The 1986 Disappearance of 7-Month-Old Christopher Abeyta

On April 28, 2021, police entered a home in Moffatt, Colorado.   Their visit was caught on body cam – they can be seen entering a home filled with adults and children.  They made their way into a bedroom where they came across the unimaginable – a mummified body wrapped in a sleeping bag and enshrined in fairy lights.  This is the story of Amy Carlson and the Love Has Won cult. In 2007, Amy left her husband, three children and job at McDonald’s and ran away to start a new life with a man she had met on an internet forum.  The group was known as the "Galactic Federation of Light".  Amy was the head of the group and she was known as ‘Mother God’. The group evolved over the years, and it eventually became known as ‘Love Has Won’.  Amy began taking on the negative energy of the world (apparently) and she became weaker and sicker as the years went on.  She told followers she had ‘stage five’ cancer and she began ingesting colloidal silver to treat her ailments. Her skin would turn a grey colour. After alarming photos of Amy were posted online, her family requested multiple welfare checks and were always turned away by Love Has Won members.  When police finally obtained access on April 28, Amy’s remains were discovered.  According to cult members, Amy is still part of the group, just from the 5th Dimension.   Join us for this episode of the True Crime Society Podcast where we discuss Amy Carlson and the Love Has Won cult. This episode is sponsored by: 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! Apostrophe is a prescription skincare company that offers science-backed oral and topical medications that are clinically proven to help clear acne.  To get started, just go to Apostrophe.com/TCS and click Begin Visit, then use our code TCS at sign up and you’ll get your first visit for only five dollars! BetterHelp is online therapy that offers video, phone and even live chat sessions with your therapist, so you don’t have to see anyone on camera if you don’t want to. True Crime Society listeners get 10% off their first month at BetterHelp.com/SOCIETY

31 Mars 20221h 7min

Kyron Horman was so excited to head to school on June 4, 2010.  He had prepared a project on Tree Frogs for the school science fair.  He got dressed in his favorite CSI t-shirt and headed off to school with his stepmother Terri and his sister Kiara. When the trio arrived at Skyline Elementary, Kyron put his coat and his bag in his classroom.  Just a few minutes later, he disappeared. The search for Kyron was the biggest in Oregon’s history – volunteers from three states travelled to help.  The FBI became involved almost straight away.  Even with all this manpower, Kyron has never been found – it has been 12 years since he was last seen. Did an opportunistic predator snatch Kyron from his school?  Or does his stepmother Terri know more about what happened to Kyron?  Join us for this episode of the True Crime Society Podcast as we discuss the disappearance of Kyron Horman. You can read our blog for Kyron here - https://truecrimesocietyblog.com/2022/03/22/kyron-horman-missing-since-2010/ Be sure to check out The Murder Diaries Podcast – giving voices to the voiceless and humanizing and sharing the stories of true crime victims.  @themurderdiariespod on TikTok and Instagram. This episode is sponsored by: Little Spoon – the one stop shop for healthy, easy mealtime + snacktime for your baby, toddler and big kid, delivered right to your door.  Get 50% off your first order using the code TCS50 at check out – littlespoon.com Magic Spoon – Healthy breakfast doesn’t have to be boring!  Get your next delicious bowl of guilt-free cereal at MagicSpoon.com/TCS.  Use code TCS and get $5 off.

24 Mars 20221h 7min

There are some cases that captivate the attention of the entire world – Elizabeth Smart and Gabby Petito are names that we would all recognize. I am sure that most of us also know the name Sherri Papini.  Sherri’s case got worldwide attention back in 2016 when she was abducted.  Her husband Keith raised the alarm when Sherri was not home when he finished work for the day.  She had also failed to pick up her two children from daycare. The search for Sherri cost hundreds of thousands of dollars and went on for weeks.  On November 24, 2016, 22 days after she was reported missing, Sherri was found alive on the side of a road in Yolo County, California.  She was battered, branded and bruised but otherwise okay. We all breathed a collective sigh of relief – thank goodness for a happy ending!  Until more details emerged.  Allegations of Sherri’s racist background and details that did not add up made some of us wonder about the validity of her story.   As the years went on, I think many people assumed that Sherri had not told the truth about her experience, but that nothing would ever come of it.  In March 2022, Sherri Papini was charged with making false statements to a federal law enforcement officer and mail fraud.  Her whole abduction was a lie and she schemed a plan at the time to run off to be with an ex boyfriend, leaving her husband and young children to worry for weeks. In this episode of the True Crime Society Podcast, we discuss the ‘abductions’ of Sherri Papini and Madison Bell.   Madison vanished in 2020 after she told her mother that she was ‘going tanning’.  Her car was found abandoned and the FBI got involved.  It turns out that Madison fled to be with a man that she had been speaking with online.  You can view our blog for Sherri here - https://truecrimesocietyblog.com/2022/03/13/the-abduction-of-sherri-papini/ This episode is sponsored by: June’s Journey – Find your Inner Detective. Download June’s Journey free today on the Apple App Store or Google Play! FitOn is the #1 premium free fitness app, and it’s redefining the workout experience.  Text SOCIETY to 64-000 to join FitOn for free! Ana Luisa – High quality jewellery at affordable prices.  Enjoy 20% OFF the entire Ana Luisa collection today! https://shop.analuisa.com/society Make sure you check out the Morning Cup of Murder podcast – the best way to start your day!

17 Mars 20221h 27min

Orrin and Orson West had a sad start to life.  They were removed from their care of their biological mother when they were tiny and were placed in the care of their adoptive parents, Trezell and Jacqueline West. The boys lived with four other siblings in California.  In December 2020, their ‘father’ Trezell claims they went outside to play and were never seen again.   The local community in California searched alongside the police for months and months.  Jacqueline and Trezell had their other children placed into care, allegedly because of ‘threats’ made by the public.   Police interviewed neighbors who said they had never actually seen Orrin and Orson in the area. How could two little boys vanish, possibly months before they were reported missing? This case seemed like it may be turning cold.  Until March 2022, when Trezell and Jacqueline were each arrested on counts of second-degree murder, willful cruelty to a child and  false reporting of an emergency.  Police have now said that Orrin and Orson were murdered by the people who were meant to care for them most, months before the search for them began.  The boys still remain missing. Join us for this episode of the True Crime Society Podcast where we discuss the murders of Orrin and Orson West.   You can read our blog for the boys here - https://truecrimesocietyblog.com/2022/03/01/themurderof-brothers-orrin-and-orson-west/ You can listen on Apple here https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/true-crime-society/id1504300714?i=1000553517911 and Spotify here - https://open.spotify.com/episode/1ZxZO02l2fGQf1u1wyb6ML?si=2DIdjpm_Q7-yHhqXvG_dBA This episode is sponsored by: - Magic Spoon Cereal has the amazing flavors you love, but without all the bad stuff! Go to magicspoon.com/TCS to grab a variety pack for $5 off! - Apostrophe is a prescription skincare company that offers science-backed oral and topical medications that are clinically proven to help clear acne.  Go to Apostrophe.com/TCS and use our code TCS to get your first visit for only five dollars. - Green Chef makes eating well easy with plans to fit every lifestyle delivered right to your door. Go to GreenChef.com/tcs130 and use code tcs130 to get $130 off, plus free shipping. - Microdose Gummies delivers entry-level doses of THC that help you feel just the right amount of good. Go to MicrodoseGummies.com and use code: tcs to get free shipping & 30% off your first order.

10 Mars 20221h 8min

The rise of social media has led to it being easier for us to make new friends, keep in touch with friends and family all over the world.  Technology has given us access to any information we could ever need, all within seconds. With this increase in social media use comes some downsides too.  People are now more easily able to take advantage of others and money is able to change hands so easily. In this episode of the True Crime Society Podcast, we chat about three Social Scammers – women who have been in trouble with the law after obtaining funds fraudulently from unsuspecting social media followers. Belle Gibson is one of Australia’s most prolific social scammers.  She managed to deceive huge corporations.  Apple planned to include her health and wellness app on all iPads and Apple Watches.  She told lie after lie about her health – she claimed to have terminal cancer that she cured by using holistic therapies.  She also claimed that she underwent multiple heart operations and had endured strokes.  None of this was true.  When her deception was uncovered, she was dropped  by Apple and Penguin Books.  Belle has been ordered to repay hundreds of thousands of dollars – so far, none of the repayments have materialised. Coco Berthmann had a troubled start to life.  She has claimed that she managed to escape Germany as a teenager and that she had been trafficked by her parents for years.  She moved to America and became a human rights activist.  She established the Coco Berthmann Scholarship Fund and spoke about her ‘experiences’ publicly.  In early 2022, Coco told a friend that she had stage 3 mantle cell lymphoma cancer.  A GoFundMe was started for Coco, and it raised thousands of dollars.  In February 2022, Coco was arrested on suspicion of communications fraud.  Police investigated her ‘cancer diagnosis’  and found no evidence that Coco ever had the illness.  Many of Coco’s other claims have now been questioned.  There have been allegations that she was not actually a victim of child sex trafficking, said police, who could not verify her claims of working with the FBI. Brittany Dawn has had a long, troubled run as an Influencer.  She started out as a fitness influencer with her company BDawnFit.  She got into trouble with her followers years ago after her ‘personalized’ eating plans, that people paid up to $500 for, turned out to not be so personal.  She was also accused of triggering people with eating disorders by using tags such as #skipdinnerwakeupthinner.  Brittany refused to refund most members and tried to move on with her life as a ‘Christian’ influencer.  She married Jordan Nelson, a man who lost his job as a police officer after he used ‘excessive force’ during an arrest.  She also faced much backlash after she released a tearful video, detailing how her husband shot her dog after it was hit by a car.  The dog was still alive and breathing, but the couple decided to shoot it instead of taking it to a vet.  In February 2022, the Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced that the state of Texas was suing Brittany for between $250,000 and $1 million in penalties and court fees for misleading customers.  You can read our blogs on these cases: https://truecrimesocietyblog.com/2022/02/28/the-deception-of-coco-berthmann/ https://truecrimesocietyblog.com/2022/02/28/social-scammer-belle-gibson/ https://truecrimesocietyblog.com/2022/02/28/the-continuing-fall-of-brittany-dawn/ You can listen on Apple here - https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/true-crime-society/id1504300714?i=1000552780017 and Spotify here - https://open.spotify.com/episode/5vXVo0h3HzJpb8c4WNOhAN?si=DPJhGWFGRJeFS3G2AUm83A This week’s episode is sponsored by Apostrophe and Better Help. Visit Apostrophe.com/tcs, click Begin Visit, then use our code TCS at sign up and you’ll get your first visit for only five dollars! BetterHelp is online therapy that offers video, phone and even live chat sessions with your therapist, so you don’t have to see anyone on camera if you don’t want to. Visit BetterHelp.com/society

3 Mars 20221h 6min

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