True Crime BFF

In the winter of 1985, Diane Robertson & Mike Riemer  set out into the Washington backwoods with their toddler to cut down a Christmas tree— they never returned.  Later that evening, their 2-year-old, Crystal was found wandering alone in a Kmart parking lot. She couldn’t say who she was or how she got there, only repeating: “Mommy is in the trees.”

Her mother, Diana Robertson, would be discovered months later — murdered and left...

In this Brief BFF, we spotlight a case that may not have made huge headlines, but absolutely should have. 

I hope you will joining me in honoring Laura and sending a big fuck you to the loser that killed her.When 25-year-old Laura Sardinha tried to break free from an abusive partner, she did everything right—documented the abuse, filed for a restraining order, even changed her locks. But it still wasn’t enough. While she was being m...

We are condensing two timely and ongoing important cases down to brief summaries that are ongoing and deserve your attention!

Melina Frattolin, a 9-year-old abducted and found murdered in Lake George, NY — a case that seemed like a stranger abduction, but quickly turned into something far more devastating. **Police are actively seeking witnesses in the area of the I-87 Northway between Exits 28 (North Schroon Lake: US 9, NY 74 to Ti...

“Dad, Mom came back. I have to go with her. Give the boys lots of kisses and hugs and also you too. Love, Annette.” 

In 1987, 26-year-old Korrina Malinoski vanished without a trace from her rural South Carolina home, leaving behind her three young children. 318 days later, her 11-year-old daughter Annette Sagers also disappeared—this time on her way to school, from nearly the exact same spot her mother was last seen.

Two disa...

Somerset, Kentucky, July 3rd, 1994.

21-year-old Linda Gibson and her 4-year-old half-brother Cody Garrett left their Somerset, Kentucky apartment for what should have been a routine trip to the corner store for chips and a soda. But four days later, their bodies were found beaten to death in an overgrown field. More than 30 years later, their case remains unsolved. 

Writing by Faith Ndukauba

Research • Editing • Proofreading • St...

On April 4th, 2024, twenty-two-year-old Danishka Mejia made one of the most difficult decisions a survivor can make. She walked into the Knoxville Tennessee Police Department and courageously reported that she had been sexually assaulted by someone she knew, Latawyne Osborne. 

Less than twenty-four hours later, Danishka would be dead.El 4 de abril de 2024, Danishka Mejía, de veintidós años, tomó una de las decisiones más difíciles q...

On May 27, 2025, Coast Guard veteran and OnlyFans creator Chelsea Perkins pleaded guilty to the murder of Matthew Dunmire, who was shot in the back of the head in Cuyahoga Valley National Park in March 2021. This case is far from straightforward, revealing a shocking series of events including rape, murder, suicide and mistaken identity…all fueled by past trauma, retribution, and a tragic cycle of violence. 

Opening and closing ...

In the fall of 2010, Knox County, Ohio was shaken by the sudden disappearance of Tina Herrmann, her two children—13-year-old Sarah Maynard and 11-year-old Kody Maynard—and her friend Stephanie Sprang. What begins as a routine missing persons case quickly unravels into something far darker. Investigators follow a trail that leads to a literal house of horrors—and a fucking loser - Matthew Hoffman. His obsession with trees and leaves...

Jillian Dee Cutshall was last seen in Norfolk, Nebraska on August 13, 1987. More than three decades later, despite an unusual conviction in the case, Jillian's body has never been found and no one has been charged with her murder. 

Like TCBFF? Be sure to check out A Simpler Time True Crime- available wherever you listen to podcasts!

Opening and closing music “Under Your Thumb” by Nom Fabrique - listen to Nom on Spo...

In the quiet mountain town of McCloud, California, two women vanished without a trace just months apart. In 1997, 27-year-old Karin Mero and 15-year-old Hannah Zaccaglini both disappeared, leaving their families desperate for answers and a community on edge. For years, investigators searched for the truth, but with little evidence and no bodies, the cases went cold.

This is the story of two unsolved mysteries, a small town with ...

Atlantic City/ Egg Harbor, New Jersey - November 2006

Just before Thanksgiving, 2006, two women out for a walk stumbled upon a serial killers dumping ground.  Four women were found  face down, in a drainage ditch, their bodies eerily positioned facing east-  towards the bright lights of nearby Atlantic City. Because of this, the killer came to be known as the Eastbound Strangler.

For 5 weeks, this unknown serial killer stalked th...

In broad daylight, three mothers—two with their young children—vanished from the upscale Town Center Mall in Boca Raton, Florida.  Each case seemed eerily similar: women abducted in a place that should have been safe, their fates sealed just moments after stepping into the parking lot.

Only one mother and her child would survive, escaping after a harrowing ordeal. But why were they spared while the others were brutally executed?

Toda...

When a 17-year-old mother of two young children finds her youngest baby not breathing, she runs for help. But instead of sympathy, she received a death sentence. This is the story of Sabrina Butler-Smith - the first woman in U.S. history to be exonerated from death row. Her story isn't just about injustice - it's about how quickly the system can turn a tragedy into a nightmare. But it's also about how a teenager transfo...

When Christmas of 1988 came and went without a word from 54-year-old, Cam Lyman, a reclusive multi-millionaire, his family grew concerned. They had no idea that he had abandoned his 40-acre estate the year before, ominously leaving behind a phone ripped off the wall. Even more troubling, Cam’s beloved 58 prize-winning show dogs- were allegedly left alone in their kennels, unfed and unattended. It was completely out of character for...

October 2018: In the remote desert town of Chalfant Valley, California, 16 year old Karlie Gusé vanished from her parents house after being recorded experiencing an ominous but unknown crisis. She was last seen walking down a desolate road at dawn. Where is Karlie Gusé? Opening and closing music “Under Your Thumb” by Nom Fabrique - listen to Nom on Spotify!

SOURCES 

Missing teen’s case leads from California to Nevada 

Karlie Gu...

On October 5, 2018  film-maker & production assistant, Terrence Woods Jr was on location in the dense wilderness of Idaho filming a Discovery Channel TV show.  Seemingly out of nowhere, he supposedly dropped his belongings and raced down a steep ravine and into the forest, leaving his colleagues stunned. He has not been seen since.

We'll explore the various theories surrounding Terrence's disappearance, from foul play to envir...

Imagine living every day with a secret so deep, it shapes your entire life—so well-hidden that even your spouse and child have no clue who you really are. This is the story of Lori Erica Ruff, a woman who built her life on a lie and took her secrets to the grave. Years after her tragic death, a mystery unraveled—one that would reveal Lori wasn't who she claimed to be. In this episode, we dive deep into the decades-long deception an...

On May 3, 2024, Megan Rouse, 24, was brutally beaten and shot nine times. She was left on the side of a desolate road in Houston, Texas, where she died alone. 

Just twelve days before Megan’s murder, 29-year-old Kalie Godwin’s Mom received a call from an unknown number demanding money via Cash App. On that call, she could hear her daughter screaming and begging for her life. 

Kalie was last seen in Baytown Texas on April ...

Separated by 20 years and thousands of miles, two women, Mary Vincent & Roxanne Hayes shared a  tragic encounter with the same heinous monster. Their stories are a benchmark display of extraordinary courage and unimaginable horror.

ALL THE TRIGGER WARNINGS including rape, mutilation, child sexual abuse, and suicide. 

Opening and closing music “Under Your Thumb” by Nom Fabrique

SOURCES

I Survived (Season 1, Episode 4)

The Heart ...