True Crime Arizona

The assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk has shaken the American political landscape. In this special crossover episode between True Crime Arizona and Politics Unplugged, Morgan Loew is joined by political editor Dennis Welch and true crime correspondent Briana Whitney for an in-depth discussion on the investigation into the killing and the political and social ramifications now and moving forward.

On New Year's Eve 2021, Ben Anderson abruptly cancelled brunch with a friend then disappeared. His friends found his car in a Phoenix hotel parking garage with strangers driving it but couldn’t find Ben. Hours later, not only is Ben’s car found torched and abandoned, but his body is found on fire in the Arizona desert 30 miles north. For years, there have been no developments in the case, until now. The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office has identified the father and son duo they say was involved in Ben’s murder but many questions still remain. We dig deeper about who these suspects are, what criminal history they have, and Ben’s best friend gives an interview about what he remembers from that fateful night now that some things are answered. But the motive or connection between the suspects and Ben remains unknown…

In highly-anticipated parole hearings, infamous brothers Lyle and Erik Menendez were both up for parole last week after being resentenced for the 1989 murders of their parents Jose and Kitty Menendez. After two of the longest parole hearings in Californai history, both brothers were denied. But…there was a lot more that went into the denial and why the board says they can try again in 3 years. For the first time in decades, we hear Erik Menendez describe the murders himself, and learn what California governor Gavin Newsom has been thinking, who holds all the power in this case. 

A group of 5th graders in Surprise, AZ hatched a detailed plan to murder their fellow classmate and cover their tracks. Thankfully, they were caught before they could carry it out. True Crime Correspondent Briana Whitney sits down with reporter Micaela Marshall, who interviewed the victim’s parents for the first time. Marshall details her investigation, what happened to the child suspects, and where the case stands now. Bullying prevention resources: https://www.azed.gov/wellness/bullying-prevention https://www.stopbullying.gov/resources/get-help-now https://www.speakstandsave.com/resources-general https://asatonline.org/for-parents/education/lifespan/resources-bullying/

Lori Vallow Daybell is sentenced for her Arizona crimes after the death of her husband and attempted shooting of her niece’s ex-husband. But before sentencing day, Lori gives her final interview to true crime correspondent Briana Whitney, revealing information she hasn’t before. On sentencing day, family members who have survived this carnage for six years share their heart, anger, and grief with the court ahead of her sentence. Lori is given one last opportunity to make a statement to the judge, and she does. The judge then finally gets to share his thoughts and feelings with everyone after months of dealing with the Lori Vallow Daybell circus. 

In June 2025, former domestic violence detective John Byrd finally learned how long he will spend behind bars in Arizona for the murder of his wife, Elizabeth Byrd. He killed her while their three young kids were home sleeping, then disappeared until he was caught later that day. But before he would learn his fate, drama unfolded in unexpected ways during the sentencing hearing, Elizabeth’s family pleaded with incredibly emotional words to the judge for the maximum sentence, and John Byrd stood up and addressed the court too -  the first time he’s spoken since taking his wife’s life.

In a chilling jailhouse interview, suspect Adam Sheafe details how and why he killed and crucified beloved New River, AZ pastor Bill Schonemann. Sheafe had a master plan to kill and crucify 14 pastors around the country. His motive? Belief in the Old Testament, and that anyone who teaches about Jesus deserves to die. True Crime Correspondent Briana Whitney sits face to face with the confessed killer, and learns the depth of his disturbing criminal mindset and calculated plan. 

He’s notorious for causing one of the longest prison standoffs in U.S. history, and now Ricky Wassenaar is a confessed killer. In April 2025, three inmates were killed at a Tucson prison complex, and the sole suspect: Ricky Wassenaar. From prison, he calls True Crime Correspondent Briana Whitney and describes not only how he killed the other inmates, but why. He says it was justified and explains his reasoning. Meanwhile, Chief Investigative Reporter Morgan Loew investigates security concerns, and sits down with the director of the Dept. of Corrections to ask what went wrong that allowed this mass killing to happen, and if they department will be changing things moving forward.

It’s the number one true crime podcast in the world – Crime Junkie hosts Ashley Flowers and Brit Prawat give True Crime Arizona’s Briana Whitney an exclusive interview ahead of their live tour stop in Phoenix. They touch on everything from how the podcast started with humble beginnings, which episode helped solve a case, the responsibility of creating content in this industry, and most importantly, had a big update in a high-profile unsolved Arizona case: the disappearance and murder of Alissa Turney. The girls are now on a Crime Junkie nationwide live tour, something they have dreamed of for years.

Lori Vallow Daybell was found guilty of conspiring to murder her 4th husband, Charles Vallow. What came in the moments and days after the verdict was the jury learning about all the other deaths and murders that surround her, Charles Vallow’s family sharing words of relief and after what they witnessed in the courtroom, and an exclusive sit down interview with Lori Vallow Daybell herself in jail after the verdict. No questions are off limits, and what she has to say is stunning.

Another wild week in court with an unexpected ending. True Crime correspondent Briana Whitney and True Crime Arizona photographer Shane Egan have been in the courtroom together and break down the big testimony from week 2. This is where we get into eye-opening text messages and emails, and locations of what and where everyone went while Charles Vallow was dead on the floor. Then…the unexpected: both sides rest at the same time. We bring you everything you need to know before closing arguments and verdict watch. 

Spirits, zombies, text messages, and gunshots. True crime correspondent Briana Whitney and Arizona’s Family reporter Zach Prelutsky break down and analyze all the biggest testimony from the first week of Lori Vallow Daybell’s murder conspiracy trial for the death of her husband, Charles Vallow. Listen to memorable moments from witnesses on the stand so far as this unprecedented trial unfolds.

Just days before her high-profile trial is set to begin in Phoenix, so-called “Doomsday Mom” Lori Vallow Daybell sat down for an interview with True Crime Arizona. “I’m fighting for my life here,” she told True Crime Arizona correspondent Briana Whitney. She’s set to represent herself in a murder conspiracy trial in the 2019 death of her fourth husband, Charles Vallow, who was shot to death by her brother Alex Cox. He claimed self-defense at the time and died from natural causes months after the shooting. A jury has been seated, and opening statements are scheduled for Monday.

For the first time, the public has access to nearly all of the once classified files in the John F. Kennedy assassination, after President Trump order they all be released. With an expected nearly 80,000 pages, experts and researchers on the case have given insight into some of the biggest revelations they’ve learned as they sift through the new information. A case expert and member of the declassification task force take us through the new details: what the CIA knew about shooter Lee Harvey Oswald before the assassination, who lied under oath to the government, and what information appears to still be missing.

A mother's discovery on her son's phone launched an investigation ​that discovered a terror plot against the Pride Parade in Phoenix. Guest hosts Morgan Loew and Cody Lillich delve into the intricate details of this case, how 17-year-old Marvin Jalo's radicalization led him to plan an attack, and how investigators worked tirelessly to prevent a potential disaster. This episode explores the complexities of online radicalization, the legal proceedings, and the efforts of law enforcement agencies to protect public safety. 

In 1965, Charles Schmid became infamously known around the nation as “The Pied Piper of Tucson” after being arrested for the murders of three vanished girls. Their remains were found, and his trial skyrocketed into national news headlines, magazine, and even Playboy. But one young girl watched this unfold in front of her eyes as she slept next to the Pied Piper, her husband. Diane Schmid was married to Charles, and for the first time in 60 years, the widow reveals everything she saw during that time. Was he her one true love? Or does she see him as a monster?

All four of Gabby Petito’s parents—both biological and step—sat down with True Crime Arizona ahead of the Netflix docuseries release on the case. They share who last saw and talked to Gabby of the four of them, what was happening with Gabby right before the "Van Life" trip, and aspects they’re revealing in the new docuseries that nobody has known about the case before. They also share more about the advocacy work of the Gabby Petito Foundation, and why a specific missing persons cause brought them to Arizona.

It was an unexpected role reversal! Briana sits down with Mark McClune, the sports director and anchor at 3TV and CBS 5. Why? Because Mark was almost chosen to serve on the jury for a conspiracy to commit murder trial with the death penalty on the table. The case itself is wild: A secret lover, coded text messages, parents at the wrong place at the wrong time, and the targeted victim transitioning from a woman to a man. Mark reveals what the jury selection process was like and what extreme questions he had to answer that nearly got him a seat on the jury, as Briana begins covering the months-long high-profile trial.

It’s a case that involves GPS tracking devices, cryptic messages, and a plan to flee the country. After the State of Arizona files their intent to seek the death penalty against a murder suspect, the True Crime Arizona team learns no media or news outlet has ever reported on this case. How? We take you behind the scenes of uncovering who the two victims are, the details of what happened in this case that led up to their deaths, and the dramatic capture of the man allegedly responsible for it all. If you or anyone you know is suffering from domestic violence, please visit these links and resources for help: https://noabuse.org/ https://des.az.gov/domestic-violence https://www.phoenix.gov/law/victims/domestic-violence/resources-and-referrals

For the first time, the Arizona Attorney General’s Office has a new cold case unit that’s starting their work with 5 unsolved cases. Who killed these people, and why? We dive into details of each case, where it stands now, and explore the new evidence that’s come to light. The unit also vows to work on Missing and Murdered Indigenous People cases, and explores how AI could be a way forward with case investigations.