Tragedy - A True Crime Podcast

In this episode of Tragedy: A True Crime Podcast , we sit down with Mark Fricke, a former law enforcement officer and personal safety trainer, to discuss the practical skills that can help keep you from becoming a victim. Drawing from decades of real-world experience, Mark shares how situational awareness, preparation, and everyday habits can dramatically improve your personal safety. We explore t...

More than three decades after Deanna Merryfield disappeared from Killeen, Texas, the search for answers continues. In this special episode, we sit down with private investigator Steve Gelinske, who has devoted countless hours to reviewing the case and following the evidence wherever it leads. Steve shares what he can safely discuss about the investigation, offering listeners a rare look into the c...

More than three decades after the disappearance of Deanna Merryfield, her family continues to search for answers. In this episode of Tragedy: A True Crime Podcast , Michael and Alyssa sit down with Deanna’s youngest sister, Melissa Twardowski, to revisit the case and examine the publicly available evidence that has kept hope alive. Together, they retrace the events surrounding Deanna’s disappearan...

In July 1990, 13-year-old Deanna Merryfield disappeared from Killeen, Texas. Her case was quickly labeled a runaway, and like so many missing children of that era, the investigation faded while the years marched on. But for Deanna's family, especially her younger sister Melissa, the search never stopped. More than three decades later, renewed efforts, new leads, and a growing public awareness...

In the final installment of our coverage of the Krystle Cook case, we take a step back to reflect on the journey that has brought us here. From the initial investigation and search for answers to the voices of family members, advocates, and those who have stood beside Krystle's loved ones, this case has left a lasting impact on everyone involved—including us. In this episode, we share updates...

When Heather Cook entered Lee Cook's life, she stepped into a family forever changed by tragedy. In this deeply personal conversation, Heather shares what it was like joining a family still searching for answers about Krystle's disappearance and how she and Lee navigated the uncertainty, heartbreak, and determination that defined those years. Heather reflects on the bond she built with L...

In this emotional and deeply personal episode of Tragedy: A True Crime Podcast, we sit down with Lori Williams, Krystle’s aunt, as she shares the painful reality of reliving trauma during the parole hearing process and the emotional toll that violent crime continues to have on surviving family members years later. Lori opens up about the challenges of navigating victim advocacy, the frustration ma...

In this special bonus episode of Tragedy: A True Crime Podcast , we reconnect with three guests from Season One to hear what's happened since they first shared their stories with us. For many families affected by violent crime, missing loved ones, or an unsolved case, life doesn't simply move on when an episode ends. The search for answers, the fight for justice, and the daily reality of...

In this emotional and deeply personal interview, Hannah Mosbrucker shares the lasting impact of losing her sister, Krystle Cook, and the painful reality of navigating life after tragedy. Hannah opens up about the nonprofit created in Krystle’s honor, the mission behind their advocacy work, and the ongoing fight to support victims’ families facing similar heartbreak. She also discusses the emotiona...

In Part 2 of the Krystle Cook story, we continue our powerful conversation with Lee Cook, Krystle’s father, as he shares the ongoing realities of navigating grief, the legal system, and the long road toward justice. Lee opens up about the emotional and financial toll families often face after tragedy, the frustrations and limitations within the court process, and how those experiences pushed his f...

In this powerful introduction to our series on the case of Krystle Cook, we begin examining the heartbreaking realities surrounding her story — the challenges of victim advocacy, the frustrations families often face within the legal system, and the lasting emotional toll left behind after tragedy. We also begin our two-part interview with Krystle’s father, as he shares his firsthand experience nav...

For years, LaTonya Thomas’s story has gone largely unheard. In this episode, we speak with her mother, Thomasene Butler, as she shares intimate details about her daughter’s life, the events surrounding the day she died, and the lasting emotional toll. We also explore new updates in the case, including possible law enforcement involvement and growing efforts to bring long-overdue media attention to...

In this powerful interview, we sit down with Vicki Jenkins to uncover the woman behind the case. Vicki shares deeply personal stories of who LaTonya was, the days leading up to her death, and what she understands about the day everything changed. Through firsthand accounts and lived experience, this episode sheds light on unanswered questions and the lasting impact LaTonya’s death has had on those...

In this deeply personal episode, we sit down with Crystal Newkirk—one of LaTonya’s closest friends—to hear a firsthand account of the days leading up to LaTonya’s death, the day everything changed, and the lasting impact left behind. Crystal shares intimate details about LaTonya as a person—the friend she was, the life she lived, and the moments that now carry new weight in hindsight. Through her...

LaTonya Thomas’s case is one that truly defines what it means to be underserved—and overlooked. In this episode, we break down the facts uncovered through our FOIA request, examining the official records, timelines, and key details that paint a troubling picture. What we found raises serious questions about how this case was handled and why it was closed when so much remains unresolved. We walk th...

In this episode, we sit down with Amanda Rowton, one of Hailey Athay’s closest friends, for a deeply personal and emotional conversation about who Hailey really is beyond the headlines. Amanda shares what it was like to know Hailey as a friend—the kind of person she was, the memories they built together, and the bond they shared. But this story doesn’t stop at loss. It’s about what comes after. Am...

Ashley Griggs joins us to discuss the disappearance of her sister, Hailey Athay, and the details she believes matter most. From her perspective on the events of that day to the lingering questions that continue to haunt the case, Ashley provides a candid and emotional account. She also shares what it means to raise Hailey’s daughter in the absence of answers—and how that responsibility fuels her p...

Behind every missing persons case is something we don’t always talk about enough—grief. In this episode, we speak with Nick Gaylord, host of Grief Is Not a Dirty Word , about why grief deserves a louder voice and how his podcast is helping break the stigma around it. He shares his journey into podcasting, what drives his mission, and why these conversations matter. We also explore how grief impact...

When someone goes missing, the world moves on—but families don’t. In this episode, we speak with Nicole Brooks, the mother of Hailey Athay, who shares the reality of living in the unknown. Nicole walks us through the details she knows, the questions that still linger, and how Hailey’s disappearance has changed her life forever. We also explore the importance of community support and advocacy in ke...

For our 50th episode milestone, we sit down with Julia Cowley, a former profiler from the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Behavioral Analysis Unit and host of the podcast The Consult. In this conversation, we reflect on our first experience meeting Julia and how her philosophy and approach to investigative work helped shape the focus and mission behind our own podcast. Julia shares insights from...

In this episode of Tragedy: A True Crime Podcast , we speak with Shasta Ives, a close friend of Hailey Athay and a passionate advocate in the ongoing search for answers surrounding Hailey’s disappearance. Hailey vanished while mushroom picking in Washington, and despite search efforts and years of unanswered questions, those closest to her have never stopped looking for the truth. Shasta shares wh...

Hailey Athay went into the woods for a simple day of mushroom picking — and never came home. In this episode, we break down the known timeline of Hailey’s disappearance, the location where she was last seen, and the search efforts that followed. What should have been an ordinary outing turned into a haunting mystery that still demands answers. We walk through the facts, the unanswered questions, a...

In this special roundtable episode, we sit down with members of the Cold Case Collective to take a deep, collaborative look at the disappearance of Audrey Herron. Together, we walk through the known timeline, key details of the case, and the evidence that has shaped the investigation over the years. This conversation explores the many theories surrounding Audrey’s disappearance, from the most wide...

In this deeply personal episode, we speak with Mitzie Wilson, one of Audrey Herron’s closest friends. Mitzie takes us back to the days when Audrey wasn’t a missing person case — she was a mother, a friend, a presence in the room. Mitzie shares intimate memories of their time together, what made Audrey unique, and the moments that now carry a different weight in hindsight. We discuss Audrey’s disap...

In this special short-format update, we bring you a focused five-minute briefing on several cases that continue to weigh heavily on families and communities: Jody Kilgore, Ian Rogers, Cody Haney, Johnathan Hagans, and Michael John Olson. We share the latest developments, where each case stands today, and what listeners need to know right now. We are also joined by Jeanne Turk, stepmother of Audrey...