Minority Crimes

One of the hosts, Stewanna Dasari shares a personal story about the anniversary of her brother's murder and how it has shaped her advocacy for victims. She discusses the stereotypes and lack of support faced by marginalized communities in the criminal justice system. She recounts a disturbing interaction with a dismissive prosecutor and emphasizes the importance of using her position and voice...

In this episode of Minority Crimes, host Stewanna Dasari continues the coverage in this Bonus episode of the Jeffrey Lamar Williams case, also known as Young Thug. The special guest for this episode is Judge Kimberly McTorry, who shares her experience as a Judge and discusses the importance of impartiality and recusal. The conversation focuses on the concept of ex parte communication and its impli...

Johna and Stewanna continue discussing the case of Dennis Richardson. Richardson sexually assaulted a 13-year-old girl in 2000. The hosts talk about the trial preparation, including the defense's attempts to attack the DNA evidence. They also discuss the challenges of working with witnesses whose memories have degraded over time and the importance of building rapport with them. The hosts empha...

Johna and Stewanna discuss one of the sex assault cases they tried, that happened 17 years before trial. They discuss the challenges and processes involved in handling such an old case, the importance of building rapport with the victim(s), and the importance of bringing a jury back in time to understand the norms of those times. They also discuss the backlog of untested kits in various jurisdicti...

Lauren Cho, a Korean American woman, disappeared after an argument with her ex-boyfriend in Bombay Beach, California. She had moved to the area to pursue her dream of opening a food truck. Despite her plans and thriving in the community, she vanished without a trace. Law enforcement initially treated her case as a voluntary disappearance, but her family and friends believe foul play was involved....

In this episode, Stewanna and Johna discuss the case of Sofia Lucerno Juarez, a four-year-old girl who went missing in 2003. Despite extensive search efforts and the issuance of the first Amber Alert in Washington state, Sofia's disappearance remains unsolved. The hosts explore the criteria for issuing an Amber Alert and the role of law enforcement and the community in searching for missing ch...

Johna & Stewanna continue their discussion about the Georgia Bureau of Investigation's (GBI) investigation into the death of Tamla Horsford. The GBI was called in two years after the incident due to media outcry. The GBI report, which was 265 pages long, revealed that the investigation was delayed and crucial evidence was not properly collected or preserved. The conversation also explores...

Johna and Stewanna continue their discussion on the evidence in the Tamla Horsford's case. The initial investigation concluded it was an accident, but new evidence suggests it may have been a homicide. The lack of care and attention from the friends at the party, as well as the tunnel vision of the responding officers, raises questions about the thoroughness of the investigation. The 911 call...

In this bonus episode of Minority Crimes, Stewanna Dasari and Jonna Stallings discuss the Young Thug trial, a high-profile case involving 27 defendants and 56 counts of violations of Georgia's Racketeering, Influence, and Corrupt Organization Act. They explain the origins of the RICO Act and how it is used to prosecute organized crime. The hosts also discuss the use of lyrics in rap music as e...

Tamla Horsford, an African American woman, attended a girls' night slumber party with a group of white moms in Cummings, Georgia. The evening ended tragically with Tamla's death, and the details surrounding her death and the investigation into the case are questionable. The county where the incident occurred, Forsyth County, has a history of racial tension and a low percentage of black res...

In this episode of Minority Crimes, the hosts discuss the case of Jennifer Kirk, a case of domestic violence ending in allegedly suicide in Kotzebue, Alaska. The police closed Jennifer's case as a suicide within one day, even before the autopsy report came back. The hosts highlight the high rates of domestic violence and sexual assault in Alaska and the lack of attention given to these crimes....

Sequoia Cooper, a transgender woman, went missing in Columbus, Ohio in August 2021. Her family and friends describe her as ambitious and outgoing. The case initially did not receive the same attention as other missing persons cases, leading to concerns about the seriousness of the investigation. The FBI later became involved in the case, providing additional resources and expertise. Sequoia's...

In this episode, Stewanna Dasari and Johna Stallings discuss the case of Kiara Coles, a young woman who went missing in Chicago in October 2018. Theydiscuss the alarming trend of targeted violence against women in Chicago. The hosts provide a timeline of Kiara's disappearance, including her last known activities and the surveillance footage of Kiara with a person of interest. They discuss the...

Lakota Renville, an indigenous woman, was brutally murdered in 2005 after being lured away from her family to engage in what some believe to be sex trafficking. The investigation into her murder has been lacking, with little action taken by law enforcement and prosecutors. The lack of attention and resources dedicated to cases involving indigenous women is a concerning issue. The presence of DNA e...

Lauren Smith-Fields, a vibrant 23-year-old African American woman, was found dead in her apartment after a Bumble date with a 37-year-old white male named Matt LaFontaine. The police failed to notify her family and did not conduct a thorough investigation. LaFontaine provided what some believe to be inconsistent statements about the events leading up to her death. The police did not collect import...

In this episode Stewanna Dasari and Jonna Stallings discuss the case of Rena Gallardo, a Hispanic woman who was found dead during severe Feb 2021 winter storms in San Antonio, Texas. Despite initial assumptions that she died of hypothermia, there was little investigation into her death. The officers did not interview family members or gather evidence at the crime scene. The surveillance footage wa...

In this episode, the hosts introduce themselves and discuss their personal backgrounds. They share their motivations for starting the podcast and their experiences as prosecutors. They also highlight the importance of giving a voice to marginalized individuals and seeking justice for victims of crimes. The hosts discuss their work ethic, passion for helping others, and the role of creativity in th...

Minority Crimes is a true crime podcast that focuses on crimes against minority victims that are often overlooked. The hosts, Johna Stallings and Stewanna Dasari, are experienced prosecutors who have seen the lack of attention and resources given to these cases. Through the podcast, they aim to raise awareness, educate listeners on the legal processes, and provide a platform for families seeking c...