Beloved Teacher Murdered by Her Student in School Bathroom: The Case of Colleen Ritzer

April Lynn Holt was a mother of two, living outside of Nashville, Tennessee, working hard to create a good life for herself and her family. TikTok was a huge passion of hers, and she began making content back in the pandemic and had garnered over 200,000 followers. Her content was mainly surrounding her family, her faith, and lifting other people up. She was really big on manifestations and elevating your life, so her content was a reflection of that. Her content also centered around her husband, Donovan Holt. However, in 2021 the two of them separated. It was an amicable decision, but eventually they decided to give it another go. But in July of 2023, April realized she no longer wanted to be with him. So that month she asked him for a formal divorce. 2 weeks later, her 7 year old son found her with a plastic bag duct taped to her head in their bathroom. Three days later she died. From the beginning, April’s mom Jamie knew there was more to the story, and she was right. She learned that Donovan had gotten into an argument with April, strangled her, and then staged it as a suicide. Through her hard work, April is on the path towards getting justice. If you’re a victim of domestic violence and need help getting out, call the National Domestic Violence hotline: (800) 799-7233 or text BEGIN to 88788. April's Tiktok: /_april_h    Jamie's Tiktok: / jamiedickerson22   Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?... GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-th... Grieving Through Grace: https://www.amazon.com/Grieving-Throu... Higher Hope Foundation: https://www.higherhope.org/ Donate to NCMEC through my campaign! https://give.missingkids.org/campaign...  Shop my Merch! https://kendallrae.shop This episode is sponsored by: Smalls - For 50% off your first order, head to Smalls.com/KENDALLRAE and use code KENDALLRAE Nutrafol - promo code: KENDALLRAE Huggies SKIMS - select “podcast” in the survey and select our show in the dropdown menu that follows! Check out Kendall's other podcasts: The Sesh & Mile Higher Follow Kendall! YouTube Twitter Instagram Facebook Mile Higher Zoo REQUESTS: General case suggestion form: https://bit.ly/32kwPly Form for people directly related/ close to the victim: https://bit.ly/3KqMZLj Discord: https://discord.com/invite/an4stY9BCN CONTACT: For Business Inquiries - [email protected]

Aniah Blanchard was a 19-year-old college student living in Auburn, Alabama, when on October 23, 2019, she never returned home. Despite dropping off her brother and telling him she was headed back to her apartment, she never arrived. Then, odd messages to her roommate started coming through, and by the next day, it was clear that she’d never made it back. Friends and family joined in on the search, and two days later, her car was found abandoned 50 miles away. There was enough blood inside of her vehicle that investigators determined foul play had occurred. Over the following weeks, three men ended up getting arrested in connection with her abduction, but only one of those men, Ibraheem Yazeed, was determined to be responsible for her actual murder. About a month later, Aniah’s body was found, and despite overwhelming evidence to suggest Ibraheem murdered her, he has yet to face trial in part because of the pandemic and also in part due to our slow justice system. However, justice is on the horizon. Her family never gave up hope that she would be found, and they have since created Aniah’s Heart, a nonprofit in her honor. Aniah's Heart: https://www.aniahsheart22.com/ Higher Hope Foundation: https://www.higherhope.org/ Donate to NCMEC through my campaign! https://give.missingkids.org/campaign...  Shop my Merch! https://kendallrae.shop This episode is sponsored by: Laundry Sauce - promo code: KENDALL Our Place - promo code: TCKR Rocket Money Uncommon Goods Check out Kendall's other podcasts: The Sesh & Mile Higher Follow Kendall! YouTube Twitter Instagram Facebook Mile Higher Zoo REQUESTS: General case suggestion form: https://bit.ly/32kwPly Form for people directly related/ close to the victim: https://bit.ly/3KqMZLj Discord: https://discord.com/invite/an4stY9BCN CONTACT: For Business Inquiries - [email protected]

Colleen Ritzer was an empathetic, driven, young professional who had spent her entire life dreaming of becoming a teacher. And through her hard work she became one. Though she’d only been a teacher at Danvers High School for one full year, students quickly took a liking to her. But one day, in October of 2013, a student with no moral compass, compassion, or empathy took her life. Philip Chism was quickly arrested for Colleen’s rape and murder, and was prosecuted to the fullest extent that Massachusetts law allowed. Colleen E. Ritzer Memorial Fund: https://colleenritzer.org/ Learn more about Kindness for Colleen: https://colleenritzer.org/initiatives... Love, Colleen: https://youtu.be/0qIhRnicBsE?si=TisljcNlwyFvhbD5 Higher Hope Foundation: https://www.higherhope.org/ Donate to NCMEC through my campaign! https://give.missingkids.org/campaign...  Shop my Merch! https://kendallrae.shop This episode is sponsored by: Huggies Earnin - promo code: Kendall Rae Check out Kendall's other podcasts: The Sesh & Mile Higher Follow Kendall! YouTube Twitter Instagram Facebook Mile Higher Zoo REQUESTS: General case suggestion form: https://bit.ly/32kwPly Form for people directly related/ close to the victim: https://bit.ly/3KqMZLj Discord: https://discord.com/invite/an4stY9BCN CONTACT: For Business Inquiries - [email protected]

Sierra Mae LaMar was a 15-year-old high school student living in Morgan Hill, California with her mom and her mom’s boyfriend when, completely unexpectedly, she disappeared. Though at first the police thought she may have run away, due to her being unhappy with living in Morgan Hill, evidence quickly suggested otherwise. Over the course of a few days, her cell phone and personal belongings were found, which suggested that she had been taken against her own will. And that is exactly what happened. DNA linked her abduction to a 21-year-old guy named Antolin Garcia-Torres, who was eventually arrested for her kidnapping and murder. Unfortunately, to this day, her remains have never been found. Higher Hope Foundation: https://www.higherhope.org/ Donate to NCMEC through my campaign! https://give.missingkids.org/campaign...  Shop my Merch! https://kendallrae.shop This episode is sponsored by: Nutrafol - promo code: KENDALLRAE Quince Zocdoc Check out Kendall's other podcasts: The Sesh & Mile Higher Follow Kendall! YouTube Twitter Instagram Facebook Mile Higher Zoo REQUESTS: General case suggestion form: https://bit.ly/32kwPly Form for people directly related/ close to the victim: https://bit.ly/3KqMZLj Discord: https://discord.com/invite/an4stY9BCN CONTACT: For Business Inquiries - [email protected]

20 years ago, in March of 2004, young mom Jennifer Wix and her two-year-old daughter Adrianna went missing. Their family has been searching for them ever since. Jennifer’s boyfriend Joey had started acting weird, dodging calls, and suddenly dropped off bags of Jennifer and Adrianna’s things, as if he knew that they wouldn’t be back. Finally, in July of 2024, Joey opened up to the family and had some new information that would possibly help their case. Resources: -Justice For Jennifer & Adrianna Facebook Page: jenniferandadrianna   -Listen to Missing In Hush Town: https://missinginhushtown.buzzsprout.... -GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/Jenniferandadriannawix -Justice For Jennifer & Adrianna Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenniferandadriannawix/ -Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jenniferandadrian -Petition: https://www.change.org/p/demand-a-com... — Higher Hope Foundation: https://www.higherhope.org/ Donate to NCMEC through my campaign! https://give.missingkids.org/campaign...  Shop my Merch! https://kendallrae.shop This episode is sponsored by: Huggies Rocket Money Smalls - For 50% off your first order, head to Smalls.com/KENDALLRAE and use code KENDALLRAE. Check out Kendall's other podcasts: The Sesh & Mile Higher Follow Kendall! YouTube Twitter Instagram Facebook Mile Higher Zoo REQUESTS: General case suggestion form: https://bit.ly/32kwPly Form for people directly related/ close to the victim: https://bit.ly/3KqMZLj Discord: https://discord.com/invite/an4stY9BCN CONTACT: For Business Inquiries - [email protected]

Early one morning in 2015, Amanda Blackburn was at home with her husband Davey–a local pastor, and their toddler son. At 6 am, he had left the house, and subsequently left their doors unlocked, as was typical for the couple. Both he and his wife felt safe in their area. Unfortunately, some burglars working the neighborhood were watching the house, and upon seeing Davey leave, broke in and shot Amanda, killing both her and her unborn baby. Higher Hope Foundation: https://www.higherhope.org/ Donate to NCMEC through my campaign! https://give.missingkids.org/campaign...  Shop my Merch! https://kendallrae.shop This episode is sponsored by: SKIMS - after you place your order, select “podcast” in the survey and select True Crime with Kendall Rae to let them know I sent you! Huggies Check out Kendall's other podcasts: The Sesh & Mile Higher Follow Kendall! YouTube Twitter Instagram Facebook Mile Higher Zoo REQUESTS: General case suggestion form: https://bit.ly/32kwPly Form for people directly related/ close to the victim: https://bit.ly/3KqMZLj Discord: https://discord.com/invite/an4stY9BCN CONTACT: For Business Inquiries - [email protected]

In 2022, 19-year-old Rachel Hansen was shot and killed in her home. Two years later, her family is nowhere closer to closure than they were when the shooting happened. They think she was targeted for some reason, but police have since been unable to come up with anything to give the family. Higher Hope Foundation: https://www.higherhope.org/  Rachel's Rescue: https://rachelsrescue2022.com/ Silent Witness: https://silentwitness.org/cases/homic... Interview with Kim Hansen: https://open.spotify.com/episode/21FU... Donate to NCMEC through my campaign! https://give.missingkids.org/campaign...  Shop my Merch! https://kendallrae.shop This episode is sponsored by: Rocket Money Quince Nutrafol - promo code: KENDALLRAE Check out Kendall's other podcasts: The Sesh & Mile Higher Follow Kendall! YouTube Twitter Instagram Facebook Mile Higher Zoo REQUESTS: General case suggestion form: https://bit.ly/32kwPly Form for people directly related/ close to the victim: https://bit.ly/3KqMZLj Discord: https://discord.com/invite/an4stY9BCN CONTACT: For Business Inquiries - [email protected]

Colorado native and mother, Kelsey Berreth, went missing during Thanksgiving 2018. She was last seen with her young daughter and fiancé near her home, and then was never seen agin. It turned out that her own fiancé and his secret girlfriend were behind her murder and disappearance. Aspen Flight Academy: https://aspenflightacademy.org/ Donate to NCMEC through my campaign! https://give.missingkids.org/campaign...  Shop my Merch! https://kendallrae.shop This episode is sponsored by: Earnin - promo code: Kendall Rae Huggies Check out Kendall's other podcasts: The Sesh & Mile Higher Follow Kendall! YouTube Twitter Instagram Facebook Mile Higher Zoo REQUESTS: General case suggestion form: https://bit.ly/32kwPly Form for people directly related/ close to the victim: https://bit.ly/3KqMZLj Discord: https://discord.com/invite/an4stY9BCN CONTACT: For Business Inquiries - [email protected]

Some people just don't realize that divorce is an option. That seemed to be the case for Harold Allen's wife, Marsha, who worked in tandem with her daughter, Ashley, Harold's step daughter, to kill Harold by poisoning him. After trying three times before, on the fourth try, they finally succeeded. But they weren't going to get away with their plan so easily. IBMA Foundation: https://bluegrassfoundation.org/ Donate to NCMEC through my campaign! https://give.missingkids.org/campaign...  Shop my Merch! https://kendallrae.shop This episode is sponsored by: +Zocdoc +Smalls - For 50% off your first order, head to Smalls.com/KENDALLRAE and use code KENDALLRAE +Liquid IV - promo code: KENDALLRAE +3 Day Blinds - For their buy 1 get 1 50% off deal, head to 3DayBlinds.com/KENDALLRAE Check out Kendall's other podcasts: The Sesh & Mile Higher Follow Kendall! YouTube Twitter Instagram Facebook Mile Higher Zoo REQUESTS: General case suggestion form: https://bit.ly/32kwPly Form for people directly related/ close to the victim: https://bit.ly/3KqMZLj Discord: https://discord.com/invite/an4stY9BCN CONTACT: For Business Inquiries - [email protected]

16-year-old Mia Campos was 7 months pregnant when she was found by her family, dead in the woods near her home. Just before her death, she had left the house the night prior with an unknown person. Though the investigation is still ongoing, Mia’s family feel strongly that she was killed by her ex-boyfriend and father of her unborn child, 20-year-old Jesus Monroy. Case Update: Since filming, Jesus Monroy was released on $56,000 bond, a decision that Mia's family vehemently disagrees with. Protests in Gwinnett County have begun as a result of this decision, and loved ones say they will not stop fighting until justice is served. GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-give-... Donate to NCMEC through my campaign! https://give.missingkids.org/campaign...  Shop my Merch! https://kendallrae.shop This episode is sponsored by: SKIMS - after you place your order, select “podcast” in the survey and select True Crime with Kendall Rae to let them know I sent you! Huggies Ibotta - promo code: TCKR Nutrafol - promo code: KENDALLRAE Check out Kendall's other podcasts: The Sesh & Mile Higher Follow Kendall! YouTube Twitter Instagram Facebook Mile Higher Zoo REQUESTS: General case suggestion form: https://bit.ly/32kwPly Form for people directly related/ close to the victim: https://bit.ly/3KqMZLj Discord: https://discord.com/invite/an4stY9BCN CONTACT: For Business Inquiries - [email protected]