True Crime Arizona

A key player in the missing Baby Gabriel Johnson case is Tammi Smith, who at one point tried to adopt the baby from his maternal mother, Elizabeth Johnson. Throughout the investigation, Tammi and her husband Jack Smith maintained they didn’t know the couple Elizabeth claimed to have given the baby away to, but Elizabeth said the black market adoption was all coordinated through Tammi. Host Briana...

On Christmas of 2009, father Logan McQueary thought he’d be spending the holiday with his baby boy Gabriel. Instead, his ex-girlfriend Elizabeth Johnson disappeared to San Antonio with their son, and soon he was nowhere to be found. First, she told authorities she killed the baby, then said she gave him away in a black market adoption, and the web of lies and deceit began. For the first time you’l...

In October 2011, Jhessye Shockley’s mom reported her 5-year-old daughter had gone missing from their Glendale, Arizona home and claimed she was abducted. But as police followed a trail of odd behavior, past arrests, and horrific claims of abuse from Jhessye’s siblings, it became clear her mom was a major problem in the investigation. Now, both her family and investigators reveal they agree on what...

January 1999. She was gone in 90 seconds. Eleven-year-old Mikelle Biggs disappeared while riding her sister's bike on their Mesa, Arizona street and waiting for the ice cream truck. Her sister Kimber went inside for less than two minutes, and when she came back out, Mikelle was gone. Authorities believe Mikelle was abducted, but no arrests have ever been made. We investigate the timeline of events...

The next several episodes of the True Crime Arizona podcast will focus on three high-profile missing children cases in AZ: Mikelle Biggs, "Baby Gabriel," and Jhessye Shockley. Our investigations have brought to light new leads, new information, and new theories, that we hope will generate tips to help solve these cases.

NEW SHOW COMING MAY 26: She was the perfect wife and mother for decades, until something changed. Lori Vallow is now connected in some way to six violent or mysterious deaths. A former husband, an estranged husband, two of her children, her brother and her new husband’s then-wife – all dead. True Crime Arizona: Lori Vallow's Deadly Delusions explores the events and issues that motivated Lori Vallo...

In 2018, a Scottsdale man went on a serial murder spree killing people one-by-one, and he always remained a step ahead of police. His motive wouldn’t be found and he wouldn’t be stopped until an attorney pieced together clues by who he was killing and what set him off.

In this bonus episode, host Briana Whitney and producer Serjio Hernandez are interviewed by Kris Pickel about their major takeaways from the unsolved Sean Drenth case, what they found most troubling about the investigation, and whether they believe he died by homicide or suicide.

In 1996, well-known businessman Gary Triano was assassinated by a bomb in a country club parking lot. The search for the masterminds behind the plot would take years to find, but solving the case ultimately came down to love gone wrong.

In this bonus episode, our host Briana Whitney and producer Serjio Hernandez are interviewed by Kris Pickel about how extensive their investigation was into the infamous Robert Fisher murder and disappearance case. They discuss brand new tips and information, and answer the question they always get...if they believe Robert Fisher is dead or alive. 

April 10 marks the 20-year anniversary of the brutal murder of Robert Fisher's wife and children in Scottsdale. Fisher has never been found, and to this day, officials disagree over whether he is alive or dead. In a special re-release, Briana Whitney retraces Fisher's steps and examines the details of this infamous case. PLUS: Look for a special Case Q&A episode dropping next week taking a deep di...

In this bonus episode, host Briana Whitney and producer Serjio Hernandez are joined by Kris Pickel to discuss the behind-the-scenes work of their investigation into the disturbing Cold Storage Killer case.

In 2010, Phoenix PD officer Sean Drenth was found shot dead while on duty. The scene was strange, and soon the conversation turned from homicide to suicide, though nobody truly knows what happened. Journalist Briana Whitney explores the theories and learns a bombshell accusation from his family.

In this bonus episode, host Briana Whitney and producer Serjio Hernandez are joined by Kris Pickel to discuss the behind-the-scenes work of their investigation into the murder of teenage paper girl Christy Ann Fornoff, and why this case was particularly emotional for them compared to most.

In this bonus episode, host Briana Whitney and producer Serjio Hernandez are joined by Kris Pickel to discuss the behind the scenes process of putting the "Valentine Sally" investigation together, including the recent break in the case.

In February 1982, a girl's body was found off a rural highway in Northern Arizona. For nearly 40 years, nobody knew who "Valentine Sally" was. The last person to see her alive speaks out about what she saw, and two weeks after journalist Briana Whitney's first story aired about the case, officials identified the girl through DNA.

In this bonus episode, host Briana Whitney and producer Serjio Hernandez are interviewed by Kris Pickel about the behind the scenes of their investigation into The Sleepwalker Murderer. They’ll share how they found all the old footage tapes from his trial, how the judge really felt about what he saw in the courtroom, and give their theories on if Scott Falater was asleep or awake when he killed hi...

In this bonus episode, host Briana Whitney and producer Serjio Hernandez are interviewed by Kris Pickel about the behind the scenes process of putting the 1931 "Trunk Murderess" investigation together, what they found shocking and bizarre, and what they believe happened to the trunk murdered and her victims.

In 1931, Winnie Ruth Judd was accused of killing her two best friends in Phoenix, chopping up one of the bodies, then taking the dead bodies in trunks on a train to LA. Deemed the "Trunk Murderess," she was caught and charged with murder, but ended up in an insane asylum where she would escape 6 times. But did Winnie Ruth commit the murders on her own? Journalist Briana Whitney investigates.

In 1997, Scott Falater stabbed his wife 44 times at their Phoenix home, before dragging her into their pool then stashing the bloody knife and clothes in his car. But he claimed he remembered none of it because he was sleepwalking. Journalist Briana Whitney investigates if it was truly possible Falater was asleep when he murdered his wife.

In 1984, 13-year-old Christy Ann Fornoff disappeared while on her paper route in Tempe, Arizona. Her body was found near a dumpster. Her killer would end up assisting police with the investigation and attending her funeral, before being arrested and eventually executed. Journalist Briana Whitney sits down with Christy's parents 36 years later.

In 1994, a body is discovered in a man’s large freezer near Prescott, Arizona three years after a Southern California woman disappears after a concert. Authorities believe she isn’t the only victim. Journalist Briana Whitney tracks down evidence never before revealed to the public.

In 2003, a young couple goes camping overnight on Bumble Bee Road, Arizona to celebrate their one year anniversary. Both were found shot dead in their truck the next day. Their killer still hasn’t been found. Journalist Briana Whitney uncovers new theories from family and police.

In 1995, the Sunset Limited Amtrak train derailed overnight in the middle of the Arizona desert. One person died, another 75 were injured. Mysterious notes were left at the scene by the perpetrators, claiming they purposefully sabotaged the train. The case remains unsolved. Journalist Briana Whitney questions the FBI and those on the train that night.

In 2001, police believe Robert Fisher brutally killed his wife and kids in Scottsdale, Arizona, then cut a gas line so the house exploded into flames. He was never found, and officials disagree on whether he’s dead or alive. He’s still on the FBI’s Top Ten Most Wanted. Journalist Briana Whitney retraces Fisher's steps.