Sins & Survivors: A Las Vegas True Crime Podcast

In the summer of 2022, Lake Mead dropped to its lowest levels in almost a century. The shoreline crept back. Boats that had been swallowed years ago sat beached in the sand like ghosts. But that wasn't all the lake revealed. Lake Mead has long been a getaway for families, boaters, and hikers. But it’s also one of the deadliest national parks in the country. People vanish. Accidents happen. But eve...

In early 1998 Shauna Maynard left her home in California and headed to Las Vegas. She was searching for freedom and in a hurry to grow up after high school, just like so many teenagers are, even today Her family was worried about her leaving home and moving somewhere she didn't know many people and trying to start a life. Just a few months later her mom got the call that every mother dreads… From...

She was 25 years old, a beloved sister and niece who always showed up for the people she loved. In September of 2012, just 2 months after coming home with a new baby, Abby Roberts disappeared without a trace.  Her boyfriend, Phillip Johnson, turned up days later in California, without her, but with their two-month-old baby, and then he vanished too. Their car was found abandoned in Compton, Califo...

We admit it was late when we made this one. We talk about the case but we're off on some tangents here. https://sinspod.co/83 https://sinspod.co/83bonus https://sinspod.co/83blog https://sinspod.co/83sources Domestic Violence Resources http://sinspod.co/resources Click here to become a member of our Patreon! https://sinspod.co/patreon Visit and join our Patreon now and access our ad-free episodes...

Secoya Williams was an amazing young woman who made friends wherever she went, but when she went to see her friend perform at a local nightclub, the unimaginable happened. Today we're sharing the story and celebrating the life of Secoya https://sinspod.co/82 https://sinspod.co/82blog Domestic Violence Resources http://sinspod.co/resources Click here to become a member of our Patreon! https://sinsp...

A young mother found dead in 1994. A DNA breakthrough in 2024. Who was Melonie White—and who killed her? In August of 1994, two hikers made a grim discovery on Lake Mead Boulevard... The remains of a young woman at the bottom of a gypsum wash. The victim was Melonie White, a 27-year-old mom who had recently moved to Las Vegas with her boyfriend.  What happened was decades of agonizing silence with...

“When I found out I was going to jail, I trusted in the system. I figured everything would be okay as long as I told them the truth. I had no idea how wrong I'd be.” In July of 2001, Blaise was a teenager with no criminal history, no motive, and no evidence linking her to the crime. And yet, she was charged with murder and facing the rest of her life behind bars. No physical evidence tied her to t...

When Blaise fled the Budget Suites parking lot in May of 2001, she knew she had done what she had to do to protect herself.  Three months later, when a man was found dead on the opposite side of town, Las Vegas police ignored her alibi, ignored forensic evidence, and ignored common sense to chase a rumor.  That would ultimately cost Blaise 16 years of her life.  https://sinspod.co/79sources https:...

We recently covered the animal abuse case that resulted in the death of Reba the bulldog when she was left next to a dumpster in 110-degree heat in the hottest part of summer here in Las Vegas. Because of some other recent cases of animal abuse, we’re taking this episode to highlight that while domestic violence is a huge problem here, so is animal cruelty and abuse https://sinspod.co/78sources ht...

Maria Flores planned a brave escape from domestic violence, but tragedy struck, devastating her family forever.  Screaming and the sound of gunshots broke the silence early in the morning of June 1st, 2013, on Cotton St in East Las Vegas, shocking Manuel Mata's daughter awake.  Who was that screaming? Did she just hear 3 gunshots, or was it 4? Terrified, she locked her bedroom door and hid in the...

In honor of DNA day we're talking about the first person to EVER be exonerated by DNA evidence, Gary Dotson Imagine you're 20 years old, your whole life ahead of you, and suddenly you're accused of a horrific crime by someone you've never met.  You have an airtight alibi, or so you think, friends and family who swear you're innocent, and yet you're convicted and sentenced to decades in prison. Yea...

We're bringing you this special Swing Shift bonus episode with an important update to Tabatha Tozzi's case on Ozwaldo Perez Sanchez https://sinspod.co/76bonus https://sinspod.co/76bonusblog Domestic Violence Resources http://sinspod.co/resources Click here to become a member of our Patreon! https://sinspod.co/patreon Visit and join our Patreon now and access our ad-free episodes and exclusive bonu...

A tragic Las Vegas accident exposes layers of jealousy, drugs, and domestic violence. When Julie Bush kills her boyfriend, Richard Penardo, a disturbing past surfaces—linking him to another brutal murder 16 years earlier. Can justice ever truly break a family's cycle of trauma? Sometimes, a news story seems to be a simple, straightforward tragic case of someone injured in a car accident. That's wh...

Vanished without a trace in 2006. Nearly 19 years later, Steven Bradley's family is still waiting for answers. In 2006, Steven, a Las Vegas husband and father, left for work and never came home. His car turned up 250 miles away, with no signs of a struggle and no sign of Steve.  Almost 19 years later, his family still has no answers about what happened to him. This case didn’t make headlines, but...

Tabatha Tozzi was a rising star in Las Vegas. When she tried to leave her controlling boyfriend, he allegedly killed her. Nearly two years later, he’s still missing. Las Vegas is the entertainment capital of the world, with A-list performers lighting up the strip every night of the week. In clubs all over town, large and small, every night is a party, and your hosts work hard to keep the drinks fl...

A tragic case of child custody gone wrong. On Easter Sunday 2019, Sean Babbitt was hopeful about his future and his fight for more time with his 3-year-old son. The next morning, during his weekly visitation, he was shot and killed by his ex-mother-in-law, a retired police detective  Sean Babbitt enjoyed a joyful Easter Sunday with his family on April 21, 2019, watching the Golden Knights and Game...

Theresa Insana was thriving in Las Vegas—until one night, she vanished. What happened to her remains a mystery. When Theresa Insana decided to move to Las Vegas after college, her family was very happy for her. She was looking forward to being among the excitement and glamor of the Strip and to start a new career at a casino, and it was taking off quickly. She met a man at work, and they were enga...

Two women, two decades-old mysteries, and one powerful tool—DNA. In this episode, we examine how forensic genealogy helped identify Linda Sue Anderson, once an unknown homicide victim, and how new DNA testing finally led to an arrest in the brutal 2003 murder of Theresa Romano. How did investigators connect the dots after so many years? And will justice be served? DNA has become an important inves...

A young mother of three, Brittney Lavoll, did everything right to escape her abuser—but it wasn’t enough. Her tragic murder sparks urgent questions about domestic violence and gun laws. Plus, the mysterious disappearance of Courtney Lynn Townsend raises troubling questions, as her burned-out car and partial remains leave her family searching for answers. In a 24-hour city like Las Vegas, early mor...

He had already taken a life—and the system let him walk free. Less than a year after his release, Mark Michael Ford murdered again, leaving two families shattered and a community searching for answers. Domestic violence and intimate partner violence don’t just stay behind closed doors—they ripple through entire communities with devastating consequences. From Las Vegas to Reno, four lives were lost...

Teen dating violence is more common—and more dangerous—than many realize. This week, we explore a shocking Las Vegas case that highlights the deadly consequences of controlling and abusive relationships among teenagers.  We talk a lot in the podcast about domestic violence in married couples, and we’ve shared cases of domestic violence among couples who were dating, but today we’re focusing on Dom...

Margaret Rudin was known as the Black Widow in the Media, but this week we take a closer look at her trial and everything since. The story of Ron and Margaret Rudin has everything true crime producers and fanatics look for—secret recordings, alleged accomplices, secret lovers, lost evidence, and a trial that could only be described as a circus. But as we close the book, an important question still...

With her husband missing, Margaret Rudin becomes the target of the investigation.   A quiet fishing trip on Lake Mohave took a chilling turn when a group of airmen stumbled across something unexpected—a human skull and a diamond bracelet with the letters R O N. As the investigation into Ron’s disappearance uncovered more and more circumstantial evidence against Margaret, she quickly became the pol...

A 64-year-old wealthy real estate developer vanished a few days before Christmas in 1994, and all the clues pointed in just one direction.  Ron Rudin had the true Golden West pioneer spirit. He came to Las Vegas in the late 1950s, and like many others, saw a valley full of potential. He was a self-made millionaire with a signature style and a love of Cadillacs, but it was no secret that he was gri...

Hollywood loves an obsessive romantic, but what if the romance we’re meant to cheer for is really just stalking in disguise?  January is Stalking Awareness Month—a time to shed light on the dangerous realities of stalking and its impact. John & Shaun explore how Hollywood normalizes stalking behavior, portraying it as romantic or humorous in movies, TV shows, and plays. We cover some of your m...