On March 4, 2008, 18-year-old Auburn University student Lauren Burk was found on Highway 147 in Alabama—shot, naked, and dying. She had been forced into her car at gunpoint by Courtney Lockhart, who robbed her, shot her in the back, and pushed her from the moving vehicle. Her car was set on fire. Lockhart was convicted of murder and sentenced to death. Lauren's father, Jim Burk, fought for justice for his daughter. This is the story of a bright young woman whose life was stolen by senseless violence.

On June 1982, 20-year-old Kelly Bergh Dove was working the graveyard shift at a gas station in Harrisonburg, Virginia. At 2:27 AM, she called police to report a suspicious person outside. Minutes later, at 2:30 AM, Kelly was abducted while on the phone with the dispatcher. Her case has remained unsolved for over 40 years. Her body has never been found. Kelly's sister Elaine worked with us to share her story.

If you have information, contact Harrisonburg Police Department.

Nikki Cheng Saelee McCain was driving on a California freeway when her car's gear shifter snapped. She coasted to the side of the road and vanished. Born in a refugee camp in 1984, Nikki grew up in Sacramento with her six siblings. She was known for her laughter and calm spirit. Her husband has been arrested for her murder, but her body has never been found. Nikki's family worked with us to share her story.

If you have information, contact local authorities.

On January 27, 1973, 20-year-old Dawn Magyar was abducted from a Michigan shopping center. She was found murdered on March 4, 1973—raped and shot three times. The case went cold for 28 years until DNA technology identified the killer: Jerald Leroy Wingeart. He was convicted in 2001. This is the story of a young mother whose life was stolen, a massive volunteer search, and the DNA breakthrough that finally brought justice nearly three decades later.

Francine Hughes, a mother of four, set fire to her Michigan home in 1977, killing her ex-husband after enduring thirteen years of relentless abuse. The case gained national attention and became a pivotal moment in raising awareness about domestic violence and the legal challenges survivors face.

Research by Elizabeth Atwood.

Explore the tragic Mackenzie Shirilla case ahead of the new Netflix documentary "The Crash". Discover the shocking details behind the fatal 2022 Strongsville car crash.

This week we are discussing the heartbreaking murders of five people inside a Lane Bryant store in Tinley Park and where the investigation is today, more than a decade later.

This week we are discussing Robert Fingerhut, whose murder was planned by his partner, Donna Roberts, and her boyfriend, Nathaniel Jackson, while Nathaniel served time behind bars.

This week we are discussing a young mother named Alex Pesic who faced harassment and stalking from her ex-mother-in-law, Jelka Pesic. The situation escalated as Jelka orchestrated a murder plot against her former daughter-in-law, Alex.

This week we are discussing the murder realtor Mike Emert and the subsequent investigation that revealed a connection between the perpetrator and multiple other murders.

This week we’re discussing the murder of Dave Laut, a renowned Olympian whose life was tragically cut short by his wife, Jane Laut. Although the police quickly identified Jane as the perpetrator, a lingering question emerged: Was this an act of self-defense or a premeditated, cold-blooded murder?

This week we are discussing the wrongful convictions of Arthur Almendarez, John Galvan, and Francisco Nanez after a fire took place in an apartment complex in Chicago.

This week, we’re discussing the compelling story of Ted Kaczynski, the Unabomber. We’ll begin by exploring his seemingly unremarkable upbringing, and shed light on the chilling accounts of his involvement in inhumane experiments during his college years. Finally, we’ll discuss the profound impact of his decades-long reign of terror, which kept authorities on edge and the nation gripped with fear.

This week we are discussing the murder of Tiffany Booth and the ongoing manhunt for the person police say is responsible, Eduardo Clemente.

When we first covered the murder of Jared Bridegan in September 2022, the case was unsolved, the blue Ford F-150 had not been found, and Kirsten Bridegan was fighting every single day just to keep her husband's name in the public eye. A lot has changed since then. In this update episode, we are revisiting everything that has happened in the case since our original episode, including a major arrest, a shocking plea deal, and a second arrest that sent shockwaves through the true crime community.

This week we are discussing Playmate Sandy Bentley, fraudster Mark Yagalla, and their connection to an unsolved double homicide. 

This week we are discussing Dr. Thomas Kolman, a physical therapist who authorities claim was murdered by his best friend and dentist, Dr. Gilberto Nunez.

This week we are discussing the Champion family and the attack that left three out of four members tragically murdered.

This week we are discussing the Champion family and the attack that left three out of four members tragically murdered.

Research by Haley Gray with Haley Gray Research.

On July 20, 1971, at around 1:30 am, 24-year-old Rita Curran was found dead in her bedroom. She had been sexually assaulted, beaten in the head, and strangled. It was estimated that Rita was killed at around midnight on July 19. For decades, Rita’s murder went unsolved. Then, in February 2023, a DNA match led detectives to Rita’s killer: William DeRoos.

Research by Haley Gray.