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
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
MURDERED: Jill & Julie Hansen
Feb 16, 2026The 1986 shooting of 16-year-old twin sisters Jill and Julie Hansen stunned the small town of Willow Creek, California. The investigation into who shot the girls and set fire to the Hansen family home...
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This episode examines the tragic 1986 case of twin sisters Jill and Julie Hansen, who were shot and killed when their California home was set ablaze. The investigation quickly focused on their stepbrother Donnie, but significant gaps in the police work and conflicting evidence raised questions about whether investigators got it right or missed other suspects entirely.
- The Night of the Fire
- The Investigation Focuses on Donnie
MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF: The Day-Stewart Family
Feb 09, 2026A Chicago house fire killed a firefighter’s wife and their three children. The city called it a tragic accident. But as we pulled records and spoke with those who knew the family best, the story began...
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In this deeply investigated episode, Ashley Flowers examines the 2023 Chicago fire that killed Summer Day and her three children while her firefighter husband Sean was on duty. What initially appeared to be a tragic accident becomes increasingly suspicious when reporters uncover Summer's plans to leave Sean the day after the fire, a history of alleged domestic abuse, potential evidence tampering, and critical investigative failures by Chicago authorities.
- The Night of the Fire
- Fire Investigation and Initial Findings
MURDERED: Bobby Moore
Feb 02, 2026What began as a whirlwind romance in the midst of a murder in 1970s DC, ended in a mysterious tragedy in small-town Indiana. Separated by five months, the deaths of Bobby and his wife, Barbara Moore, ...
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Crime Junkie hosts Ashley Flowers and Britt delve into a complex case that begins with a 1974 mistaken identity murder in Washington D.C., where Judge Louis Sisler was fatally shot by vigilantes seeking revenge for a sexual assault. The investigation leads D.C. homicide detective Bobby Moore to meet and eventually marry the victim's widow, Barbara Sisler. Years later, after moving to Indiana and becoming town marshal, Bobby's marriage deteriorates, culminating in him shooting Barbara to death in what he claims was self-defense. Five months later, Bobby is mysteriously murdered on his doorstep—shot to the hour on the anniversary of Barbara's death—in a killing that remains unsolved to this day.
- The Mistaken Identity Murder of Judge Louis Sisler
- Detective Marries the Victim's Widow
AUDIO EXTRA: A Conversation With Elizabeth Smart
Jan 29, 2026This is the full sit-down interview between Ashley and Elizabeth Smart -- a powerful 90 minutes of raw, unedited conversation with one of the most real and honest and deep-down GOOD human beings we've...
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In this Crime Junkie special episode, host Ashley Flowers conducts an extended interview with Elizabeth Smart, who was kidnapped at age 14 in 2002 and held captive for nine months. Elizabeth shares her harrowing experience in detail, discusses her journey of healing, and explains her advocacy work through the Elizabeth Smart Foundation, which focuses on preventing crimes against children and supporting survivors, particularly from underserved communities like Native American populations.
- The Night of the Kidnapping
- The Reality of Captivity and Sexual Assault
Kelly Dee Wilson (10 of Spades, Ohio)
Jan 27, 2026R&B radio fans in Dayton, Ohio, knew Kelly Dee Wilson as her on air name Nikki Brooks. When Wilson turned up murdered in her apartment after her show in March 2000, the community was shocked. Sour...
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This episode of The Deck examines the unsolved 2000 murder of Kelly D. Wilson, known on-air as Nikki Brooks, a popular radio DJ in Dayton, Ohio. When the 29-year-old failed to show up for her radio show on March 25, 2000, her boss discovered her body in her apartment bathroom. Despite an active investigation spanning over two decades, her killer remains at large. The case is complicated by the lack of forced entry, missing keys, and cleanup attempts at the scene, suggesting Kelly knew her attacker. Detective Melanie Phelps continues to pursue new leads and DNA testing in hopes of finally solving this devastating case.
- Kelly Wilson's Disappearance and Discovery
- The Crime Scene Investigation
MISSING: Marilyn “Niqui” McCown
Jan 26, 2026Marilyn “Niqui” McCown was the first missing person’s case covered on Crime Junkie. Now, nearly 25 years after she vanished, fresh reporting uncovers never-before-heard details from police files that ...
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This special episode revisits the 2001 disappearance of Marilyn 'Nikki' McCown, originally covered in Crime Junkie's very first episode. Eight years later, with new investigative resources and never-before-released case files, Ashley and her team uncover crucial details that challenge the accepted narrative. The investigation explores multiple suspects including Nikki's fiancé Bobby Webster, obsessed coworker Tommy Swint, and a previously unknown figure, Darlene Williams, whose involvement may be more significant than anyone realized. The case remains unsolved with new theories about where Nikki's remains might be located.
- The Original Story and Initial Investigation
- Bobby Webster: The Suspicious Fiancé
MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF: Shanquella Robinson
Jan 22, 2026A luxury vacation to Mexico with college friends ended in tragedy when Shanquella Robinson died of what her friends said was alcohol poisoning. But Shanquella’s family always believed there was more t...
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Ashley Flowers and Britt examine the tragic death of 25-year-old Shanquilla Robinson, who died in October 2022 during a last-minute trip to Cabo, Mexico with college friends. What was initially reported as alcohol poisoning was revealed to be far more sinister after a leaked video showed a brutal one-sided fight, conflicting autopsy reports emerged, and an anonymous caller tipped off the family. Despite evidence of violence and a Mexican arrest warrant, no one has been held accountable, leaving Shanquilla's family still fighting for justice three years later.
- The Fateful Trip and Initial Reports
- Conflicting Stories and an Anonymous Call
MISSING: Bonnie Lee Schultz Part 2
Jan 19, 2026Before dawn on July 4, 1997, Bonnie Lee Schultz was driving home after a late night out with friends. She was never seen again. For nearly 30 years, Indianapolis investigators suspected her husband’s ...
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In this two-part episode, Crime Junkie investigates the 1997 disappearance of Bonnie Schultz, who vanished after leaving a birthday party at a bar in Indianapolis. While police have long suspected her husband Rick, the hosts explore alternative theories and present evidence suggesting the investigation may have overlooked other possibilities. Through interviews with Bonnie's son Josh, review of police transcripts, and even consultation with a medium, the episode challenges the prevailing narrative and reveals significant investigative missteps.
- The Investigation's Narrow Focus on Rick
- Rick's 2007 Interview: A Decade of Questions
MISSING: Bonnie Lee Schultz
Jan 12, 2026Before dawn on July 4, 1997, Bonnie Lee Schultz was driving home after a late night out with friends. She was never seen again. For nearly 30 years, Indianapolis investigators suspected her husband’s ...
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This episode examines the 1997 disappearance of Bonnie Lee Schultz, who vanished after telling her husband Rick she wanted a divorce. While surface details suggest a straightforward case of domestic violence, hosts Ashley Flowers and Britt dig deeper to reveal a more complex story with multiple theories, inadequate police investigation, and lingering questions about what really happened that Fourth of July weekend.
- Bonnie's Unhappy Marriage and Decision to Divorce
- The Affair with John Guy and Final Conversation
SURVIVING: Ernest Pine
Jan 05, 2026In August 2008, a woman in rural Kentucky survived one of the most brutal assaults we have ever reported, but her strength that night ensured her attacker was identified and arrested. Years later, he ...
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Ashley Flowers delivers an urgent warning to the Elizabethtown, Kentucky community about Ernest Pine, a violent predator who was recently released on parole after serving only 17 years for a brutal attack. In 2008, Pine nearly killed his neighbor Linda in an attack so horrific she had to scrawl his name in her own blood. The case raises disturbing questions about whether Linda was his first victim, as striking similarities exist to a 1992 unsolved murder of Elena Sanchez Hawkins in the same area where Pine lived.
- The Attack on Linda: A Neighbor's Nightmare
- The Arrest and Investigation: A Mountain of Evidence
MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF: Amanda Wienckowski
Jan 01, 2026When 20-year-old Amanda Wienckowski vanished one night in Buffalo, her mom, Leslie, refused to sit back and wait for answers. She begged police to listen and even parked outside the house where Amanda...
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Crime Junkie hosts Ashley Flowers and Britt investigate the tragic case of Amanda Winkowski, a 20-year-old who disappeared in December 2008 after being dropped off at a house in Buffalo, New York. Her mother Leslie camped outside the house for a month before Amanda's frozen body was discovered across the street. Despite two conflicting autopsy results and DNA evidence linking suspects, the case remains unsolved, highlighting systemic failures in investigating crimes involving vulnerable victims and the limitations of legal statutes.
- Amanda's Disappearance and Leslie's Desperate Search
- The Discovery of Amanda's Body
In November 2024, Ashley Flowers sat down with John Ramsey at his home for a one-on-one conversation about the murder of his daughter, JonBenét Ramsey. In the year since that interview, John has met ...
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In this deeply personal interview, John Ramsey discusses the unsolved 1996 murder of his six-year-old daughter JonBenét Ramsey. He addresses 30 years of investigation missteps, DNA evidence that could solve the case, theories about the killer, and his ongoing fight to get Boulder Police to conduct advanced DNA testing. John reveals details about the chaotic morning of the discovery, police incompetence, and his advocacy for federal legislation to help families of homicide victims.
- Life After Loss and Media Misconceptions
- The Chaotic Morning and Police Incompetence
SCANDAL: Police Explorer Programs
Dec 22, 2025Law enforcement Explorer programs were created to mentor teens interested in policing. But decades of weak oversight created an environment where officers could manipulate that trust. Some exploited t...
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This Crime Junkie episode investigates systemic abuse within Police Explorer programs, focusing on the death of 18-year-old Heidi Gatliff in 2015 and revealing a disturbing pattern of law enforcement officers grooming and exploiting teenagers across the country. Ashley Flowers traces how multiple IMPD officers had inappropriate relationships with Heidi, examines similar cases nationwide, and exposes the structural failures that enable predatory behavior in youth law enforcement programs.
- The Death of Heidi Gatliff
- Francisco Olmos and the Locked Phone
MURDERED: Sandra Birchmore
Dec 15, 2025In 2021, 23-year-old Sandra Birchmore was found dead in her apartment. And what Massachusetts investigators quickly called a suicide slowly revealed itself to be something much more sinister. Because ...
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This episode examines the tragic death of 23-year-old Sandra Birchmore, who was found dead in her Canton, Massachusetts apartment in February 2021. Initially ruled a suicide, an FBI investigation revealed she was likely murdered by Matthew Farwell, a police officer who had groomed and sexually abused her since she was 13 through the Police Explorers program. The case exposes systemic abuse within the program and highlights how Stoughton Police Chief Donna McNamara's internal investigation ultimately led to federal charges when local authorities failed to act.
- Sandra Birchmore's Death and Initial Investigation
- The Police Explorers Program Connection
MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF: Rowena Wilkinson Zapalac
Dec 08, 2025For decades, police said Rowena Wilkinson Zapalac died via suicide by masturbation. But her family always believed there was more to Rowena’s death than met the eye. Could she have been the victim of ...
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Crime Junkie investigates the 1984 death of Rowena Wilkinson Zappalack in Flatonia, Texas, which was ruled a suicide by authorities but her family believes was murder. After receiving a case submission from Rowena's sister Jolita, the podcast team conducted their own investigation and discovered disturbing connections to two other women's deaths in the same small town, all potentially linked to one local man named Cooper Cherry rather than the suspected serial killer Robert Charles Brown.
- Rowena's Death and Initial Investigation
- The Case File Revelations
MURDERED: Patrick Shunn & Monique Patenaude
Dec 01, 2025When a couple from Oso, Washington, is discovered missing, it doesn’t take long for detectives to develop a prime suspect. But solving the case, finding their bodies and capturing the killer took appr...
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This Crime Junkie episode details the 100-day investigation into the double murder of Patrick Shun and Monique Patinot in Oso, Washington. The case involves a neighbor dispute that escalated to murder, a massive evidence collection effort, and a manhunt that extended to Mexico. Through meticulous investigative work combining traditional methods with modern forensic evidence, detectives solved the case and brought the killer to justice.
- The Disappearance and Initial Investigation
- Discovery of the Vehicles and Crime Scene Evidence
MISSING: Zelig Williams
Nov 27, 2025A rising Broadway star. A mysterious SOS alert. And a car left abandoned at a trailhead wrecked by Hurricane Helene. When 28-year-old Zelig Williams vanishes on October 3rd, 2024, there’s no sign of a...
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This episode covers the mysterious disappearance of Zelig Williams, a 28-year-old Broadway performer who vanished on October 3, 2024, after leaving his mother's South Carolina home. An SOS crash alert was sent from his phone, but no crash scene was found. His car was later discovered at a trailhead parking lot with his clothes neatly folded inside, and a witness reported seeing him acting erratically and stripping naked on the trail. The case involves puzzling phone data, unexplained behavior, and questions about his mental health struggles and involvement with churches promoting conversion therapy and faith healing.
- The Initial Disappearance and SOS Alert
- Discovery of the Abandoned Vehicle