Summary
Overview
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 episode opens by recapping Alyssa's death from the previous episode. She was found naked in Gilbert's riparian preserve with all her belongings missing—clothing, journal, cell phone, and keys. Despite evidence suggesting foul play including footprints and a latex glove at the scene, the case was presented to media as a possible suicide. The medical examiner ruled the manner and cause of death as undetermined, yet police told the press there was no threat to the public, creating confusion about the true nature of the investigation.
- Alyssa Romine Olson was found naked, face down in shallow water in Gilbert, Arizona nature preserve
- All her belongings were missing: clothing, journal, cell phone, and keys
- Police found footprints, shoe prints, and a latex glove at the scene
- Medical examiner ruled manner and cause of death as undetermined
- Police told press there was no threat to the public, suggesting suicide despite foul play evidence
" Either Alyssa did this to herself or her husband, Braden, did it to her. And if they found something that didn't fit neatly into that box, they seemed to discount it until the case eventually just ended up cold. "
The Last Reformation Theory
One unexplored theory involves the Last Reformation (TLR), a controversial global Christian revival movement. Alyssa had searched for information about TLR shortly before her death and was planning a trip with her husband to learn more about it. The movement emphasizes spontaneous baptisms, public evangelizing, and has been connected to controversial practices like attempting to cure autism through exorcisms. Alyssa's sister asked police if her death could have involved a baptism gone wrong, but investigators never followed up on TLR connections or an unidentified phone number Alyssa was communicating with before her death.
- Alyssa had multiple searches for The Last Reformation movement on June 6th, shortly before her death
- Alyssa and Braden were planning a trip to learn more about TLR just weeks after she died
- TLR requires new members to be rebaptized and engage in on-the-spot baptisms
- The movement has been connected to claims of curing autism by casting out demons and freeing people from cancer through prayer
- Alyssa's text log showed exchanges with an unidentified number the day before she went missing—police never followed up
- Police tried calling the unidentified number but got no answer and no voicemail option
" According to this man, one of the first things that they have new members do is get baptized again. And interestingly, one of the group's practices was to go to Walmart and to try and convert people in the parking lot. "
" Chelsea knew very little about TLR, but she said that her family had their suspicions about it possibly being a cult. "
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