Shades of Murder: A True Crime Podcast

Original air date 11/27/2024. Re-published for Thanksgiving-themed episodes.

Around 2:15 am on Thanksgiving morning, 1995, in Fairfax, Virginia, 911 operators received a call that the Harper residence was on fire. When firefighters arrived at the house, fire and smoke masked the horrific scene inside. Once the flames were extinguished and the heavy smoke cleared, emergency personnel found the burnt body of a young woman. When invest...

On 02/14/2025, the gruesome discovery of a young indigenous girl’s remains was made in the Tonto National Forest near Globe, Arizona. The investigation into her disappearance and the events leading up to her death would reveal a long pattern of neglect and systemic failures. This is the story of Emily Pike of the San Carlos Apache Tribe of Arizona.

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When a 12-year-old schoolgirl goes missing in Paris, France, the nightmare that unfolds would shock and enrage an entire country. This is the story of Lola Daviet and the Devil Monster of France, Dahbia Benkired.

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Less than one year after the Slenderman stabbing, a brutal and horrific murder would shock the community of Elkhart, Indiana. Investigators would learn how the young offender of this vicious crime had become obsessed with a creepypasta paranormal serial killer clown known as Laughing Jack.

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On March 17th, 1979, at the Palmland Motel in Fort Myers, Florida, the body of 73-year-old Inez Kelly was discovered in her room. The old woman had been viciously slain. Bloody footprints would lead the police to a sleeping maid. The real perpetrator of this brutal murder would not only surprise and shock psychiatrists, the prosecution, and the judge, but also the defendant herself.

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On November 13th, 2013, the body of 78-year-old Joseph Gatto was discovered in his Silver Lake, Los Angeles residence. The house was ransacked and appeared to be a fatal home invasion, but the scene and evidence failed to make any sense. His son would embark on a quest for truth and journey into darkness to seek justice for his beloved father. 

**Remastered for balanced audio

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In the Spring of 1998, in Winter Park, Florida, a 19-year-old co-ed was found dead inside her dorm room. The scene was bizarre and suspicious. This homicide investigation would lead to strange, conflicting forensic reports and leave people to wonder whether it was an accident, suicide, or murder.

This is the unsolved murder of Jennifer Kairis.

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Alyssa Bustamante has been labeled a thrill killer, a psychopath, and an evil monster. Only a child of fifteen herself when she committed an act of unimaginable violence, she remains a true killing anomaly. Part 2 of this story explores the dark layers of this young female offender, signs of psychopathy, and discusses how our society defines juvenile justice.

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In the small town of St. Martins, Missouri, when a nine-year-old girl vanishes, the entire community comes together to search for her. While investigators combed through the vast woods where it was believed she had last been, they discovered two small graves. The disturbing words found inside a teenager’s diary would lead homicide detectives to a shocking and very unusual suspect. 

This is the case of Alyssa Bustamante and Elizabeth...

Lurking behind dreamy destinations of tropical islands lie sands of blood and secrets. Tourists and residents become victims of horrific violence, and countless murders are never solved. This episode discusses two murder mysteries set in paradise.

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In January 2017, when a gruesome discovery was made at a commercial trash facility in Bronx County, New York, law enforcement investigators quickly identified the brutal killer. This horrific murder would lead to a historical fight for justice for society’s most marginalized women. This is the case of Brooklyn's Leondra Foster.

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In March 2014, when two bodies were discovered behind a convenience store, Galveston County homicide detectives were stumped on who and why these victims were killed. A letter, a window shutter, and surveillance footage would lead investigators to the shocking and horrible truth. This is the case of Brittney Cosby and Crystal Jackson of Houston, Texas.

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In March 2012, a young woman from Ukraine was discovered lying inside the basement of an abandoned hospital. She was on fire and barely alive. Her shocking and brutal story would highlight the injustice, corruption, and lack of accountability for the country's elite. This is the case of Oksana Makar.

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On May 16th, 2021, in Tempe, AZ, a tragic and shocking family murder occurred. This brutal and disturbing crime would horrify the community and forever traumatize law enforcement, crime scene specialists, the coroner, and the entire courtroom. This is the case of Yui Inoue.

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On May 2nd, 2016, on the Navajo Reservation in Shiprock, NM, two young children disappeared while walking home after school. The tragedy that would unfold would expose a loophole in the system that failed to protect indigenous children. This is the story of Ashlynne Mike. Thank you so much for listening! If you enjoy what I do and want to support me, please follow the podcast and leave a rating on Spotify or Apple by clicking on th...

On June 2nd, 2023, in a suburb outside of D.C., patrol officers entered a basement searching for signs of a missing woman. There, they were struck with the foulest of odors. As they looked around the room, they noticed a knife on the ground and several trash bags that appeared to be wet. This routine welfare check had quickly turned into a crime scene.

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On Midsummer, 2003, in Pirkkala, Finland, the police received a call from a woman who had been told about a murder in which a man had been dismembered. It wasn’t until the second call, which was from a witness to this horrendous crime, that officers began to take the report seriously. These calls would lead investigators down a path to the discovery of atrocious and shocking crimes.

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Between April and June 2017, in the small rural Southern town of Lumberton, NC, whispers of a serial killer spread throughout the neighborhood. The bodies of three women were discovered within only a few blocks of one another. Their deaths would shine a light on the unknown number of missing and murdered Indigenous women of Robeson County whose homicides have yet to be solved. 

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On November 11th, 2010, in the quaint lovely town of Apple Valley, Ohio, law enforcement officers entered a family’s residence who had been reported missing.  Inside officers were met with a bloodbath, but there were no bodies in sight. The investigation would unravel one of the most brutal and bizarre of crimes. For many of the officers involved, they would forever be traumatized by what they saw.

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