Forensic Tales
Hosted by Courtney Fretwell, M.S. in Forensic Psychology, Forensic Tales is a weekly true crime podcast with a forensic twist. Each episode features real cases and explores how forensic science, criminal profiling, and investigative techniques were used to uncover the truth—or, in some cases, left more questions than answers. From fingerprint analysis and DNA evidence to bloodstain pattern analysis and behavioral profiling, every episode breaks down the science behind the headlines. Whether it's a solved murder, a cold case, or a controversial investigation, Forensic Tales takes you beyond the crime scene and into the forensic evidence that shaped the case.
Episodes
The Murder of Christine Jessop (Vault)
In this newly rerecorded episode from the Forensic Tales Vault, we revisit the 1984 abduction and murder of nine-year-old Christine Jessop.
After arriving home from school in Queensville, Ontario, Christine disappeared before meeting a friend at a nearby park. Nearly three months later, her body was discovered in a wooded area more than 30 miles from home.
Investigators soon focused on Christine’s
The Murder of Betsy Faria and The Lies of Pam Hupp
On December 27, 2011, Russ Faria returned home and discovered his wife, Betsy, lying on the living room floor with a knife lodged in her neck. Although Russ had spent the evening with friends, cellphone records supported his alibi and none of Betsy’s blood was found on his body or clothing, investigators became convinced that he was responsible.
What they failed to seriously examine was the woman
The Suspicious Death of Kendrick Johnson (Vault)
This week, we’re opening the Forensic Tales Vault and revisiting one of the most controversial cases ever covered on the show—the death of 17-year-old Kendrick Johnson.
On January 11, 2013, Kendrick was found upside down inside a rolled-up gym mat at Lowndes High School in Valdosta, Georgia. Investigators concluded that Kendrick climbed into the mat while trying to retrieve a pair of shoes, became
The Murder of Meredith Kercher: Did DNA Wrongfully Implicate Amanda Knox?
On November 2, 2007, 21-year-old British exchange student Meredith Kercher was found murdered inside the apartment she shared with Amanda Knox in Perugia, Italy.
What followed became an international media spectacle. Amanda Knox and her boyfriend, Raffaele Sollecito, were arrested, convicted of Meredith’s murder, acquitted, convicted again—and ultimately cleared by Italy’s highest court.
But what
Identified After 48 Years: The Michelle Louise Collier Case (BREAKING NEWS)
In this special episode of Forensic Tales, we’re covering a forensic breakthrough announced just days ago.
In June 1978, skeletal remains belonging to a young woman were discovered buried in a shallow grave in a grape vineyard near Arvin, California. Investigators collected what evidence they could, but fingerprints, dental records, and eventually traditional DNA testing failed to reveal her ident
The Florence Salon Murders
On the morning of November 6, 2001, a customer arrived at The Hair Gallery in Florence, Montana, expecting nothing more than a routine nail appointment. Instead, she walked into one of the most horrific crime scenes investigators had ever encountered.
Inside the small salon, owner Dorothy Harris, manicurist Brenda Patch, and longtime customer Cynthia Paulus had all been brutally murdered.
In this
SPECIAL EPISODE: The Forensic Evidence Against D4vd
In this special episode of Forensic Tales, we examine the forensic case against recording artist D4vd, whose legal name is David Anthony Burke, following his five-day preliminary hearing.
Fourteen-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez was found dead inside the front trunk of a Tesla registered to Burke in September 2025. During the hearing, prosecutors presented autopsy findings, DNA evidence, suspecte
The Mysterious Death of Christina Kettlewell (The 8 Day Bride) | Patreon Bonus Preview
In May 1947, newlywed Christina Kettlewell traveled to a remote cottage in Severn Falls, Ontario, with her husband, Jack, and his close friend Ronald Berry.
Three days later, the cottage was destroyed by fire, Jack was found unconscious, and Christina’s body was discovered face down in only nine inches of water.
An autopsy determined that Christina had drowned, but the forensic evidence raised mor
The Unsolved Murder of Mike Emert
On January 4, 2001, successful Seattle-area real estate agent Mike Emert left to meet a prospective buyer at a vacant home in Woodinville, Washington. Just hours later, he was found stabbed 19 times inside the home's bathtub with the shower and sinks still running in what investigators believed was a calculated attempt to destroy forensic evidence.
In this episode, we examine the meticulous crime
You Might Also Like: Till Death Do Us Part (The Body in the Clearing: Harry Crawford and Annie Burkett)
W
Hey everyone! Courtney here.
I have a little bonus for you today. Since Forensic Tales is part of the Believe Podcast Network, I wanted to introduce you to another podcast on the network that I think some of you might enjoy.
Today's episode is from Til Death Do Us Part, and it's called "The Body in the Clearing: Harry Crawford and Annie Burkett."
To friends and neighbors, he seemed lik
The Murder of Debra Jackson (Orange Socks Doe)
For more than four decades, she was known simply as "Orange Socks." Found murdered along Interstate 35 in Georgetown, Texas, in 1979, the young woman remained unidentified despite extensive investigative efforts. Her case appeared to be solved when serial killer Henry Lee Lucas confessed to her murder—but as the years passed, serious doubts emerged about whether his confession could be trusted.
In
The Spray Tan Defense: The Death of Lina Kaufman
When 33-year-old Lina Kaufman was found unresponsive in the bathroom of her Florida home in November 2007, her sudden death left investigators with more questions than answers. She appeared to be a healthy young mother with no known medical conditions, making her death all the more mysterious. But when the medical examiner eventually ruled her death a homicide caused by mechanical asphyxiation, su
The Mysterious Death of Brandon Lawson
In the early morning hours of August 9, 2013, 26-year-old Brandon Lawson abandoned his pickup truck along a remote stretch of Highway 277 near Bronte, Texas. Moments earlier, he had made several frantic phone calls to family members and a chilling 911 call, claiming he was being chased through a field. Then, he vanished.
For many years, Brandon's disappearance became one of the most debated missin
The Suspicious Death of Crystal McCrory Jones (Part 2)
When Crystal McCrory Jones was found dead inside her home on February 9, 2023, investigators quickly ruled her death a suicide.
But after obtaining the autopsy report, investigative records, photographs, and other official documents, Crystal's family began uncovering what they believe are significant inconsistencies in the investigation.
In Part Two of this special two-part series, we take a close
The Suspicious Death of Crystal McCrory Jones (Part 1)
On the afternoon of February 9, 2023, Crystal McCrory Jones failed to show up for a doctor's appointment. Concerned after repeated calls and texts went unanswered, her husband contacted the West Carroll Parish Sheriff's Office and requested a welfare check.
Inside the home, deputies discovered Crystal dead from a single gunshot wound to the head.
Less than two hours later, her death was ruled a su
The Dardeen Family Murders
On November 18, 1987, the small town of Ina, Illinois, was forever changed when Keith and Elaine Dardeen, their 3-year-old son Peter, and their newborn daughter Casey were found murdered in one of the most horrific crime scenes investigators had ever encountered.
Nearly four decades later, the murders remain officially unsolved.
In this episode of Forensic Tales, I take a closer look at the lives
The Unsolved Murder of Robert Wone | Patreon Bonus Preview
The Unsolved Murder of Robert Wone
In this special Patreon Bonus Preview, I share a portion of this month's exclusive episode covering the mysterious and unsolved murder of Robert Wone.
Listen to the FULL episode: http://Patreon.com/ForensicTales
On August 2, 2006, Robert Wone—a successful attorney, devoted husband, and respected friend—arrived at a townhouse on Swann Street in Washington, D.C., w
The Disappearance of Brandon Swanson
In the early morning hours of May 14, 2008, 19-year-old Brandon Swanson was driving home after celebrating the end of the college semester when his car became stuck in a ditch along a rural Minnesota road.
Unable to free his vehicle, Brandon called his parents for help. For the next 47 minutes, he remained on the phone with his father while walking through fields, fences, and farmland, attempting
The Murder of Rachel Nickell (Archive)
The murder of Rachel Nickell remains one of the most infamous true crime cases in the United Kingdom. In July 1992, Rachel was brutally attacked and murdered on Wimbledon Common in broad daylight while walking with her young son. What followed was a controversial murder investigation that captivated the nation, generated intense media scrutiny, and ultimately led investigators down the wrong path.
The Disappearance of Patricia "Pat" Viola
Patricia Viola was a devoted wife, mother, and volunteer librarian living in Bogota, New Jersey. On February 13, 2001, she seemingly vanished without a trace after returning home from work. She left behind her purse, wallet, identification, seizure medication, and nearly every indication that she planned to return.
As investigators worked to reconstruct Patricia's final known movements, they uncov
Herb Baumeister and the Fox Hollow Farm Murders
The Fox Hollow Farm Murders remain one of the most chilling serial killer cases in American history.
For years, young men disappeared from the Indianapolis area after being seen at local gay bars and nightlife districts. Many were later found strangled and abandoned in rural areas throughout Indiana and Ohio, leading investigators to suspect the existence of the so-called I-70 Strangler.
Everythin
Diane Schuler: The Wrong-Way Crash Mystery (Archive)
On July 26, 2009, 36-year-old Diane Schuler drove the wrong way down New York's Taconic State Parkway, causing a devastating head-on collision that killed eight people, including herself, her daughter, and three young nieces. The crash shocked the nation and sparked years of debate, speculation, and investigation.
Toxicology reports revealed shocking findings, but Diane's family strongly disputed
The Murder of Oakey “Al” Kite
#335 - When 53-year-old Oakey Kite, who went by Al, failed to show up for work on May 24th, 2004, his coworkers immediately knew something was wrong. Concerned, they went to his townhouse in Aurora to check on him where they discovered a crime scene so brutal, investigators would never forget it.
Al had been restrained, tortured for hours, and ultimately murdered inside his own home by a man posin
The Abduction of Angela Hammond
#334 - In April 1991, 20-year-old Angela Hammond stood alone outside a grocery store in Clinton, Missouri, talking to her fiancé on a payphone late at night. She mentioned seeing a strange truck circling the parking lot, but they both shrugged it off.
Moments later, Angela’s fiancé heard her scream, and the line went dead.
The payphone was only a few blocks away, so he jumped in his car and sped
The Murder of Michelle O’Keefe: Convicted Without Evidence
#333 - In February 2000, 18-year-old college student Michelle O’Keefe was on her way home from appearing in a Kid Rock music video when she was gunned down inside her car. A security guard named Raymond Jennings was eventually arrested and charged with Michelle’s murder, and after three separate trials, he was sentenced to life in prison. On paper, it seemed like an open-and-shut case. But the dee
The Murder of Stacey Stites: Does DNA Prove Murder?
#332 - In April 1996, a motorist traveling along a rural road in Bastrop County, Texas, made a disturbing discovery. Lying in a grassy ditch along the roadside was the body of a young woman. Her clothing was partially removed, and a belt had been tightened around her neck. She would soon be identified as 19-year-old Stacey Stites.
Just hours earlier, Stacey had been reported missing after she fail
The Disappearance of Lauren Spierer
#331 - On the early morning of June 3, 2011, 20-year-old Indiana University student Lauren Spierer disappeared after a night out with friends in downtown Bloomington, Indiana.
Investigators were able to reconstruct much of Lauren’s final hours using surveillance footage, witness statements, and digital timelines. But despite knowing many of the places she went and the people she was with that nigh
“Is Dorothy Home?” - The Murder of Dorothy Jane Scott
For months, Dorothy Jane Scott received anonymous phone calls from a man who said he was watching her.
He knew where she worked. He knew where she went at night. Sometimes he even described the clothes she had worn that day… or the car she was driving.
At first, Dorothy tried to ignore the calls. But they kept coming. Sometimes the caller sounded angry. Other times, almost obsessed. On one occasio
Lauren Agee: The Mysterious Death at WakeFest
#329 - In July of 2015, thousands of people gathered along the river for a weekend of music, camping, and wakeboarding. The annual event known as WakeFest was supposed to be a carefree summer getaway, a place where friends could relax, drink, and enjoy the water.
But by the end of that weekend, one of the campers would be dead.
Twenty-one-year-old Lauren Agee had been camping on a steep cliff over
The Oklahoma Peeping Tom Killer: The Murder of Gary Larson
#328 - When police in Oklahoma got a call from a woman saying a man wearing only gloves and a pair of underwear broke into her house, killed her boyfriend, and tortured her for hours, it seemed almost too far-fetched to be true. But as detectives combed through the forensic evidence at the scene, it seemed to line up perfectly with her story. What they didn’t realize at the time was that this brut
The Gerhardt Konig Trial: The Verdict
The verdict is in.
In this special episode of Forensic Tales, we take a closer look at the trial of Gerhardt Konig, the Hawaii doctor accused of violently attacking his wife during a hike earlier this year.
Prosecutors argued that the assault was deliberate and brutal, pointing to physical evidence and testimony presented during the trial. The defense, however, painted a very different picture, su
Robert Roberson
#327 - For years, prosecutors across the United States relied on a diagnosis known as Shaken Baby Syndrome to explain the sudden deaths of infants and toddlers. In many cases, that diagnosis became the foundation for criminal convictions.
But over time, some doctors and forensic experts began questioning the science behind it.
In 2002, a two-year-old girl in Texas died after being rushed to the ho
Mackenzie Cowell
#326 - When a 17-year-old beauty school student went missing in February 2010, the residents of a small Washington town were left stunned. Then just days later, the teen's body was discovered by a passerby on the banks of the Columbia River. What began as a desperate search quickly turned into something far more disturbing—an investigation filled with false leads, unsettling rumors, and a suspect
BREAKING: Arrest Made in the Lovers Lane Murders
Five years ago, I covered the murders of Cheryl Henry and Andy Atkinson, the case often referred to as the Lovers Lane Murders.
At the time, the case remained unsolved and was widely considered one of Houston's most notorious cold murder cases.
But this week, more than thirty years later, investigators announced something that many people thought might never happen: an arrest.
This is a Forensic T
Cathy Swartz
#325 - When the body of a 19-year-old mother was discovered murdered inside her apartment in 1988, the residents of Three Rivers, Michigan, were shocked. But the brutal details of her murder weren’t the one thing that left people in the community on the edge. It was the fact that when the young mother’s body was discovered by her fiancé, the victim’s eight-month-old daughter was found still sleepi
SPECIAL EPISODE: A Forensic Breakdown of the Kouri Richins Trial
In March 2022, 39-year-old Eric Richins was found unresponsive in his Utah home. His death was initially believed to be the result of a fentanyl overdose, a tragic loss for his family.
But what followed would shock investigators.
Eric’s wife, Kouri Richins, later published a children’s book about grief, written to help her young sons cope with the sudden loss of their father. At first glance, it s
Shirley Ramey
#324 - It was supposed to be a normal night for 78-year-old Shirley Ramey and her husband of 57 years, Daryl, from Hope, Idaho. Daryl went to play cards with friends while Shirley stayed inside at their quiet home near the Canadian border. But when Daryl returned home that evening with a bacon cheeseburger she had asked for, he found the sliding glass door open and Shirley lying on the floor in a
Stella Nickell
#323 - In 1986, a Washington woman was convicted of intentionally killing two people with cyanide-laced extra-strength Excedrin capsules. One of the victims was her very own husband. The other was a complete stranger.
Her conviction and 90-year prison sentence became the first under federal product tampering laws instituted after the 1982 Chicago Tylenol murders that killed at least 7 people.
Is s
Melissa Lucio
#322 - In 2007, two-year-old Mariah Alvarez was rushed to a hospital in Brownsville, Texas. She wasn’t breathing. Doctors were unable to revive her.
Within hours, suspicion turned toward her mother, Melissa Lucio.
After a lengthy interrogation, Melissa said four words that prosecutors would later present as a confession. She was charged with capital murder, convicted, and sentenced to death.
But o
Johnia Berry
#321 - In December 2004, 21-year-old Johnia Berry was attacked inside her Knoxville, Tennessee apartment.
The crime scene raised more questions than answers. There were no clear signs of forced entry. The weapon came from inside the home. And despite the brutality of the attack, there was no obvious motive.
Investigators initially focused on someone close to her, but forensic evidence would soon c
Fred Engel
#320 - In 2008, a South Carolina man disappeared while checking his mail outside his home. His body was soon found in nearby woods, and an autopsy revealed he had been strangled to death.
At first, the police had few suspects. But right before the case turned cold, investigators did something outside the box. They turned to cell phone forensics.
Forensic Tales is a Rockefeller Audio production.
SPECIAL UPDATE: Sentencing in the Au Pair Affair Case
BONUS UPDATE
Yesterday, Juliana Peres Magalhães, the former au pair and key witness in the so-called “Au Pair Affair” murder trial, was sentenced.
In this short follow-up episode of Forensic Tales, we recap the sentencing hearing, including the defense’s motion to exclude victim impact statements from Christine Banfield’s family, the judge’s ruling, and the final sentence handed down in connection
West Memphis Three
#319 - In May of 1993, three eight-year-old boys were brutally murdered in West Memphis, Arkansas. Within weeks, police arrested three teenagers, despite a complete lack of physical evidence tying them to the crime.
What followed was an investigation shaped by fear, rumor, and the cultural panic of the early 1990s. A confession filled with factual errors. Forensic interpretations that would later
SPECIAL EPISODE: The Au Pair Affair - Trial & Verdict
Special Episode
In February 2023, police were called to a quiet home in northern Virginia. Inside the master bedroom, they found Christine Banfield, a wife and mother, suffering from multiple stab wounds. A second man, Joseph Ryan, was also found dead. He had been shot inside the same room.
Christine’s husband, Brendan Banfield, would later be charged with their murders. What followed was a case t
Rosemarie Essa
#318 - In February 2005, an Ohio woman suddenly collapsed and died while driving to a local movie theater. At first, her death was thought to be the result of a minor car accident. But as the forensic evidence started to reveal itself, the thought that this woman died in a car accident seemed impossible. And the deeper investigators looked, the more suspicious one of the victim’s loved ones looked
The Knifepoint Rapist
#317 - When a pattern emerges in criminal investigations, it often becomes the strongest lead. In Southern California, that pattern pointed to a serial sexual offender who used a knife to control his victims and left DNA behind at multiple scenes.
For years, the DNA sat unmatched.
Today’s episode examines the San Diego Knifepoint Rapist case, the forensic evidence that connected the assaults, and
From the Archives: Tiffany Valiante
From the Archives: The Mysterious Death of Tiffany Valiante
In 2015, 18-year-old Tiffany Valiante was struck and killed by a train in New Jersey. Authorities quickly ruled her death a suicide but from the very beginning, her family has insisted that explanation doesn’t make sense.
Tiffany had made plans for the future. She had no known history of depression. And crucial pieces of evidence, includi
Marvin Grimm Jr
#315 - In 1975, a three-year-old boy disappeared in Richmond, Virginia. Days later, his body was found in the James River, and a young neighbor, Marvin Grimm Jr., became the focus of the investigation.
After hours of interrogation, Marvin confessed and later pleaded guilty. He was sentenced to life in prison.
But decades later, advances in forensic science told a very different story.
DNA testing
Robert Brashers
#314 - For decades, Robert Eugene Brashers lived in near-total obscurity.
While investigators across multiple states worked unsolved cases involving sexual assault and murder, his name never surfaced. Not because evidence was missing, but because the science needed to connect it all didn’t yet exist.
In this episode of Forensic Tales, we trace the full scope of Brashers’ crimes: from a brutal atte
Gareth Williams
#313 - This week, we’re revisiting one of the most downloaded episodes of 2025.
The death of UK spy Gareth Williams in 2010 has become one of the most high-profile unsolved mysteries in years after his naked body was discovered padlocked inside a duffel bag. Described as a genius mathematician who the intelligence service had recruited, Gareth’s exact cause of death remains unknown, and people can
John Kunco
#312 - In 1991, John Kunco was convicted in Pennsylvania of raping and torturing a 55-year-old woman inside her apartment. There was no DNA evidence tying him to the crime. Instead, the case against him relied heavily on an alleged bite mark and a delayed voice identification.
Kunco spent nearly 28 years in prison before advances in forensic science began to unravel the evidence used to convict hi
Arpana Jinaga
#311 - In November 2008, 24-year-old Arpana Jinaga was found murdered in her Redmond, Washington apartment—just hours after attending a Halloween party with neighbors in her building. Arpana was a bright, accomplished software engineer with no known enemies, yet the crime scene was chaotic and filled with conflicting forensic clues.
Despite multiple suspects, extensive DNA testing, and even a crim
Juliana Redding
In March 2008, 21-year-old Juliana Redding was found murdered inside her Santa Monica apartment. Juliana had moved to Los Angeles to study communications and pursue modeling, building a life close to the beach and staying closely connected to her family in Arizona.
When she stopped responding to calls and messages, police conducted a welfare check and discovered signs of a violent struggle — along
Robert Stonebreaker
A respected veterinarian is found dead under mysterious circumstances in an upscale Rancho Santa Fe neighborhood. What first looked like a car accident quickly turned into a homicide investigation filled with unanswered questions — a wrecked vehicle, blunt-force trauma, and no clear explanation of how Dr. Robert Stonebreaker ended up in a nearby driveway. Nearly 15 years later, the case remains un
Jane Mixer
In this episode, we revisit the shocking murder of 23-year-old law student Jane Mixer, long believed to be a victim of Michigan’s “Co-Ed Killer.” When modern DNA testing finally pointed to an unexpected suspect, Gary Leiterman, the case was reopened, re-examined, and fiercely debated.
Was the forensic evidence clear-cut? Or did lab contamination muddy the truth? Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz co
Peggy Carr
When 41-year-old Peggy Carr suddenly fell gravely ill, doctors were stumped. Her symptoms made no sense—burning limbs, hair loss, and paralysis with no clear cause. But when her teenage son and stepson became sick too, investigators uncovered a chilling truth: the Carr family had been poisoned.
The substance was thallium—a deadly, nearly undetectable metal once used in rat poison. The discovery la
Robert Duboise
In 1983, 19-year-old Barbara Grams was found murdered behind a dental office in Tampa, Florida. Detectives said a small mark on her cheek was a bite — and that 18-year-old Robert DuBoise’s teeth matched it. That single piece of forensic “evidence” sent him to death row.
But nearly four decades later, new DNA testing proved what Robert had said all along — he was innocent. The mark wasn’t even a bi
Jodine Serrin
It was Valentine’s Day, 2007, when 39-year-old Jodine Serrin’s parents stopped by her Carlsbad, California condo to check on her. Moments after walking into her bedroom, they realized something was terribly wrong. Jodine had been brutally attacked—and the man they’d seen inside her home had vanished.
For over a decade, her murder went unsolved. No witnesses. No leads. Just a single piece of DNA le
Linda Slaten
#304 - In 1981, 31-year-old single mother Linda Slaten was found murdered in her Lakeland, Florida apartment. Her sons were asleep just down the hall. For decades, detectives chased every lead — a violent ex-husband, a mysterious boyfriend, even a convicted predator who once lived next door. But the trail always went cold.
Nearly forty years later, a revolutionary forensic tool — genetic genealogy
Teresa Solecki
In January 1984, 29-year-old Teresa Solecki walked to a payphone in Vista, California, to make a quick call to her sister. She never came back. Hours later, her body was discovered along a remote stretch of Gopher Canyon Road—brutally beaten and strangled.
For decades, investigators held onto the evidence: a bite mark, a drag trail, and an unknown male’s DNA. But without modern technology, Teresa’
Dorothy Donovan
In June 1991, 70-year-old grandmother Dorothy Donovan was found brutally murdered inside her farmhouse in Harrington, Delaware. The crime stunned the small town—and suspicion immediately turned to the person who discovered her body: her own son.
Charles Holden told investigators a strange and terrifying story about a violent hitchhiker he’d picked up earlier that night, a man who threatened him wi
Noreen Boyle
On New Year’s Eve 1989, Mansfield, Ohio was rocked by the disappearance of Noreen Boyle. Her husband, prominent neurosurgeon Dr. John Boyle, insisted she had walked out after an argument. But Noreen’s son, 11-year-old Collier, told a very different story—a scream in the night, suspicious behavior from his father, and threats to stay silent.
When investigators dug deeper—literally—they uncovered th
300th Episode Special: The Zodiac
For our 300th episode of Forensic Tales, we’re tackling one of the most infamous and puzzling unsolved cases in American history—the Zodiac Killer. Between 1968 and 1969, a mysterious figure terrorized Northern California with a string of murders, chilling phone calls, and cryptic letters sent to local newspapers. Despite decades of investigation, the Zodiac’s identity remains one of the greatest
Noelle Russo
#299 - In June 1983, 37-year-old Noelle Russo was found beaten to death and left naked in a patch of weeds behind a real estate office in Rohnert Park, California. For decades, her case went cold—suspects were interviewed, rumors circulated, but without forensic evidence, detectives had nowhere to go.
Nearly forty years later, modern DNA testing finally identified a suspect: a man who had been on
Trial Recap: Donna Adelson
In 2014, Florida State law professor Dan Markel was shot in his driveway in what prosecutors called a calculated murder-for-hire plot. Over the years, three people—including Donna Adelson’s son, Charlie—were convicted for their roles. But investigators always believed the real mastermind was Donna herself.
In September 2025, after nearly a decade of speculation, Donna Adelson finally stood trial.
Jasmine Porter
In February 1996, 36-year-old Jasmine “Jazzie” Porter was found dead in her Bronx apartment while her five-year-old son was left to survive alone for days. For more than two decades, her case went unsolved—until a cold case detective uncovered long-preserved evidence that changed everything. A DNA match pointed to a man with a violent past, already convicted of killing another woman years earlier.
Katie Hamlin
In July 2002, the body of 15-year-old Katie Hamlin was discovered in a remote area of Cherokee County, Georgia. She had been brutally murdered, and her killer attempted to erase every trace of evidence by setting her on fire.
What followed was a years-long investigation that left a quiet community shaken. Police quickly focused on two suspects who pointed fingers at each other, but with crucial fo
Christmas Doe
#295 - In December 1988, a road crew in rural Ware County, Georgia, discovered an abandoned television console on the side of Duncan Bridge Road. Inside was a black suitcase. Inside that suitcase, a duffel bag. And inside the bag — the body of a little girl.
For decades, no one knew her name. She was remembered only as “Christmas Doe.”
Thirty-four years later, advances in forensic genealogy finall
Patricia Meehan
#294 - In 1989, 37-year-old Patricia Meehan crashed head-on into another car on a Montana highway. She calmly stepped out, stared at the other driver—and walked away into the night. She was never seen again… or was she?
Over the years, thousands claimed to spot her across the country, yet not a single sighting was confirmed. Was it amnesia, a planned disappearance, death in the wilderness, or some
Leslie Perlov and Janet Taylor
#293 - In the early 1970s, two young women from Stanford University—Leslie Perlov and Janet Taylor—were strangled and left in remote areas just miles apart. Despite extensive investigations, both cases remained unsolved for decades.
Nearly 50 years later, a stunning breakthrough in forensic genealogy revealed their killer: John Getreu, a seemingly ordinary man with a violent past. Hidden behind th
Arlis Perry
#292 - In 1974, 19-year-old Arlis Perry was brutally murdered inside Stanford University’s Memorial Church. Her body was discovered posed in a ritualistic manner, surrounded by religious objects—fueling decades of rumors about satanic cults and ritual sacrifice. Despite the collection of physical evidence, the case would remain unsolved for over 40 years.
Arlis’s murder became one of Northern Cali
Geetha Angara
#291 - In 2005, chemist Geetha Angara vanished during her shift at a New Jersey water treatment plant. A day later, her body was found floating inside one of the facility’s massive water tanks—along with more questions than answers. Was it a tragic accident? Or a calculated murder perfectly concealed by the very environment she worked to protect?
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Jessica Chambers
#290 - On a cold December night in 2014, first responders in Courtland, Mississippi, arrived at the scene of a car fire—only to discover something far more horrifying. Nineteen-year-old Jessica Chambers was found walking down a rural road, covered in burns and barely clinging to life. Before succumbing to her injuries, she tried to name her attacker. But what exactly did she say? And why has her c
Torrey Pines Beach Murders
#289 - Torrey Pines State Beach in California is a place where many come to find peace. But for two young women, it became the backdrop of unspeakable tragedy.
In August 1978, police officers responded to the beach, where they found the body of 15-year-old Barbara Nantais lying on the sand. She had been strangled and beaten to death, and one of her breasts had been severed.
Her boyfriend was also
Lynette White
#288 - It was Valentine’s Day, 1988, in Wales. While couples exchanged roses and love notes, in a small flat above a betting shop, a young woman lay brutally murdered. Her name was Lynette White. She was just 20 years old.
What followed her death wasn’t just a murder investigation—it was a legal and forensic nightmare. Five innocent men were accused, imprisoned, and publicly vilified for a crime t
Yarmila and Scott Falatar
#287 - Imagine waking up to find your entire world shattered—and being told you’re the one who destroyed it. In 1997, Phoenix, Arizona, was rocked by a gruesome and baffling crime. Yarmila Falater, a devoted wife and mother, was found stabbed over 40 times and drowned in her own backyard pool. The suspect? Her husband, Scott Falater—a devout Mormon with no history of violence, who claimed he had n
Trial Recap: Karen Read
#286 - In January 2022, Boston police officer John O’Keefe was found dead in the snow outside the home of another police officer. The case quickly captured national attention—not just because of the tragedy itself, but because of the woman accused of killing him: Karen Read.
If you’ve been following Forensic Tales, you might remember that we covered the full story of this case in a previous episod
Tamla Horsford
#285 - It was supposed to be a fun night.A group of moms—neighbors and friends—gathered for an adult slumber party. Alcohol, games, laughter… the kind of night where you let loose, take off your responsibilities, and just be yourself.
But by the next morning, one of them was dead.
Her name was Tamla Horsford. A 40-year-old mother of five.She was found face down in the backyard of the home where th
Vicki Lynn Belk
In the heat of Maryland summer in 1979, a young woman’s life was brutally cut short — and for over four decades, the case went cold. Vicki Lynn Belk was just 28 years old when she vanished, her vibrant future stolen in an instant. For years, investigators pored over evidence, haunted by the lack of answers. But it wasn’t until the power of modern forensic science — DNA technology that didn’t even
Rachel Nickell
It was a July morning on Wimbledon Common when Rachel Nickell took her usual walk with her two-year-old son. What happened next would send shockwaves through the UK and spark one of the most controversial investigations in modern British history. A young woman brutally murdered in broad daylight. A toddler left clinging to her lifeless body. And a police force so desperate for answers that they fo
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