Residue: A True Crime Podcast

Send us a text In October 2003, a decomposed body surfaced off the coast of Cape May, New Jersey. Chained at the ankles, bound in duct tape, and gnawed by sea life — this was no accident. Within hours, the body was identified as 16-year-old Kimberly Holton, a missing foster child from Dover, Delaware. Kimberly’s case would unravel a chilling chain of events involving foster care failures, jealousy...

Send us a text Laurie Kellogg was just 16 when she met a man more than twice her age — a man who would later become her husband. To some, it looked like a scandal from the start. But no one could have predicted how it would end: with a gunshot in the middle of the night... and a group of teenagers caught in the middle of a murder plot. Was Laurie Kellogg a calculating instigator? Or was she a teen...

Send us a text Melissa Turner, a former cosplay model from Riverview, Florida, called 911 on October 18, 2019, reporting that she had found her fiancé, Matthew Trussler, unresponsive and covered in blood on their patio. Initially telling police she didn’t know what had happened, Turner later stated that Matthew had attacked her during a drunken altercation and that she acted in self-defense. Howev...

Send us a text In this episode, we tell the heartbreaking story of Peggy Carothers, a 15-year-old girl from Hammond, Indiana, who vanished without a trace in May of 1997. Raised in a tight-knit family of six children, Peggy was bright, funny, and full of life. Her best friend remembers the two of them dancing and singing Alanis Morissette songs, dreaming about the future like any teenage girls wou...

Send us a text It was an ordinary day—work, errands, heading home. But for Amie Hoffman and Deirdre O'Brien in suburban New Jersey, it ended in unimaginable violence. Just months after his release for a previous murder, James Koedatich struck again. A chilling reminder that the most routine moments can lead straight into darkness. Sources:  Finally Caught Season 1, Episode 4 https://www.deirdresho...

Send us a text Debbie Flores Narvaez was brilliant, determined, and on the verge of a dream come true — her debut in one of Las Vegas's most coveted burlesque shows, Fantasy at the Luxor. But the night before she was set to take the stage, Debbie vanished without a trace. As the days pass, a tangled web of toxic relationships, jealous exes, and disturbing secrets emerges. Investigators dig into he...

Send us a text Simeonette Mapes-Crupi was a beloved high school history teacher in Brooklyn, known for her compassion, generosity, and fierce dedication to her students. Nicknamed “Mommy Mapes,” she went above and beyond to support the teens she taught, often dipping into her own pocket to cover their graduation costs or prom dresses. She lived a life grounded in kindness, faith, and hope — one sh...

Send us a text In a small Connecticut town where football is everything, 18-year-old TJ Mitchell was a hero — a star athlete with a bright future. But when his best friend, 27-year-old Ronald Taylor, was found stabbed 19 times outside TJ’s home, a dark and complicated story began to unfold. As police peeled back layers of friendship, secrets, and emotional manipulation, what emerged was a case tha...

Send us a text *This podcast is independently produced using publicly available information and personal research. I approach each story with care and respect, though I recognize that I may not always have access to every voice or perspective involved. If you’re connected to the story and would like to share your experience, I truly welcome the opportunity to include your insights in a future upda...

Send us a text In the early hours of February 4, 1984, 25-year-old Terri Brooks, a night manager at a Roy Rogers restaurant in Falls Township, Pennsylvania, was found brutally murdered at her workplace. The crime scene suggested a robbery gone wrong, with signs of forced entry and a safe tampered with. However, the true motive remained elusive, and the case went cold for over a decade. Terri Brook...

Send us a text In October 1997, a chilling crime unfolded in Canberra, Australia. Anu Singh, a law student at the Australian National University, drugged her boyfriend Joe Cinque's coffee with Rohypnol at a dinner party. Over the next 36 hours, she injected him with heroin multiple times. Despite his deteriorating condition, she delayed seeking help, and when paramedics arrived, it was too late. F...

Send us a text In 2000, 21-year-old college student and exotic dancer Rachel Siani was found dead beneath a highway bridge in New Jersey. Initially suspected to be a suicide, the investigation soon revealed foul play. Surveillance footage and forensic evidence linked her death to John “Jack” Denofa, a married man who had become obsessed with her. The Rachel Siani case underscores the importance of...

Send us a text In a quiet coal mining town of 3,000, surrounded by peaceful, wooded landscapes, a horrifying discovery breaks the stillness. A hiker, out foraging for mushrooms, wanders off the path and spots something chilling—a boot with a bone sticking out. The mystery traces back to January 21st, 2014, when three young friends ventured into the woods for a traditional “bush party” during a fie...

Send us a text In November 1998, 25-year-old Corey Parker was living her dream in Jacksonville Beach, Florida — taking college classes, working as a waitress, and embracing her independence. But just days after a night out with friends, Corey was found brutally murdered in her apartment — stabbed dozens of times, her killer leaving behind a blood-soaked crime scene and no immediate suspects. With...

Send us a text In our "Tragedy On Set" series episode 75 we explore the terrifying stories that unfolded behind the scenes of The Exorcist—fires that destroyed sets, actors injured during filming, and the shocking true crime connection that would later cast a long shadow over the production. Was it all just a string of dark coincidences? Or was something far more sinister at play? Sources:  Cursed...

Send us a text We dive into the twisted world of Jill and Kent Easter, a seemingly perfect couple with a dark secret. Jill, a highly educated lawyer and romance novelist, has a reputation for being a driven, perfectionist mother and wife. But beneath the polished exterior, she's a woman willing to go to any lengths to get what she wants. Kent, a successful lawyer and partner at a prestigious law f...

Send us a text Buffalo, Minnesota was a small town where everyone knew everyone’s name, and that familiarity brought with it the kind of judgmental culture that could crush anyone who didn’t fit the mold. At the top of the social pyramid sat the Preppies—the popular girls who ruled the school with their designer clothes, flawless skin, and new cars that appeared the day they turned sixteen. They h...

Send us a text The disappearance of the Joe Cool  fishing boat in 2007, along with its six passengers and crew, has remained a haunting case in maritime history. On September 22, 2007, the 47-foot sportfish vessel, owned by Jeff Brannum and operated by his nephew Jake Brannum, embarked on a chartered trip from Miami Beach Marina to Bimini. The boat, designed for high-end fishing trips, was not exp...

Send us a text In the heart of the Welsh Valleys, New Tredegar it was 2009, and Hayley had four children, a home she barely managed to keep afloat, and a husband whose face had become a stranger to her. Life in New Tredegar was hard, but it had always been hard. Hayley was 16 when she first felt the heavy weight of motherhood. And by 20, she was already mother to four children, one after the other...

Send us a text Nona Belomesoff was an 18-year-old full of dreams. She had just graduated high school, and while most of her friends were planning vacations or enjoying summer break, Nona was preparing for her future—specifically, a career in wildlife rescue. Her passion for animals, especially horses, was something that defined her. So, when an opportunity presented itself, she jumped at the chanc...

Send us a text On September 2, 2003, 17-year-old Justine Vanderschoot disappeared without a trace. Her mother, Lynette, discovered the front door slightly open and Justine’s silver Chevy truck missing, though her purse, dog, and other belongings were still at home. Initially assuming Justine had gone to her boyfriend Danny Bezemer’s house, the family quickly grew concerned when they couldn’t find...

Send us a text Micah Rine Pate, a nurse living in Bartlett, Memphis, went missing on the evening of April 30, 2009, after going out for a run. Her husband, Thomas Pate, called her parents late that night, asking if they knew where she was. He claimed Micah had gone for a run and never returned, despite the heavy rain and darkness. Her dog was also left behind, which seemed unusual. Her parents, gr...

Send us a text Chris Dong Vo, a 57-year-old hairdresser in Cleveland, Ohio, was tragically murdered on December 25, 2021. Vo, a Vietnamese refugee who had been a hairdresser for over 25 years, was known for his talent. He was lovingly referred to by friends as a glitter queen.  On December 26, a client arriving for an appointment noticed blood seeping from under Vo's garage door and called 911. Po...

Send us a text PART TWO  In 1993, Jennifer Ertman (14) and Elizabeth Pena (16), were rushing home trying to meet curfew. What should have been an ordinary evening for the teens quickly took a devastating turn when they encountered a group of drunk teenage boys who called themselves the “Black and White” gang.  The story of Jennifer and Elizabeth became a symbol of the need for greater awareness an...

Send us a text In 1993, Jennifer Ertman (14) and Elizabeth Pena (16), were rushing home trying to meet curfew. What should have been an ordinary evening for the teens quickly took a devastating turn when they encountered a group of drunk teenage boys who called themselves the “Black and White” gang.  The story of Jennifer and Elizabeth became a symbol of the need for greater awareness and action a...