17: The Murder of Girly Chew

Premieres January 1st! Join standup comedian and former detective, Todd McComas and co-hosts Laura Benson and Eric Quintana every Monday - Friday as they bring you the biggest crime stories of the day. Then round out your week every Saturday with Investigative journalist Jessica Noll as she takes you Back in Crime with a story that has historical significance to that week. This Day In Crime is a production of Tenderfoot TV in partnership with Audacy, produced in association with Burning Mountain Productions. Follow the show so you don't miss a single episode.

Girly Chew was a Malaysian-born woman who went missing on September 9, 1999, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The investigation into her disappearance revealed a series of bizarre conspiracy theories involving a cure for cancer, shape-shifting lizard people and an alien invasion; all centered around one man’s murderous agenda. Show Notes

The investigators sit down with Dateline correspondent Josh Mankiewicz to discuss his new long form podcast and pick his brain on the keys to his long lasting success.

The Investigators gain new insight into the post-mortem interrogation report of Calvin Berry's defibrillator directly from a heart failure expert who examined it. Her interpretation of the report and her opinion concerning his defibrillator's activity, offers even more compelling evidence to contradict what detectives have reported to Calvin's family.

After 58-year-old Calvin Berry is found dead in the canal behind his home, his time of death and cause of death become a points of contention. Was the medical examiner correct when he ruled his death an accidental drowning or does medical evidence from his defibrillator and his autopsy disprove this ruling? The Investigators dive deep to examine the discrepancies between the medical examiner's findings and those of independent experts. Show Notes

58-year-old Calvin Berry was reported missing from his Florida home just after midnight on March 11, 2021. Soon after his disappearance, his children received text messages from an unknown person claiming to have their father and demanding they pay a ransom to ensure his safe return. Two days later, Calvin’s body was found floating in the canal behind his house. The medical examiner ruled Calvin’s death an accidental drowning but other experts disagree. Calvin's twin sister wants answers. Show Notes

The murders of 18-year-old Haile Kifer and her 17-year-old cousin Nicholas Brady occurred on Thanksgiving Day, November 22, 2012, when the two teenagers broke into the home of 64-year-old Byron David Smith in Little Falls, Minnesota. Once inside the home, Smith shot the teens separately, 10 minutes apart, as they each walked down the stairs to the basement. The case sparked debate over the "Castle Doctrine", which allows homeowners to defend their homes with lethal force. Join The Investigators as they examine whether or not the Castle Doctrine was a viable defense for Byron Smith and how his career as a Security Engineer for the State Department might help explain his mental state leading up to this tragic and fateful day. Show Notes

On Friday, November 17, 1978, four young employees at the Burger Chef in Speedway, IN went missing after close. Local police assumed they were screwing around and refused to take a report. Two days later, they were found murdered in a wooded area over twenty miles away. Forty-five years later, this case is still unsolved. But the detective who worked this case longer than anyone, is certain he knows who's responsible.

Our focus on the disappearance of Crystal Rogers turns to former Bardstown officer Nick Houck. Nick is the brother of Crystal's boyfriend Brooks Houck who is the primary suspect in her case. Nick has now become a suspect as well, which offers a unique challenge for investigators. And to aggravate matters, The Houck Brothers also become suspects in another unsolved murder in the area. Bardstown, KY may never be the same. Show Notes for this episode

Crystal Rogers, a 35-year-old mother of five, went missing on Fourth of July weekend in 2015 from Bardstown, Kentucky. Her boyfriend and the father of her youngest child, Brooks Houck was the last known person to see her alive. Within months he was named the prime suspect in her case. Nearly a decade into her investigation, and three years after the FBI took the lead in her case, arrests have been made for conspiracy to commit murder and murder. But this story…is far from over. The Investigators take a deep dive into her case, its newest developments, and the brothers at the center of this investigation. Show Notes for this episode