Digest

This podcast delves into the unsolved death of Stephanie Marie, who was found dead in her home in Sedona, Arizona, in 1993. The episode begins by introducing the case and the victim, Stephanie Marie, and then details the events of the night of her death, focusing on the inconsistencies in her boyfriend Russell Peterson's story. The podcast explores the initial investigation, highlighting the evidence collected, including gunshot residue found on Stephanie's left hand despite her being right-handed, and the lack of conclusive evidence to support Russell's claim of suicide. The investigation stalled due to Russell's uncooperativeness, and the case went cold. The podcast then focuses on Nikki Waslishan, Stephanie's daughter, who has been actively seeking justice for her mother's death. Nikki has used social media to raise awareness about the case and has been pushing for a full investigation. The podcast details the reopening of the investigation in 2020 and the subsequent lack of progress, highlighting the family's frustration with the authorities. The episode concludes by analyzing the three possible scenarios surrounding Stephanie's death: accident, suicide, and homicide, presenting arguments for and against each. The podcast focuses on the homicide theory, presenting evidence that suggests Russell Peterson may have been responsible for Stephanie's death, and explores the possibility of a manslaughter charge. The episode ends with a call to action, asking listeners to share their thoughts on the case and whether Russell Peterson should have been charged.

Outlines

00:00:00

The Unsolved Death of Stephanie Marie

This podcast investigates the unsolved death of Stephanie Marie, who was found dead in her home in Sedona, Arizona, in 1993. The episode begins by introducing the case and the victim, Stephanie Marie, and then details the events of the night of her death, focusing on the inconsistencies in her boyfriend Russell Peterson's story.

00:02:53

The Investigation and Evidence

The podcast explores the initial investigation, highlighting the evidence collected, including gunshot residue found on Stephanie's left hand despite her being right-handed, and the lack of conclusive evidence to support Russell's claim of suicide. The investigation stalled due to Russell's uncooperativeness, and the case went cold.

00:19:55

Nikki Waslishan's Fight for Justice

The podcast then focuses on Nikki Waslishan, Stephanie's daughter, who has been actively seeking justice for her mother's death. Nikki has used social media to raise awareness about the case and has been pushing for a full investigation.

00:21:39

The Reopened Investigation and Lack of Progress

The podcast details the reopening of the investigation in 2020 and the subsequent lack of progress, highlighting the family's frustration with the authorities.

00:25:40

Analyzing the Possible Scenarios

The episode concludes by analyzing the three possible scenarios surrounding Stephanie's death: accident, suicide, and homicide, presenting arguments for and against each.

00:35:20

The Homicide Theory and Potential Charges

The podcast focuses on the homicide theory, presenting evidence that suggests Russell Peterson may have been responsible for Stephanie's death, and explores the possibility of a manslaughter charge. The episode ends with a call to action, asking listeners to share their thoughts on the case and whether Russell Peterson should have been charged.

Keywords

Q&A

• What are the main inconsistencies in Russell Peterson's story about the night of Stephanie's death?

  Russell's story changed significantly over time, from initially claiming an argument led to the shooting to later stating that Stephanie came at him with a gun out of the blue. He also admitted to handling the weapon after the shooting and made a phone call to his father before calling 911, which he never explained.

• Why is the gunshot residue found on Stephanie's left hand considered a significant piece of evidence?

  Stephanie was right-handed, making it highly unlikely that she would have fired the gun with her left hand. The medical examiner concluded that the gunshot residue was more consistent with a defensive posture than a self-inflicted wound.

• What are the arguments for and against the possibility of Stephanie's death being an accident?

  The awkward angle of the bullet and the gunshot residue on Stephanie's left hand could be explained by a struggle over the gun. However, Russell's changing story and the lack of evidence to support a struggle raise doubts about this scenario.

• Why is the suicide theory considered unlikely?

  Stephanie was not known to be depressed or suicidal, and her family insists that she would not have taken her own life with her daughters in the house. Additionally, the awkward angle of the bullet and the use of her non-dominant hand make a self-inflicted wound seem improbable.

• What evidence suggests that Russell Peterson may have been responsible for Stephanie's death?

  Russell's inconsistent story, the lack of gunshot residue testing on his hands, the unexplained phone call to his father, and the fact that Stephanie's family claims she was considering leaving him due to his abusive behavior all point towards a possible homicide.

• What is Nikki Waslishan's role in seeking justice for her mother?

  Nikki has been actively campaigning for a full investigation into her mother's death, using TikTok to raise awareness and starting a petition on Change.org. She has also been pushing for the case file to be presented to a grand jury.

• What is the current status of the investigation?

  The investigation has been reopened and additional interviews have been conducted, including one with Nikki's father. However, there has not been much movement in the case since early 2023, and the authorities are still awaiting additional evidence.

Show Notes