Missing Magnolias

Dr. Jesse Goliath, a forensic anthropologist and Assistant Professor at Mississippi State University, established the Mississippi Repository for Missing and Unidentified Persons in 2023 after discovering the lack of a comprehensive state database. Using technology like ground-penetrating radar, his team identified Felicia Cox's remains, highlighting the need for better resources. The repository, containing over 1,600 missing persons' profiles and 220 unidentified remains, aims to address the underreporting of BIPOC cases, particularly in rural areas and reservations. Dr. Goliath emphasizes the disparity in how these cases are handled, the vulnerability of runaway youth and marginalized groups, and the importance of geospatial mapping to understand contributing factors like infrastructure and mental health access. As he highlights, "There are people dying because this work is not being done." We hope spreading awareness will ultimately help in advocating for increased funding, legislative changes, and further community engagement. Get in-touch with Dr. Jesse Goliath on his website Donate to the Mississippi Repository for Missing and Unidentified Persons And Follow on:FacebookInstagramUPDATE: the case of Jimmie Jay Lee has been closed. Please keep the friends and family in your thoughts.

With little help from the New Orleans Police Department, parents Scott and Sandy Easterling, hired their own P.I. to investigate what happened to their son, Samuel Easterling, who has been missing for over six months. Samuel (31) whose nickname is "Saint" is a professional photographer who was last seen walking alone in the Bywater area on August 29th, 2024, leaving Po Boys Bar around 4:44 AM. He was reported missing by a close contact on September 2nd. Video footage was not obtained soon enough, so anyone with information is encouraged to come forward. He had sustained an ankle injury and may or may not have been using crutches at the time of his disappearance. New Orleans Police Department 504-658-6229MPIA Database Entry # I-01384-24

Are women better at crime-ing? Experts have noted that female serial killers are the least studied and possibly the most prolific. Joining us is debut author and Louisiana native, Emma C. Wells, here to discuss her novel, This Girl's A Killer, a USA Today bestseller, which follows Cordelia Black, a pharmaceutical rep with an affinity for Louboutin heels and killing the bad men of Baton Rouge. A true "girl's girl," she cares about her friends, she's organized, she has a "workstation" and a curated playlist, and she's been getting away with her crimes rather successfully. There's a lot to unpack here! *Be sure to purchase your copy of This Girl's A Killer . Also follow Emma on her website and socials! Instagram TikTok Facebook

Willard Daspit Jr. has been missing September 10, 2023. His motorcycle was found crashed near his property on Bayou Alexander Highway in the Coteau Homes neighborhood of St. Martinville. His glasses were also found at the scene, which led his wife Lara, joining us today, to believe that her husband was in need of help as he is visually impaired. He is a mechanic who likes to repair things, so it was not uncommon for his bike to malfunction and for him to walk home. He left his phone as well as his truck, validating Lara's belief that her husband did not flee the scene. CCTV footage was released showing Bill walking around town about four miles from the accident, possibly injured. Bill is 59 years-old, 5'10, 218 pounds with brown hair and peridot green eyes. Anyone with any information can contact the St. Martinville Sherrif's Office at 337-394-3071. Facebook #helpusfindbilldaspit UPDATE: Following the recording of our episode, possible human remains were discovered on December 29, 2024, in a wooded area not far off Banker Road in St. Martinville. The LSU FACES Lab as of now has not made any ID.

{Part 2} Re-joining us is our full panel from Part 1, here to discuss some updates in 2024 on the drownings in Lady Bird Lake. Particularly, a survivor Jeff Jones, who sustained life threatening injuries after falling off the bridge, just missing the Shoal Creek. The discovery of Rohypnol in his toxicology report fueled speculation about whether he fell or was pushed. Rather than a targeted serial killer, the group posits that what if these men were not the intended victims. What if there is a conspiracy of drink spiking at the bars? What drug groups should be screened for and how do we better instruct the community to be cautious? Some key issues that were grazed: specialty tests are expensive and are rarely administered in drowning cases. If there is a drugging and/or date rape problem in Austin, there is a need for better toxicology screening and better surveillance for 'hot spots', along with participation from the community and the city on creating more awareness and better safeguards.

{PART 1} The string of Lady Bird Lake drownings have become a significant topic of discussion in Austin, Texas. The victims appear to be all men, mostly middle-aged who have gone out to eat with their families, celebrate promotions, bachelor trips, etc. only to have been found dead in the lake. None of the men showed signs of a struggle or assault and there has been no evidence to suggest robbery as a motive. In 2023, four men (Jason Johns, Clifton Axtell, Jonathan Honey, John Christopher Hays-Clark) were found in a short span between the months between February and April, which created a lot of media attention to suggest that perhaps these deaths were targeted attacks. Martin Gutierrez, another victim in 2018, was last seen on CCTV footage running out of bars, acting erratically. This led to speculation about potential drugging involvement. *We have assembled a panel to help us center this conversation with different points of views. Joining us from a past episode "The Cajun Death Investigator", is Toby Savoy, who highlights that drowning deaths are not abnormal in big cities, while explaining how drownings can present in autopsy and what drugs are routinely screened for in a toxicology report. We also have filmmaker, Magda Marcella, from the Facebook group Lady Bird Lake Serial Killer/ Rainey Street Killer, here to share her experience in working with the families of the victims and her map that depicts other suspicious drownings going back as far as 2008. We also have host, Dr. Michelle Jeanis, to weigh-in from the criminology perspective.

In this episode, prize-winning writer and professor, Lisa Nikolidakis, joins us to discuss her memoir, No One Crosses the Wolf: A Memoir, a brave and unflinching account of survival. Growing up in the shadow of a violent and abusive father, Lisa's childhood was abundant with fear and isolation. Her escape from this toxic environment was only the beginning of her journey.  As a young adult, a devastating murder-suicide shatters her world. Lisa as an adult later finds writing as a tool to confront a monstrously complex figure who shaped her life.  Lisa's path for truth and self-discovery ultimately leads her on a trip to Greece where she finds truth in connecting with her heritage and the other half of her family for the first time. In this discussion, we are able to graze the surface on some complex subjects like the hallmarks of abuse, the corrosive nature of secret keeping in families, the pain experienced by the secondary victims, the importance of self-healing, and what is needed to break these cycles.   Be sure to buy a copy of No One Crosses the Wolf : A Memoir here. You can follow Lisa on her website and on Instagram. If you or someone you know is being abused, you can reach out to advocates in the links below: National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233 The Trevor Project: 1-866-488-7386 (for LGBTQ+ youth) Childhelp USA: 1-800-422-4453 National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-HOPE

Research has shown that homicide is the second-leading cause of pregnancy related-deaths. This episode sheds light on a troubling rate of homicides involving the pregnant and postpartum population in the United States, with a particular spike in 2020. Dr. Veronica Gillispie-Bell, a board-certified OBGYN, joins the discussion to unpack the findings of her research. Some of those key findings showcase the disproportionate impact on Black women and girls, the prevalence of firearms in these homicides, and the alarming fact that pregnant and postpartum women face a 35% greater risk of homicide than their non-pregnant counterparts. Also touched upon is the potential role of intimate partner violence and why better reporting can result in better outcomes for all. Guest Expert: Dr. Veronica Gillispie-Bell, Board Certified OBGYN, Section Head of Women's Services at Oschner Medical Center, Director for the Louisiana Perinatal Quality Collaborative and Pregnancy Associated Mortality Review Additional Research: PAMR report Louisiana Perinatal Quality Collaborative CDC Hear HER Campaign

In 1948 in Mississippi, socialite Ruth Dickins is convicted of savagely attacking her mother with gardening shears (150 stab wounds!) but makes an unfounded claim that a Black intruder is to blame. Despite inconsistencies in her story, she's sentenced to life, only to be released after 6 years. Joining us to dissect this case of matricide, race, and privilege is author Beverly Lowry, who explores the crime in her book, Deer Creek Drive: A Reckoning of Memory and Murder in the Mississippi Delta. Unpacking the murky details, we'll delve into the role of white privilege, media portrayals of women, and lingering questions that still haunt the South and our justice system. Be sure to purchase your copy of the book here.

Ever wondered how a simple leaf or a speck of pollen can crack a case? Dr. David Gibson, a forensic botanist, professor, and author of Planting Clues: How Plants Solve Crimes teaches us to how to combat 'plant blindness:' the idea that plants are all just the same thing. Dr. David Gibson reveals: The secret language of plants: How seemingly unremarkable botanical evidence can link suspects to crime scenes, pinpoint the location of a crime, and even identify victims. Real-life detective work: How in the infamous Ted Bundy case plant evidence played a crucial role in bringing him to justice, as well as court cases involving expert testimony like renowned botanist, Dr. Jane Bock, who offered her expertise on the 'leaf litter' from the body dumping site. Beyond the naked eye: How the microscopic world of plant forensics, where pollen, fungal spores, and diatoms hold hidden clues invisible to the untrained eye. The science behind the sleuthing: How plant DNA analysis is revolutionizing the field, with applications ranging from identifying illegal plant trafficking to aiding farmers and conservation efforts. Plants as silent witnesses: We delve into the dark side of botany, exploring the history of plant poisons used in crimes and the challenges of detecting them in toxicology reports. Be sure to follow David Gibson on his website and Instagram. You can purchase Planting Clues here.

Ramona Emerson, joins us to discuss Shutter which was longlisted for the 2022 National Book Award for Fiction, whose central character, Rita, works as a crime scene photographer with the unique ability to communicate with the dead, which poses some challenges as a Navajo person. Inspired by Ramona's own experience working with the police department in Albuquerque, New Mexico for 16 years, we learn about the challenges in working crime scenes as a forensic photographer and the imperative to capture and catalogue all of the details for the families. Naturally in talking about death, we discuss what it means be haunted, literally and figuratively, what it means to grieve, and ultimately what determines justice for those who have lost. Be sure to follow Ramona, author and filmmaker, on her website And be sure to purchase your copy of Shutter at any major bookseller

Our minisodes are a break from true crime and for this one gather around the campfire! We are joined by special guest and Michelle's dad, John Bedford Jeanis, to discuss the secret but yes, well-documented, family legend of their ancestor, Jean Jeanis, who is believed by the folks of Pointe Noire to shift into a 'mangy dog' at will otherwise known as the Chien de Lune or the Rougarou. Naturally, we also touched upon the feu follet, haunted cemeteries, the lost art of the boucherie, pirates, finding foots in odd places, and John's experience at the ill-fated Louisiana Woodstock of 71' in McCrea, Louisiana. Also in the midst is Michelle's origin story to becoming our country's lead expert in missing persons' cases, which may or may not have started with young Michelle hiding from her family in clothing racks at the mall... It's a rare privilege and point of pride to speak with our families and to inherit their stories of working from sunup to sundown or their memories of freshly baked cornbread on hot summer days and of course there's always a werewolf story or two if you're lucky.

Dr. Lauren Pharr Parks, a forensic anthropologist, joins us to discuss how studying vultures' scavenging habits can affect crime scenes and solve cases. Be sure to watch her TED Talk !

Mark Michaud, a retired Slidell police officer, is a search and recovery expert and is the founder of Southeast Louisiana Underwater Search and Recovery, a nonprofit that offers something invaluable to the families of the missing. He shares with us some stories of recovery diving from his earlier years as well as the new advancements made to sonar. We learn some of the complexities of water recovery and how depth, current, temperature, and time of year are all a factor. We also learned a new word, saponification or as we prefer : "soapify." *Mark frequently teaches classes to Fire and Law Enforcement in body recovery techniques and sonar training. His company is a nonprofit, so please make a donation to the company's PayPal in the link here. ( If you use FRIENDS AND FAMILY no fees are taken out by PayPal.) Be sure to follow on Facebook

Thanks to forensic genetic genealogy and a pizza crust, in July of 2023 a perpetrator was arrested in connection with the case of the Long Island Serial Killings known as (LISK). Described as 'Ogre -like' in witness reports at 6'4 , 59-year-old Manhattan architect and Massapequa Park resident, Rex Heuermann, has been linked to the murders of Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman, and Amber Costello of "The Giglo Four" and is a prime suspect in the murder of the fourth victim, Maureen Brainard-Barnes. In total, 11 remains of sex workers who were targeted on Craigslist were discovered on the South shore of Long Island from 1996-2011, some of who remain unidentified. It is believed he could be linked to more deaths in Las Vegas and South Carolina where he had properties. Michelle with her background in criminology helps to recenter the larger conversation back onto the victims and the necessity of our culture to destigmatize sex work, as well as open the larger conversation as to why old typologies didn't work in this case. In other words, why what we largely know about serial offenders in their M.O. and signature is evolving and why forensic genetic genealogy is going to catch the 'less detectable' serial offenders and how that is going to inform how they are apprehended. Books Mentioned Lost Girls: An Unsolved American Mystery by Robert Kolker Camgirl by Isa Mazzei TV Mentioned Lost Girls

Our minisodes are a break from true crime where we discuss Michelle's internet search history, which is teeming with all things weird and wonderful. We are joined by special guest Paige to explore the topic of voyeurism in connection with The Voyeur's Motel, a nonfiction book written by the journalistic icon, Gay Talese, which was only just released in 2016 but was decades in the making. Naturally, our gang on the pod is highly skeptical of this wannabe 'Kinsey-like' sexologist and has some thoughts... Tune in to find out why! The actual book is compilation of Talese's reportage of a Colorado man by name of Gerald Foos, a father of two, who with the help of his wife Donna a nurse, created a motel in the late 1960s engineered to spy on his guests and to satisfy his voyeuristic tendencies. The book is also largely written from Gerald Foos personal manuscripts, which he referred to as “The Voyeur's Journal”, which Talese described as handwritten entries on yellow legal pad notepaper with ‘near perfect penmanship' whereby Foos catalogued and studied his guests noting his approximation of their heights, weights, education, and backgrounds and above all their sex lives and sexual proclivities all in the name of what he Foos noted as the good for 'sexual research.'  But while setting out to learn more about sex styles, positions, pillow talk, and forms of foreplay, he learned that the people and couples are largely unhappy and that their private lives rarely match who they pretend to be in public. Books Referenced The Voyeur's Motel The Monster of Florence: A True Story Documentaries/Shows Voyeur The Watcher

Nancy from Damsel in Defense joins us to discuss how we can all use products for empowerment and self-defense! We learned why parking lots and grocery stores are potential hot zones for attacks and how to make tools like the kubotan, pepper spray, and stun guns functional for everyday use and even some more equipment that was not on our radar! Be sure when you make a purchase from Damsel in Defense, use the link below from now until 1/13/24 and 10% of the proceeds will be donated locally to the nonprofit Southeast Louisiana Underwater Search and Recovery. https://l.instagram.com/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mydamselpro.net%2FPRONANCY%2FSharedEvent.aspx%3FeventId%3DE226227%26from%3DDIRECTLINK%26sendToShop%3Dy&e=AT3HOvY-r7Mzmri3IrQg4juwUZkbhUzib0eZIRPltr52QxbSQhECwMXqcw_5zggWKZVfj9fRfsWJbTLxsw_wttjJzysTahYqAzPQZ4q1aaMaW3cDO4YlDvDoZ7VVRfG1ZYyTiO0v_iWAkvkffgNDX9g

Rebecca Hudsmith , a Louisiana Federal Public Defender, shares a trying moment of having a client on death row, as well as a monumental moment of arguing a case in the Supreme Court, all in pursuit of upholding a system of justice that works for us all.

Toby Savoy is a Death Investigator who works for the Coroner's Office in south Louisiana. With over 18 years of experience, Toby is a veteran in the field. He explains to us which seasons are more active for motorcycle accidents versus suicides, how he determines time of death, why your cat is more likely to eat you than your dog, what Cajuns keep in their fridge, and why he always carries a cooler in his truck...just in case duty calls. Toby's work is largely aimed at educating the public on preventative deaths. The recent uptick in gunshot and fentanyl deaths in our community is sobering and re-education for the public is greatly needed.

Lon Isaacson, retired California attorney and host's Scarlett's godfather, discusses some pivotal moments in his career. Beginning with his early contributions to California's child abuse reporting laws. As a then UCLA law student, Lon was hired by a law firm that was tasked with trying to find who should be held financially responsible for the injuries inflicted upon one high profile battered child, referred to by the LA Times as 'Baby Robison.' The term battered child syndrome in the early seventies was still a relatively new term, but Lon was able to find loopholes in the legal framework so that there would be financial penalties for doctors who fail to report when they spot child abuse. The success of the Baby Robison case would have ripple effects going all the way to the Supreme Court where Lon's lead article for the July 1975 addition of the San Diego Law Review was not only cited but pivotal in changing California's laws on reporting child abuse. Although he specializes in tax law, Lon would find himself later again in his career fighting on behalf of the abused when he was able to secure 12.75 million dollars in settlement fees from the Archdiocese of Los Angeles on behalf of his clients who were sexually abused by the infamous Cardinal Mahony. *Articles Referenced: "Child Abuse Reporting Statutes: The Case for Holding Physicians Civilly Liable for Failing to Report" (San Diego Law Review/ July 1975)" by Lon Isaacson *Documentaries Mentioned Multiple Award recipient and Academy Award-winning documentary-Summer of Soul (2021)

In 1984 at age 11, Jody Plauché was abducted from his home in Baton Rouge by his karate teacher, Jeff Doucet, and was taken to California. Jody's case then made headlines when his father, Gary Plauché, shot Jeff on live TV as he was being escorted off a plane to face criminal charges relating to child molestation. Jody went on to pursue a life of activism against sexual assault. Most recently, he has written a book Why, Gary, Why?: The Jody Plauché Story, which instructs parents on how to better protect their children and themselves from the hallmarks of grooming behavior. The title of his book is a reference to what law enforcement said to Gary (Jody's father) on camera after the shooting of Jeff (Jody's abuser). We are inspired by Jody's sense of humor and positivity in turning a painful story into a tool to help others navigate. You can contact/follow Jody here: And be sure to purchase his book Why, Gary, Why?: The Jody Plauché Story here.

Back in September 2022, A Louisiana woman working as a confidential informant was sent undercover into a drug sting and was raped twice, as a result of being left 'alone and unmonitored.' Reporting on the story is Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporter with the Associated Press, Jim Mustian, here to discuss the subject of confidential informants (CIs) and the opportunity for better safeguards. You can read the full story ⁠here. ⁠ Jim also shares with us his latest project, a podcast Smoke Screen: Betrayal on the Bayou whi⁠ch tells the story of a corrupt DEA agent in New Orleans who some call the "White Devil." Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you get your podcasts! Books mentioned on this episode: Snitching: Criminal Informants and the Erosion of American Justice by Alexandra Natapoff

Jordan LaHaye Fontenot (Managing Editor of Country Roads Magazine) joins the pod to discuss her forthcoming true crime book, HOME OF THE HAPPY: A MURDER ON THE CAJUN PRAIRIE, which details the crime that still haunts her family, the 1983 abduction, ransom, and murder of her great-grandfather, Aubrey LaHaye, a prominent banker in Mamou Louisiana. Jordan's book HOME OF THE HAPPY: A MURDER ON THE CAJUN PRAIRIE will be published with Mariner Books (winter/2025). Be sure to subscribe to her newsletter here and stay up-to-date. You can also follow Jordan on IG @jordanilahaye

Beam me up, Scotty! Joining us is special guest Reggie Buck, a south Louisiana-based representative from The Scientific Coalition for UAP Studies (SCU) who collects and debunks evidence and experiences from the community and beyond regarding UAP or "unidentified aerial phenomenon." Similar to the stories we hear on the show from those whose lives are impacted by crime, we are reminded of the empowerment that comes with speaking out about any kind of experience, despite the stigmas. Not to mention, the importance of looking less at our phones and more toward to the sky. We asked Reggie what strange lights lurk in the bayou. Tune in to find out! You can learn more about The Scientific Coalition for UAP Studies (SCU) here. And you can follow/ contact Reggie on his Instagram @buck.reggie or email him at reginald.buck@gmail.com. ***Documentaries mentioned on the show: The Phenomenon I Know What I Saw UFOs: The Secret History

Hi there! Back for Season Two, Michelle and Scarlett continue to offer listeners a curation of interviews from experts, criminologists, and truth-seekers who begin the dialogue: what is the 'real true crime' experience? Check out the highlights from our Season Two in the trailer.

Why is no one talking about the red 'heads'!?! Our Google alerts are set with a potential serial killer at large. His victims were women with reddish hair whose severed heads were discarded in trash bags and were discovered in both southwest Louisiana and Texas in March of 2018 by cleanup crews.  Police believe that the two cases could be connected. Neither women's remains were ever uncovered. Dr. Michelle Jeanis weighs in with her expertise on serial offenders, while we posit who were these women and why did this offender assume their deaths would go unnoticed.  The case received an update in 2019 when the first woman whose head was found on March 1, 2018 in Calcasieu Lake, Louisiana, was identified from her sketch by an ordinary citizen. A reconstruction has been done by FACES in Baton Rouge. The woman was later positively ID'd as missing San Antonio woman Sally Ann Hines and no one knows how she ended up in Cameron Parish.  The second woman was discovered 150 miles away near Lake Houston on March 24, 2018 and she remains unidentified and is noted to be either white or Hispanic with good teeth and tattooed eyebrows and lashes.  However, witnesses saw a suspicious person throwing garbage bags off the side of the bridge. Police are looking for a man in his twenties who drives a blue-green Chevrolet Silverado extended cab pickup truck and is described as having lots of rust and looking as if it had been wrecked several times with a cardboard window on the back left passenger side.  For information regarding the murder of Sally Ann Hines contact: Cameron Parish Sheriff's Office at 337-775-5111 For information regarding the unidentified woman contact: Houston police at 713-308-3600 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.

Natalie Murry is a fellow Ginger gal and a Texas-based forensic artist with a background in law enforcement . Natalie's skills in composites, skull reconstructions, age progressions and post-mortems have been instrumental in creating matches and ID's for cold cases. One of her more well-known ID's was that of Jane Doe known for many years to the true crime world as that of "Orange Socks" ---she now has her real name back. Natalie offers her services through her freelance company, Natalie Murry Forensic Art. As she tells us, "The goal of the drawings is to raise public awareness." We hope to shine a light on a couple of Natalie's active cases like that of Helen Doe who was a young unidentified Indigenous woman who tragically died in a fire as the result of car crash in Kalama Washington in 1991. We also hope to raise awareness around an unidentified man who expired in 2018 as the result of a fatal fall in a Cinerama movie theater in Washington. For information regarding Washington's Helen Doe contact the cold case department, Detective Stacy Moate at stacy.moate@wsp.gov or call (425) 401-7754 For information regarding "Cinerama Man", contact the King County Medical Examiner's Office at (206) 731-3232. And be sure to follow Natalie Murry on social: Instagram Facebook

"On trips to the store, I stared at missing children on milk cartons and thought of Cajun altar boys," wrote New Orleans-based investigative reporter, author, and film director, Jason Berry, in his first book on the Catholic Church sexual abuse and coverup, Lead Us Not Into Temptation: Catholic Priests and the Sexual Abuse of Children (1992), which was compiled through court documents from both the criminal and civil cases against Lafayette Diocese priest, Father Gauthe, who admitted to abusing 37 children from 1972-1983 in southwest Louisiana. Father Gauthe was the first Catholic priest to face a highly publicized criminal trial for the sexual abuse of a child. Jason is lauded as being the first to break the Catholic Church story and is a pioneer for his reporting and advocate for the survivors. Jason remains deeply rooted to his home Louisiana and his beloved city of New Orleans. As a writer, the music has always been his salvation and has kept him grounded through the years. He joins us today to discuss his latest book and film, City of a Million Dreams, which explores the rich history of New Orleans through the lens of jazz funerals and the unique tradition of the second line. The film City of a Million Dreams is available now at various film festival screenings. You can also purchase the book, which is available at your local bookstores or on Amazon. To check-out the various screenings and locations, visit the website!! Be sure to also follow City of a Million Dreams on social: Instagram Facebook

Nineteen-year-old Peter Jordan was the victim of a homicide in 2014. He was gunned down on February 19, 2014 in a drive-by shooting outside a friend's apartment complex in Huntersville, North Carolina. His case remains unsolved. With potential witnesses, new information, and evolved investigative techniques, his family seeks answers and has asked that his case be re-opened. Anyone with information can contact North Meck Crime Stoppers at 704-896-7867 with anonymous tips or they can email the anonymous tip line: justiceforpeterjordan@gmail.com. Be sure to also check out our guest's podcast Moments with Manifesting Mama RI and be sure to follow the social: Instagram Twitter

No one is sure how it started , whether accidental or intentional, but soon one city in the Panhandle during the 1950s and 1960s was responsible for 2/3 of all loss of limbs insurance claims in the US , with the city of Vernon as the main culprit. Payouts moved faster , as we say, than boudin in the break room. When one payout reached $100,000 , insurance agents got suspicious and were sent to investigate the city of Vernon where as one insurance agent noted in his 1972 report, the two major past times were ‘watching hound dogs mate' and ‘self-mutilation for cash.' On this episode “Welcome to Nub City” we discuss how a small town suffering a financial depression, turned people to desperate measures to stay afloat or get rich quick …. Joining us to discuss is special guest and podcast host Sai Sion of Build a Better Ally. We also discuss Errol Morris's documentary Vernon, Florida, which due to threats from the Nub Club's goons has nothing to do with the loss of limbs scam, but is instead a delightful character study of Vernon's non-Nub Club Members. Be sure to tune in. There may or may not be an impromptu Nub Club theme song from our wonderfully talented guest! Be sure to tune into the podcast Build a Better Ally and follow on social!Instagram Facebook Twitter

Back in New Orleans in 1983, a landlord received complaints from her tenants that their dogs had gone missing along with complaints about a creepy tenant and his missing roommate. Michelle, Scarlett, and special guest Allyson Wade (the Ginger Trifecta) weigh-in.Allyson Wade (Lafayette native) is a Los Angeles-based singer song writer. Be sure to check-out Allyson's latest music video "Lonely With You" available on all streaming platforms!"Lonely With You" music VideoLonely With You - Allyson Wade (Official Music Video) - YouTubeFollow Allyson Wade Music on social!Instagram TikTokFacebook

Two brutal murders occurred with a church setting and remain as cold cases. Reverend Carol Daniels was murdered on August 23, 2009 on the way to preach at her church in Anadarko, Oklahoma. She was found nearly decapitated, stabbed, doused in chemical agents, and left in a crucifix-like position near the church's altar. Another woman, Missy Bevers, was murdered in the early hours before teaching a fitness class outside Creekside Church in Midlothian, Texas on April 18, 2016. The suspect was seen on the church's surveillance wearing mock SWAT garb and the footage was released to the public by authorities to assist in the identification. Anyone with information regarding these case(s), please contact the hot lines below:For Carol Daniels contact: Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation tip line : 1-800-522-8017 or email tips@osbi.ok.govFor Missy Bevers contact: *Midlothian Police Department Criminal Investigation Division at 972-775-7634.*Midlothian Crime Stoppers of Ellis County at 972-937-PAYS (7297)

Carla Davis is an Investigative Genetic Genealogist who in the past year has contributed more than $100,000 dollars of her funds to a genetics lab to assist in solving cold cases, mainly those from her home state of Mississippi. Carla is the founder of DNA Davis and has been instrumental in solving several cold cases by using skills honed from working with unknown parentage cases. In this episode, we are given a day-in-life as Carla describes her process of scouring obituaries, newspapers, census records, and of all things Facebook! This is the 'GoFundMe era' and forensic genetic genealogy is a complete game-changer. It is the long-term goal to eradicate cold cases and get cases funded and solved. Listeners are encouraged to submit their DNA or to donate money directly to cases on sites like DNA Solves or Justice Drive. Listeners who have already taken consumer DNA tests are encouraged to upload their results to Family Tree DNA or GEDmatch.

Our minisodes are a break from true crime where we discuss Michelle's internet search history, which is teeming with the weird and wonderful.In this episode's crime adjacent topic, we have created a safe space to discuss and admire both reborn and sex dolls or "hard bodies," as we like to think of them with special guest, Andrea Schmidt. Sprinkled into the conversation, we cover Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy and give nod to our lord of lords "Britton," the reborn doll known worldwide. And speaking to the ether: where does one keep their sex doll when parents come to visit, and can they potentially foster necrophilia? Are these "expensive hobbies" for loneliness or do they parrot larger truths about our society that haven't yet passed the "normalized" threshold?

Following the murder of a New Orleans police chief by an unknown assailant, 11 Italian immigrants and Italian Americans were lynched by an angry mob on March 14, 1891. The event remains the largest mass lynching in US history. In 2019, the city issued an official proclamation of apology for the tragic event, which had plagued the Italian community worldwide.

In Part 2, we continue our discussion of women experiencing homelessness with special guest, Staci Alziebler-Perkins, the Executive Director of Gathering for Women-Monterey, a day shelter that services 400 women annually, many of whom are over 60-years-old and who are locals. 80% of those who filed for unemployment at the height of the pandemic in 2020 were women. We learn the stories of these resilient women who are teachers, mothers, caregivers, scientists who had their lives changed in an instant.

Women who experience homelessness have fallen through the cracks in our databases and are among the population that is statistically referred to as the "missing, missing." We speak with Michael Reid who is a retired Episcopal priest, advocate for the homeless, co-founder and organizer of The Fund for Homeless Women of the Community Foundation for Monterey County, and author of No Vacancy: Homeless Women in Paradise. Michael's message remains timely and urgent: this issue concerns us all and until we change the narrative of "THEM" to "US," homelessness will continue...

Most people neglect to consider how mass incarceration affects children and families generationally. Our guest, Whitney Storey, teaches parenting classes for incarcerated parents at the Lafayette jail through Project H.O.P.E and is a Senior Instructor of Psychology, as well as a PLPC with a master's degree in both Psychology and Counseling. Whitney shares with us how her jail parenting classes have been successful, while also weighing-in on the informative 1992 HBO documentary Child of Rage with best practice for how NOT to create little "Beths" or tiny psychopaths...

In areas where the drug epidemic is rampant like in Louisiana, low-income families will often exploit their children to have their basic needs met.Maegan d'Autremont is a trafficking coordinator at the Children's Advocacy Network where she conducts forensic interviews with children who have been sexually abused. She notes that there are many types of trafficking that go beyond what Hollywood has portrayed.

Our minisodes are a break from true crime where we discuss Michelle's internet search history, which is teeming with all things weird and wonderful.For this episode's crime adjacent topic, we have created a safe space to discuss and admire long furbies with our special guest, Paige Haggerty.

Tom Aswell is an award-winning journalist, author, and publisher of Louisiana Voice. Tom has made a career of exposing white-collar crimes and Louisiana political corruption. In recent years, he has expanded his skills to 'armchair detective' in investigating homicide cases at the request of victims' families. He joins us today to discuss his latest book, Murder on the Teche: A True Story of Money and a Flawed Investigation, which explores through court documents the 2010 murder-for-hire plot of a New Iberia orthodontist. We also discuss, Louisiana's Rogue Sheriffs: A Culture of Corruption, which details the unique political powers and influence given to the sheriff, as well as Louisiana's colorful characters who have on many occasions have both mocked and abused the role.

Duson teen, Keiosha Marie Felix, nicknamed "Red" has been missing since April 30, 2012. At the time of her disappearance, Keiosha was living in a group home for teenage girls and young mothers with her eight-month-year-old daughter. Despite an inactive cellphone and social media, Keiosha's case was initially treated as a runaway youth. The FBI would later report that Keiosha was possibly trafficked and could be living in Baton Rouge or Houston. Keiosha's case continues to weigh heavy on the Acadiana community.

Charlie Shunick shares with us the very personal and public murder of her younger sister Mickey Shunick and how the experience served as a catalyst for starting her non-profit RAMP (Resource Association for Missing People).

Tabitha Queen, a 29-year-old mother of three was abducted from her home by an unidentified man in Bastrop, Louisiana the day after Mother's Day on May 10th, 2021. With little assistance from local police who have treated Tabitha's case more as a runaway and less like a potential homicide, the colossal challenge of conducting an investigation has fallen onto the shoulders of Tabitha's mother, Mary Lunford. Flash forward seven months, Tabitha Queen is still missing with no leads and the police have not asked for the FBI's assistance and resources. Mary's experience in trying to get her daughter's case taken seriously is a painful reminder of the unequal treatment of missing persons' cases within black and minority communities that demands to be addressed.

YouTuber, Sleuth Mom, joins us to discuss the case of Ariel Sellers, a six-year-old girl from Hawaii who is believed to have been murdered by her adopted parents in August of 2021. Before she disappeared, Ariel was starved and kept in a cage by these adopted parents with her nose and mouth taped. There is current lobbying for reform under Ariel's Law, which would prohibit anyone with a felony from adopting or fostering a child. The law also lobbies for other safeguards to better protect children within our adoption or foster networks.

Retired Nicholls State University librarian and historian, Fran Middleton, is writing a new history on the 1927 murder of James LeBoeuf, which was the crime of the century for St. Mary Parish. A jury in 1929 found Ada LeBoeuf and her alleged lover, Dr. Thomas Dreher, guilty of the crime and as a result they were both executed. Ada LeBoeuf was the first woman hanged in Louisiana history. Despite receiving a life sentence for shooting the murder victim, local trapper and handyman, Jim Beadle, was released from Angola Prison in the 1940s. Fran Middleton provides new information on the case, while highlighting the media's age-old pattern in vilifying and sexualizing women in crime stories. We also learn more about Mrs. Dreher and the infamous "woman beyond the tracks," as well as Ada LeBoeuf as a person Beyond the Frocks and Gallows.

The mysterious unidentified hiker 'Mostly Harmless' whose body was located in the Florida Everglades in 2018 captured the heart and imagination of the internet. The elusive story is laid to rest when the hiker is ID'd as a Lafayette, Louisiana man who leaves behind a wake of more questions than answers.

For our final chapter of our miniseries Cedar Crime Diaries: Part 3 we speak to a local journalist, Sabrina LeBoeuf, of The News Star, who has actively reported on the story.

An unidentified female child was found in a barrel as a result of a homicide in Bear Brook State Park in 2000. Three other victims were also found in barrels in the park , but were identified in 2019. Authorities believe the child's mother could have genetic ties to Pearl River County, Mississippi which is not far from New Orleans. The girl is the believed victim and biological daughter of the late serial killer, Terry Rasmussen, otherwise known in our podcast as "Tiny Dick Terry." New Hampshire Police are asking the public to come forward with tips or to submit their DNA to help identify this unknown female child.

A twenty-one-year-old Cajun girl and Army Private, Paige Fontenot Briles joined the "Fort Hood Fallen" under suspicious circumstances on Christmas Eve 2016. Returning guest, Jennifer Norris of Military Justice For All, helps to uncover how Paige's death fits into a larger pattern of young soldiers' non-combat deaths at Fort Hood , while acknowledging the frequent mislabeling of homicides to suicides by Army CID. Paige's family, the Fontenots, deserve to have their daughter's case re-opened and re-investigated along with the families of LaVena Johnson, Kamisha Block, Tina Priest, and Vanessa Guillén. In sharing Paige's story, the pubic can start to become aware of these larger issues on our military bases and can help petition for both transparency and reform.

Dr. Amanda Nickerson is Professor of Counseling, School and Educational Psychology at the University at Buffalo, and Director of UB's Alberti Center for Bullying Abuse Prevention. Dr. Nickerson discusses with us her research and her expertise on bullying, school violence, and its effects on the victim. Part 2 of this miniseries continues its discussion on the recent allegations of abuse and bullying at Cedar Creek, a school in Ruston, Louisiana.