MURDERISH

In this episode of Serial Streamers, Jami takes listeners on a journey through The Way Down: God, Greed, and the Cult of Gwen Shamblin, a docuseries highlighting the rise and fall of Gwen Shamblin Lara's religious weight-loss regimen. Gwen Shamblin rose to fame as a weight-loss champion but she also happened to be a controversial religious leader. Listen as Jami shares her take on the cult leader...

Late in the evening on Friday, January 8, 1993, the employees in one particular restaurant in Palatine Chicago didn’t know at the time that they would not be going home that night. Hours after these workers began their closing routine, all seven of their bodies would be discovered inside of Brown’s Chicken, a popular restaurant chain. Upon entering the bloody scene, officer Ron Conley dispatched b...

On a Summer day in 1997, Lance Butler and a friend drove into the Rockies west of Denver. The pair pulled over to dip their feet into the stream below. A glance toward the water’s edge revealed a horrific sight. There, wedged between two rocks, was the lifeless body of a female dressed only in blue jeans. It was 14-year-old, Brandy DuVall, who’d been reported missing by her mother the day prior. H...

Join Melissa Moore and myself, two crime survivors, as we lift the veil on lurid tales of lady liars and killers who hid their dark intentions behind a veneer of charm and normalcy. On Lipstick & Lies, Melissa and I explore a genre once dominated by the whispered tales of 'good ol’ boys’, but sometimes, the truth lies behind lipstick. If you’re intrigued by women who’ve dabbled in the good ol’ boy...

In this episode of Serial Streamers, Jami walks listeners through Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets, a docuseries highlighting the Duggar family who became famous after starring in the TLC tv series, 19 Kids and Counting. The docuseries exposes disturbing behaviors and practices within the family, as well as the controversial organization in which the Duggars are deeply entrenched, the IBL...

In one of the most egregious law enforcement scandals of the last century, the U.S. Government helped to cultivate and empower one of the most notorious murderers of our time. A man who was simultaneously hailed as both a savior and a devil, a protector and an oppressor, James “Whitey” Bulger’s story is complex and almost unbelievable. How did just another poor South Boston hoodlum rise to be the...

The sudden brutal murder of Carl Smalls Jr. on December 7, 2002 was classified as a gang hit. But when his convicted killer was freed from prison 16 years early by a secret decree, Carl’s death became a catalyst for changing how the South Carolina justice system works. Follow Jami on Instagram & TikTok @JamiOnAir and join the Serial Streamers true crime TV club! Sponsors Blissy: Visit blissy.com/M...

On October 27, 1988, McLean County Coroner William Anderson had just come from the Central Catholic vs. University High School football game. Afterward, he was due to meet with members of his re-election campaign to go over strategies. Before the meeting, Anderson was volunteered by the others to get beer for the meeting. He went to the closest store, S&S Liquor Store, located at 703 N. Clinton St...

In this episode of Serial Streamers, Jami walks listeners through a documentary that highlights tech company founder and fraudster, Elizabeth Holmes. The documentary, titled: The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley, details Holmes’ rise to fame in the tech world and her substantial fall after it was discovered that her multi-billion dollar company, Theranos, was just smoke and mirrors. Altho...

In June 2018, Tristan Beaudette and his brother-in-law Scott McCurdy had left their wives in Orange County to embark on a final camping trip together before Tristan and his wife Erica relocated to the Bay Area. Their home for the night …Malibu Creek State Park, near beautiful Malibu Beach. After a night by the campfire, Beaudette and McCurdy went to their respective tents and settled in for bed. A...

On May 11, 2016, the naked body of a man was discovered in a remote field in Sonoma County, California. Investigators immediately began working to find out who would have wanted the young father of two dead​. ​Join me as I walk you through a case involving murder victim, Keith Green, whose case drew national attention. Let’s get social: Follow MURDERISH on Instagram & TikTok @MurderishPodcast. We’...

In this episode of Serial Streamers, Jami walks listeners through the NXIVM cult and the Starz Original docuseries on the topic, Seduced: Inside the NXIVM Cult. Unsuspecting members of NXIVM would eventually learn that the organization’s goal wasn’t to help people reach their full potential, it was to fulfill the sadistic desires of its leader Keith Rainere. The organization would eventually be ex...

Money can unify or divide society. To many of us, it might seem like the wealthy enjoy lifestyles that only exist in our wildest dreams. Ben Novack Jr. was the only child of Bernice and Ben Novack Sr, who owned and operated the legendary Fontainebleau Miami Beach hotel. Being born into money granted Ben Jr. countless advantages, but it also put him and someone he loved in great peril.  Follow Jami...

On the afternoon of November 8, 2000, in Rancho Palos Verdes California, a 9-1-1 call would lead to a shocking scene. The details surrounding the victim’s death would take a while to unravel, but when they finally did, the truth would stun everyone. Join me as I walk you through the murder of Lauren Key.  Let’s get social: Follow MURDERISH on Instagram & TikTok @MurderishPodcast. We’re also on Fac...

On July 12, 2014 the body of 18-year-old Conrad Roy was discovered inside of his pickup truck. The teenager, who had a history of depression, died by suicide. At first, detectives had no reason to suspect foul play in Conrad's death, but they confiscated his cell phone anyway. After extracting data, detectives found thousands of text messages between Conrad and his girlfriend, 17-year-old Michelle...

When someone gets involved in the drug trade, violence usually isn’t far behind. It’s a dangerous path to tread where survival can hinge almost entirely upon alliances. If you piss off the wrong person, you might pay with your life. In the late 1980s, Missouri native Darrell Mease encountered an opportunity he couldn’t turn down. The 42-year-old carpenter was hired by Lloyd Lawrence, who happened...

This is an excerpt from Murder, She Told podcast’s “The Danielle Bertolini Story”, originally published in March of 2021. Murder, She Told is an award-winning true-crime podcast created by credentialed victim’s advocate, Kristen Seavey, that dives into the lesser-known cold cases and true crime stories from New England and beyond. Murder, She Told uses detailed and documentary style storytelling:...

The triple homicide, known as the “Halloween Massacre,” occurred in Pasadena, California in 1993. As rare as violent crimes are in Pasadena, the Halloween Massacre was the second triple homicide in the City in less than a three-year time span. On Friday, March 22, 1991, at about 2:30 in the morning, Pasadena police received a call asking them to do a welfare check at a posh home located on the 130...

In June of 1996, 34-year-old teacher, Mary Kay Letourneau, began a forbidden affair with her 12-year-old student, Vili Fualaau. A media firestorm began when the illegal affair was brought to law enforcement’s attention. Surprisingly, the illicit relationship between the much older teacher and her 6th grade student wasn’t the biggest bomb shell. In this episode, Jami walks you through the entire sc...

On a warm Southern California night in 2018, 23-year-old Vini Oliveira arrived home from working the late shift. He was greeted by two smiling faces - his roommate 26-year-old Chad O’melia and his new love interest, 27-year-old Bryn Spejcher. As Vini headed upstairs for bed, he left Chad and Bryn snuggling and laughing amongst themselves on the couch. After taking a shower and slipping into bed, V...

In November of 1983, a mother and her three children were found “hacked to death” in their Bloomington, Illinois family home. The prime suspect was the husband and father of the victims, David Hendricks. The prosecution would have you believe that David’s religion and desire to pursue other women were motives for the murders. The defense argued that the murders occurred as part of a robbery commit...

Best friends, Skylar Neese and Shelia Eddy, met in 2nd grade and were inseparable ever since. When a new friend entered the picture, the trio seemed to develop a special bond and naturally, they all trusted each other. It would come as a huge shock that Skylar Neese would lose her life at the hands of one of her closest friends ..and the true motive for the crime wouldn’t come to light until years...

In this episode of 'Best of Murderish,' Jami interviews Terra Newell, a woman who was brutally attacked by John Meehan, AKA “Dirty John.” Let’s get social: Follow MURDERISH on Instagram & TikTok @MurderishPodcast. We’re also on Facebook. Visit murderish.com to learn more about Jami and the podcast. You can also buy merch & sign up to become a MURDERISH | Behind the Mic Patreon member and get acces...

On March 8, 1992, 22-year-old Donnivan Schaeffer arrived for work at Dig ‘Em Donuts in Rapid City, South Dakota. It was shortly after 8:00 p.m. on a Sunday. As Schaeffer entered the back office, he suddenly realized ..he wasn’t alone. Schaeffer’s lifeless body would be discovered in the back of the donut shop, prompting a hunt for his killer. When law enforcement caught up with the perpetrator, th...

In the spring of 1985, 78-year-old grandmother and retired Bible study teacher Ruth Pelke was found brutally stabbed in her Gary, Indiana home. For years leading up to the tragedy, her family had tried to convince her to move out of a neighborhood that had grown increasingly unsafe. But this was her home. The elderly white woman, who chose to see the best in everyone, believed her religious faith...