True Crime Society

UPDATE - February 24, 2022.  The bones that were found in the search for Susan do not belong to her and have been determined to be animal bones. SUSAN’S STORY When Susan Cox met Josh Powell, she envisioned her own ‘happily ever after’.  They were both members of the LDS church and seemed to have similar values and goals in life.     The couple settled down and had two sons, Charlie and Braden. One early pressure point in their marriage was interference and unwanted advances that were continually being made by Josh’s father, Steven Powell.  Steven would film Susan without her consent and he wrote many cringe-worthy love songs for her.  Susan became fed up and the family moved states from Washington to Utah. Not too long into their marriage, Josh began to change.  He became increasingly controlling -  even though Susan was the breadwinner in the family, he would control their finances so tightly that she did not have enough money to feed her children.  She began to grow vegetables to make sure they had enough to eat.  Susan also told family and friends that Josh threatened to "destroy her" if she filed for divorce. She then said that if she dies "it may not be an accident, even if it may look like one."  One cold December day in 2009, Susan’s neighbor visited the Powell family and they ate together.  Susan said she felt tired and wanted to nap.  This was the last time anyone would see Susan alive.   Josh’s version of events on the day that Susan disappeared is that he took his two young sons camping, at midnight, in ‘blizzard like’ conditions’. He told police that when he arrived home, Susan was gone.   Josh moved with Charlie and Braden back to Washington and they lived there for the next few years.  Susan’s family battled for custody of the boys for years, and it got to a point where Josh was only allowed to see them during visits that were supervised by a social worker.  When it became evident that he was never going to regain full custody of his sons, Josh killed both children and then himself in one of the most horrendous crimes that you could imagine. Police closed their active investigation into Susan’s case in 2013.  I think we all assumed that her case would remain cold indefinitely.  Until now.  Just a few days ago, searchers recovered bones and clothing from a mine in the Utah desert.  Susan’s family have said they are hopeful the remains belong to Susan.   Join us for this episode of the True Crime Society Podcast as we tell the story of Susan Cox Powell and her sons, Braden and Charlie. You can read our blog for Susan here -  https://truecrimesocietyblog.com/2022/02/21/the-disappearance-of-susan-powell/ You can listen on Apple here - https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/true-crime-society/id1504300714?i=1000552074931 and Spotify here - https://open.spotify.com/episode/1mIYdUDXY6utGbUgROHgxc?si=TC8TJhDZSoGPLfSsf0vb-w This episode of the True Crime Society Podcast is sponsored by FitOn and June’s Journey. FitOn is the #1 premium free fitness app, and it is redefining the workout experience. Text SOCIETY to 64-000 to join FitOn for free! Find your inner detective -- Download June’s Journey free today on the Apple App Store or Google Play.

24 Feb 20221h 9min

Two people with two very different stories have vanished without a trace in Los Angeles. Heidi Planck seemed to be living the California dream – she drove a top of the line Range Rover, lived in a beautiful house and had a great co-parenting relationship with her ex-husband.  They worked together to raise their 11 year-old son.   On October 17, 2021, Heidi loaded her labradoodle named Seven into her Range Rover and she drove to watch her son’s football game in Downey.  Her ex was also there, and he said she seemed ‘edgy’.  She left the game without warning at half time and has not been seen again.  Seven was found wandering around the 28th floor of an upscale apartment complex in downtown LA later that day.  Heidi’s car was found parked nearby.  Heidi remains missing to this day, despite extensive searches of landfill by the LAPD. Heidi’s case is a complex one that involves fraud, FBI raids, CCTV images and there are many plausible scenarios for what may have happened to her.  Could her disappearance be related to a fraud scheme that was being carried out by the company she worked for?  There are also whispers that Heidi may have overdosed during a party and that her body may have been disposed of down a garbage chute.  Or did Heidi leave her complicated life behind? You can read our blog for Heidi here - https://truecrimesocietyblog.com/2022/02/14/the-bizarre-disappearance-of-heidi-planck/ Beau Mann was known to be an entrepreneur.  He founded a social network for recovering addicts, ‘Sober Grid’.  He had been interviewed by Forbes Magazine about his own sobriety.  Things were looking good for Beau – he had recently started taking a salary from his company and he seemed on track for big things.   Beau had just returned to his home in LA after spending Thanksgiving with his family in Texas.  He was last seen on CCTV on November 30, 2021 at a 7-11.  It is believed that Beau got into an Uber, and less than 10 minutes later, he sent a 9-11 text from his phone.  Beau has not been seen since that time.  The Uber driver is adamant that Beau was dropped off at his apartment.  Beau’s family have combed through hours of CCTV and have said that Beau never entered the apartment complex again.    LAPD have suggested to Beau’s family that he may be undergoing a ‘digital detox’.  This is an idea the family flat out refuse to entertain and say that Beau would never leave his company unattended for this long.  Beau’s mother is worried that he has suffered a relapse or a mental health crisis.  Another theory is that Beau may have been harmed for his belongings – he was carrying phones and computers at the time he vanished. You can read our blog for Beau here - https://truecrimesocietyblog.com/2022/02/15/where-is-beau-mann/ As of February 2022, both Heidi and Beau remain missing.  This episode of the True Crime Society podcast tells their stories. You can listen on Spotify here https://open.spotify.com/episode/4vkJ2wOXBrBLdw6A6mrppJ?si=eVcUZxL8ROCaV1Aa_oJWHQ and Apple here https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/true-crime-society/id1504300714?i=1000551353760. This episode of the True Crime Society Podcast is sponsored by FitOn.  FitOn is the #1 premium free fitness app, and it is redefining the workout experience.  Text SOCIETY to 64-000 to join FitOn for free!

17 Feb 20221h 8min

Lauren Smith-Fields was a vibrant and ambitious 23 year old woman who loved matcha tea, working out and was studying to be a physical therapist.  In December 2021, she met a man off the dating app, Bumble.  Lauren invited the man to her apartment in Bridgeport, CT, where they had some tequila and watched a movie.  During the evening, Lauren left the apartment for 10-15 minutes to meet someone outside.  When she came back in, they continued watching a movie and Lauren fell asleep on the couch.  Her Bumble date alleges that he carried her to bed and he then fell asleep beside her.  When he woke up at 6.30am, Lauren was not breathing and she had blood coming out of her nose.  He called 911 and was said by police to be “frantic, trembling, and visibly shaken.”  When authorities arrived, Lauren was pronounced dead at the scene.   The investigation into Lauren’s death has been botched from the start.  Lauren’s family have said that: Lauren’s Bumble date was not taken into custody and questioned because he seemed like a ‘nice guy’, according to police. They were not informed by authorities about Lauren’s death.  They had to find out by going to her apartment when they could not get in touch with her.  There they found a note on the door from the landlord, and that is how they learned their daughter had passed away.   Police treatment of the family has been horrible.  Police officers who were initially working the case have been taken off it, and an investigation into their conduct is being carried out by Internal Affairs. No forensic examination of Lauren’s apartment was conducted until the family stepped in.  When Lauren’s family went to clear out her apartment, they found a used condom, an unidentified pill, as well as bloody sheets, that had not been taken into evidence.   An autopsy was conducted and the Medical Examiner has determined that Lauren died from a drug overdose of fentanyl, promethazine, hydroxyzine, and alcohol.  Lauren’s family are adamant that she was not a drug user.   Because fentanyl was found in Lauren’s system, Bridgeport PD opened the investigation which will be conducted by the Narcotics and Vice Division with assistance by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.  Join us for this episode of the True Crime Society Podcast where we discuss the death of Lauren Smith-Fields. You can read our deep dive blog for Lauren here - https://truecrimesocietyblog.com/2022/01/27/23-year-old-lauren-smith-fields-found-dead-after-bumble-date/ This week, we also discuss the cases of Warriena Wright and Sydney Loofe.  Both these women died after meeting people on dating apps.  Warriena fell 14 floors to her death after she was allegedly locked on a balcony by a man she met on Tinder.  Sydney was brutally murdered by a couple, Bailey Boswell and Aubrey Trail, after she met Bailey on Tinder.  Sydney was dismembered and her body was hacked into 14 pieces.   If you are using a dating app this Valentine’s Day, please read these tips and be safe - https://www.rainn.org/articles/online-dating-and-dating-app-safety-tips You can listen on Apple here https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/true-crime-society/id1504300714?i=1000550640561 and Spotify here – https://open.spotify.com/episode/5bYo4iT9lJSkImkuy8exAg?si=ro4Ez8OiS5SeOUnU5hYBew This week’s episode is sponsored by FitOn.  FitOn is the #1 premium free fitness app, and it is redefining the workout experience. Text SOCIETY to 64-000 to join FitOn for free!  Clips used in this episode –  https://youtu.be/wJsi5WBjKe4 https://youtu.be/or-j1VrDbVI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RyCSJP_D5EM https://youtu.be/Dguls7kTZSM https://youtu.be/S1R6CesvMko https://youtu.be/fPOlARpxick

10 Feb 20221h 12min

We hear almost daily about mothers and fathers killing their children, sometimes their entire family.  You would absolutely be familiar with Scott Peterson, Susan Smith and Chris Watts. What you hear less often is when children plot and scheme and murder their families. The term for this is either familicide if many family members are killed, or parricide if only parents are killed. Today on the the True Crime Society Podcast we discuss three cases of ‘Kids Who Kill’. -In 2015 in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, Robert and Michael Bever who were 18 and 16 at the time, went on a murderous rampage using knives and hatchets. They managed to murder their parents and three of their siblings before they were stopped by police.  The brothers had planned to go on a cross-country killing spree, hoping to kill over 100 people.  Thankfully, two Bever children survived and a lot of the testimony that was given helped to put Robert and Michael behind bars for good.  - Christopher Porco was in trouble in 2004.  He had forged his father’s signature on financial documents and had obtained fraudulent loans.  His parents were not happy and frequently told him so.  In November that year, Christopher drove from his dorm to the family home, where he attacked his parents with an axe. His father Peter Porco sustained 16 major axe wounds to his face and head including penetration to his brain and part of his jaw ‘ fell’ off following the attack.  Despite all this, Peter managed to get out of bed and go about his daily morning routine before dying.  He spent some time in the bathroom and at the sink, he loaded the dishwasher, packed his lunch for the day and wrote a check.  He finally collapsed and died at the front door.  Joan initially told police that Christopher was the attacker but then recanted. - The Van Breda family lived an affluent, high-flying life in South Africa.  Martin and Teresa were very successful and were raising three children Rudi, Henri and Marli. One night, an intruder allegedly broke into their mansion in a secure, gated community, murdering three members of the family with an axe.  Henri survived with minor injuries and Marli spent months in hospital recovering. Except it turns out, there was no intruder.  Henri had an alleged methamphetamine addiction and his allowance had been cut off by his parents, so he killed them. Please note that this episode contains recordings of 911 calls made by a child victim and one of the murderers. Listener discretion is advised. We have detailed blogs for all three cases, including crime scene photos, at TrueCrimeSocietyBlog.com You can listen on Spotify here - https://open.spotify.com/episode/1Jt0K05oS2zHL6TrdBP1sm?si=-Bn926_yQUiGt1IkKoqJfg And Apple here - https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/true-crime-society/id1504300714 Thank you to our sponsor BetterHelp! Get started today and enjoy 10% off your first month of online therapy at https://betterhelp.com/society

3 Feb 20221h 18min

Ethan Crumbley was a troubled teen.  His parents were called to Oxford High School on November 30 to discuss some drawings that Ethan had made. He drew photos of guns and blood with the words ‘the thoughts won’t stop help me.’ His parents left Ethan at school following the meeting. A few hours later, Ethan went into the bathroom and emerged with a gun that his father had purchased in a Black Friday sale.  Ethan murdered four students on November 30, and many more were injured. Since the shooting, Ethan’s parents James and Jennifer have each been charged with involuntary manslaughter.  This has been a somewhat controversial topic - do you believe they should have been charged? In this week’s episode of the True Crime Society Podcast, we talk about the Oxford High School shooting and the failing of the Crumbley family.  We discuss -  A timeline of the shooting Ethan’s childhood and the Crumbley family dynamics The attempted escape and consequent arrest of James and Jennifer Crumbley The victims of the Oxford High School shooting You can read our deep dive blog on this case here - https://truecrimesocietyblog.com/2022/01/22/the-oxford-high-school-shooting-and-the-failing-of-the-crumbley-family/ You can listen on Apple here - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/were-red-flags-ignored-before-ethan-crumbley-turned/id1504300714?i=1000549130552 Listen on Spotify here - https://open.spotify.com/episode/5m7wmvX4ORXZcSciQ4EZJ5?si=IaXgw2ZSTmSFgXfevz4niQ Thank you to our sponsor BetterHelp! Get started today and enjoy 10% off your first month of online therapy at https://betterhelp.com/society

27 Jan 20221h 15min

Harmony Montgomery and Oakley Carlson lived on opposite sides of the country. They never met each other and neither had the chance to even live their own lives. Both Harmony and Oakley vanished while in the care of their parents - the very people who were meant to nurture, care and protect them. Harmony was last known to be alive in 2019.  She would be 7 years old if she is alive today.  Harmony’s early years were sad - both her parents had drug abuse issues and Harmony had been in foster homes.  She was eventually returned to the custody of her father Adam, and that decision sealed her fate. It finally came to light in 2021 that Harmony had not been seen for years.  Her biological mother has just now been speaking publicly and insists she has been trying to find Harmony.  Police have been searching the last locations in New Hampshire that Harmony was known to be at and nothing has been found.   Adam has now been arrested on charges related to the abuse and neglect of Harmony. Oakley Carlson also had a rough start to life.  She had been placed with a foster family when she was a baby and she lived with them for years.  The foster family have said publicly that they were devastated when Oakley was returned to the care of her biological parents. Her foster mother Jamie said  “They made a mistake. “A big mistake. I told them in my last letter it was going to be on their shoulders if something happens to her.” A school principal raised the alarm about not seeing Oakley in December 2021.  Police began to investigate and discovered that Oakley had not been seen since February 2021. Oakley’s parents Andrew Carlson and Jordan Bowers have been investigated and they have since been charged with apparently withholding potentially life saving medication from one of Oakley’s siblings. As of mid January 2022, there is no sign of either Harmony or Oakley. You can read our blog for Harmony here - https://truecrimesocietyblog.com/2022/01/17/slipped-through-the-cracks-where-is-harmony-montgomery/ And our blog for Oakley is here - https://truecrimesocietyblog.com/2022/01/17/where-is-5-year-old-oakley-carlson/ You can listen on Apple here - https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/true-crime-society/id1504300714?i=1000548437170 And Spotify here - https://open.spotify.com/episode/2RWhIfAbFiBVilgL7VF5lg?si=8RzqOPx6Qd2ca0Ohq3vdkw

20 Jan 20221h 22min

TW - Drug and sexual abuse. On November 12, 2021, Christy Giles (24) and her friend Hilda Marcela Cabrales-Arzola (26) made the fateful decision to spend a night out on the town together in LA.  The pair decided to go to a warehouse party and they carried on from there to an after party in the Hollywood Hills. Neither Christy or Hilda would make it home alive. The women would be dumped unconscious at separate hospitals more than 12 hours after they were last heard from.  Christy died on the scene and Hilda was declared brain dead not long after. Three men have been arrested in connection to the deaths of Christy and Hilda.  One of the men has a reputation that spans more than a decade - there are hundreds of comments about him on varying online pages that say he was allegedly a predator who had a penchant for drugging women.  We don't know yet how Hilda and Christy died - their causes of death are pending with the Los Angeles Medical Examiner.  This is their story to date. Be sure to check out our blog for a deep dive on this case - https://truecrimesocietyblog.com/2022/01/11/a-hollywood-tragedy-the-deaths-of-christy-giles-and-hilda-marcela-cabrales-arzola/ In this episode (skip to around 41 minutes), we give some updates on the cases of - - Missing child Lina Khil - Gabby Petito and Brian Laundrie - An outcome in the murder of True Crime Society member Savannah Paschal You can listen on Apple here - https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/true-crime-society/id1504300714?i=1000547749070 You can listen on Spotify here - https://open.spotify.com/episode/3seQMg19EcxsXOh7kOCZE4?si=qfYAJrAwTsmr-yT6H9xrPQ

13 Jan 202255min

You can probably make a list of high profile missing child cases that you’ve heard of over the years - Cleo Smith, Elizabeth Smart and even Caylee Anthony. But there are thousands of missing children that slip through the cracks of the system, every single day. In 2020 in the US, over 30,000 juveniles were reported missing.  In the first episode of the True Crime Society podcast for 2022, we discuss the cases of missing children Michael ‘Monkey’ Vaughan and Dulce Alavez. Michael is a 5 year old, boisterous little boy who loved monster trucks and playing in the dirt.  He was playing Nintendo in July 2021, when his dad left the room to attend to Michael’s baby sister.  When his father returned, Michael was gone.  Now, six months later, no trace of Michael has been found and police believe he may have been abducted. In September 2019 in Bridgeton, NJ, Dulce Alavez and her little brother Manuel were treated to an ice cream by their mother, Noema.  They then went to the local playground to use the swings.  Noema helped a relative with some homework and when she looked up, Manuel’s ice cream was on the ground and he was crying.  Dulce was nowhere to be seen.   More than two years later, Dulce remains missing.  Police have released both a sketch of a possible suspect and an age progressed image of Dulce, to no avail. We also discuss the current case of missing child Lina Khil.  Lina went missing from a playground in San Antonio , TX in December 2021 .  Her mother allegedly turned away to get some water and Lina vanished within minutes. You can listen on Spotify here - https://open.spotify.com/episode/4BWnz4D8XbufW6y9PD6seY?si=eSXGpQARSxO0mI0H18Btxg And Apple here - https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/true-crime-society/id1504300714?i=1000547068268 Thank you as always for listening x

6 Jan 20221h 13min