Murder Unscripted

In this episode, we revisit the 1987 Colorado Springs murder of 20-year-old Army Specialist Darlene “Krash” Krashoc, a Fort Carson soldier whose case went cold for decades - until DNA technology brought a breakthrough and a conviction more than 30 years later. We unpack the timeline, the forensics, and the investigation that ultimately identified Michael Whyte, who was later sentenced to life in p...

A successful real estate agent showing a home in Arkansas—what should have been a routine appointment turned into a nightmare. When Beverly Carter never returned, a frantic search began… and what investigators uncovered was a chilling plot of greed and deception that shocked the community. Join Ed & Melissa every Tuesday for their deep dives into the crimes that horrify and haunt us.

Ed and Melissa sit down with Rob Betnar, the Pennsylvania State Police investigator who cracked the 1985 murder of 13-year-old David Wellington Reed in Schuylkill Haven, Pennsylvania. Drawing from the original police files - not rumors - Rob walks us through how a long-cold disappearance became a homicide case and, ultimately, a solved mystery. Ed previously produced this case for ID’s Nightmare N...

In this MU Mini, Ed dives into the shocking murder of Kay Mortensen, a retired BYU professor whose life was cut short in his quiet Payson, Utah home in 2009. What began as a brutal and baffling crime that placed suspicion on his own family would unravel into a chilling story of greed, betrayal, and a deadly robbery gone wrong. Join us as we uncover the twists and turns behind this tragic case.

To skip the banter, jump to 10:25 In August of 1985, a beloved 13-year-old paperboy disappears without a trace in tiny Schuylkill Haven, PA. The next day, his bicycle is found in the weeds by some railroad tracks...4 months later, his bones on a remote hillside. Rumors swirl for decades, leaving a heartbroken family with more questions than answers. That is until 23 years later when a dedicated co...

In January 2012, the quiet town of Mountain City, Tennessee, was shaken by the brutal murders of Billy Payne and his fiancé, Billie Jean Hayworth, who was found holding their infant son—alive but covered in her blood. What seemed like an unfathomable act of violence soon unraveled into a chilling story of obsession, jealousy, and a toxic web of online drama. This case would expose how a feud born...

To skip the banter, jump to 6:49 On a steamy July night in 1989, 18-year-old Shannon Siders slipped into a friend’s car and vanished into the dark woods outside Newaygo, Michigan. Three months later a hunter found her beaten remains in the “Hole-in-the-Woods” clearing, launching one of the state’s most haunting mysteries. A cold-case task force exhumed Shannon’s body in 2012, pieced together long-...

In this week's MU Mini, we harken back to July's block, GIRL POWER, to spotlight Janet Monge, the controversial anthropologist at the University of Pennsylvania. From her role in the aftermath of the MOVE bombings 💥, to the chilling mystery of Duffy’s Cut ☠️, and her work identifying America’s “first serial killer” H.H. Holmes 🏰. 💬 Question of the week: Should scientists ever cross ethical line...

To skip the banter, jump to 8:12 In this episode of Murder Unscripted, Melissa unpacks the haunting disappearance and murder of 18-year-old Mandy Stavik along the Nooksack River trail in tiny Acme, Washington. While everyone in town had their suspicions about who was responsible, folks kept their secrets to themselves. Three decades later, a discarded soda can, a determined cold-case team, and adv...

In 1969, 15-year-old John McCabe was found bound and strangled in a vacant lot—his murder unsolved for over 40 years. When one man finally broke the silence, he unraveled a deadly pact of teenage jealousy, secrets, and a family’s relentless fight for justice.

In this gripping installment of Murder Unscripted, Ed and Melissa sit down with survivor‑advocate Lily Rose Lee - known to the world as Michelle Knight🌹 Abducted in 2002 and imprisoned for 11 unimaginable years inside Ariel Castro’s “house of horrors,” With laughter and raw honesty, Lily shows that hope can bloom even in the darkest corners. If her story moves you, please like 👍, share 🔁, and s...

Three captives. One locked house. A decade of hidden terror ends in a single breathtaking dash for freedom. In our gripping conclusion to the “Miracle in Cleveland,” we trace the years Michelle Knight, Amanda Berry, and Gina DeJesus spent behind Ariel Castro’s boarded‑up doors, and the split‑second decision that saved their lives. ❤️ Support the show 👍 Like, 💬 comment, & 🔗 share to amplify...

In this episode, we revisit the tragic 1992 murder of Rachel Nickell—killed in broad daylight on Wimbledon Common—and the deeply flawed investigation that followed. But at the heart of this story is forensic scientist Angela Gallop, whose sharp eye and groundbreaking work would help unravel the truth years later.

One ordinary afternoon in Cleveland, a desperate mom embarked on a journey to regain custody of her son. She vanished without a trace. Within a year, two more teenage girls would disappear along the same streets, held captive behind the same locked door. Before the world hailed a “Miracle in Cleveland,” the nightmare began here. In Part 1, we trace how Michelle Knight’s fight for her son led her s...

One ordinary afternoon in Cleveland, a desperate mom embarked on a journey to regain custody of her son. She vanished without a trace. Within a year, two more teenage girls would disappear along the same streets, held captive behind the same locked door. Before the world hailed a “Miracle in Cleveland,” the nightmare began here. In Part 1, we trace how Michelle Knight’s fight for her son led her s...

MU Mini: Kelly Siegler – Badass Justice Warrior Today’s MU Mini dives into the fierce world of prosecutor Kelly Siegler — the high-heeled hero behind Cold Justice . With over 200 trials and a no-BS attitude, she’s a force in and out of the courtroom. Part of our July Girl Power block — celebrating women who bring the heat to true crime.

To skip the banter, jump to 6:30 In week 3 of our block entitled GIRL POWER, we explore the tragic murders of Jessica Wells and Holly Chapman, as well as the work performed, behind-the-scenes, by bada$$ forensic ecologist, botanist and palynologist Patricia Wilshire! Ian Huntley’s shocking crimes against 10-year-olds Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman gripped the UK in 2002, but the seeds of this tra...

The Mysterious Death of Federica Mangiapelo On Halloween night 2012, 16-year-old Federica Mangiapelo was found dead on the shore of Lake Bracciano, just outside of Rome, Italy. At first, it looked like a tragic accident — but things didn’t add up. In this Mu Mini, we look at what really happened that night, the investigation that followed, and the troubling details that slowly came to light. Subsc...

Welcome to July, where GIRL POWER reigns supreme. We kick off this month's new block with the story of two evening bike rides along a popular Phoenix canal that ended in horror. 22-year-old Angela Brosso was found decapitated in November 1992, and 17-year-old Melanie Bernas was pulled from the water ten months later. For more than two decades the “Phoenix Canal Killings” froze the city in fear whi...

🔍 50 Years. Zero Answers. In 1972, 16-year-old Jeannette DePalma vanished from suburban Springfield, New Jersey. Six weeks later, a local family's dog trotted home with a decomposed forearm, leading police to a jagged cliff locals call “The Devil’s Teeth.” What they found ignited half a century of rumors...witchcraft rings, LSD parties gone wrong, and even a possible confession from notorious Tor...

In this compelling episode, Ed and Melissa welcome Det. Kurt Mehl of the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office Cold Case Unit for a candid conversation about his career, the wildest cases he's worked, and his time spent hunting the monsters behind the 2001 murder of 19-year-old Punta Gorda, FL resident, Tara Sidarovich. 🎙️ Don’t miss this insightful conversation with a man who’s seen the worst of huma...

In 1992, 19-year-old college student Diana Vicari vanished after a night out in Tucson, Arizona. Days later, a gruesome discovery shocked the community—her severed arms were found in a dumpster. Her body has never been recovered, and her killer remains free. Join Melissa, as she unravels the twists of a case once thought solved, only to be overturned, leaving more questions than answers. Who kille...

To skip the chatter, jump to 6:00 In October 2001, vibrant 19-year-old Tara Sidarovich was waiting at her family's Punta Gorda, Florida home for a septic company to arrive for a service call. She was never seen alive again. When Tara’s skeletal remains were found 9 months later in a remote wooded area, the community was shattered, and the hunt for her killers began. What followed was a grueling in...

In today's MU Mini, we head to Skidmore, Missouri, a town haunted by more than just folklore, to highlight the 2001 disappearance of 20-year-old Branson Perry. Branson vanished from his own yard without a trace, leaving behind his car, his wallet, and a town full of questions. 🕵️‍♂️ Despite nationwide coverage, no one has ever been charged in Branson’s case. Was he taken? Did he run? Or is Skidmor...

MU unravels the brutal 1972 stabbing of 19-year-old Nancy Anderson in her Waikīkī apartment, and the stunning DNA breakthrough that finally exposed her killer half a century later. 🎙️ Whether you’re a seasoned sleuth or new to true crime, this deep dive dissects every twist, motive, and forensic feat that brought closure to one of the Aloha State’s darkest mysteries. To skip the banter, jump to 5:...