True Crime Recaps

Nicole Virzi was a psychology PhD student and a trusted friend of Savannah Roberts and Ethan Katz. She had even been Savannah's maid of honor. But in June 2024, a visit to meet their newborn twins ended in an unimaginable tragedy. When one of the six-week-old boys, Ari, was taken to hospital with unexplained injuries, his parents left his twin brother, Leon, in Nicole's care. Hours later, Nicole called 911 and reported that Leon had fallen from his baby seat. Medical examinations revealed severe head injuries that were inconsistent with her account, and Leon died the following morning. Investigators determined that both twins had suffered deliberately inflicted injuries. Nicole later admitted to harming Leon, and her statements became central to the investigation and subsequent legal proceedings. In October 2026, Nicole pleaded guilty to third-degree murder, aggravated assault and child endangerment. She was sentenced to 35 to 80 years in prison. In this episode of True Crime Recaps, we examine the investigation, the evidence and the devastating betrayal of a family's trust. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Three families. Three devastating crimes. And in each case, the truth was much closer to home than anyone imagined. In this bonus episode of True Crime Recaps, we revisit three cases involving family secrets, deception and betrayal. Jeffrey MacDonald: A husband claims intruders broke into his home and killed his family, but investigators uncover evidence that challenges his account. Chandler Halderson: A young man builds an elaborate web of lies about his education and career. When his parents begin uncovering the truth, the deception ends in tragedy. Sherri Dally: A devoted wife tries to save her marriage, unaware of a deadly plot involving the people closest to her. Three cases that reveal how devastating the consequences can be when trust is broken within a family. This extended compilation brings together our previous coverage, with new narration revisiting the evidence, investigations and lasting impact of each case. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Harold “Peanut” Allen thought he had found the family he'd always wanted after marrying Marsha Buxton and welcoming her daughter, Ashley Jones, into his life. But investigators would later uncover a disturbing poisoning plot involving toxic plants, antifreeze and thousands of text messages. When Harold died in December 2022, his death was initially attributed to natural causes. It wasn't until an unrelated burglary led police to new information that investigators began piecing together what had happened. Ashley Jones eventually pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit murder and attempted murder, receiving a 50-year prison sentence. Marsha died before charges could be brought against her. In this episode of True Crime Recaps, we examine the investigation, the messages that helped expose the plot and the unexpected breakthrough that brought the case to light. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Seven-year-old Ethan Hauschultz died in April 2018 after being subjected to severe punishments at his Wisconsin home. His death led to criminal charges against several family members and raised serious questions about the adults responsible for his care. His cousin Damian pleaded guilty to first-degree reckless homicide, while Tina Hauschultz pleaded no contest to child-abuse-related charges. But the case against Timothy Hauschultz, the great-uncle who established the punishment system, would take more than eight years to reach a verdict. On October 21, 2026, a jury found Timothy guilty on four of six charges, including child neglect resulting in death. With sentencing scheduled for January 2027, the case has also helped inspire changes to Wisconsin law aimed at protecting vulnerable children. This is the story of Ethan Hauschultz, the investigation into his death, and the long road to accountability. #TrueCrimeRecaps #EthanHauschultz #TimothyHauschultz #EthansLaw Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In August 1892, Andrew and Abby Borden were found brutally murdered inside their Massachusetts home. Suspicion quickly fell on Andrew's daughter, Lizzie Borden, whose name would become synonymous with one of America's most infamous unsolved murder mysteries. But despite the nursery rhyme that painted her as a killer, Lizzie was acquitted, and no one was ever convicted of the murders. The investigation left behind troubling questions. Lizzie gave conflicting accounts of her whereabouts, burned a dress shortly after the killings, and became the focus of intense public scrutiny. Yet investigators had no eyewitnesses, no conclusively identified murder weapon and no definitive physical evidence proving she was responsible. More than 130 years later, a dramatized Netflix series has renewed interest in the case, introducing fictionalized relationships and family tensions alongside the historical events. But how much of Lizzie's story is supported by evidence, and how much has been shaped by decades of speculation? In this episode of True Crime Recaps, Amy revisits the Borden murders, the evidence presented at trial, the questions surrounding Lizzie's acquittal and the complicated life she led afterward. From her relationship with Bridget Sullivan to her friendship with actress Nance O'Neil, we examine the woman behind the legend and the mystery that has never been conclusively solved. #TrueCrimeRecaps #LizzieBorden #LizzieBordenCase #Netflix #TrueCrime #UnsolvedMystery Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When Davey Blackburn returned home from the gym in November 2015, he found his pregnant wife, Amanda, gravely wounded on their living room floor. Their 15-month-old son was still inside the house. Amanda died the following day, and her unborn daughter could not be saved. As news of the murder spread, attention quickly turned to Davey. His calm-sounding 911 call, his absence during the shooting and his behavior afterward sparked widespread suspicion. But while people questioned whether the grieving husband knew more than he was saying, investigators were uncovering evidence that pointed in a completely different direction. Surveillance footage, a stolen vehicle, an ATM receipt and DNA recovered from a pink sweater eventually connected three men to a string of burglaries across Indianapolis. Two pleaded guilty and agreed to testify against the third, Larry Jo Taylor Jr., who was ultimately convicted of Amanda's murder and sentenced to 86 years in prison. In this episode of True Crime Recaps, Chris examines Amanda Blackburn's murder, the 911 call that fueled public suspicion, the evidence that exposed the real killers and how a seemingly ordinary morning turned into an unimaginable tragedy. #TrueCrimeRecaps #AmandaBlackburn #DaveyBlackburn #LarryJoTaylor #TrueCrime #MurderInvestigation Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Before Elizabeth Holmes reported to prison, she allowed cameras into her home, offering a rare glimpse into the life of the woman behind one of Silicon Valley's biggest scandals. But years after the collapse of Theranos, the questions surrounding her billion-dollar fraud are far from over. Holmes promised to revolutionize healthcare with technology that could supposedly perform dozens of blood tests using just a few drops of blood. Investors poured millions into Theranos, pushing its valuation to $9 billion. But behind the company's extraordinary claims was technology that failed to deliver, leaving patients with potentially dangerous and inaccurate medical results. While Holmes was ultimately convicted of defrauding investors, she was not convicted on charges involving patients. Her former business partner, Sunny Balwani, was convicted on all counts against him. Now, a new documentary is revisiting Holmes's story, while her partner, Billy Evans, is developing another medical-testing company, raising fresh questions about accountability and the legacy of Theranos. In this episode of True Crime Recaps, Chris examines the rise and fall of Elizabeth Holmes, the patients affected by Theranos, what the new documentary reveals, and why the scandal continues to make headlines years after her conviction. #TrueCrimeRecaps #ElizabethHolmes #Theranos #SunnyBalwani #BillyEvans #TheranosScandal #YouCanSeeEverything Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In January 2023, six-year-old student at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News, Virginia, brought a loaded handgun into his classroom and shot his first-grade teacher, Abby Zwerner. But before the shooting, school employees had reportedly raised concerns about the child, including warnings that he might be carrying a gun. Abby survived the shooting but suffered serious injuries and underwent multiple surgeries. Despite being wounded, she managed to help her students escape the classroom before collapsing. In this episode of True Crime Recaps, Chris examines the warnings leading up to the shooting, newly released police bodycam footage, the investigation into how the child obtained the weapon, and the legal consequences for his mother and school administrators. The case has raised serious questions about school safety, accountability and whether the shooting could have been prevented. #TrueCrimeRecaps #AbbyZwerner #RichneckElementary #SchoolShooting #NewportNews Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 2008, the Stockdale family appeared on ABC's Wife Swap, introducing viewers to their unusually strict upbringing on a rural Ohio farm. The four homeschooled sons grew up without television, video games or dating, following a tightly controlled set of family rules. Nine years later, the family made headlines for a devastating tragedy. In June 2017, Jacob Stockdale fatally shot his mother, Kathy, and younger brother, James, before seriously injuring himself. He survived and later pleaded guilty, receiving a sentence of 30 years to life in prison. In this episode of True Crime Recaps, Chris revisits the family's appearance on Wife Swap, the events leading up to the tragedy, the unusual legal proceedings that followed, and the unanswered questions surrounding Jacob's actions. #TrueCrimeRecaps #StockdaleFamily #JacobStockdale #WifeSwap #TrueCrime Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sixteen-year-old Emma Walker had recently ended her relationship with college football player Riley Gaul when a series of frightening incidents began unfolding around her Tennessee home. First came mysterious messages claiming Riley had been kidnapped. Then a stranger dressed in black appeared outside Emma's house. Frightened and unsure who to trust, Emma turned to her ex-boyfriend for reassurance, unaware that he was responsible for the incidents. As Riley's attempts to regain control escalated, he repeatedly contacted Emma, calling her 52 times in a single night. Hours later, Emma was found dead after shots were fired through her bedroom wall. In this episode of True Crime Recaps, Chris examines the warning signs, Riley's elaborate attempts to frighten Emma, the undercover recording that helped investigators recover crucial evidence, and the trial that ended in a first-degree murder conviction. #TrueCrimeRecaps #EmmaWalker #RileyGaul #TrueCrime Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices