Moms and Mysteries: A True Crime Podcast

Andreen McDonald was a Jamaican immigrant who built a multi-million dollar assisted living business by age 22. She was a fitness champion and devoted mother living in San Antonio with her husband, Air Force Major Andre McDonald. From the outside, they were a Texas power couple. But behind closed doors, years of domestic violence and control had created a toxic marriage spiraling toward tragedy. On March 1st, 2019, Andreen vanished. She didn't show up for her 5 AM workout or arrive at work—completely out of character. As friends and family grew frantic, the couple's young, autistic daughter told investigators: "Daddy hurt Mommy." What followed was a massive search, a gruesome discovery, and a trial that exposed the dark secrets of a seemingly perfect marriage. This is the heartbreaking story of Andreen McDonald—a case of ambition, jealousy, domestic violence, and murder. Thank you to this week's sponsors! Refresh your wardrobe with Quince. Don't wait. Go to Quince.com/moms for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! See thicker, stronger, faster-growing hair with less shedding in just 3-6 months with Nutrafol. For a limited time, Nutrafol is offering our listeners $10 off your first month’s subscription and free shipping when you go to Nutrafol.com and enter the promo code MOMS New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday! Follow us on Instagram: @momsandmysteries Join our Patreon: patreon.com/momsandmysteries Visit our website: momsandmysteries.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A double murder in a quiet Georgia town. A 5-year-old discovers her parents shot in their bed. No forced entry, no weapon. The prime suspect? Their 16-year-old daughter. This week we discuss the shocking case of Sarah Grace Patrick and the digital trail that led to her arrest. New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday! Follow us on Instagram: @momsandmysteries Join our Patreon: patreon.com/momsandmysteries Visit our website: momsandmysteries.com Sources: Georgia Girl, 17, Accused of Fatally Shooting Mom and Stepdad, Whose Bodies Were Discovered by Her 6-Year-Old Sister ‘We had our suspicions’: Niece of couple murdered in Carroll home reacts to teen daughter’s arrest Georgia teen charged in parents' deaths sought help from TikTok influencers | FOX 5 Atlanta Carroll County teen accused of killing family: Grandfather believes she's innocent | FOX 5 Atlanta Community Left Seeking Answers In the Unsolved Murder of a Carroll County Couple: – The West Georgian Sarah Grace Patrick Had No Family Support At Bond Hearing | Closing Arguments Podcast Teen who eulogized mom, stepdad arrested in their killings | Banfield Full Episode 7/10 Carrollton couple found dead in bed; authorities search for answers ‘He warned us about her’: Carroll County family voices suspicions about stepdaughter after stepdad’s death 'Smallest daughter found them': Teen murdered her mother and stepfather while her 6-year-old sister was home with them, cops say | Law & Crime 'Pattern of intimidation towards family': Teen who posted TikTok tributes after murdering mom and stepdad threatened others, relatives and DA say | Law & Crime https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Xmg-tmV8SHs5heaoTyGPk7uHNfB2wBFe/view (Image) 2022-08-22 Kristin Nolan Patrick DV Cruelty to Children Warrant.pdf 2022-08-24 Ex Parte Emergency PO against Kristin Patrick.pdf 2022-09-14 James Brock Motion Dismissal Charges.pdf 2022-08-25 James Brocks Petition of RO against Kristin Nolan Patrick DV.pdf https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064557800560 https://www.facebook.com/doniel.patrick.2025/posts/pfbid02d8uHjDHLgDKLeXCem5bgEqJk8E1LacVETRMCdCVhErWrTXsowSPwEkimQtA7dg4Vl?rdid=Fg47SAJal9DfFL7H# Mental evaluation results pending for Carroll County teen accused of killing mother, stepfather https://www.facebook.com/CarrollCountySheriffGA/posts/pfbid0BnoLJ4tmUdAmP3YW9r2xMAUjJmbkZ8JGLUMfzANeog1rGCMifU7PTXHiZv9cDXrJl https://www.newspapers.com/image/1240903454/?match=1&terms=Sarah%20Grace%20Patrick 2025-12-01 Order denying motion to change venue-1.pdf 2025-11-19 Request for continuance.pdf Georgia teen charged in fatal shootings of mom and stepdad posted TikTok video pleading for support - WSVN 7News | Miami News, Weather, Sports https://www.tiktok.com/@shoelover99/video/7525111063684140302 NewsNation Instagram Interview with Allegedly Reportedly Creator Did Sarah Grace Patrick Kill Her Parents? Our Video Investigation Reveals Shocking New Clues Father of Teen Charged With Murder Says She Didn’t Show ‘Any Red Flags’ - Newsweek Teen Daughter Accused of Killing Mother and Stepfather in Georgia - Newsweek Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 1995, the brutal murder of Memphis socialite and philanthropist Emily Fisher shattered the city's illusion of high-society tranquility. Stabbed over 50 times in her historic home, the investigation peeled back the layers of a picture-perfect family to reveal a dark world of secrets, lies, and a son's crippling drug addiction.  This week, we unravel the tragic story of the Fisher family, a case that took nearly two decades to solve and left a trail of devastation in its wake, including the death of Emily's own son. This is a southern gothic tale of how privilege and wealth are no match for the destructive power of addiction. If you’d like to hear the episode on Jack Wheeler from October 2023, you can find that here. Thank you to this week’s sponsors! Start the new year off on a great foot with your kids! Start your risk-free Greenlight trial today at Greenlight.com/moms. For 50% off your order, head to DailyLook.com and use code MOMS50. Right now IQBAR is offering our special podcast listeners 20% off all IQBAR products—including the Ultimate sampler pack—plus FREE shipping. To get your 20% off, text MOMS to 64000. Message and data rates may apply. See terms for details. Get organized, refreshed, and back on track this new year for WAY less. Head to Wayfair.com right now to shop all things home! Whatever challenges you’re facing, Grow Therapy is here to help. Sessions average about $21 with insurance and some pay as little as $0, depending on their plan. Visit GrowTherapy.com/MOMS today to get started. Availability and coverage vary by state and insurance plan. New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday! Subscribe to our youtube Follow us on Instagram: @momsandmysteriespodcast Join our Patreon: patreon.com/momsandmysteries Visit our website: momsandmysteries.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

*Subscribe to our youtube!* For decades, desperate parents have sent their struggling teens to residential treatment programs that promise to help them overcome everything from behavioral issues to substance abuse. But for many, these programs deliver years of trauma and abuse, rebranded as discipline and growth. This week, we are pulling back the curtain on the billion-dollar Troubled Teen Industry. What happens when a parent’s last resort becomes a child’s worst nightmare? We explore the slick marketing and manipulative tactics used by these facilities to lure in terrified families, and the shocking reality of what goes on behind closed doors. From isolation and psychological abuse to a system where compliance is mistaken for healing, we uncover the repeatable, cult-like model that defines many of these programs. We also discuss the tragic case of Taylor Goodridge, a 17-year-old who died at a Utah facility just days after her arrival, and the fight for justice and regulation that continues today, championed by survivors like Paris Hilton. This is a look into an industry that operates in the shadows, and the fight to bring it into the light. Thank you to this week's sponsors! Start the new year off on a great foot with your kids! Start your risk-free Greenlight trial today at Greenlight.com/moms. For 50% off your order, head to DailyLook.com and use code MOMS50. Right now IQBAR is offering our special podcast listeners 20% off all IQBAR products—including the Ultimate sampler pack—plus FREE shipping. To get your 20% off, text MOMS to 64000. Message and data rates may apply. See terms for details. Get organized, refreshed, and back on track this new year for WAY less. Head to Wayfair.com right now to shop all things home! Whatever challenges you’re facing, Grow Therapy is here to help. Sessions average about $21 with insurance and some pay as little as $0, depending on their plan. Visit GrowTherapy.com/MOMS today to get started. Availability and coverage vary by state and insurance plan. New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday! Follow us on Instagram: @momsandmysteries Join our Patreon: patreon.com/momsandmysteries Visit our website: momsandmysteries.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode was originally released as a bonus for subscribers and is now available on the main feed for all listeners. If you want to get more episodes like this (three bonus episodes per month) check-out patreon.com/momsandmysteriespodcast, or Apple + and Spotify's Bonus episodes. Enjoy! Be back on January 1st for a brand-new episode!   From the original episode: If you’ve ever wondered what happens when a Disney cast member, a Craigslist ad, an Orlando Magic cheerleader, and a man with a toe-related fantasy collide inside a perfectly normal Orlando townhouse, well, you might also be from Florida. Because the rest of the world is not ready for this story. In this episode, we break down a Craigslist job offer that absolutely should not exist, a man named Phil who is deeply committed to Bassnectar, a woman named Carolyn who deserved hazard pay just for walking through the door, a safe word that is somehow “Connecticut,” and a toe-removal attempt set up with the precision of a DIY disaster. It is a story that is somehow both deranged and oddly sincere, which is to say: perfectly Florida. And since we were born and raised in the Sunshine State, we feel uniquely qualified to bring you these stories. All month long we’re recapping episodes of It’s Florida, Man over on our bonus feed as part of Florida Women Bonus Month. Thanks for listening, and remember: if a man asks you to bring a witness to a toe-removal appointment, perhaps reconsider your life choices. From Max: A broke Orlando man responds to a Craigslist ad offering $4,000 to fulfill a stranger’s lifelong fantasy. Luckily there’s a safe word. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we are revisiting our most downloaded episode of the year: the heartbreaking case of Lauren Burk. In March 2008, the brutal murder of this 18-year-old Auburn University student shattered a community and left a family searching for answers in a case that is as tragic as it is controversial. Lauren was a bright, promising freshman who was abducted at gunpoint from her campus, robbed, and shot before she bravely jumped from a moving car in a desperate attempt to save her life. Her story is one of unimaginable terror, but also of incredible courage in her final moments.  The investigation led police to Courtney Lockhart, an Iraq War veteran whose life had taken a dark turn after returning home. His confession painted a disturbing picture of a man pushed to the edge, but was it the full story? We dive into the complexities of the case, from the initial crime to the controversial trial that followed, where a judge overrode a unanimous jury recommendation for life in prison and sentenced Lockhart to death. Join us as we take a second look at the case that resonated so deeply with our listeners. We explore the devastating impact of Lauren’s murder, the questions surrounding her killer's mental state, and the unique legal proceedings that still spark debate today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 1908 Glasgow, 82-year-old Marion Gilchrist was brutally murdered in her home during a ten-minute window while her maid was out. There was no forced entry, and the only thing missing was a single diamond brooch. The police quickly zeroed in on Oscar Slater, a German-Jewish immigrant with a gambling habit, and built a case around him with flimsy evidence and coached witnesses. Despite a weak case, Slater was convicted and sentenced to death, a sentence later commuted to life in prison. After a nearly 20-year fight for justice, championed by Sherlock Holmes author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Slater was finally exonerated. But the question remains: if Slater didn't do it, who did? New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday! Follow us on Instagram: @momsandmysteries Join our Patreon: patreon.com/momsandmysteries Visit our website: momsandmysteries.com #TrueCrime #Podcast #MomsAndMysteries #OscarSlater #MarionGilchrist #UnsolvedMysteries #HistoricalCrime #WrongfulConviction #Scotland Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The polished facade of NXIVM has shattered, and in Part 2, we take you inside the federal courthouse where its leaders finally face justice. We explore the harrowing trial of Keith Raniere, built on the brave testimony of the women who escaped his control. From the secret master-slave sorority known as DOS to the shocking details of branding, blackmail, and psychological abuse, the full truth of the cult is laid bare. We cover the verdicts, the sentences, and the downfall of the man who called himself “Vanguard.” But what happens after the headlines fade? To discuss the case’s complex legacy, we are joined by a special guest: Natalie, the host of the popular podcast “Allison After NXIVM.” She shares her unique insights into the story, the people involved, and the long road to recovery for those who lived through it. Find more information about "Allison After NXIVM" here. #truecrime #truecrimepodcast #momsandmysteries #nxivm #keithraniere #trial #dos #alisonafternxivm #justice #cult New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday! Follow us on Instagram: @momsandmysteries Join our Patreon: patreon.com/momsandmysteries Visit our website: momsandmysteries.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

*Part 2 is out on Thursday, December 18th* Imagine thinking you signed up for a self-improvement course, only to wake up inside a secret hierarchy where starvation, blackmail, and branding were sold as empowerment. This is the story of NXIVM, the so-called leadership program that unraveled into one of the most disturbing criminal enterprises in modern history. In Part 1, we pull back the curtain on how Keith Raniere, a man who called himself "Vanguard," and his partner Nancy Salzman built a multi-million dollar empire on the promise of human potential. We explore the early days of their Executive Success Programs (ESP), the manipulative techniques used to lure in thousands of followers—including celebrities and business leaders—and the slow, deliberate process of indoctrination. How did a group that started with corporate retreats and PowerPoint presentations devolve into a destructive cult? We trace the origins of the abuse, the creation of a master-slave sorority, and the psychological tactics that kept its members loyal, even as the darkness closed in. #truecrime #truecrimepodcast #momsandmysteries #nxivm #keithraniere #cult #nancysalzman #selfhelp #esp #vanguard New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday !Follow us on Instagram: @momsandmysteries Join our Patreon: patreon.com/momsandmysteries Visit our website: momsandmysteries.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 1931 Liverpool, a bizarre phone call sent William Herbert Wallace on a wild goose chase across the city. The caller, a man named "Qualtrough," had left a message for him at his chess club, asking him to meet at a non-existent address. When William returned home, he found his wife, Julia, brutally murdered in their parlor. The house was locked, there were no signs of forced entry, and the timeline seemed impossibly tight.Police immediately suspected William, believing the phone call was a ruse to create a fake alibi. He was quickly arrested, tried, and convicted, only to have the verdict overturned in an unprecedented move by the Court of Criminal Appeal. For nearly a century, the case has remained one of Britain’s greatest unsolved mysteries. Was William a cunning killer who almost got away with it, or an innocent man framed by a phantom? New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday! Follow us on Instagram: @momsandmysteries Join our Patreon: patreon.com/momsandmysteries Visit our website: momsandmysteries.com #TrueCrime #Podcast #MomsAndMysteries #JuliaWallace #UnsolvedMysteries #HistoricalCrime #Liverpool #LockedRoomMystery Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When police responded to a domestic dispute call at a Victorian home in Louisville, Kentucky, they stumbled into a house of horrors. The fight between lovers Jeffrey Mundt and Joseph Banis led them to a gruesome discovery in the basement: the body of James Carroll, who had been stabbed and shot, his body hidden inside an airtight container buried beneath the floor. The investigation unraveled a dark story of a love triangle fueled by meth, jealousy, and counterfeit cash. As Jeffrey and Joseph turned on each other, each painting the other as the mastermind, detectives were left to piece together what really happened. Was it a robbery gone wrong, a crime of passion, or something even more sinister? This is the twisted story of a murder that exposed the dark secrets hidden within a historic home. New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday! Follow us on Instagram: @momsandmysteries Join our Patreon: patreon.com/momsandmysteries Visit our website: momsandmysteries.com #TrueCrime #Podcast #MomsAndMysteries #JamesCarroll #Louisville #KentuckyCrime #Murder #LoveTriangle Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 2012, a 16-year-old girl in a quiet Dutch town made a simple mistake: she accidentally set her Facebook birthday party invitation to “public.” Within days, the invite went viral, attracting tens of thousands of RSVPs and becoming known online as “Project X Haren.” While the birthday girl and her family fled, thousands of strangers descended on the small town, ready to party. What started as a digital joke quickly spiraled into a real-world riot. Fireworks, flipped cars, and clashes with police turned the night into a scene of chaos that made international headlines. This is the unbelievable true story of how one click of a button unleashed the power of the internet and turned a quiet Sweet 16 into one of the most infamous parties in European history. New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday! Follow us on Instagram: @momsandmysteries Join our Patreon: patreon.com/momsandmysteries Visit our website: momsandmysteries.com #TrueStory #Podcast #ProjectXHaren #FacebookFail #Viral #Riot #Netherlands #SocialMedia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 1998, a polite and oddly courteous criminal known as "Roofman" began a crime spree across nine states, targeting mostly McDonald's restaurants. Jeffrey Manchester, a former Army paratrooper, would cut holes in the roofs of buildings, wait for employees to arrive, and then rob them at gunpoint—after politely telling them to grab a jacket before locking them in the freezer. After being caught and sentenced to 45 years, he escaped prison by hiding under a truck.For six months, he lived inside the walls of a Toys "R" Us in Charlotte, North Carolina, surviving on baby food and entertaining himself with remote-controlled cars. He even started a new life, complete with a girlfriend and a church community who knew him as "John Zorn." This is the unbelievable true story of the criminal who turned a toy store into his personal hideout and the bizarre double life he led before his final capture. New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday! Follow us on Instagram: @momsandmysteries Join our Patreon: patreon.com/momsandmysteries Visit our website: momsandmysteries.com #TrueCrime #Podcast #JeffreyManchester #Roofman #RooftopRobber #ToysRUs #CharlotteNC #CrimeSpree #PrisonEscape Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In September 1999, 17-year-old Nicole Sanchez was a talented singer with a contagious laugh and big dreams of becoming a veterinary assistant. But her life was brutally cut short by her 23-year-old boyfriend, Lionel Villarreal, in a horrifying act of intimate partner violence. After just four months of dating, Nicole had decided to end the controlling relationship. That weekend, she was shot and killed. Lionel claimed it was a suicide, but the evidence told a different story. The single gunshot wound was a deliberate, humiliating act of aggression. He was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to what the court called "life," but in Michigan, that could mean parole in just 20 years. For over two decades, Nicole's family has lived with the devastating loss, while her killer has been planning his future. This is the story of a vibrant young life stolen too soon and the relentless fight her sister has waged to keep a dangerous man behind bars and to ensure that Nicole's story is never forgotten. New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday! Follow us on Instagram: @momsandmysteries Join our Patreon: patreon.com/momsandmysteries Visit our website: momsandmysteries.com #TrueCrime #Podcast #NicoleSanchez #JusticeForNicole #DomesticViolence #DatingViolence #SaginawMichigan #LionelVillarreal #EndDV Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Thanksgiving Day 2018, 29-year-old mother Kelsey Berreth vanished from her Woodland Park, Colorado home, leaving behind her 1-year-old daughter and a batch of unbaked cinnamon rolls. The last trace of her was a bizarre series of texts and a phone pinging 800 miles away in Idaho. Her fiancé, Patrick Frazee, claimed they had broken up and that she had left voluntarily. But Kelsey's family knew the devoted mother would never abandon her child. As investigators dug deeper, they uncovered a story far more sinister than a simple disappearance. The investigation led them to Krystal Lee Kenney, a nurse from Idaho with a secret, decade-long relationship with Patrick. Her chilling confession revealed a gruesome murder plot, a brutal crime scene cleanup, and a calculated cover-up. Patrick had bludgeoned Kelsey to death with a baseball bat while their infant daughter was in the next room, all because she refused to give him full custody. This is the story of a holiday turned horrific, a secret affair that ended in murder, and the relentless pursuit of justice for Kelsey.New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday! Follow us on Instagram: @momsandmysteries Join our Patreon: patreon.com/momsandmysteries Visit our website: momsandmysteries.com #TrueCrime #Podcast #KelseyBerreth #PatrickFrazee #ColoradoCrime #ThanksgivingMurder #KrystalLeeKenney #DomesticViolence #JusticeForKelsey Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Imagine hearing sirens outside your home, stepping onto your porch, and being shot by police—all because of a prank call from a thousand miles away. This is exactly what happened to Andrew Finch in Wichita, Kansas, in a tragic "swatting" incident that shocked the nation .In this Thursday episode, we're diving into shocking stories where pranks, online feuds, and marketing stunts spiraled into tragedies. From a $1.50 Call of Duty bet that led to a fatal swatting, to teens throwing a sandbag from an overpass that killed a passenger, to a YouTube stunt where a girlfriend shot her boyfriend through a book—these cases remind us that pranks can have deadly consequences. We also cover the Aqua Teen Hunger Force bomb scare that shut down Boston in 2007, and more stories that prove sometimes, a joke isn't funny at all. These are cautionary tales about the dangers of chasing views, seeking revenge, and underestimating consequences. New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday! Follow us on Instagram: @momsandmysteries Join our Patreon: patreon.com/momsandmysteries Visit our website: momsandmysteries.com #TrueCrime #Podcast #FloridaMoms #PranksGoneWrong #Swatting #AndrewFinch #YouTubePranks #OnlineDanger #DeadlyPranks #TrueCrimeThursday Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Daniel Brophy was a beloved chef and culinary instructor at the Oregon Culinary Institute in Portland. At 63 years old, he was passionate about teaching and loved by his students. On June 2, 2018, Daniel was found shot to death inside his classroom—murdered in the place he loved most. The investigation led police to an unlikely suspect: his wife, Nancy Crampton Brophy, a romance novelist.Years before Daniel's murder, Nancy had written an essay titled "How to Murder Your Husband." In it, she detailed various methods of killing a spouse and getting away with it. Investigators discovered Nancy had purchased gun parts online, taken out life insurance policies on Daniel, and her car was captured on surveillance footage near the culinary school the morning of the murder. In May 2022, Nancy Crampton Brophy was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison.This case is a chilling reminder that sometimes, truth is stranger—and darker—than fiction. New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday! Follow us on Instagram: @momsandmysteries Join our Patreon: patreon.com/momsandmysteries Visit our website: momsandmysteries.com #TrueCrime #Podcast #FloridaMoms #DanielBrophy #NancyBrophy #HowToMurderYourHusband #Portland #Oregon #TruthStrangerThanFiction #RomanceNovelist #ChefMurder Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When Nikki Cheng Saelee McCain vanished in May 2024, her family was devastated. Nikki was born in a refugee camp in Southeast Asia and came to the United States with her family, settling in Seattle. She was a beautiful, bubbly woman who loved to laugh and was always her family's biggest cheerleader. She had a forgiving nature and brought joy to everyone around her. After Nikki disappeared, her husband Tyler McCain publicly pleaded for her safe return. At a March 2025 press conference, Tyler stood next to Nikki's sisters and FBI agents, asking for the public's help to find her. But in August 2025, everything changed. Tyler was arrested and charged with Nikki's murder.Prosecutors allege he had a motive to silence Nikki—one that involves a disturbing history and a case that was dismissed when Nikki disappeared. This episode covers Nikki's life, her disappearance, and the shocking developments that led to Tyler's arrest.Nikki is still missing. A $30,000 reward is being offered for information leading to her location. If you have information about Nikki Cheng Saelee McCain, please contact the Shasta County Sheriff's Office Major Crimes Unit at (530) 245-6135 or mcu@shastacounty.gov. New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday! Follow us on Instagram: @momsandmysteries Join our Patreon: patreon.com/momsandmysteries Visit our website: momsandmysteries.com If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or visit thehotline.org. #TrueCrime #Podcast #FloridaMoms #NikkiCheng #California #DomesticViolence #MissingPerson #TylerMcCain #JusticeForNikki Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 1969, Jane Louise Mixer, a 23-year-old law student at the University of Michigan, was trying to catch a ride home to tell her parents she was engaged to her boyfriend Phil. Jane was an exceptional student—top 10% of her high school class, honor student, debate team member, cheerleader, and voted "best all around girl." She graduated from the University of Michigan in 1968 and enrolled in law school, where she was one of the only female students in the entire program. But Jane never made it home that day. She was found shot and strangled in a cemetery, her belongings eerily arranged beside her.For over 30 years, Jane's case sat frozen in time. Many believed John Norman Collins, a serial killer convicted of murdering another Michigan student, was responsible.But in 2001, DNA testing pointed to a different man: Gary Leiterman, a 62-year-old former nurse.In 2005, Gary was convicted of Jane's murder based on DNA evidence, handwriting analysis, and the fact that he owned a .22 caliber gun. But the conviction was highly controversial. Three scientists later argued that the DNA evidence was likely the result of lab contamination. Gary maintained his innocence until his death in prison on July 4, 2019, at age 76. Was Gary Leiterman truly guilty? Or was Jane Mixer's real killer never caught? New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday! Follow us on Instagram: @momsandmysteries Join our Patreon: patreon.com/momsandmysteries Visit our website: momsandmysteries.com #TrueCrime #Podcast #FloridaMoms #JaneMixer #Michigan #UniversityOfMichigan #DNAEvidence #WrongfulConviction #ColdCase Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On an ordinary Tuesday morning in October 2018, Cheryl Coker vanished from her suburban Ohio home. Her SUV was found abandoned in a Kroger parking lot with her purse and phone still inside. Cheryl—a bubbly, talkative mom and grandmother who never met a stranger—had not left on her own. For a year and a half, her family searched desperately for answers. Then, in April 2020, her remains were discovered in a wooded area not far from her home. Police believe Cheryl was murdered inside her house before being taken to the location where she was found. The only person of interest? Her husband, Bill Coker. This case explores the heartbreaking disappearance and murder of a devoted mother who was on the verge of starting a new chapter in her life. Despite strong suspicions and an active investigation, no charges have been filed. Cheryl's family is still waiting for justice. If you have any information, please contact the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation at 1-800-282-3784. New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday! Follow us on Instagram: @momsandmysteries Join our Patreon: patreon.com/momsandmysteries Visit our website: momsandmysteries.com #TrueCrime #Podcast #FloridaMoms #CherylCoker #UnsolvedMurder #Ohio #JusticeForCheryl #RiversideOhio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices