112: Denise Collins - The Ladder

Apopka, Florida. October 30, 1990. When 10-year-old Christine McGowan's stepfather entered her bedroom to wake her for school—he found her lifeless body face down in bed, the sheets beneath her soaked in blood. The door to their home stood slightly ajar. His white construction truck—keys left in the ignition the night before—had vanished.Christine McGowan was a child who spent her afternoons watching her neighbor at The Lighthouse Mission halfway house craft decorative wooden boats. She stood in the autumn sun asking if she could watch him work, fascinated by his woodworking skill. She had no way of knowing that Elmer Leon Carroll—the seemingly harmless craftsman next door—was a twice-convicted child molester living under pastoral supervision. On the night of October 29, 1990, Carroll's schizophrenic delusions reached a breaking point. Witnesses at Lockhart Tavern watched him drink beer after beer, wrapping his jacket around a chair and holding long conversations with it about demons, devils, and the coming apocalypse. Hours later, he entered the McGowan home through an unlocked door.This case exposes the catastrophic failures of Florida's 1990s halfway house system and sex offender monitoring. Carroll had served approximately two years and four months of a six-year sentence for child molestation, then served just over seven years for a second offense—both times released with minimal supervision directly into residential neighborhoods. The Lighthouse Mission placed a known predator with untreated severe mental illness next door to a family with a young daughter. The investigation moved swiftly—Carroll was apprehended within hours after stealing the family's truck—but the preventable nature of Christine's death haunted the community for years. Her case became a catalyst for examining how convicted sex offenders with documented psychiatric disorders were supervised after release.This episode contains detailed discussion of child sexual assault, graphic autopsy testimony, and descriptions of fatal violence against a child. This content may be disturbing. Listener discretion is strongly advised.Key Details:The Investigation: Wildlife officer Carl Young spotted Carroll walking on State Road 520 away from the stolen truck just hours after the murder. A box cutter, razor blade, and keys matching the stolen vehicle were found in his possession.Forensic Evidence: Medical examiner Dr. Thomas Hegert testified that Christine died from asphyxiation due to manual strangulation—a process taking 3-4 minutes during which she remained conscious for 1-2 minutes. The autopsy revealed severe sexual trauma and blunt force injury to her head.The Penalty Phase: The jury recommended death by unanimous 12-0 vote. Carroll was executed on May 29, 2013—nearly 23 years after Christine's murder. He refused to make a final statement, and Christine's family members watched him die.Resources: If you or someone you know has experienced childhood sexual abuse, the RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline provides confidential 24/7 support at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or online at rainn.org. The Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline offers crisis intervention and professional counseling at 1-800-422-4453.Credits: Research, writing, and narration by Justin Drown. Production and sound design by Justin Drown. This episode utilized court documents, medical examiner testimony, and contemporary news reporting from the Orlando Sentinel.Support Obscura: Join our community at patreon.com/obscurapodcast for ad-free episodes, extended cuts, and exclusive Black Label cases. Visit mythsandmalice.com/show/obscura for full episode archive and case resources.Our Sponsors:* Check out Chime: https://chime.com/OBSCURA* Check out Kensington Publishing: https://www.kensingtonbooks.com* Check out Mood and use my code OBSCURA for a great deal: https://mood.com* Check out Progressive: https://www.progressive.comSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/obscura-a-true-crime-podcast/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

4 Nov 23min

EXTREME CONTENT WARNING: This BLACK LABEL episode contains graphic descriptions of extreme consensual violence, disturbing audio recordings, and dark web investigation. Rated 10/10 for intensity. Not suitable for all listeners.In February 2025, footage emerged on dark web forums and Telegram channels documenting what investigators believe may be the first authenticated case of consensual extreme violence captured on film and publicly distributed. The alleged victim, identified by online investigators as Nguyễn Xuân Đạt, a Vietnamese man born March 10, 1989, had spent years openly advertising an extreme fetish on pornography websites and fetish forums. His Facebook biography reportedly read: "Likes to be decapitated." He allegedly wrote: "I'm looking for my executioner."VERIFICATION NOTE: This case remains officially unconfirmed by Vietnamese law enforcement as of November 2025. The victim's identity, location details, and case circumstances are based on open-source intelligence community investigations, not official police statements or mainstream journalism. VICE reported on this case in August 2025 as "the first established media outlet to report on its existence," but no Vietnamese news organizations have independently verified these events. All details presented in this episode are alleged and unverified by authorities.According to available evidence, the individual believed to be Nguyễn suffered from severe physical health issues that left him dependent on his parents. Between January 25 and February 24, 2025, the alleged events occurred. The resulting footage—filmed from multiple camera angles—was distributed through underground channels. Internet investigators have analyzed regional accents, identified distinctive details, and traced the content's spread from Vietnamese underground forums to Chinese extreme content marketplaces.This case represents only the third alleged instance of consensual homicide motivated by mutual extreme gratification—and potentially the first where video evidence entered public circulation. The two verified previous cases occurred in Germany: In 2001, Armin Meiwes killed and consumed engineer Bernd Jürgen Brandes after meeting him on the Cannibal Café forum. That footage remained sealed as evidence. In 2013, former police officer Detlev Günzel found his willing victim on the website Zambian Meat, filming a 50-minute video that also never leaked publicly. The alleged Vietnamese case represents an unprecedented breach of that precedent.OBSCURA'S APPROACH:Justin presents this case with complete unflinching detail while acknowledging the severe verification limitations. This BLACK LABEL episode includes authentic audio from the investigation, explores the psychology behind extreme sadomasochistic communities, examines the dark web's role in facilitating these encounters, and addresses the ethical implications of reporting unverified extreme content. Unlike mainstream true crime that sanitizes or sensationalizes, Obscura provides scholarly analysis with primary source documentation—or clearly identifies when official documentation does not exist.This is BLACK LABEL content: no censorship, complete forensic detail, disturbing audio evidence, and the full complexity of cases that exceed mainstream podcast boundaries. For listeners who demand the complete truth without editorial softening.ACCESS BLACK LABEL EPISODES:- Patreon BLACK LABEL: https://www.patreon.com/obscuracrimepodcast/- Apple Podcasts Premium: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/channel/black-label/id6443660911- RedCircle Premium: https://app.redcircle.com/shows/8136b701-6bed-4cc9-bfb2-0013a2822e00/exclusive-contentVisit Obscura's website: https://www.mythsandmalice.com/show/obscura/Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/obscuracrimepodcast/If you're enjoying Obscura, please leave a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Your reviews help other listeners discover forgotten cases and support independent true crime journalism.Obscura: A True Crime Podcast is an independent production researched, written, and narrated by Justin Drown. New episodes every Wednesday.Our Sponsors:* Check out Chime: https://chime.com/OBSCURA* Check out Kensington Publishing: https://www.kensingtonbooks.com* Check out Mood and use my code OBSCURA for a great deal: https://mood.com* Check out Progressive: https://www.progressive.comSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/obscura-a-true-crime-podcast/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

28 Okt 24min

In January 2025, Nguyen Dat, a 35-year-old Vietnamese man living in Ha Dong, voluntarily sought his own execution—fulfilling a years-long sexual obsession with decapitation. Through extreme pornography forums and dating apps, Nguyen publicly advertised his desire to be beheaded, eventually connecting with an unnamed butcher who shared his fatal fetish.The killing occurred between January 25 and February 24, 2025, in a makeshift execution chamber. Graphic video footage—leaked to Vietnamese and Chinese Telegram groups—shows Nguyen's decapitation as he reached sexual climax. The butcher then dismembered his body with professional precision, documenting the process across 11 videos and 98 photographs. Evidence suggests the killer cannibalized Nguyen's remains, cooking parts of his body into Vietnamese dishes. When concerned citizens reported the leaked footage to authorities, they discovered Nguyen had been missing for five years.This case represents only the third confirmed consensual homicide motivated by mutual sexual gratification—and the first where execution footage was publicly leaked. Obscura examines this disturbing intersection of extreme fetishism, voluntary death, and the dark corners of online subcultures where such transactions occur.[BLACK LABEL CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains extremely graphic descriptions of violence, dismemberment, and cannibalism.]Explore more obscure true crime cases at mythsandmalice.com/show/obscura. Join Obscura on Patreon to unlock the entire back catalogue ad-free, plus exclusive Black Label premium episodes—darker, longer cases released monthly. Dive deeper into the cases mainstream media forgot.KEYWORDS: true crime, true crime podcast, Nguyen Dat, Vietnam crime, consensual homicide, voluntary execution, cannibalism case, Ha Dong Vietnam, decapitation, dismemberment, sexual homicide, extreme fetish, guro, murder case, Armin Meiwes, Zambian Meat case, 2025 crime, obscure true crimeOur Sponsors:* Check out Chime: https://chime.com/OBSCURA* Check out Kensington Publishing: https://www.kensingtonbooks.com* Check out Mood and use my code OBSCURA for a great deal: https://mood.com* Check out Progressive: https://www.progressive.comSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/obscura-a-true-crime-podcast/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

28 Okt 5h 7min

On October 24, 1995, firefighters battled a massive blaze at a Tudor-style home in Prairie Village, Kansas. Thirteen-year-old Timothy Farrar and his six-year-old sister Kelly died in the inferno while their ten-year-old sister Kate escaped by jumping from a second-floor window. Within hours, investigators determined the fire had been deliberately set with multiple gallons of accelerant poured throughout the house—and the trail of evidence led directly to the children's own mother.VICTIM PROFILE:Timothy Scott Farrar, 13, and Kelly Christine Farrar, 6, died of smoke inhalation in the deliberately set fire. Kate Farrar, 10, survived by climbing through her bedroom window onto the garage roof and jumping to safety. Their father, Dr. Michael Farrar, a cardiologist, had been systematically poisoned with ricin for months before the fire. The family's two dogs, Boomer (a black Labrador) and Russell (a greyhound), also perished in the blaze.THE CRIME:Fire investigation revealed between three and ten gallons of liquid accelerant had been poured throughout the home's main floor, second floor, and basement, creating multiple points of origin. The pour patterns stopped precisely at the master bedroom door—where defendant Dr. Debora Green slept. The accelerant blocked the main stairway, trapping Timothy and Kelly on the second floor. Timothy, following his mother's instructions via intercom to stay in his room and wait for firefighters, never escaped. His body was found where it had fallen through the burned flooring. Kelly died of smoke inhalation in her bed, still in a sleeping position with covers pulled to her waist. The family dog Boomer was found dead under Kelly's bed.THE INVESTIGATION:Debora Green's behavior immediately raised suspicions. She arrived at a neighbor's door with wet hair asking them to call 911, despite claiming she had not been near water or flames. During police interviews hours later, she appeared "talkative, even cheerful" and repeatedly referred to Timothy and Kelly in the past tense while they were officially still missing—specifically stating "He used to be my thirteen-year-old" about Timothy before his body was recovered. Laboratory analysis later revealed significant singeing in her hair despite two haircuts before sampling.The investigation also uncovered months of systematic poisoning. Michael Farrar had suffered mysterious illnesses requiring multiple hospitalizations in 1995, with his weight plummeting to 125 pounds. Doctors diagnosed Streptococcus viridans sepsis but could not identify the root cause. Investigators discovered Debora had purchased ten packets of castor bean seeds from local garden centers in September 1995. FBI testing found ricin antibodies in Michael's blood—evidence of deliberate poisoning with one of the deadliest toxins known.THE RESOLUTION:On November 22, 1995, police arrested Debora at the Midland Theater in Kansas City where she had dropped Kate off for ballet practice. Initially charged with first-degree murder, the charges were elevated to capital murder for the plea agreement. On April 17, 1996, she entered an Alford plea—maintaining her innocence while acknowledging prosecutors had sufficient evidence for conviction. The plea removed the death penalty from consideration.Debora Green received two concurrent "Hard 40" life sentences—forty years without possibility of parole. Multiple psychiatric evaluations revealed complex mental health disorders including schizoid personality disorder, with later clinicians identifying traits of psychopathy, borderline personality disorder, and narcissistic personality disorder. She remains incarcerated at Topeka Correctional Facility in Kansas with an earliest possible release date of November 21, 2035, when she will be 84 years old.ETHICAL CONTEXT:This episode contains detailed discussion of child deaths, arson, poisoning, and domestic violence. Obscura presents complete factual accounts of violent crimes with respect for victims while maintaining documentary accuracy.KEY EPISODE DETAILS:Fire investigation methodology: Multiple points of origin, accelerant pour patterns, basement stagingRicin poisoning evidence: Castor bean seed purchases, FBI antibody testing, Michael's medical records documenting Streptococcus viridans sepsisAlford plea mechanics: Legal strategy allowing innocence claim while accepting conviction based on prosecutorial evidenceRESOURCES & VICTIM ADVOCACY:National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233 | thehotline.orgNational Child Traumatic Stress Network: nctsn.orgFire survivor resources: Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors | phoenix-society.orgWebsite: https://www.mythsandmalice.com/show/obscura/BLACK LABEL (Premium Tier): Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/channel/black-label/id6443660911RedCircle: https://app.redcircle.com/shows/8136b701-6bed-4cc9-bfb2-0013a2822e00/exclusive-contentResources & Victim AdvocacyNational Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233 | thehotline.orgNational Child Traumatic Stress Network: nctsn.orgFire survivor resources: Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors | phoenix-society.orgSupport ObscuraJoin our Patreon community for bonus episodes, early access, and ad-free listening at https://www.patreon.com/obscuracrimepodcast/Our Sponsors:* Check out Chime: https://chime.com/OBSCURA* Check out Kensington Publishing: https://www.kensingtonbooks.com* Check out Mood and use my code OBSCURA for a great deal: https://mood.com* Check out Progressive: https://www.progressive.comSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/obscura-a-true-crime-podcast/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

22 Okt 32min

On the windy night of October 23, 1995, Dr. Debora Green's three children—thirteen-year-old Tim, ten-year-old Kate, and six-year-old Kelly—went to bed in their beautiful new home on Canterbury Court in Prairie Village, Kansas. By 12:20 AM on October 24, their lives would be forever shattered by a fire that investigators would later determine was no accident.Part 1 of 2The Perfect Life, UnravelingDebora Green seemed to have everything. Born Debora Jones in 1951, she possessed a genius-level IQ of 165, excelled academically, and graduated from the University of Kansas School of Medicine in 1975. She married cardiologist Dr. Michael Farrar in 1979, and together they built what appeared to be an enviable life: successful medical practices, three bright children, and an opulent home in an exclusive Kansas City suburb. But beneath the surface, the marriage was crumbling under the weight of Debora's volatile temper, heavy drinking, and Michael's emotional withdrawal.By the summer of 1995, Michael had moved out and filed for divorce. Between August and September, he experienced repeated bouts of mysterious, severe gastrointestinal illness that hospitalized him three times. Despite extensive testing, doctors couldn't determine the cause of his symptoms. What Michael didn't know was that Debora had discovered a deadly secret: ricin, a naturally occurring poison extracted from castor beans—and she was serving it to him in his food.The FireWhen firefighters arrived at 7517 Canterbury Court in the early morning hours of October 24, they found Debora and Kate outside the burning home. Tim and Kelly were still inside. Despite heroic efforts by first responders, Tim succumbed to severe burns and Kelly died from smoke inhalation. Kate had escaped by climbing onto the garage roof and jumping to safety. Investigators immediately noticed something disturbing: Debora appeared eerily calm as her children burned to death inside.Arson investigators quickly determined the fire was no accident. Trails of accelerant led directly back to Debora's bedroom, and forensic evidence suggested she had deliberately cut off the children's escape routes. The investigation expanded when police connected Michael's mysterious illness to castor beans found in Debora's purse during a September domestic disturbance call. Toxicology tests revealed ricin antibodies in Michael's blood.This Is Part 1This episode covers Debora Green's early life, her marriages, the deterioration of her relationship with Michael Farrar, and the events leading up to the October 1995 fire. Part 2 will examine the investigation, Debora's arrest and trial, and the aftermath of this unthinkable crime.Primary Source: This episode draws extensively from Ann Rule's authoritative 1997 book Bitter Harvest: A Woman's Fury, A Mother's Sacrifice, along with court documents, news archives, and forensic reports from the Johnson County investigation.Resources:If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or visit thehotline.org.Join the Patreon: For hundreds of hours of bonus episodes, Black Label content, and ad-free listening, visit patreon.com/obscuraacrimepodcastConnect: Follow Obscura on Instagram @obscuraacrimepodcastOur Sponsors:* Check out Chime: https://chime.com/OBSCURA* Check out Kensington Publishing: https://www.kensingtonbooks.com* Check out Mood and use my code OBSCURA for a great deal: https://mood.com* Check out Progressive: https://www.progressive.comSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/obscura-a-true-crime-podcast/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

15 Okt 29min

On May 4, 2013, nine nurses celebrating a bachelorette party crossed the San Mateo-Hayward Bridge in a white stretch limousine. At around 10:05 PM, thick black smoke began rising from the floor. Within minutes, the rear compartment was engulfed in flames. Four women and the driver escaped. Five women—including bride-to-be Neriza Fojas—remained trapped inside.This episode features real 911 calls from witnesses and survivors, testimony describing desperate escape attempts through an 18-inch-high partition window, and the complete investigation findings. California Highway Patrol investigators concluded the fire resulted from catastrophic suspension failure, not the airbag rupture initially reported by media.Listen on Obscura wherever you get podcasts. For extended content and ad-free episodes, join us on Patreon.Content Warning: This episode contains graphic 911 audio, survivor testimony describing entrapment, and discussions of burn injuries.THE CASEOn the evening of May 4, 2013, Neriza Fojas—a 31-year-old nurse from Monterey, California—celebrated her recent wedding with eight close friends. All nine women worked together as nurses at healthcare facilities in the Bay Area. They had rented a white stretch limousine from Limo Stop, a San Jose company, to transport them to a wedding celebration at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Foster City.At around 10:05 PM, the 1999 Lincoln Town Car limousine began crossing the San Mateo-Hayward Bridge westbound toward the peninsula. Driver Orville "Ricky" Brown, 46, piloted the vehicle while the women celebrated in the rear passenger compartment behind a raised privacy partition.THE FIREAt around 10:05 PM, one of the passengers knocked on the partition and said "smoke." Brown initially believed she was asking permission to smoke a cigarette and told her to wait a few minutes. Then he felt bumps beneath the vehicle. Thick, black, acrid smoke began rising from the floor of the passenger compartment. Within seconds, the rear of the limousine was engulfed in flames.Brown pulled onto the right shoulder near the bridge's high rise section. Emergency calls flooded 911 dispatch. "We need help on the San Mateo Bridge," a woman screamed. "Oh my God, oh my God. I cannot open the door."Four women managed to escape through the narrow partition window separating the driver's compartment from the passenger area—a space measuring approximately 18 inches high by 3 feet wide. Survivors described pulling each other through the opening, with some becoming stuck at the hips. Amalia Loyola was the last to escape, suffering severe burns to her ankles as flames consumed the rear compartment.Five women remained trapped: Neriza Fojas (31), Michelle Estrera (35), Jennifer Balon (39), Anna Alcantara (46), and Felomina Geronga (43). All five died from smoke inhalation. When firefighters extinguished the blaze, they found the victims near the partition window—their final desperate attempt to reach safety.THE INVESTIGATIONCalifornia Highway Patrol investigators and the Foster City Fire Department conducted an exhaustive examination of the vehicle, maintenance records, and witness testimony. Their conclusion: the fire was accidental.The catastrophic failure of the limousine's rear suspension system allowed the rapidly spinning driveshaft to make contact with the floor pan. The friction created sparks and intense heat, igniting the vehicle's interior. Contrary to initial media reports, investigators found no evidence of ruptured air suspension bags or the vehicle's undercarriage scraping the roadway.Additional factors contributed to the tragedy: the limousine was overloaded with nine passengers despite being rated for seven, and the raised privacy partition prevented effective communication about the emergency. Driver Brown was cleared of wrongdoing after cell phone records confirmed he was not on his phone during the incident.Four survivors and the families of the five deceased women filed wrongful death lawsuits against Ford Motor Company, Limo Stop, and Accubuilt (the company that converted the vehicle). Most cases settled out of court. A jury later found Ford not liable, determining that Limo Stop's chronic overloading and misuse of the vehicle—routinely carrying more passengers than it was designed to hold—caused the suspension system failure.THIS EPISODEThis Obscura investigation features real 911 calls from the night of the fire, survivor testimony from subsequent legal proceedings, and official investigation findings from California Highway Patrol. The episode examines how a joyful celebration became a preventable tragedy through mechanical failure and regulatory gaps in the limousine industry.RESOURCESNational Burn Victim Foundation: www.nbvf.orgCalifornia Highway Patrol Vehicle Safety: www.chp.ca.govOur Sponsors:* Check out Chime: https://chime.com/OBSCURA* Check out Kensington Publishing: https://www.kensingtonbooks.com* Check out Mood and use my code OBSCURA for a great deal: https://mood.com* Check out Progressive: https://www.progressive.comSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/obscura-a-true-crime-podcast/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

9 Okt 17min

On April 1st, 2025, multiple emergency calls flooded dispatch centers across Claremont County, Ohio.VICTIM PROFILEKelsey Hildal was a 34-year-old resident of Blue Ash, Ohio, known to her family as a former mixed martial arts competitor who had been struggling with severe mental health challenges for years. Her mother Robyn and father Rick described a daughter caught in cycles of paranoia and delusion, convinced that cartels and demons were pursuing her. In the weeks leading to that April night, Kelsey's condition had deteriorated rapidly—she had changed all her locks, parked her vehicle defensively in her yard, and made frantic calls to family members asking if police had "gotten to them" and "killed them." Despite her family's attempts to help, Kelsey refused treatment, leaving them helpless to prevent what they feared was inevitable.CASE SIGNIFICANCEThis episode examines a tragic intersection of mental health crisis, law enforcement response, and the devastating consequences when systems fail to intervene before catastrophe. Kelsey's case represents thousands of similar incidents across America where individuals in psychiatric crisis encounter armed police rather than mental health professionals. The wrong-way driving incident that triggered the April 1st confrontation was not random chaos—it was the culmination of months of escalating paranoia that her family had documented through multiple attempts to get her help. The investigation by the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation would ultimately rule the trooper's use of deadly force justified, but the question remains: Could a different response have saved Kelsey's life?CONTENT WARNINGSThis episode contains explicit law enforcement radio traffic, descriptions of a fatal officer-involved shooting, and discussions of severe mental health crisis including paranoid delusions and suicidal ideation.EPISODE DETAILSPart Two provides the complete timeline of April 1, 2025, beginning with the first 911 calls reporting a wrong-way driver on Interstate 275 near the Five Mile Road exit. You'll hear actual dispatch audio as multiple witnesses reported the gray SUV traveling eastbound in westbound lanes, then switching to northbound travel in southbound lanes. The pursuit culminated when Ohio State Patrol Trooper Andrew Francher performed an intentional vehicle collision—a "forward escape" maneuver—to stop Kelsey's Ford Escape against the median barrier wall near State Route 32. Body camera footage captured the harrowing final moments when officers discovered Kelsey was armed with a handgun. Despite repeated commands to show her hands, the situation escalated to gunfire. Kelsey was pronounced dead at the scene.The investigation that followed revealed the full scope of Kelsey's mental health history through interviews with her parents Robyn and Rick Hildal, her aunt Laura McComas, her cousin Grant, and other family members. Their statements painted a portrait of a woman who had "been suffering all year long and refused help," whose paranoia had been building to the point where, as her mother stated, "she was looking to end it." Robyn's final words to investigators were heartbreaking: "I hope Kelsey is at peace, because she hadn't been for a long time."PRIMARY SOURCESThis episode is based on official Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation reports, dispatch audio recordings from April 1, 2025, body camera footage from Ohio State Patrol, witness statements, family interviews conducted by BCI investigators, news coverage from Fox 19 Cincinnati, and the Clermont County Prosecutor's Office decision clearing Trooper Francher of wrongdoing in May 2025.SUPPORT RESOURCESIf you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (call or text 988) or the Crisis Text Line (text HELLO to 741741). For information about mental health crisis intervention training for law enforcement, visit www.nami.org/CIT.OBSCURA ACCESSJoin our listener community for exclusive content, extended episodes, and in-depth research at www.patreon.com/obscuracrimepodcast. For the darkest cases with no censorship, explore BLACK LABEL premium episodes at podcasts.apple.com/us/channel/black-label/id6443660911. Visit our complete episode archive and case resources at www.mythsandmalice.com/show/obscura.SUPPORT RESOURCESIf you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (call or text 988) or the Crisis Text Line (text HELLO to 741741). For information about mental health crisis intervention training for law enforcement, visit www.nami.org/CIT.OBSCURA ACCESSJoin our listener community for exclusive content, extended episodes, and in-depth research at www.patreon.com/obscuracrimepodcast. For the darkest cases with no censorship, explore BLACK LABEL premium episodes at podcasts.apple.com/us/channel/black-label/id6443660911. Visit our complete episode archive and case resources at www.mythsandmalice.com/show/obscura.Our Sponsors:* Check out Chime: https://chime.com/OBSCURA* Check out Kensington Publishing: https://www.kensingtonbooks.com* Check out Mood and use my code OBSCURA for a great deal: https://mood.com* Check out Progressive: https://www.progressive.comSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/obscura-a-true-crime-podcast/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

30 Sep 20min

Kelsey Hildal survived brain surgery at age ten that left her unable to walk. Three years later, a devastating car accident fractured her skull and altered her personality forever. Sent to wilderness boot camp in North Carolina, then to Montana Academy for troubled teens, Kelsey nearly died from hypothermia after running away in subzero temperatures. Against all odds, she became a basketball sensation at Flathead High School in Kalispell, Montana, breaking the single-game scoring record with 39 points. She walked on at the University of Montana and later competed as an amateur MMA fighter with a 7-7 record. But the trauma never left her. On April 1, 2025, Ohio State Highway Patrol responded to reports of a wrong-way driver on Interstate 275 near Cincinnati. The confrontation ended in gunfire. This is Part 1: The complete story of who Kelsey Hildal was before everything went wrong.Born on December 23, 1990, Kelsey Lamar Hildal was one of twin daughters to Robyn and Rick Hildal in Cincinnati, Ohio. Her twin sister Alix would become a Division I soccer player at Ole Miss. But Kelsey's path would be defined by survival from the very beginning.VICTIM PROFILE:In fifth grade, Kelsey was diagnosed with hemifacial spasm, a neuromuscular disorder causing involuntary facial twitches and spasms on one side of her face. The condition required microvascular decompression surgery at age ten. The procedure stopped the spasms, but Kelsey had to relearn how to walk, completing rehabilitation among stroke patients six times her age. Half of her face remained paralyzed for months.Three years later, on the way to a soccer tournament, the Hildal family was involved in a catastrophic car accident. Her father Rick and twin sister Alix, sitting on the passenger side, walked away with cuts and bruises. Kelsey and her mother Robyn weren't as lucky. One side of the car was completely flattened. Robyn suffered a broken arm. Kelsey sustained a punctured lung, a broken arm, lacerations to her ear and face, and required staples in her head. The impact left her left arm permanently shorter than her right. But the most devastating injury was invisible: a traumatic brain injury that fundamentally altered her personality.BEHAVIORAL CRISIS:The change was gradual but profound. Kelsey went from a model student with perfect grades to a troubled teenager who didn't care about consequences. Her parents made the agonizing decision to send her to a wilderness boot camp in North Carolina. Men arrived in the middle of the night, handcuffed Kelsey, and took her away. She was enrolled in Montana Academy, a boarding school for psychologically troubled teens in rural Kalispell, Montana. At one point, so disenchanted with the program, Kelsey ran away. She was found eight miles away, passed out in subzero temperatures, nearly dead from hypothermia.REDEMPTION THROUGH BASKETBALL:But something changed. Under strict probationary rules, Kelsey was allowed to transfer to Flathead High School for her senior year in 2008-09. She showed up to basketball tryouts with a big bag on her shoulder and calmly asked Coach Kim Elliott if she could try out. Within minutes, the coaching staff realized they were watching something special. At just 5-foot-4, Kelsey averaged 18.8 points per game, third highest in Montana Class AA. On February 12, 2009, she scored 39 points against the defending state champion Missoula Big Sky Eagles, breaking Flathead's single-game scoring record. She walked on at the University of Montana, redshirted her freshman year, and later pursued an amateur MMA career, compiling a 7-7 record with her last bout in 2022.But on April 1, 2025, at age 34, Ohio State Highway Patrol and Union Township Police responded to multiple 911 calls about a wrong-way driver on Interstate 275. The driver was Kelsey Hildal. What happened next would end her life.EPISODE NOTES:This is Part 1 of 2. Part 1 establishes Kelsey Hildal's complete background, medical history, and achievements. Part 2 will feature the complete audio from the April 1, 2025 incident and the investigation that followed.Support Obscura and access Part 2 immediately:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/obscuracrimepodcast/Apple Premium: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/channel/black-label/id6443660911RedCircle Premium: https://app.redcircle.com/shows/8136b701-6bed-4cc9-bfb2-0013a2822e00/exclusive-contentOur Sponsors:* Check out Chime: https://chime.com/OBSCURA* Check out Kensington Publishing: https://www.kensingtonbooks.com* Check out Mood and use my code OBSCURA for a great deal: https://mood.com* Check out Progressive: https://www.progressive.comSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/obscura-a-true-crime-podcast/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

25 Sep 20min