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: Lakesha Thompson
Sep 14, 2026In May 2023, Lakesha Thompson’s entire family was upended by a single bullet that took their mother away from them forever. From the beginning, who pulled the trigger has been the question at the fore...
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Crime Junkie investigates the suspicious death of Lakeisha Thompson, who was found dead from a gunshot wound in her fiancé Nathan Fitton's home in May 2023. Despite numerous inconsistencies at the scene—including questions about which hand held the gun, bullet trajectory issues, and Nathan's conflicting statements—police closed the case as a suicide. The family hired a private investigator who uncovered additional troubling evidence, leading the Georgia Bureau of Investigation to change the manner of death from suicide to undetermined. However, Clayton County Police refuse to reopen the case, leaving Lakeisha's family desperate for answers.
- The 4 AM Call and Lakeisha's Death
- Crime Scene Inconsistencies Noted by Responding Officers
UPDATE: The Sodder Children
Sep 07, 2026In 2019, we covered the Sodder children, five siblings who vanished after their family’s home burned down on Christmas morning in 1945. Officials said they died in the fire, but no bodies were ever fo...
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In this updated investigation of the 1945 Sodder children case, Miranda Weeks—great-great-granddaughter of one of the surviving Sodder children—presents newly uncovered case records that cast serious doubt on the official conclusion. Five children vanished during a Christmas Eve house fire in West Virginia, but no remains were ever found. The episode examines suspicious circumstances including severed phone lines, missing equipment, questionable local officials with ties to George Sodder's former boss, and expert testimony suggesting the children couldn't have been consumed by the fire.
- The Night of the Fire
- The Missing Remains Mystery
MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF: Alyssa Romine-Olson Part 2
Aug 31, 2026When 30-year-old Alyssa Romine-Olson is found floating naked and face down in the pond of a Gilbert, Arizona nature preserve in 2016, online coverage makes the case sound like a suicide. But her missi...
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Ashley Flowers and Britt investigate the mysterious 2016 death of 30-year-old Alyssa Romine Olson, who was found naked and face-down in shallow water at a Gilbert, Arizona nature preserve. While officially ruled undetermined, the case has hallmarks of foul play—missing belongings, suspicious evidence, and multiple viable suspects. The investigation appears to have stalled, with police focusing narrowly on certain theories while ignoring promising leads, leaving Alyssa's family desperate for answers.
- Introduction and Case Overview
- The Last Reformation Theory
CJ SPIRAL: Mica Miller
Aug 29, 2026Come spiral with us as we recap the biggest true-crime documentary right now, "Death of the Pastor's Wife." The takes are hot, the eyes will roll, and Ashley and Brit will be trauma bonding as they re...
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Ashley and Britt provide an in-depth discussion of Netflix's documentary 'The Pastor's Wife' about Micah Miller, who died by alleged suicide in April 2024 after filing for divorce from her husband, pastor John Paul Miller. They explore the allegations of abuse, control, and manipulation throughout their marriage, examine the suspicious circumstances surrounding her death, and discuss the ongoing FBI investigation. Drawing on their own evangelical church backgrounds, they analyze the power dynamics, religious manipulation, and structural issues that enabled JP's alleged behavior.
- Introduction and Personal Connection to the Case
- The Affair and Early Marriage Red Flags
MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF: Alyssa Romine-Olson
Aug 24, 2026When 30-year-old Alyssa Romine-Olson is found floating naked and face down in the pond of a Gilbert, Arizona nature preserve in 2016, online coverage makes the case sound like a suicide. But her missi...
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This episode examines the 2016 death of Alyssa Romine Olson, a 30-year-old woman found floating naked in a pond at Gilbert, Arizona's Riparian Preserve. Despite suspicious circumstances and police privately acknowledging possible foul play, authorities crafted a narrative suggesting suicide or accident. The investigation heavily focused on her estranged husband Brayden, whose bizarre behavior and statements raised red flags, though he had a solid alibi. The case remains undetermined over a decade later, with Part Two promised to explore additional suspects and Alyssa's connections to controversial religious movements.
- The Discovery and Initial Investigation
- Who Was Alyssa: Faith and Lifestyle
NEW SHOW: The Truth About Natalie
Aug 17, 2026Twenty-seven-year-old Natalie Jones vanished after a July 4th lake party in Alabama in 2020. Ninety-three days later, her car and her remains were found in a rural Georgia field. No arrest. No clear a...
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This first episode of 'The Truth About Natalie' introduces the mysterious disappearance and death of 27-year-old Natalie Jones, who vanished after leaving a July 4th, 2020 party in Alabama. Through Natalie's own recordings, family interviews, and investigative reporting, the series examines whether her death was a tragic accident or something more sinister. After 93 days of searching, Natalie's body was found in her distinctive hot pink car in an overgrown field, raising more questions than answers about what really happened.
- Natalie's Disappearance on July 4th Weekend
- The Initial Investigation and Search Efforts
MURDERED: Bill & Peggy Stephenson
Aug 10, 2026In 2011, 74-year-old high school sweethearts Bill and Peggy Stephenson were found murdered inside their Kentucky condo on Memorial Day weekend. Nothing valuable appeared to be missing, but the crime s...
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This episode covers the 2011 double murder of Bill and Peggy Stevenson, a retired couple found dead in their Florence, Kentucky condo. The crime scene contained bizarre staging and ritualistic elements that baffled investigators for over a decade. In an exclusive update, Detective Coy Cox reveals that a partial fingerprint from the scene was recently matched to a man in a western state who knew the victims, moved away right after the murders, and is now refusing to cooperate. The case remains unsolved with multiple persons of interest still under investigation.
- The Discovery of the Crime Scene
- The Bizarre Crime Scene Evidence
MISSING: Kerry O’Brien-Krueger
Aug 03, 2026When Kerry O’Brien-Krueger vanished in 1989, her husband claimed she left for a work trip that never existed. Decades later, investigators are still untangling shifting stories, missing evidence and s...
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Crime Junkie investigates the 1989 disappearance of Carrie O'Brien Kruger, a 32-year-old Wisconsin PR professional who vanished after allegedly leaving for a work trip that never existed. Her husband Tracy's suspicious behavior, convenient amnesia, and constantly changing story made him the prime suspect, but Carrie's body has never been found. Investigator Tommy Sherritt needs help from listeners to solve two crucial mysteries: identifying a basement where concrete work was done around the time of her disappearance, and deciphering old Wisconsin Bell phone records that could prove Tracy's story false.
- The Disappearance of Carrie O'Brien Kruger
- Tracy's Inconsistent Story and Suspicious Behavior
MURDERED: Joyce LePage Part 2
Jul 27, 2026In part two of Joyce’s story, we dig deep into the case file and letters left behind by Joyce herself, which reveal even more suspects, including the roommate she’d been avoiding that summer. If y...
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This episode covers the decades-old unsolved murder of Joyce LePage, a WSU student who disappeared in July 1971 and was found dead in a canyon months later. The investigation examines multiple suspects and theories, including members of her meditation group who lived near where her car was found, her roommate Bruce with a history of concerning behavior, and other individuals in her life that summer. Despite 55 years passing, there's a $100,000 reward and ongoing investigation, with new focus on her roommate Bruce Beerbaum.
- The Meditation Group Connection
- Mark Wadley's Disturbing Past
EXCLUSIVE: Nancy Guthrie
Jul 22, 2026In this special episode of Crime Junkie on the Nancy Guthrie abduction case, breaking news reporter Briana Whitney and host Ashley Flowers reveal all details from the ransom notes you haven't heard ye...
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Ashley Flowers and Brianna Whitney provide an in-depth analysis of the Nancy Guthrie kidnapping case six months after her disappearance. The episode reveals previously undisclosed details about the ransom notes, investigative missteps by law enforcement, and presents a compelling theory about how the abduction may have been orchestrated by a foreign mastermind working with a local accomplice. Despite extensive investigation, Nancy remains missing with no arrests made.
- The Disappearance and Initial Investigation
- The Ransom Notes and Demands
MURDERED: Joyce LePage
Jul 20, 2026In the summer of 1971, 21-year-old Joyce LePage disappears after a skydiving lesson followed by a beer with friends. In the beginning, the only clue is a piece of missing carpet that was cut out from ...
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In July 1971, 21-year-old WSU student Joyce LePage vanished after a skydiving lesson. Her car was found blocks away, her belongings in a dorm she was secretly living in, and a large section of carpet was missing. Nine months later, her remains were discovered wrapped in that carpet at the bottom of a canyon, launching a 55-year investigation that remains unsolved. This episode examines multiple suspects and theories about what happened that fateful night.
- Joyce LePage's Summer at WSU
- The Last Known Hours
WARNING: Roger Hueber
Jul 13, 2026In August 2005, a woman disappeared just days before she was supposed to testify against her boyfriend, a corrections officer accused of sexually abusing minors. For years, her family says she was tre...
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This Crime Junkie episode tells the disturbing story of Roger Huber, a corrections officer and convicted sex offender in Lockport, New York, and the suspicious disappearance of his girlfriend Cheryl Rucci in 2005. The investigation begins when a high school student's journal reveals Huber's inappropriate relationship with minors. Cheryl was set to testify against Huber when she vanished the day before receiving a grand jury subpoena. Despite Huber's conviction on sex abuse charges, Cheryl has never been found, and her family believes she was silenced before she could testify. The episode explores a disturbing pattern of grooming, alleged corruption within law enforcement, and a critical witness sighting that was dismissed by investigators.
- The Journal Entry That Started Everything
- Roger's Pattern of Grooming and Abuse
MURDERED: Carmen Van Huss
Jul 06, 2026On March 23, 1993, screams tore through the thin walls of a gated Indianapolis apartment complex as 19-year-old Carmen Van Huss fought for her life. Neighbors heard the attack, but no one called 911. ...
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This episode tells the story of Carmen Van Huss, a 19-year-old woman brutally murdered in her Indianapolis apartment in 1993. After 31 years, the case was finally solved thanks to the relentless efforts of Sergeant Bill Carter, who worked the cold case despite departmental pushback. DNA evidence and genetic genealogy eventually led to the arrest and conviction of Dana Shepard, a former neighbor who pled guilty in 2026. Carmen's sister Pam successfully championed 'Carmen's Law' to expand DNA testing access in cold cases.
- The Night of the Murder
- Initial Investigation and Carmen's Life
MURDERED: Christine Banfield & Joseph Ryan
Jun 29, 2026When 37-year-old Christine Banfield and 39-year-old Joseph Ryan were found fatally injured inside a Virginia home in 2023, investigators were initially told that Ryan was a violent intruder and that C...
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This Crime Junkie episode investigates the twisted murders of Christine Banfield and Joseph Ryan on February 24, 2023, in Fairfax County, Virginia. What initially appeared to be a home invasion gone wrong was revealed to be an elaborate premeditated plot. Federal agent Brendan Banfield and the family's au pair, Juliana Perez Magalhanes, orchestrated a catfishing scheme using a fake BDSM profile to lure Joe Ryan to their home, where they murdered both Joe and Brendan's wife Christine. The case exposed a secret affair, meticulous planning including soundproof windows, and a 15-minute gap between 911 calls that proved critical to the prosecution. Both perpetrators were convicted, with Brendan receiving life without parole.
- The 911 Calls and Initial Scene
- The Catfishing Scheme Revealed
MISSING: Brittany Wallace Shank
Jun 22, 2026On November 30, 2018, 23-year-old Brittany Wallace Shank showed up barefoot and bleeding at a stranger's door asking for help. She said the man she was with had crashed their car and ran away. Deputie...
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In this Crime Junkie episode, hosts Ashley Flowers and Britt explore the mysterious 2018 disappearance of 23-year-old Brittany Wallace Shank, who vanished after a car went off a rural Michigan road. What begins as a seemingly simple incident spirals into a complex web of conflicting stories, suspicious relationships, and unanswered questions involving her boyfriend Sheldon, her estranged husband Eric, and a friend named Ashley Hooley who keeps inserting herself into the investigation.
- The Night of the Disappearance
- The Missing Person Investigation Begins
MURDERED: Alberta O. Jones
Jun 15, 2026Alberta O. Jones was breaking barriers in Louisville, Kentucky. She was the first Black woman prosecutor in the city’s history, she helped register some 6,000 Black citizens to vote, and she was a lea...
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This episode investigates the 1965 murder of Alberta O. Jones, a groundbreaking Black female prosecutor and civil rights attorney in Louisville, Kentucky. After being lured from her home late at night, Alberta was brutally beaten and drowned in the Ohio River. Despite abundant evidence including fingerprints, blood, and witness testimony, the case remained unsolved for 60 years amid suspicious evidence destruction, possible police involvement, and theories ranging from robbery to targeted assassination related to her civil rights work or management of Muhammad Ali's finances.
- Alberta's Final Night and Discovery
- Trail of Evidence and Suspicious Bridge Sightings
MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF: Tripp Brazeale
Jun 08, 2026In November 2024, 15-year-old Tripp Brazeale was found hanging from a tree in the middle of the woods of Forrest City, Arkansas. His death was quickly ruled a suicide, but in the weeks and months that...
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A detailed investigation into the death of 15-year-old Tripp Brazil, who died on November 3, 2024, after a high-speed ATV pursuit by Arkansas deputies. While officially ruled a suicide, numerous discrepancies in the case—including missing body cam footage, questionable evidence, and contradictory statements—have led his family and a private investigator to believe foul play may have been involved.
- The Pursuit and Initial Search
- Discovery and Official Ruling
WARNING: AI Voice Cloning and Virtual Kidnappings
Jun 03, 2026A call from someone you love in crisis is terrifying enough - but what if the voice begging for help isn’t really them? We break down how AI voice cloning is fueling virtual kidnapping scams, why pani...
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This Crime Junkie episode explores the terrifying world of AI-powered voice cloning scams, focusing on Jennifer DiStefano's harrowing experience when she received a call from what sounded exactly like her daughter being kidnapped. The episode examines how scammers use readily available AI technology to clone voices from as little as three seconds of audio, the devastating psychological impact on victims, and practical steps listeners can take to protect themselves from these increasingly sophisticated crimes.
- The Fake Kidnapping Call
- The Technology Behind Voice Cloning Scams
SERIAL KILLER: David Meirhofer
Jun 01, 2026In the summer of 1973, the Jaeger family wakes at a Montana campground to every parent's nightmare: their young daughter, Susie, is gone. Searches turn up nothing, until a man begins tormenting the fa...
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This episode examines the chilling case of David Meyerhofer, a Montana serial killer who abducted 7-year-old Susie Yeager from her family's tent in 1973. The investigation became one of the first cases where FBI criminal profiling proved instrumental in catching a killer, despite the suspect passing multiple polygraph tests. Meyerhofer's reign of terror included at least four confirmed murders, taunting phone calls to victim's families, and a disturbing collection of trophies from his crimes.
- Susie Yeager's Abduction from Montana Campground
- Ransom Calls and FBI Investigation
INTRODUCING: CounterClock Season 8
May 28, 2026In February 2008, six women were held hostage in a women’s clothing store in Tinley Park, Illinois.. Rhoda McFarland, Carrie Hudek Chiuso, Connie Woolfolk, Sarah Szafranski, and Jennifer Bishop were e...
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This episode serves as a teaser for CounterClock Season 8, which investigates the unsolved 2008 Lane Bryant massacre in Tinley Park, Illinois. Host Ashley Flowers introduces the case of a gunman who held six women at gunpoint in a clothing store, killing five of them. Despite having a surviving witness, composite sketch, and the suspect's voice on a 911 call, the case remains unsolved nearly two decades later. The investigation reveals unexpected connections to churches, mental health facilities, street gangs, and other violent crimes, suggesting the case may be far more complex than initially thought.
- Introduction to the Lane Bryant Case
- The Investigation Deepens