When Christmas Was a Lie: The Murder of Za’Zell Preston

When Christmas Was a Lie: The Murder of Za’Zell Preston

On Christmas morning in 2011, in Anaheim, California, children opened their presents just feet away from their mother’s body. Za’Zell Preston was 26 years old, a mother of three, a dancer, and a full-time college student studying to become a domestic violence counselor. Seven weeks postpartum, she was trying to build a future for herself and her children while trapped in a violent and controlling marriage. Her husband, William Wallace, had a documented history of abusing Za’Zell. He had been arrested before. He had spent time in jail. Family members had warned police. The danger was known. On Christmas Eve, after attending a neighbour’s party, Wallace beat Za’Zell to death inside their apartment. Instead of calling for help, he staged her body on the couch, placed sunglasses over her eyes, and waited for morning. He allowed Christmas to happen around her. In this episode of Serial Napper, we examine the murder of Za’Zell Preston, the calculated staging that followed, and the chilling performance of normalcy that unfolded in front of her children. We walk through the investigation, the trial, and the forensic evidence that dismantled Wallace’s version of events, leading to his conviction for second-degree murder. Listener discretion advised. This episode includes discussions of extreme domestic violence and the presence of children in the aftermath. Souces:https://nypost.com/2021/06/07/man-who-killed-wife-propped-up-body-while-kids-opened-presents-sentenced/ https://www.ocregister.com/2012/05/25/column-suspect-says-he-creamed-zazell/ https://people.com/crime/man-convicted-murder-after-killing-wife-having-kids-open-christmas-gifts-in-front-body/ https://lawbirdie.com/criminal-case-study-murder-of-zazell-preston/ https://lasentinel.net/christmas-day-killing-of-wife-in-anaheim-heads-to-jury.html Follow me here: ► YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@SerialNapper/ ► Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/serialnappernik/ ► Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SerialNapper/ ► TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@serialnappernik *Go Ad-Free on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/SerialNapper * Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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A Predator in Uniform: The Kidnapping and Murder of Sarah Everard

A Predator in Uniform: The Kidnapping and Murder of Sarah Everard

In March 2021, 33‑year‑old Sarah Everard disappeared while walking home from a friend’s house in South London. What began as a missing person’s case quickly turned into one of the most shocking and he...

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He Won the Lottery…Then Vanished: The Disappearance of Joshua Saulteaux

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The Monster of the Miramichi: The Final Chapter of Allan Legere

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The Heavy Backpack: Colt Gray and the Apalachee High Shooting

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A heavy backpack. A quiet question in first‑period math. And a year of warnings that went unanswered. This episode of Serial Napper traces the long, tangled path leading to the Apalachee High shooting...

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Between 7:00 and 7:46: Rebecca Reusch is Missing

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On the morning of February 18, 2019, 15-year-old Rebecca Reusch was supposed to go to school. She never arrived. The last confirmed sign of life? A Snapchat sent from inside her sister’s home in Berl...

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Britain’s Child Killer: Mary Bell and the Question of Evil

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In the summer of 1968, the tight-knit community of Scotswood in Newcastle upon Tyne was shaken by two devastating deaths. Four-year-old Martin Brown was found in an abandoned house. Three-year-old Bri...

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The Hurricane, The Baby, The Life Sentence: Tiffany Woods Plea

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In 2005, just weeks after surviving a 41-day stay in the NICU, baby Emmanuel Woods died of malnutrition in Shreveport, Louisiana. His mother, Tiffany Woods, was later convicted of second-degree murder...

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The Night the Party Turned Silent: Matthew Degrood and the Brentwood Stabbings

The Night the Party Turned Silent: Matthew Degrood and the Brentwood Stabbings

April 15, 2014. What began as a small student gathering near the University of Calgary ended in one of the most devastating nights in the city’s history. Five young people went to a house party in B...

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