Santana True Crime

📖 New York Times bestselling author Caitlin Rother joins Santana True Crime to discuss one of California’s most haunting cases — the McStay Family Murders , the shocking story behind her book Down to the Bone. In this in-depth true crime interview, Caitlin breaks down: 🔍 How an entire family vanished without a trace. 🏠 Why investigators didn’t initially suspect foul play. 🩸 The disturbing evid...

🎃 Santana True Crime Halloween Special – Episode 1: The Pixie Stick Murders In 1974, a Texas father named Ronald Clark O’Bryan handed out poisoned candy on Halloween night — a crime that would forever change how parents saw trick-or-treating. In this first episode of our four-part Halloween series , I’m joined by Jayson Blair , Kelli Brink , and Dr. Brian Santana as we discuss: 🩸 How this horrif...

On May 14, 2008 , 19-year-old Brandon Swanson disappeared after calling his parents for help when his car became stuck on a rural Minnesota road. His last words — “Oh, shit” — still echo through one of America’s most haunting missing-person mysteries. In this episode of Santana True Crime , I’m joined by Jeff Hasse , the Search Director who has led and continues to lead the search for Brandon. Jef...

Author Tony Wright—whose book Things Aren’t Right re-examines the Yuba County Five—joins Santana True Crime for a no-fluff, evidence-first conversation about one of the most baffling cases in true crime. We cover: The final night: why the Oroville stop may be the turning point The stuck car, unpaved mountain road, and how the search unfolded Law enforcement response—including why the vehicle wasn’...

In this episode of Santana True Crime , host Cameron Santana sits down with Lauren Samples —author of Through the Shadows: Unsolved Crimes and the Search for Truth , host of the podcast Paradise After Dark , and founder of The Florida Themis Project , a nonprofit dedicated to helping families of missing persons. Lauren shares her journey through true crime storytelling, the importance of keeping v...

In this episode of Santana True Crime , host Cameron Santana sits down with retired NYPD detective and author Vic Ferrari . Vic shares jaw-dropping stories from his career in the NYPD—covering everything from organized crime investigations to the unforgettable moment he helped Mike Tyson recover his stolen motorcycle. With decades of experience on the streets of New York City, Vic brings insider k...

In this episode of Santana True Crime , I sit down with journalist, author, and podcaster Jayson Blair to discuss the haunting cold case of Ashley Loring HeavyRunner , a young Native American woman who went missing from the Blackfeet Reservation in Montana. We explore the heartbreaking details of Ashley’s disappearance, the struggles her family continues to face, and the broader crisis of Missing...

In this episode of Santana True Crime , host Cameron Santana is joined by Kait , a TikTok influencer who spent three years in a women’s prison after being convicted of selling drugs. Kait opens up about what led her to prison, the realities of life behind bars, and the challenges she faced on the inside. She also shares how she rebuilt her life after release and found unexpected success as a TikTo...

In this episode of Santana True Crime , host Cameron Santana sits down with Troy Hillman — former detective, cold case homicide supervisor, and author of Chasing Down the Zombie Hunter . Troy shares his journey from CPA to detective , his work leading a cold case homicide squad, and how his team collaborated with the Vidocq Society , the world’s foremost experts in solving unsolved murders. Togeth...

In 1967, Louisa Dunne was brutally murdered in England — a crime that went unsolved for nearly six decades. In this episode of Santana True Crime , host Cameron Santana and guest host Mary Sinclair uncover the details of the case, the decades of silence, and the shocking recent arrest of 92-year-old Ryland Headley . This breakthrough has been called the oldest cold case ever solved in England’s hi...

This episode of Santana True Crime features Shannon Kavanaugh—former undercover officer and crime‑scene investigator—who left law enforcement after experiencing a toxic environment once she became pregnant. Shannon shares candid stories from her undercover days and CSI work, explaining how political and cultural pressures pushed her to walk away. Today she’s writing a book, launching a podcast, an...

Veteran officer Cameron Santana—an 18‑year law‑enforcement veteran welcomes a special guest host: Abby Ellsworth, creator of the “On Being a Police Officer” podcast. Ellsworth launched her show in 2020 to give officers a national platform to share raw stories from the field and to help civilians understand the people behind the badge. A civilian interviewer with more than 14 years of experience, s...

n this episode of Santana True Crime , author and creator Kelli Brink joins the show for a deep dive into some of America’s most puzzling unsolved cases. We unravel the mystery of DB Cooper and examine the brutal horror of the Villisca Axe Murders. Kelli also shares insight into her latest projects, including her compelling book Missing Persons Archives and her new true crime YouTube channel. From...

In this gripping episode of Santana True Crime , guest host Allie Seibert sits down with Dr. David Hayes , a criminologist and professor, to dig into the complex world of crime and justice. 🔍 Topics include: The challenges behind solving cold cases Dr. Hayes’ expert insight into the JonBenét Ramsey investigation How he would help select a jury for the Gilgo Beach Serial Killer trial What it's rea...

Author B.R. Bates joins Santana True Crime to unravel the chilling story of Leslie Allen Williams —a serial killer who terrorized Michigan in the 1990s. In this gripping episode, we dive into the psychological profile, the investigation, and how Williams eluded justice for so long. Hear firsthand from Bates, who’s researched the case extensively and written about its haunting legacy. 📺 Watch the...

In this episode of Santana True Crime , we dive into the 1978 murder of Mary Burnett — a chilling case that rocked the quiet campus of UNC Asheville and has lingered in North Carolina’s criminal history ever since. Based on the book “A Murder on Campus: The Professor, the Cop, and North Carolina's Most Notorious Cold Case” by Brian and Cameron Santana, this episode explores the investigation, susp...

In this gripping episode of Santana True Crime , I sit down with the author of Watch Me Die, Dr Bill Kimberlin to dive deep into one of the most disturbing true crime stories you’ve never heard. The book chronicles the final days of a condemned killers on death row—but it’s more than just a confession. It’s a haunting exploration of justice, revenge, and the thin line between sanity and evil. We t...

🎙️ Episode Title: "The Wife He Tried to Erase" Podcast: Santana True Crime In this chilling episode of Santana True Crime , we uncover the twisted and tragic story of Ella Marple , a woman who was murdered by the one person she should have been able to trust—her husband. Determined to cover up the crime, he buried her under a false identity: Ellen White . Based on the gripping book The Mysterious...

What happens when one man dives headfirst into the deadly heart of organized crime… and then goes even deeper? In this gripping episode, we sit down with Matt Pitcher , a former undercover officer who infiltrated the Greek mob in North Carolina —risking everything to bring down a criminal empire from the inside. But Matt's story doesn’t end there. After dismantling the mob, he was recruited for an...

With Dr. Brian Santana-author, Professor at North Carolina Wilmington and Guest Chief A.Z. Williams, Wilson’s Mills Police Department and former SBI Special Agent. In this gripping episode, former SBI Special Agent and current Chief of Police A.Z. Williams joins the show to discuss the tragic 1998 kidnapping and murder of 5-year-old Brittany Locklear, who was abducted from her bus stop near her fa...

Mica Miller, a 30-year-old woman from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, died on April 27, 2024, from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at Lumber River State Park in North Carolina, as confirmed by the Robeson County Medical Examiner. She was in the process of divorcing her husband, John-Paul “JP” Miller, a pastor at Solid Rock Church, amid allegations of abuse and coercive control. Mica had filed for div...

“Dear Cousin,” an Audible Original podcast, and its companion book, “You Have a Very Soft Voice, Susan” (2019, by Susan Fensten with Brian Whitney), recount Susan Fensten’s chilling true story of internet stalking in the early 2000s. After losing her sister and father, Susan’s search for family on a genealogy forum connects her with supposed cousins, who turn out to be part of a criminal network i...

Author Mark Pinsky talks about interviewing the infamous serial killer Ted Bundy, meeting Jeffrey McDonald, and lesser known case: the unsolved murder of Reverend Charles Lee, a rector of Christ Church on St. Simons Island, Georgia in 1938. Website:   www. Markpinsky.com IG:   https://www.instagram.com/mark.pinsky?igsh=Mnd1Y3lrcXNudmNm Summary:   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.f...

Bloodstained: Exploring Michigan’s Darkest Murders Forgotten By Time  by Allie Seibert is a true crime anthology that uncovers five forgotten murder cases in Michigan from 1879 to 1931. Through meticulous research using newspapers, court records, and firsthand documents, Seibert reconstructs these once headline-making crimes that gripped the state but faded into obscurity. The cases, set in Hadley...

In this gripping episode , On   Being a Police Officer host Abby joins forces with  Santana True Crime  to interview Officer Tevon Davis. From growing up in a gang-infested neighborhood and facing the tragic loss of his brother, killed by a police officer, Tevon shares his remarkable journey to becoming an officer himself. This powerful story of redemption, resilience, and giving back explores how...