Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by Audiochuck Media Company.
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Recent Episodes
MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF: The Jamison Family
May 25, 2026Bobby, Sherilynn, and 6-year-old Madyson Jamison went to the Sans Bois Mountains in southeastern Oklahoma in search of a fresh start. The family planned to live off the land in a remote, rugged area o...
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The Jameson family disappeared on October 8, 2009, while exploring remote land in Oklahoma's Panola Mountain. Their truck was found abandoned with their dog, $32,000 in cash, phones, and keys inside. Four years later, their skeletal remains were discovered 2.6 miles away in rugged terrain. Despite evidence pointing to foul play, their deaths remain classified as undetermined and the case is no longer actively investigated.
- The Abandoned Truck Discovery
- The Family's Troubled Background
MISSING: Christopher “Cole” Thomas
May 18, 2026On Black Friday 2016, 22-year-old Christopher “Cole” Thomas was driving through rural North Carolina with two coworkers. Hours later, the coworkers approached police and said Cole had suddenly panicke...
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This episode investigates the mysterious disappearance of Christopher Cole Thomas, a 22-year-old who vanished on Black Friday 2016 in Benson, North Carolina. What began as a story about a young man allegedly running off in paranoia quickly unraveled into a complex web of lies involving drug deals, multiple suspects, and constantly evolving stories. Despite surveillance footage, phone data, and testimonies proving the initial accounts were false, Cole's body has never been found and no one has been held accountable for what investigators believe was his murder.
- The Initial Missing Person Report
- The Family's Shocking Discovery About Drug Deals
MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF: Spencer Irwin
May 11, 2026Spencer Irwin was just 30 years old when he vanished one Sunday morning in July 2024. Days later, his body was found in a way that raised questions – naked, alone and quickly dismissed by authorities....
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Kelly Irwin's 30-year-old son Spencer was found dead, naked, and covered in dirt at a Fresno loading dock in August 2024. Police immediately dismissed it as a homeless overdose, but toxicology proved otherwise. With no autopsy performed and critical evidence lost, Kelly has been forced to investigate her son's death herself, uncovering suspicious circumstances, potential witnesses, and investigative failures that suggest something far more sinister than the 'natural causes' ruling authorities settled on.
- The Devastating Discovery and Immediate Dismissal
- Spencer's Last Known Movements and Disappearance
MURDERED: Brittany McGlone
May 04, 2026On May 4, 2007, 19-year-old Brittany McGlone did something she rarely did. Instead of going home after work, she went to her boyfriend’s house. By that afternoon, she was found dead in his bed, brutal...
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In this Crime Junkie episode, hosts Ashley Flowers and Britt investigate the 2007 murder of 19-year-old Brittany McGlone in Winsboro, Texas. Brittany was found brutally beaten to death in her boyfriend's bed after working an overnight shift. The case focuses on Chad Carr, the boyfriend's sister's partner, who became the prime suspect due to circumstantial evidence, a pattern of violent behavior, and a failed polygraph. Despite an arrest in 2022, a grand jury issued a no bill, and the case remains unsolved with DNA evidence still being analyzed.
- The Discovery and Initial Investigation
- Boyfriend Jeff's Alibi and Family Dynamics
UPDATE: Melissa Casias
Apr 29, 2026The Melissa Casias case keeps unraveling, and the more we learn, the less anything makes sense. New details have emerged about the strange woman who showed up at Sierra's job to deliver $50 in graduat...
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This Crime Junkie podcast episode provides critical updates on the mysterious disappearance of scientist Melissa Casillas, revealing increasingly strange connections and complications in the investigation. The episode covers mounting public pressure and media attention linking Melissa to other deceased scientists, aggressive tactics by a private investigator hired by the Mondragon family, new details about witness Rick Valerio, and most disturbingly, a bizarre encounter involving a woman named Wendy who visited Melissa's daughter Sierra after the disappearance but now denies knowing the family. The episode uncovers potential connections to defense contractors and government facilities that raise troubling questions about what really happened to Melissa.
- Growing Media Attention and FBI Involvement
- Private Investigator's Aggressive Tactics
MISSING: Melissa Casias
Apr 27, 2026In June 2025, Melissa Casias dropped her husband off at work in Los Alamos, New Mexico… then did something nobody expected. She turned around and drove home. By that afternoon, she had vanished, leavi...
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This Crime Junkie episode investigates the June 2025 disappearance of Melissa Casillas from Taos, New Mexico. The case divides her family into two opposing camps: her husband Mark and daughter Sierra believe she walked away voluntarily due to financial and marital stress, while Melissa's parents and extended family (the Mondragons) suspect foul play. Surveillance footage shows Melissa walking alone on Highway 518 after wiping her phones clean, but her motivation and ultimate fate remain unknown. The investigation reveals questionable police work, conflicting testimonies, mysterious tips, and potential connections to missing scientists from Los Alamos National Laboratory.
- The Discovery and Initial Response
- The Family Divide and Lloyd's Tip
MURDERED: Melanie Howell
Apr 23, 2026In 1976, a 22-year-old nursing student was murdered in her Los Angeles apartment, leaving behind just one clue: a bloody fingerprint. Decades later, that print was matched—and the case was quietly mar...
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Crime Junkie hosts Ashley Flowers and Britt investigate the 1976 murder of Melanie Howell, a case that was mysteriously marked 'solved' but the killer's name was never shared publicly. Through investigative journalism, they uncover that Paul Bustamante killed both Melanie and another woman, Elizabeth Wolf, using fingerprint evidence that wasn't matched until decades later. The episode reveals how bureaucratic secrecy and technological limitations allowed a killer to go unidentified even after being caught.
- The Mystery of a 'Solved' Unsolved Case
- Melanie Howell's Final Days and Brutal Murder
MURDERED: Stephanie Casberg
Apr 20, 2026In the summer of 1969, Stephanie Casberg walked out the front door of a Milwaukee restaurant after her waitressing shift — and was never seen alive again. Days later, her dismembered remains were foun...
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In 1969, 18-year-old Stephanie Kasberg disappeared after her waitressing shift in Milwaukee and was found dismembered days later along Root River in Racine County, Wisconsin. The precise, methodical nature of the crime suggested someone with anatomical knowledge and familiarity with the rural area. Despite decades of investigation, multiple suspects, and recent DNA advancements, the case remains unsolved. A Crime Junkie podcast episode may have generated a new lead connecting this case to others across the country.
- The Discovery at Root River
- Identifying Stephanie Kasberg
UPDATE: Laura Sweetman
Apr 18, 2026On the heels of our investigation into Laura Sweetman’s death, the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office fulfilled our FOIA request, providing new audio files—including recordings of Laura arguing with her...
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This Crime Junkie episode provides exclusive audio recordings from a 2013 domestic violence incident between Dave and Laura Sweetman. The Sheriff's Office released body cam footage of Laura reporting the incident, an hour-and-twenty-minute recording Laura made of the confrontation with Dave, and audio of Dave's arrest. The recordings reveal a volatile relationship ending, with Dave refusing to let Laura leave, making threats of suicide, and confessing personal information. Laura describes discovering Dave had another family and feeling trapped. The audio raises new questions about Dave's business dealings, tax issues, insurance claims, and connects to his later involvement in Nick Cordova's death.
- Laura Reports the Domestic Incident to Deputies
- The Hour-Long Recording: Dave Refuses to Let Laura Leave
MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF: Laura Sweetman
Apr 13, 2026In December 2013, 42-year-old Laura Sweetman was found dead in the bathtub of her home in Gilbert, Arizona. Despite numerous red flags identified during early interviews, her death was ruled undetermi...
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Crime Junkie hosts Ashley Flowers and Britt explore the mysterious 2013 death of Dr. Laura Sweetman, a pediatric neurologist found dead in her bathtub in Gilbert, Arizona. Laura had recently separated from her husband Dave Sweetman after discovering his affair and secret child, filing for divorce and obtaining an order of protection following a domestic violence incident. Despite suspicious circumstances including her fear of being followed, an unlocked back door, and unexplained injuries, the medical examiner ruled her death 'undetermined' and the case went inactive after minimal investigation. The episode raises serious questions about the quality of the investigation and the medical examiner's office, particularly given Dave Sweetman's later connection to the 2020 murder of his business partner Nick Cordova.
- Laura and Dave's Troubled Marriage
- The Discovery of Dave's Secret Family
MURDERED: Nick Cordova
Apr 06, 2026In May 2020, Nick Cordova was shot in the head while on FaceTime with his children. Suspicion initially focused on one man, but surveillance video showed he was not the shooter.. Nearly six years late...
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This Crime Junkie episode investigates the 2020 murder of Nick Cordova, who was shot execution-style at his HVAC business in Gilbert, Arizona. His wife Alicia witnessed the attack via FaceTime with their children and immediately suspected Nick's business partner Dave Sweetman was involved. Despite surveillance footage showing two masked suspects, an $8 million insurance policy, suspicious behavior patterns, and six years of investigation, no arrests have been made. The case reveals troubling questions about the Gilbert Police Department's handling of evidence and Alicia's relentless pursuit of justice.
- The Fatal FaceTime Call
- The Crime Scene and Dave's Suspicious Story
MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF: Joseph “Jo-Jo” King III
Mar 30, 2026On Feb. 23, 2020, 6-year-old Joseph “Jo-Jo” King III was found unresponsive at home with his stepfather. The initial explanation was simple: he had accidentally suffocated inside a toy chest. But the ...
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This Crime Junkie episode tells the tragic story of six-year-old Joseph 'Jojo' King III, who died in February 2020 after being found unresponsive in his Grand Prairie, Texas home. His stepfather Brandon Hale claimed Jojo got trapped in a toy chest, but when investigators tested this theory, it didn't hold up. Despite evidence suggesting foul play, including concerns about possible homicidal drowning, Brandon was only convicted of violating probation from a previous child abuse case. Jojo's father, a homicide detective, had tried desperately to get his son out of that home after Brandon was indicted for beating Jojo with a belt in 2019, but the system failed to protect him.
- The Fatal Night and Initial Response
- The 2019 Abuse Case and Failed System
UPDATE: Lovers' Lane Murders
Mar 27, 2026An arrest has been made in the 1990 Lovers' Lane murders of Cheryl Henry and Andy Atkinson. More than 30 years after the killings, a DNA match led investigators to a suspect. Listen for the full updat...
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Crime Junkie covers the 1990 Lovers Lane murders of Cheryl Henry and Andy Atkinson in Houston, Texas - a case that remained unsolved for 35 years until a DNA match led to an arrest in 2025. The episode details the brutal double homicide, the decades-long investigation with numerous dead ends, and the recent breakthrough that finally brought justice for the victims' families.
- Discovery of the Missing Couple
- The Horrific Crime Scene
MISSING: Darrel “Bubba” Johnson Sr.
Mar 26, 2026At a busy campsite one summer night, Darrel “Bubba” Johnson Sr. says goodnight and zips up his tent. By sunrise, he’s gone. No Bubba. Just a borrowed flashlight, a phone that pings but is never found,...
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In June 2024, 67-year-old Daryl 'Bubba' Johnson Sr. vanished from a crowded campsite at Conjas Lake State Park in New Mexico during a birthday celebration. Despite being with over 30 people, Bubba disappeared from his tent overnight without a trace. While police quickly concluded he walked away, his family believes critical inconsistencies in witness accounts, a mysterious phone ping, conflicting relationship details, and strange witness sightings suggest something more sinister. Over a year and a half later, no remains, phone, wallet, or physical evidence has been found.
- The Disappearance at Conjas Lake
- The Midnight Flashlight Incident
MURDERED: Mary Yoder Part 2
Mar 23, 2026In July 2015, Mary Yoder, a healthy 60-year-old chiropractor, went to work as usual. Later that day, she began feeling sick. Within 48 hours, she was dead. At first, her sudden decline seemed like a m...
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In this Crime Junkie episode, Ashley Flowers continues the Mary Yoder case investigation, revealing how the focus shifted from her husband Bill and son Adam to office manager Katie Conley after an anonymous letter pointed to evidence in Adam's car. The episode covers Katie's two trials, conviction for manslaughter, and the shocking 2025 reversal that freed her after seven years in prison due to prosecutorial missteps with sealed evidence.
- The Investigation Turns to Katie Conley
- Digital Evidence Builds Against Katie
MURDERED: Mary Yoder
Mar 16, 2026In the summer of 2015, Mary Yoder, a healthy 60-year-old chiropractor, went to work as usual. Later that day, she began feeling sick. Within two days, she was dead. At first, her sudden decline seemed...
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This true crime episode tells the story of Mary Yoder, a beloved 60-year-old chiropractor from Utica, New York, who suddenly died in July 2015 after being violently ill for less than 48 hours. What initially appeared to be a medical mystery transformed into a murder investigation when an autopsy revealed she died from colchicine poisoning—a gout medication she had no reason to take. The case takes multiple shocking turns, including an anonymous letter accusing her son Adam, her husband Bill's suspicious relationship with Mary's own sister, and emerging questions about office manager Katie Conley's potential involvement. This is part one of a two-part series.
- The Mysterious Death of Mary Yoder
- The Autopsy Reveals Colchicine Poisoning
INFAMOUS: Mr. Cruel
Mar 09, 2026In the 1980s and early 1990s, a serial predator targeted young girls in the suburbs of Melbourne, Australia. He wore a mask and left little evidence behind. Investigators described him as calm and cal...
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Crime Junkie hosts Ashley Flowers and Britt explore the disturbing case of Mr. Cruel, a serial predator who terrorized Melbourne, Australia in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The masked intruder broke into homes at night, targeting young girls aged 10-13, holding them captive for hours or days before releasing them. His attacks were meticulously planned and forensically aware, involving bathing victims and removing evidence. After three survivors, his fourth victim, 13-year-old Carmen Chan, was murdered execution-style in 1991. Despite massive investigations, Mr. Cruel's identity remains unknown, though various theories point to career criminals, educators, or members of organized abuse networks.
- The First Attack: Eliza's Ordeal
- Sharon Wills: The 18-Hour Captivity
MURDERED: Joan Webster & Marie Iannuzzi
Mar 02, 2026In 1981, a Harvard graduate student vanished after stepping out of Logan Airport the night after Thanksgiving. As investigators searched for answers, they focused on a suspect connected to another mur...
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This Crime Junkie episode investigates the disappearances and murders of two Massachusetts women from different worlds: Harvard graduate student Joan Webster in 1981 and working-class Marie Iannuzzi in 1979. While authorities connected both cases and convicted Leonard Paradiso for Marie's murder, the hosts uncover troubling gaps in the investigation, questionable evidence, and the possibility that the wrong man was blamed. The episode raises serious questions about prosecutorial misconduct, tunnel vision in law enforcement, and whether the real killer or killers remain free.
- Joan Webster's Disappearance from Logan Airport
- Investigative Failures and Missing Evidence
MYSTERIOUS DEATHS OF: Steven Altman & Mary Ann Hayes
Feb 26, 2026In 1984, when Robin Altman was just 22 years old, her brother Steven was found hanging by his neck in an apparent suicide. 12 years later, tragedy struck this family again when Robin's mother Mary Ann...
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This episode examines the suspicious deaths of Stephen Altman in 1984 and his mother Marianne Hayes in 1996, both ruled suicides in Chicago area. Decades later, Stephen's sister Robin Altman launches her own investigation after discovering troubling inconsistencies in police reports and evidence. With help from Alliance for Hope International and forensic experts, Robin uncovers evidence suggesting both deaths may have been staged homicides, with their stepfather Don Hayes emerging as a potential suspect with means, motive, and opportunity in both cases.
- Robin's Discovery and Rachel's Revelations
- The Missing Stephen Altman Files
MURDERED: Rachel Hansen
Feb 23, 2026On June 2, 2022, Rachel Hansen opened her eyes to a dark figure standing over her bed, staring at her. She screamed, and the person took off. But the very next night — just after 2 a.m. — a dark figur...
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Ashley Flowers and Britt investigate the 2022 murder of 19-year-old Rachel Hansen, who was shot in her Gilbert, Arizona apartment. The case remains unsolved with three main theories: mistaken identity involving her subletter, conflict with horse ranch owners, or involvement of her fiancé's father Gary Bailey. Despite evidence including an intruder the night before and threatening texts, the heavily redacted police file reveals little progress, leaving Rachel's family frustrated with the investigation.
- The Night of the Murder
- The Crime Scene and Strange Details