Dallas, she met 31-year-old Charles Beltran. Marisela never made it back home to Seattle. Six months after she vanished her body was found in Dallas County. Initially, Charles...

Due to technical difficulties, I am unable to release a new episode. It's been a week, ya'll! But I thought I'd take this opportunity to re-release arguably the most important episode I've ever recorded. Every episode is important but, in this case, we have the chance to make a huge difference. To this day, the Judge Rotenberg Center is still using electric shock therapy on 53 auti...

A pilot, a mistress, and two searches.  In April of 2021 a 13-year old girl came forward to report horrific sexual abuse at the hands of 30-year-old Maggie Ybarra and 40-year-old Michael Hendricks. The investigation into the sexual abuse case uncovered the murder of 32-year-old Kensie Renee Aubry who had been reported missing from Kansas City, Missouri. Resources and tips for keeping your children...

A stranded car, a sleeping toddler, and a bitter divorce. On November 6th of 2011 29-year-old Julia Biryukova, strapped her two-year-old son, Sky, in the backseat of her 1998 Acura.  She was headed to Overlake Hospital. But, according to Julia, the car ran out of gas on 112th Avenue. She went for help but when she returned Sky was gone. Investigators soon learned that nothing about the toddler’s d...

It’s my last week off for Christmas and Kim with A Million Other Choices Podcast is filling in again with the stories of Jill Stuchenko, Cyntha Maas, Natasha Montgomery and Loren Leslie. We all know the names of many serial killers - but can we name the victims? One of Canada's youngest killers, Cody Legebokoff, was caught by chance and left a wake of destruction to families in his path. Every...

I’m off for Christmas but have no fear because Kim with A Million Other Choices Podcast is here with the case of Donna Jones in Ottawa, Canada.  "Why doesn't she just leave?" The mythical question regarding domestic violence we've all probably asked ourselves at some point. Donna's brutal murder highlights trauma bonding. A Million Other Choices on Apple:  https://podcasts.appl...

A knock at the door, handwritten notes, and 44 days of surveillance. In November of 2019,  34-year-old Amber Aiaz and her daughter, 13-year-old Melissa Fu vanished from their apartment in Irvine, California. Amber’s husband, Cheng claimed a Chinese couple in their 40’s knocked on the door, sprayed him in the face with a substance that rendered him unconscious for hours and abducted Amber and Melis...

A burglary, Freddy Krueger, and a surprise confession.  In September of 1993 23-year-old Richard Djerf systematically tortured and murdered four members of the Luna Family; 46-year-old Albert Luna Senior, 40-year-old Patricia Luna, 18-year-old Rochelle Luna and five-year-old Damien. Djerf intended to commit a fifth murder that night but Albert Luna Senior intervened. Richard Djerf blamed the murde...

Abuse allegations, a text message, and a dark history. In October of 2018 Heather Gardner dropped off her healthy, happy, 11-week-old baby boy, Benson Xiong off with babysitter, Marissa Tietsort.  She never could have imagined that would be the last time she would see her son alive. An investigation would uncover a pattern and history of abuse that was more disturbing than anyone knew. For resourc...

I’m off this week! Thankfully, Mama Margot from Military Murder is here with the case of Ronald Gene Simmons. Ronald Gene Simmons was a Navy Veteran and Air Force retiree who went on to commit the worst family mass murder in the history of the United States… Want more Military Murder? Subscribe on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/military-murder/id1485570562 Spotify: https://open.spoti...

A missing girl, two confessions, and a search that spanned decades. On November 27th, 1985, 12-year-old, Martha Jean Lambert was walking home from a neighbor’s house on Kerry Lynn Road. Hours later when her mother returned home, Martha Jean was nowhere to be found. Everyone told a different story and despite two confessions so many questions remain. What really happened to Martha Jean Lambert? If...

A plan, a train ride, and an unexplained death. In September of 2016, 28-year-old Marina Placensia, her boyfriend, Angelo Mantych and their children were moving from Racine, Wisconsin. The family of six boarded a train in Wisconsin and just before they arrived in Denver, Marina was found deceased in her seat. Her death was originally ruled undetermined. It took seven long years for investigators t...

A confession, a stray bullet, and a jaw dropping moment in court. After investigators arrested Michael Dixon, he confessed that he had shot Jim Whitaker. At first he claimed the shooting was accidental. But his story changed…repeatedly, each re-telling more dramatic than the last. And at his eventual trial, one witness left the courtroom stunned. Least of These on Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/...

A roommate, a 60-inch TV, and a cabin in the woods.  In July of 2023 56-year-old Jim Whitaker vanished from his home in South Bloomingville, Ohio.  The last person to see him was a man named Michael Dixon, who had been living with Jim since he had no place to go. Michael claimed he had found a note in the house and that Jim had just up and left. But the truth was more sinister than any one imagine...