Murder in a Military Tent: The Case of LaVena Johnson
In July 2005, 19-year-old Army Private First Class LaVena Johnson was found dead on a U.S. base in Balad, Iraq. The Army ruled it a suicide. Her family has spent nearly two decades saying otherwise. From the very beginning, the official story didn’t add up. The gunshot wound was inconsistent with her M16 rifle. Her body showed burns, bruises, and evidence of sexual assault. Acid had been poured on her, gloves glued to her hands, and her body was discovered inside a burning contractor’s tent — details that somehow never made it into the Army’s report. The Johnson family has fought relentlessly for answers, uncovering documents, autopsy reports, and crime scene photos that point to murder and a cover-up. But nearly twenty years later, the case remains closed, stamped as “suicide.” This episode looks at who LaVena was, what really happened to her in Iraq, and why her family refuses to let the truth be buried. Sources: https://exhibits.stanford.edu/saytheirnames/feature/lavena-johnson https://thesource.com/2014/01/21/justice-for-lavena-johnson-raped-murdered-or-suicide-the-evidence-says-one-thing-u-s-military-says-another/ https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-mar-08-na-women-soldier-suicides8-story.html https://www.stlpr.org/government-politics-issues/2015-07-19/10-years-later-a-soldiers-family-still-grieves-and-questions-the-armys-version-of-her-death https://www.huffpost.com/entry/the-silent-truth-document_b_782798 https://www.ntdaily.com/opinion/deaths-of-lavena-johnson-and-others-spotlight-systemic-abuse-within-military/article_6204f0d6-ec3e-5f38-9f52-d3e74e0bf875.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 * I will be in London at CrimeCon UK and I would love to meet you! Use my discount code NAPPER10 for 10% off the ticket price! Visit https://www.crimecon.co.uk/Our Sponsors:* Check out Mood.com and use my code SERIALNAPPER to save 20% off your first order. https://mood.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
29 Aug 37min
The Disappearance of Bethany Markowski: Did She Ever Make It to the Mall?
On March 4, 2001, 11-year-old Bethany Markowski vanished during what was supposed to be a routine weekend visit with her father, Larry. He says she went into the Old Hickory Mall in Jackson, Tennessee, while he napped in the van. But there’s one big problem—security footage shows no sign she was ever there. In this episode, we’ll dig into Bethany’s life before she disappeared, the volatile custody battle between her parents, and the messy, conflicting timeline that day. We’ll talk about phone pings that don’t match Larry’s story, witnesses who contradict his version of events, and the eerie gaps in time where no one—not even her own family—knows where Bethany was. We’ll also explore the strange reported sightings over the years, including a chilling 2016 case where a girl in East Tennessee claimed she was Bethany…and knew details only Bethany could have known. Twenty-plus years later, her mother, Jonnie, is still fighting to find her daughter, still pushing for answers, and still calling out the system that failed to protect Bethany in the first place. If you have any information about the disappearance of Bethany Markowski, please contact the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation at 1-800-TBI-FIND. Sources: https://bethanymarkowski.com/ https://www.missingkids.org/blog/2021/dear-bethany-20-years-missing https://www.facebook.com/BethanyLeanneMarkowski/ https://www.wbbjtv.com/2025/01/27/still-missing-what-happened-to-bethany-markowski/ 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 * I will be in London at CrimeCon UK and I would love to meet you! Use my discount code NAPPER10 for 10% off the ticket price! Visit https://www.crimecon.co.uk/Our Sponsors:* Check out Mood.com and use my code SERIALNAPPER to save 20% off your first order. https://mood.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
22 Aug 38min
Gone in 150 Feet: The Mysterious Case of Garrett Bardsley
In August 2004, 12-year-old Boy Scout Garrett Bardsley vanished in Utah’s High Uintas Wilderness — just 150 feet from his campsite. He had been fishing with his father at Cuberant Lake when he stepped into cold water, soaking his shoes and socks. Garrett told his dad he was heading back to camp to change… but he never arrived. What followed was one of the largest search efforts in the state’s history — hundreds of searchers, helicopters, dogs, and thermal imaging — but no sign of Garrett was ever found. Not his fishing pole. Not his clothes. Only a single sock, later disputed as even being his. In this episode of Serial Napper, we explore the mysterious disappearance of Garrett Bardsley, the theories of what could have happened in the rugged Uintas terrain, and the heartbreaking legacy left behind — including the creation of the Garrett Bardsley Foundation, which continues to help in search and rescue operations today. Could Garrett have gotten lost? Was there an animal encounter? Or did something more sinister happen in those mountains? 🕵️♀️ If you have any information on this case, contact the Summit County Sheriff’s Office. Sources: https://www.strangeoutdoors.com/mysterious-stories-blog/garrett-bardsley https://charleyproject.org/case/garrett-alexander-bardsley https://www.heraldextra.com/news/2005/aug/28/in-memory-of-garrett/ 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 * I will be in London at CrimeCon UK and I would love to meet you! Use my discount code NAPPER10 for 10% off the ticket price! Visit https://www.crimecon.co.uk/Our Sponsors:* Check out Mood.com and use my code SERIALNAPPER to save 20% off your first order. https://mood.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
15 Aug 34min
A System That Let a Predator Walk Free: The Murder of Trina Campbell
In December 1987, 12-year-old Trina Campbell stepped off her school bus in Brampton, Ontario—and vanished. She had survived a traumatic childhood, bounced through the foster system, and was just beginning to settle into a new group home. But the system that was supposed to protect her failed. Again. Months later, her butchered remains were found in a wooded area north of the city—dumped like garbage by a man who should have never been free. Douglas Worth was a known violent offender with a decades-long criminal record, including the rape of another young Indigenous girl. He was released from prison just six months before Trina’s murder, despite multiple warnings that he was a high-risk predator. And now, in July 2025, he’s been released on parole again—this time into a quiet community in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. This episode is about more than a murder. It’s about systemic failure, generational trauma, and a justice system that continues to roll the dice with women’s and children’s lives. 🔍 In this episode, we cover: Trina’s heartbreaking upbringing and disappearance Douglas Worth’s disturbing history and escalating violence The chilling discovery of Trina’s remains A trial that brought no closure—only outrage His recent 2025 parole and the terrifying reality of his release This case will leave you angry, shaken, and wondering how many more Trinas will be failed before something changes. 🖤 If you or someone you know is in danger or experiencing abuse, please reach out to a local support service or crisis line. You’re not alone. Sources: https://tubitv.com/tv-shows/514813/s02-e03-douglas-robert-worth-the-pictou-sadist https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/douglas-worth-murderer-paroled-halifax https://distributionarchives.cbcrc.ca/en/items/d1982b6e-2ffb-4e7c-8056-189ad25beca5 I will be in London at CrimeCon UK and I would love to meet you! Use my discount code NAPPER10 for 10% off the ticket price! Visit https://www.crimecon.co.uk/Our Sponsors:* Check out Mood.com and use my code SERIALNAPPER to save 20% off your first order. https://mood.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
8 Aug 40min
The Morgue Monster: David Fuller's Nightmare Crimes
In this deeply disturbing episode, we’re digging into the twisted double life of David Fuller—a seemingly friendly hospital maintenance worker who was hiding some of the darkest secrets imaginable. In 1987, the murders of Wendy Knell and Caroline Pierce rocked the quiet town of Tunbridge Wells. For decades, the case went cold—until a DNA breakthrough in 2020 pointed to one man. But what police found after his arrest would shock the nation. Fuller didn’t just kill. He used his job at two NHS hospitals to secretly access the morgue and sexually abuse the bodies of over 100 women and girls, ranging in age from 9 to 100. He kept detailed records. He filmed himself. And he went unnoticed for over 30 years. In this episode, we’ll cover: 🔹 The unsolved Bedsit Murders 🔹 The DNA match that cracked the case 🔹 The horrifying mortuary abuse 🔹 His rare whole-life sentence 🔹 The NHS inquiry—and whether this could happen again ⚠️ Warning: This episode contains graphic content, including discussions of sexual violence and necrophilia. Listener discretion is strongly advised. Sources: https://news.sky.com/story/david-fuller-what-were-his-crimes-and-how-did-he-evade-justice-for-so-long-13018147 https://people.com/david-fuller-case-british-hospital-necrophiliac-murderer-8729224 https://www.hsj.co.uk/acute-care/exclusive-the-full-story-of-david-fullers-mortuary-attacks/7031259.article https://www.thetruecrimedatabase.com/case_file/david-fuller/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SvJlV5ulR5c I will be in London at CrimeCon UK and I would love to meet you! Use my discount code NAPPER10 for 10% off the ticket price! Visit https://www.crimecon.co.uk/Our Sponsors:* Check out Mood.com and use my code SERIALNAPPER to save 20% off your first order. https://mood.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
1 Aug 42min
Obsession in Plain Sight: The Rachel Barber Case
In 1999, 15-year-old Rachel Barber walked out of her ballet class and vanished. What followed was every parent's worst nightmare—and a chilling tale of obsession, identity theft, and murder. This week on Serial Napper, I’m diving deep into the haunting case of Rachel Barber, a gifted young dancer whose life was stolen by someone she thought she could trust: her former babysitter, Caroline Reed Robertson. Rachel was vibrant, talented, and full of promise. Caroline was quiet, isolated, and desperate to be someone else—someone like Rachel. What unfolded was a dark and deeply disturbing story of jealousy turned deadly. From Caroline’s twisted diary entries to her shocking murder plan that involved assuming Rachel’s identity, we break down every step leading up to that tragic day, the police investigation, and the chilling court revelations. Sources: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/law-order/caroline-reed-robertsons-deadly-obsession-with-beautiful-dancer-rachel-barber-led-to-murder/news-story/ca370d6f83a0f9a2c37b8075cfef2913 https://aussiecriminals.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/in-her-skin-court-transcript_opt.pdf https://www.9news.com.au/national/victorian-woman-who-strangled-teen-girl-to-be-released-today/7bec1eda-d0f2-4616-9197-2ce0d41de1ae https://morbidology.com/the-deadly-obsession-the-murder-of-rachel-barber/ https://www.mamamia.com.au/caroline-reed-robertson-rachel-barber/ https://www.fact.on.ca/news/news0011/th001130.htm 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 * I will be in London at CrimeCon UK and I would love to meet you! Use my discount code NAPPER10 for 10% off the ticket price! Visit https://www.crimecon.co.uk/Our Sponsors:* Check out Mood.com and use my code SERIALNAPPER to save 20% off your first order. https://mood.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
25 Juli 43min
The Lie Behind the Swipe: Grace Millane’s Final Hours
Grace Millane was just 22 years old when she set out on the adventure of a lifetime — a solo trip around the world. Smart, independent, and full of life, she was exploring New Zealand when she matched with a man on Tinder. What happened next shocked the world. In this episode of Serial Napper, I dive into the heartbreaking case of Grace Millane — a young British traveller whose life was tragically cut short in what was supposed to be one of the safest countries in the world. I follow Grace’s journey, her final hours, and the disturbing cover-up attempts by her killer, Jesse Kempson. This case isn’t just about one woman’s tragic end — it’s a gut-wrenching look at how quickly trust can be weaponized and how society continues to question victims rather than the people who harm them. 🔗 TW: This episode contains details of sexual assault, violence, and murder. Please listen with care. Sources: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-essex-63627166 https://news.sky.com/story/grace-millane-what-happened-in-the-last-hours-of-british-backpackers-life-11866557 https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/grace-millane-murder-tinder-messages-with-her-killer-revealed/Y67WCAJFSIOLKBXZEY3244NLXI/ https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-54997181 https://www.nzherald.co.nz/indepth/national/grace-millane-timeline/ https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/117623648/the-complete-evidence-the-grace-millane-murder-trial-heard-inside-the-case-that-gripped-a-nation https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/who-is-grace-millanes-murderer-unravelling-labyrinth-of-lies-and-a-fatal-tinder-date/PDGHMSM67MZQ5VBH4GT2XIXZ7Q/ 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 * I will be in London at CrimeCon UK and I would love to meet you! Use my discount code NAPPER10 for 10% off the ticket price! Visit https://www.crimecon.co.uk/Our Sponsors:* Check out Mood.com and use my code SERIALNAPPER to save 20% off your first order. https://mood.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
18 Juli 50min
Vigilante or Villain? The Shocking Case of Jade Janks and the Death of Her Stepfather
When interior designer Jade Janks discovered hundreds of explicit photos of herself hidden on her stepfather’s computer — some dating back to when she was just 16 — her world shattered. Days later, Tom Merriman, co-founder of a beloved butterfly sanctuary in Encinitas, California, was dead. What happened in the hours between that horrific discovery and Tom’s final breath? Was it premeditated murder... or a panicked act of vigilante justice? In this episode, I'm diving deep into one of the most disturbing and controversial cases in recent memory. From shocking screenshots and deleted hard drives to text messages like, “I just dosed the hell out of him,” this case is layered in betrayal, trauma, and moral gray areas that’ll leave you questioning everything. Was Jade seeking justice, or hiding a crime? Hit play — and then you be the judge. Sources: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/jade-janks-tom-merriman-murder-explicit-photos-stepdads-computer-48-hours/ https://www.courttv.com/news/ca-v-jade-janks-racy-photos-murder-trial/ https://www.newsweek.com/jade-janks-murder-case-update-tom-merriman-1916645 https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/stepdaughter-found-guilty-of-killing-butterfly-farms-co-founder-after-finding-nude-photos/3126683/ 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 * I will be in London at CrimeCon UK and I would love to meet you! Use my discount code NAPPER10 for 10% off the ticket price! Visit https://www.crimecon.co.uk/Our Sponsors:* Check out Mood.com and use my code SERIALNAPPER to save 20% off your first order. https://mood.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
11 Juli 39min
