S2E1: Three Threats in South Carolina | The Playbook

Every investigator who spends enough time on the street will tell you the same thing: monsters rarely strike out of nowhere. They leave a trail. They drop hints. Sometimes, they even hand over the exact blueprint of what they intend to do.

In the premiere episode of Season 2, Real Crime Stories unpacks "The Playbook"... a chilling case of systemic failure and domestic escalation out of York County, South Carolina. Beginning in December 2019, 36-year-old Nichole Florentine began leaving a terrifyingly precise paper trail with 911 dispatchers. She explicitly warned authorities of a three-step promise her husband, Larry, had made to her: that he was going to kill her, burn her, and bury her.

Despite multiple domestic violence arrests, the legal system failed to close the loop. When their Rock Hill home was completely destroyed by an intentional fire on May 23, 2020, the warning signs shifted from a whisper to a scream. Yet, just eleven days later, the couple packed a vehicle and hit the highway heading north. Nichole thought she was escaping the ashes of her old life... she had no idea she was riding alongside the man about to execute the rest of his horrific plan.

⚠️ If you or someone you know is navigating the terrifying escalation of domestic abuse, please do not wait. Reach out to the National Domestic Violence Hotline by calling 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or texting "START" to 88788. It is 100% free, confidential, and available 24/7.

Real Crime Stories is a victim-centered investigative documentary series focused on systemic failures, behavioral warning signs, and forensic truth.