Mom on a Mission - a Killer's Confession
Jamie Dickerson never believed her daughter, April Holt, committed suicide. Not because she is in denial, but because she knows her daughter was trying to leave her marriage and had told her husband two weeks before her death that she wants a divorce. Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack discuss the case, how 29-year-old April Holt is found unresponsive in the bathroom of the home she shares with her husband and son, with a plastic bag taped tightly around her neck. Why is her death ruled a suicide, and what does her mother do to catch the killer and see him go to trial for murder. This episode discusses domestic abuse and suicide. If you are someone you know is living in a domestic violence situation, there is a toll free number to call: 1-800-799-3233. There is also a number if you are having thoughts of self-harm or even taking your own life, the suicide hotline and Crisis Lifeline - 988. Transcribe Highlights 00:00.97 IntroductionNOTE - In this episode both domestic violence and suicide will be discussed 05:09.61 Victim's mother solves the crime 09:50.94 Discussion of the "finder" and the "reporter" 14:11.21 Talk about framing of a story for the police on the scene 18:58.24 How cases are classified as "final exit" case 25:00.55 Discussion of broken blood vessels in the cheek 30:20.65 Claim of "sex play" gone too far and staging the scene 35:02.96 Killer sentenced to two-years in prison 39:29.59 Sentence is a "slap in the face to victims of domestic violence" 41:03.67 Conclusion Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-799-3233 Suicide Hotline and crisis lifeline - 988 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
27 Feb 42min
Attorney Murdered on Yacht: Whose Pink Fingernails Found Broken Off In His Chest
Joseph Donohue's son can't get in touch with the Boston attorney and after two days failing to connect, reaches out to police asking for a welfare check. When Police arrive at the yacht in Boston Harbor, they can see a woman inside running around. When she finally answers the door, the 24-year-old Nora Nelson lies to police - giving them a false name and telling them Donohue was at a "Strip Club". Nelson tries to keep the officers from entering the houseboat but they are insistent, and once inside they find the body of the attorney wrapped in a rug with weights tied to his hands. Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack break down the forensic evidence that will be used in court and get into the background of the case of a 65-year-old Attorney dead on his houseboat and the 24-year-old woman with warrants in other states who lies to police from the beginning. Transcript Highlights00:04.29 Introduction 02:01.09 Living and sleeping on a houseboat 04:49.17 Son calls police asking for a "welfare check" of his father 10:36.80 Female on the boat lies to police 15:01.19 Victim had two dogs living with him 20:11.93 Nora claims blood on boat was from her "period" 25:37.41 What do police do when they find what appears to be a body wrapped in carpet? 30:22.56 Going through crime scene photos prior to trial 35:13.75 Explaining bone density of skull in different places 40:20.98 Looking for "defects" in the skull 44:09.96 Matching the blade of knife with tip part broken off 46:15.65 ConclusionSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
26 Feb 47min
6-month-old Beaten To Death in Home Filled with Feces, Urine, Roaches: The Death of Kaysyn Hedrick
A 911 call is made by a father who claims he woke up and found his 6-month-old son unresponsive. Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack talk about how first responders report the smell of urine and feces in the home and how roaches are seen all over the kitchen. Joe also explains the injuries that led to the beating death of a 6-month-old boy at the hand of his own father. Kaysyn Hedrick's name was never used by the courts until after his father was sentenced for his murder. Transcript Highlights 00:00.00 Introduction 05:07.11 Six-month-old child beaten to death by his father 09:50.22 Not releasing child's name 15:11.11 Story about Roaches taking over home 20:01.24 Investigators have to see location of death 25:05.40 Shane Hedrick taken to sheriff's office 30:07.09 Taking the measure of a scene 35:03.98 Deciding on manner and cause of death 40:10.49 Child robbed of his life 47:07.75 ConclusionSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
25 Feb 47min
Amber Alert Cancelled, Baby Evelyn Found in Trash Bag in Playhouse, Mother Charged with Murder
Evelyn Boswell's grandfather reports her missing when he realizes nobody has seen the 15-month-old baby for several weeks. An Amber Alert is issued and Evelyn's mother, Megan Boswell, does interviews on tv and with investigators. Boswell gives three totally different stories about where baby Evelyn is and investigators eventually find the baby in her grandfather's backyard in trash bag located in a child's playhouse. Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack discuss the case with Joseph providing expert analysis of the decomposition that would occur under the conditions. Transcript Highlights00:01.58 Introduction02:58.46 Amber Alert - Baby Evelyn Boswell 05:18.99 Grandfather reports Baby Evelyn missing10:06.94 Megan Boswell tells multiple stories15:11.50 How does investigation move forward when main person is lying?20:38.25 Megan Boswell trying to deceive investigators25:14.65 Evelyn Boswell found in a trash bag inside playhouse30:25.87 Manner of death is Homicide.35:05.39 Body had been "unnaturally folded"40:37.51 latent prints found on tin foil44:02.48 ConclusionSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
20 Feb 45min
Toes Of A Child Sticking Out of Dirt in Backyard
A landlord staging a property in preparation for a new tenant, sees what appears to be the foot of a child sticking out of the ground. The landlord calls police, and they find the remains of 9-year-old Zemar King III buried in a shallow grave. Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack talk about how the mother of Zemar King, Brandee Pierce, is caught in Georgia in January, where she is already in jail, charged with abuse of her three-year-old days before Christmas. Joseph Scott Morgan also explains how investigators determined how Brandee Pierce "smothered" and "choked" her 9-year-old son to death before burying him in a backyard grave and then skipping town. Transcript Highlights00:00.01 Introduction01:53.70 Zemar King, little boy left in shallow grave by his mother04:57.48 Would a human foot look different than a plastic foot in the dirt?10:25.76 Investigators benefit from "containment"14:33.47 Reactionary event, panic19:12.14 How long has it been since victim died24:41.84 What actually happened to Zemar?30:15.49 Hands and feet of Zemar were tied together36:24.94 Determining how Zemar died - smothering / neck compression39:28.72 Conclusion: Case is still active, we will updateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
19 Feb 40min
Two Executions Same Day 60 Minutes Apart: Will Kohberger Face Needle or Bullet?
James Dennis Ford and Richard Lee Tabler were both executed on February 13, 2025. Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack discuss the crimes that led both men to be sentenced to death as well as take a look at methods for carrying out the death sentence. They also discuss what Bryan Kohberger might face if he is convicted in the Idaho Student murders. James Dennis Ford murdered Gregory and Kimberly Malnory while on a fishing trip. Ford shot Gregory Malnory in the head with a .22-caliber rifle, bludgeoned him, and slit his throat. Ford then raped, beat, and shot Kimberly Malnory. All of this in front of their 23-month old daughter, Maranda Malnory, who was left behind as Ford fled the scene. Maranda was found nearly a day later - dehydrated and covered in insect bites by an employee of a nearby sod farm. Florida executed James Dennis Ford by lethal injection. One Hour Later: Richard Lee Tabler was 24 when he fatally shot four people in 2004. He has always admitted this, but was only tried and convicted for the murders of Mohamed-Amine Rahmouni, 25, and Haitham Frank Zayed, 28. Texas used a lethal injection of pentobarbital to kill the 46-year-old Tabler, whose mother and sister were among the witnesses to the execution. Transcript Highlights 00:00.91 Introduction 04:34.95 Two executions take place on the same day09:08.11 During murders, mother puts 23-month old daughter in car14:42.77 Being present for autopsy of person sentenced to death20:08.51 Convict said to have mind of a child25:14.09 Victims lured to death29:14.60 Tabler gets "saved" while in prison38:48.20 Discussion of Capital Punishment qualified43:11.80 Using Capital punishment as a deterrent 48:10.55 ConclusionSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
18 Feb 48min
Jack the Ripper IDENTIFIED!
There are at least five murders attributed to "Jack the Ripper". Mary Ann Nichols: The first confirmed victim, murdered on August 31, 1888 Annie Chapman: Murdered on September 8, 1888 Elizabeth Stride: Murdered on September 30, 1888 Catherine Eddoweson: Murdered on September 30, 1888 Mary Jane Kelly: Murdered on November 9, 1888 Some people believe there were victims prior to August 31, 1888, and after November 9, 1888. That is a discussion for a different day. Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack discuss the evidence that includes DNA from one of the victims as well as a possible suspect and how working with genealogists led investigators to the only person that could have provided the DNA found on the shawl of Catherine Eddoweson. Case Solved! Transcript Highlights 00:00.46 Introduction of Jack The Ripper case 04:02.28 Joe Scott describes time in London 09:11.12 Immigration impact 13:35.86 Murders included in the Jack the Ripper case 18:35.25 Studying the case 22:25.38 Developing skills with knife 28:47.48 Suspect described - leather apron 34:15.31 Ripper Case sold a lot of news papers 38:55.85 DNA from Shawl 43:45.68 Victim and suspect DNA evidence 49:28.75 Suspect was "hair dresser" as well as barber 50:13.83 ConclusionSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
13 Feb 50min
Recently Engaged Couple Found Dead: Methanol Found in "Homemade" Limoncello
When a young newly engaged couple pick up a couple bottles of "Homemade" Limoncello from a local restaurant, they assume they are buying a product that is safe to consume. Greta Marie Otteson, 33, and Els Arno Quinton, 36 are world travelers, she from Great Brittain, he from South Africa, and are celebrating their recent engagement. Cleaning service shows up to clean their room on Boxing Day (December 26) and discovers the couple dead. Joseph Scott Morgan and Dave Mack take a look what really happened to the couple and other world travelers who are suffering the same or similar fate. Transcript Highlights 00:12.79 Introduction: Mardi Gras - Drinking Alcohol 05:07.20 Ethanol vs methanol 10:05.13 "Homemade" Limoncello 15:13.03 Alcohol effects 20:06.36 Atlanta Bathtub gin 25:01.39 Alcohol - different types 30:21.77 Victim contacted mother, talks about worst hangover 35:31.07 Tourist dying drinking methanol instead of ethanol 40:02.02 Methanol poisoning, suspects being charged with murder 43:17.41 ConclusionSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
12 Feb 43min
