Crime Curious

When 23‑year‑old Susan Smith tearfully told police that a stranger had carjacked her vehicle with her two sons still inside, the nation rallied behind her. For nine days, her emotional pleas dominated headlines and sparked a massive manhunt across South Carolina. But as inconsistencies in her story emerged, investigators began to suspect that the real story was far darker than anyone imagined. Join Patreon here to binge bonus content! Crime Curious is creating a kick-ass exclusive listener experience | Patreon Want to just donate to the show? You can do so here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/crimecurious Music By: Michael Drzewiecki Cover Art By: Charnell Beyond all reason: My life with Susan Smith by: David Smith with Carol Calef 30 years after Susan Smith: A look back at the 9 days that changed South Carolina Susan Smith denied parole 30 years after killing her 2 sons - ABC News https://abcnews.go.com/US/susan-smith-front-parole-board-30-years-after/story?id=116043423 Susan Smith - Wikipedia Susan Smith's Ex-Husband Says He Doesn't Want Her Released On Parole Where Is Susan Smith Now? Inside Her Life in Prison After Drowning Her Sons

In November 2020, 19‑year‑old Andrew Sorenson disappeared from Spokane, Washington. For nearly a year, his family searched for answers—until an abandoned Honda Accord revealed the truth no parent should ever face. Inside its trunk lay Andrew’s body, bound with zip ties and wrapped in tape, the victim of a brutal killing that would later ignite national outrage.   Join Patreon here to binge bonus content! Crime Curious is creating a kick-ass exclusive listener experience | Patreon Want to just donate to the show? You can do so here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/crimecurious Music By: Michael Drzewiecki Cover Art By: Charnell   'Evil came over you': Man who brutally killed 19-year-old he falsely accused of sex trafficking gets 25 years in prison Man who allegedly killed daughter’s boyfriend is no ‘hero,’ grieving family says Andrew Sorensen’s body went unnoticed for a year. Now a dad claims it was justice for trafficked daughter | The Independent Spokane parents plead guilty to killing daughter's 19-year-old boyfriend who was baselessly accused of sex trafficking Washington parents plead guilty to killing daughter's 19-year-old boyfriend who was baselessly accused of sex trafficking | The Daily Chronicle John Eisenman Charged With Murder Of Andrew Sorensen Spokane Couple Admits to Killing Daughter's Ex, Falsely Accusing Him of Selling Their Daughter to Seattle-Based Sex Trafficking Ring

While on break for the holiday season, we decided to re-release a missing person case that still needs attention. Jaden Leigh Carpenter also known as "Shug" has been missing since October 7, 2022. She was last known to be with her boyfriend, James Tyson Reece at his home in Culleoka Tennessee. Her family is still asking for anyone who might know about her whereabouts or what may have happened to Jaden to please contact Lieutenant Samuel Voss at (931) 375-8602. 

In March 1994, the quiet suburb of Carmel, Indiana was shattered by the brutal murders of siblings Lisa and Nick Allemenos, and their family friend Chris James. What began as a seemingly ordinary evening spiraled into one of Hamilton County’s most savage crimes—three young lives cut short in a chilling act of betrayal and violence. In this episode, we unravel the events leading up to that night, the shocking details of the crime, and the trial that followed. Through court records, survivor accounts, and community reflections, we explore how a senseless decision over drugs and money left a lasting scar on an entire town.   Join Patreon here to binge bonus content! Crime Curious is creating a kick-ass exclusive listener experience | Patreon Want to just donate to the show? You can do so here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/crimecurious Music By: Michael Drzewiecki Cover Art By: Charnell   Nicholas George “Nick” Allemenos (1976-1994) - Find a Grave Memorial Lisa Nicole Allemenos (1980-1994) - Find a Grave Memorial Christopher Edward “Chris” James (1970-1994) - Find a Grave Memorial Kofi Modibo Ajabu Seeks Clemency for 240-Year Sentence - Capital B News Kofi Modibo Ajabu v. State of Indiana :: 1998 :: Supreme Court of Indiana Decisions :: Indiana Case Law :: Indiana Law :: U.S. Law :: Justia IM Crime Files: Deadly Decisions - Indianapolis Monthly 25 years later: 1994 Carmel triple murder tore families apart, brought unlikely friends together Convicted killer suspected in attack on prison guard | wthr.com

On November 22, 1976, Katherine Callaway Hall was approached by Phillip Garrido outside a California supermarket. What began as a seemingly innocent request for a ride quickly turned into a nightmare. Garrido handcuffed and bound Hall, driving her to a storage facility in Reno, Nevada.   Join Patreon here to binge bonus content! Crime Curious is creating a kick-ass exclusive listener experience | Patreon Want to just donate to the show? You can do so here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/crimecurious Music By: Michael Drzewiecki Cover Art By: Charnell Jaycee Dugard. A Stolen Life: A Memoir. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2011. ISBN 978-1-4516-2918-7. Rape victim describes Garrido’s attack | The Seattle Times Phillip Garrido's Previous Victim Recalls Her 8-Hour Terror Former victim locks eyes with Garrido in court Garrido hearing attracts 1976 victim Jaycee Dugard kidnap suspect used bondage, captivity in past - CNN.com

When a late-night drive turned into a deadly ambush, 24-year-old Cherica Adams made a desperate 911 call that would expose a chilling conspiracy—and save her unborn son. This episode unravels the tragic case of Cherica’s murder, the shocking involvement of former NFL player Rae Carruth, and the miraculous survival of Chancellor Lee Adams, whose life stands as a testament to resilience, justice, and a mother’s final act of courage.   Join Patreon here to binge bonus content! Crime Curious is creating a kick-ass exclusive listener experience | Patreon Want to just donate to the show? You can do so here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/crimecurious Music By: Michael Drzewiecki Cover Art By: Charnell Chancellor Lee Adams turns 26 – WSOC TV Rae Carruth murder case, Charlotte NC crime, 25 years later | Charlotte Observer Transcript of 911 call from Cherica Adams | DocumentCloud Cherica Adams Murder: Where Are Rae Carruth and Van Watkins Now? Update Rae Carruth - Wikipedia

When 55-year-old Greg Fleniken checked into the MCM Eleganté Hotel in Beaumont, Texas, he expected a quiet night: popcorn, a candy bar, and cable TV. But by morning, he was dead—face down on the floor, cigarette still in hand, door locked from the inside. No blood. No bruises. No signs of foul play. Authorities assumed a heart attack. But the autopsy told a different and gruesome reality.   Join Patreon here to binge bonus content! Crime Curious is creating a kick-ass exclusive listener experience | Patreon Want to just donate to the show? You can do so here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/crimecurious Music By: Michael Drzewiecki Cover Art By: Charnell The Insane Story of Room 348: How Toothpaste and a Bullet Cracked the Case | True Crime | by Mr. O | Medium He Died Alone in Room 348. The Truth Took Years to Surface The Story of Room 348: How Toothpaste and a Bullet Cracked the Case - Thar Tribune

This is the conclusion to our interview with Heather—a woman whose childhood was shaped by the shadows of crime and loss. Her father was incarcerated for murder, and her beloved mother battled alcoholism until it claimed her life. Left to navigate a world of instability and stigma, Heather faced choices that could have easily led her down a darker path. But this is not a story of defeat. It’s a story of resilience. Heather opens up about what it’s like to grow up on the "other side" of a crime—not as the perpetrator or the victim, but as the child left behind. She shares how grief, shame, and survival shaped her early years, and how she ultimately forged a new identity rooted in strength, compassion, and purpose. Today, Heather is a thriving, successful member of society, and her journey offers a rare glimpse into the long-term ripple effects of incarceration—and the power of healing. This episode is for anyone who’s ever wondered what it takes to rewrite your story when the odds are stacked against you.   Join Patreon here to binge bonus content! Crime Curious is creating a kick-ass exclusive listener experience | Patreon Want to just donate to the show? You can do so here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/crimecurious Music By: Michael Drzewiecki Cover Art By: Charnell

In this powerful and deeply personal two part episode, we sit down with Heather—a woman whose childhood was shaped by the shadows of crime and loss. Her father was incarcerated for murder, and her beloved mother battled alcoholism until it claimed her life. Left to navigate a world of instability and stigma, Heather faced choices that could have easily led her down a darker path. But this is not a story of defeat. It’s a story of resilience. Heather opens up about what it’s like to grow up on the "other side" of a crime—not as the perpetrator or the victim, but as the child left behind. She shares how grief, shame, and survival shaped her early years, and how she ultimately forged a new identity rooted in strength, compassion, and purpose. Today, Heather is a thriving, successful member of society, and her journey offers a rare glimpse into the long-term ripple effects of incarceration—and the power of healing. This episode is for anyone who’s ever wondered what it takes to rewrite your story when the odds are stacked against you.   Based on our own interview completed with Heather on 11/5/2025 Join Patreon here to binge bonus content! Crime Curious is creating a kick-ass exclusive listener experience | Patreon Want to just donate to the show? You can do so here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/crimecurious Music By: Michael Drzewiecki Cover Art By: Charnell

After a late-night car crash in Marrero, Louisiana, Shane Fell vanished without a trace—leaving behind only a shoe and a trail of questions. In this episode, we explore the baffling disappearance of Shane Michael Fell, a 36-year-old technical advisor who crashed his car on River Road in the early hours of June 10, 2011. Shane climbed out of the wreckage and spoke coherently with his brother by phone, assuring him he was uninjured and waiting to be picked up. But by the time help arrived just twenty minutes later, Shane was gone. No signs of foul play, no activity on his bank cards, and no confirmed sightings since. Was it head trauma, a voluntary escape, or something more sinister? Join us as we unravel the mystery that still haunts his family and the community. Join Patreon here to binge bonus content! Crime Curious is creating a kick-ass exclusive listener experience | Patreon https://www.buymeacoffee.com/crimecurious Music By: Michael Drzewiecki Cover Art By: Charnell   The Disappearance of Shane Fell - Disappeared Man Vanished From Scene of Accident: Where Is Shane Fell? | by Jenn Baxter | Medium Facebook Shane Fell | International Missing Persons Wiki | Fandom Shane Michael Fell – The Charley Project

In the icy stillness of a Maine winter night in 1951, a chilling scream shattered the quiet at the Bowdoin Courts Apartments. When police arrived, they found Eva Cooper—nude, bound, and barely conscious—on the living room floor. Her husband, Lancelot Cooper, a respected welder and former city councilor, lay dead in the bedroom, brutally hacked with a meat cleaver. What began as a bizarre home invasion quickly unraveled into a tangled web of past relationships, masked intruders, and a desperate call made with Eva’s teeth.    Join Patreon here to binge bonus content! Crime Curious is creating a kick-ass exclusive listener experience | Patreon https://www.buymeacoffee.com/crimecurious Music By: Michael Drzewiecki Cover Art By: Charnell   Stories from Maine: Brunswick’s red scarf murder Lancelot Cooper murder - Newspapers.com™ The Bizarre Case of Lancelot Cooper — Murder, She Told: Maine & New England True Crime Lancelot Cooper - Wikipedia

In 2004, 19-year-old Courtney Coco vanished from her hometown of Alexandria, Louisiana. Days later, her body was discovered over 200 miles away in an abandoned building in Winnie, Texas. With no clear cause of death and few leads, the case went cold—until a podcast investigation reignited the search for justice. In this episode, we unravel the heartbreaking mystery, the relentless efforts of Courtney’s mother, and the shocking arrest that came nearly two decades later.   Join Patreon here to binge bonus content! Crime Curious is creating a kick-ass exclusive listener experience | Patreon https://www.buymeacoffee.com/crimecurious Music By: Michael Drzewiecki Cover Art By: Charnell Special Guest Tashia: Sources cited within episode.

Today we unravel the haunting tale of Blanche Monnier—a French socialite whose disappearance baffled Paris for over two decades. When authorities finally discovered her in 1901, the truth was more horrifying than anyone imagined. Join Patreon here to binge bonus content! Crime Curious is creating a kick-ass exclusive listener experience | Patreon https://www.buymeacoffee.com/crimecurious Music By: Michael Drzewiecki Cover Art By: Charnell   Blanche Monnier - Wikipedia The Tragic Story of Blanche Monnier, Locked Away From Society for 25 Years Blanche Monnier Spent 25 Years Imprisoned By Her Mom For Falling In Love Louise Léonide Demarconnay Monnier (1825-1901) - Find a Grave Memorial The Blanche Monnier Story: Why She Was Locked Away for 25 Years - HubPages Charles Emile Monnier (1820-1882) - Find a Grave Memorial Special Thanks to Sara for today’s recommendation.

In this jaw-dropping episode, we dive into the astonishing true story of Jacob Miller, a Union soldier whose Civil War experience reads like a Hollywood script—except every word is real. Miller, a member of the 9th Indiana Infantry, was shot between the eyes at the Battle of Chickamauga and left for dead. But not only did he survive—he walked off the battlefield, tended to his own wounds, and lived with an open head injury for decades.     Join Patreon here to binge bonus content! Crime Curious is creating a kick-ass exclusive listener experience | Patreon https://www.buymeacoffee.com/crimecurious Music By: Michael Drzewiecki Cover Art By: Charnell Indiana Civil War soldier survived bullet to forehead The Civil War Soldier Who Is Known As the Headshot Survivor - The HyperHive Center Shot: Private Jacob Miller Of The 9th Indiana Vol. Infantry | Civil War News | historicalpublicationsllc.com Civil War Veteran Survived Decades After Being Shot in the Forehead? | Snopes.com The Story Of How Jacob Miller Walked Around With A Bullet In His Head | SOFREP

In June 1996, the vibrant life of 20-year-old Swedish au pair Karina Holmer came to a gruesome end in Boston. After a night out at the Zanzibar nightclub, Karina vanished—only for her dismembered remains to be discovered days later in a trash bin near Fenway Park. Her murder shocked the city and remains one of its most haunting unsolved crimes. In this episode, we trace Karina’s journey from Sweden to the U.S., explore the chilling details of her final hours, and examine the lingering questions that continue to baffle investigators and haunt those who knew her. Join Patreon here to binge bonus content! Crime Curious is creating a kick-ass exclusive listener experience | Patreon https://www.buymeacoffee.com/crimecurious Music By: Michael Drzewiecki Cover Art By: Charnell Karina Holmer: How Did She Die? Who Killed Her? Boston Herald, 23 June, 1998 – “After Two Years, Police Are Still Seeking Break in Case” The Commercial Appeal, 28 June, 1996 – “Dead Woman’s Letters Had Ominous Nature” The Unsolved Murder of Karina Holmer • Morbidology Boston Herald, 11 January, 1997 – “Man Questioned in Nanny Murder Kills Self”

It was January 12, 1976, in the quiet town of Mississippi City. Edwina Marter, just 34 years old, was at home with her youngest son when a stranger came to the door posing as a utility worker. That man was Richard Jordan, a Vietnam veteran desperate for money. This episode dives deep into the events of that day, the decades-long legal battle that followed, and the emotional toll on the Marter family.     Join Patreon here to binge bonus content! Crime Curious is creating a kick-ass exclusive listener experience | Patreon https://www.buymeacoffee.com/crimecurious Music By: Michael Drzewiecki Cover Art By: Charnell Edwina Rose De Gruy Marter (1940-1976) - Find a Grave Memorial Richard Gerald Jordan - Wikipedia Victim's family speaks out on Richard Jordan Mississippi execution After almost half a century on Death Row, longest-serving inmate is executed - Darkhorse Press  

This week we are discussing performance art and one of the most controversial pieces that was performed by the grandmother of performance art Marina Abramovic. Marina brought 72 items to the show and allowed the audience to do whatever they wanted with the items and her body. What took place was both shocking and disturbing.  Join Patreon here to binge bonus content! Crime Curious is creating a kick-ass exclusive listener experience | Patreon https://www.buymeacoffee.com/crimecurious Music By: Michael Drzewiecki Cover Art By: Charnell "I was ready to die": Marina Abramović on 'Rhythm 0' Rhythm 0 - Wikipedia "Rhythm 0" - Analysis of Marina Abramović's Performance Art Marina Abramović - Wikipedia  

The conclusion to part one: Megan is treating us with another two-part series! This time she is bringing us one of the most miraculous survival cases of all time out of South Africa. Alison Botha was left for dead after being stabbed over 30 times and having her neck sliced from ear to ear 16 times. She has spoken around the world since her survival and is a true inspiration.    Join Patreon here to binge bonus content AND get instant access to all parts of a multi part episode like this one! Crime Curious is creating a kick-ass exclusive listener experience | Patreon https://www.buymeacoffee.com/crimecurious Music By: Michael Drzewiecki Cover Art By: Charnell References verbally stated throughout episode 

Megan is treating us with another two-part series! This time she is bringing us one of the most miraculous survival cases of all time out of South Africa. Alison Botha was left for dead after being stabbed over 30 times and having her neck sliced from ear to ear 16 times. She has spoken around the world since her survival and is a true inspiration.    Join Patreon here to binge bonus content AND get instant access to all parts of a multi part episode like this one! Crime Curious is creating a kick-ass exclusive listener experience | Patreon https://www.buymeacoffee.com/crimecurious Music By: Michael Drzewiecki Cover Art By: Charnell References verbally stated throughout episode 

Jake Evans was calm, articulate and collected when he called 911 in the early morning hours of October 4, 2012, to report that he had just shot and killed his mother and sister. Take a listen to hear the 911 call and learn what explanation Jake had, how the courts handled the severity of a case like this for a juvenile and how the family has come to heal.   Join Patreon here to binge bonus content! Crime Curious is creating a kick-ass exclusive listener experience | Patreon https://www.buymeacoffee.com/crimecurious Music By: Michael Drzewiecki Cover Art By: Charnell   Teen Inspired by Michael Myers — Murders Mother and Sister | by Malinda Fusco | CrimeBeat | Nov, 2020 | Medium | CrimeBeat Texas Teenage Murderer Jake Evans Says ‘Halloween’ Movie Inspired Family Killings 'Halloween' Inspired Texas Teen to Kill Mom and Sister - ABC News Bing Videos