Beyond the Veil: Revisiting Chad and a Tribute to Tammy Daybell

A surprise wedding photo, a fierce daughter’s defense, and a question that still makes people angry: how do you forgive the parent who didn’t protect you? After Kevin Franke quietly remarried—and Shari publicly celebrated him as “a wonderful man,” warning critics to back off—this episode revisits the Ruby Franke/Jodi Hildebrandt case through the uncomfortable aftermath, when the headlines fade and a family has to decide what healing actually looks like. Using Shari’s memoir The House of My Mother, we trace the long, quiet power imbalance that shaped Kevin’s role, how Jodi’s influence isolated and dismantled him, and why Shari’s eventual forgiveness doesn’t erase the harm—but reveals what may have happened behind closed doors: amends, rebuilding, and a new family dynamic the public can’t fully see. BEAM DREAM: Celebrate Sleep in 2026! At https://shopbeam.com/TRUECRIME Watch Kevin’s interview w/ Dr Julie Hanks: https://shorturl.at/pVZJH Read Shari’s Book: https://shorturl.at/oiU10 About Hidden True Crime What started as a simple conversation at their dinner table became a captivating podcast. Join the dynamic duo of Dr. John Matthias, a criminal psychologist, and Lauren Matthias, an investigative journalist, as they delve into the psychological facets of unthinkable crimes every week. Their unique perspectives and in-depth analysis offer a fresh take on true crime storytelling. Thank you for your support through sponsorships, subscribing, listening, and becoming a Patreon member at⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon.com/HiddenTrueCrime⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Friday’s arraignment revealed just how severe prosecutors believe this case is: Ashlee Buzzard is now formally charged with murdering her 9-year-old daughter, Melodee—along with enhancements alleging “exceptional cruelty,” planning, and the chilling accusation of “lying in wait.” In this episode, we break down what those legal terms actually mean, walk through the updated timeline—from the wig-wearing road trip across multiple states to the discovery of Melodee’s remains in remote Utah—and explain the forensic links that investigators say tied the scene back to the Buzzard home. We also cover what happened inside the courtroom, why prosecutors say they’re seeking life without parole (not the death penalty), the temporary gag order restricting the sheriff’s public comments, and the raw, heartbreaking words from Melodee’s grandmother as the family faces the unthinkable. About Hidden True Crime What started as a simple conversation at their dinner table became a captivating podcast. Join the dynamic duo of Dr. John Matthias, a criminal psychologist, and Lauren Matthias, an investigative journalist, as they delve into the psychological facets of unthinkable crimes every week. Their unique perspectives and in-depth analysis offer a fresh take on true crime storytelling. Thank you for your support through sponsorships, subscribing, listening, and becoming a Patreon member at⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon.com/HiddenTrueCrime⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A preacher’s wife found dead in a North Carolina swamp was quickly ruled a suicide—but the story never sat right. As new federal charges are unsealed, disturbing allegations of cyberstalking, coercive control, tracking devices, and intimidation are forcing fresh scrutiny of Mica Miller’s final months and her marriage to Pastor John Paul Miller. With an FBI indictment now in play, civil lawsuits surfacing, and long-ignored warnings coming into focus, this case is shifting from quiet tragedy to a reckoning many believed would never come. About Hidden True Crime What started as a simple conversation at their dinner table became a captivating podcast. Join the dynamic duo of Dr. John Matthias, a criminal psychologist, and Lauren Matthias, an investigative journalist, as they delve into the psychological facets of unthinkable crimes every week. Their unique perspectives and in-depth analysis offer a fresh take on true crime storytelling. Thank you for your support through sponsorships, subscribing, listening, and becoming a Patreon member at⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon.com/HiddenTrueCrime⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dr. John is here to weigh in on the latest developments on the Melodee Buzzard case... What led Ashlee to take Melodee's life? Why do mothers kill? Sponsors: Get 50% off LifeMD’s Weight Management Program plus free shipping during their Holiday and New Year's Sale—get started at https://lifemd.com/HIDDEN. About Hidden True Crime What started as a simple conversation at their dinner table became a captivating podcast. Join the dynamic duo of Dr. John Matthias, a criminal psychologist, and Lauren Matthias, an investigative journalist, as they delve into the psychological facets of unthinkable crimes every week. Their unique perspectives and in-depth analysis offer a fresh take on true crime storytelling. Thank you for your support through sponsorships, subscribing, listening, and becoming a Patreon member at⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon.com/HiddenTrueCrime⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On December 23, 2025, we learned that Melodee Buzzard had been found deceased. This episode was recorded live and includes parts of the press conference and the heartbreaking details we learned regarding the murder of Melodee Buzzard. About Hidden True Crime What started as a simple conversation at their dinner table became a captivating podcast. Join the dynamic duo of Dr. John Matthias, a criminal psychologist, and Lauren Matthias, an investigative journalist, as they delve into the psychological facets of unthinkable crimes every week. Their unique perspectives and in-depth analysis offer a fresh take on true crime storytelling. Thank you for your support through sponsorships, subscribing, listening, and becoming a Patreon member at⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon.com/HiddenTrueCrime⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

New developments in the Reiner case are forcing a far more complicated conversation. Emerging details about a schizophrenia diagnosis, recent medication changes, escalating addiction, and growing fear inside the home suggest this tragedy may have been unfolding in plain sight. From disturbing warnings at a Hollywood Christmas party to a system that couldn’t intervene before it was too late, this episode examines how missed red flags, severe mental illness, and parental desperation collided with devastating consequences—raising questions that are as emotional as they are legal, and reshaping how this case may ultimately be understood. Sponsor: Get 50% off LifeMD's Weight Management Program plus free shipping during their Holiday and New Year's Sale—get started at https://lifemd.com/HIDDEN About Hidden True Crime What started as a simple conversation at their dinner table became a captivating podcast. Join the dynamic duo of Dr. John Matthias, a criminal psychologist, and Lauren Matthias, an investigative journalist, as they delve into the psychological facets of unthinkable crimes every week. Their unique perspectives and in-depth analysis offer a fresh take on true crime storytelling. Thank you for your support through sponsorships, subscribing, listening, and becoming a Patreon member at⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon.com/HiddenTrueCrime⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dr. John is here to analyze the case of Rob and Michele Singer Reiner. Sponsor: Aura Frames: Exclusive $35 off Carver Mat at https://on.auraframes.com/HIDDEN Promo Code HIDDEN About Hidden True Crime What started as a simple conversation at their dinner table became a captivating podcast. Join the dynamic duo of Dr. John Matthias, a criminal psychologist, and Lauren Matthias, an investigative journalist, as they delve into the psychological facets of unthinkable crimes every week. Their unique perspectives and in-depth analysis offer a fresh take on true crime storytelling. Thank you for your support through sponsorships, subscribing, listening, and becoming a Patreon member at⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon.com/HiddenTrueCrime⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nick Reiner’s first court appearance lasted only minutes, but it raised far more questions than it answered. As new details emerge about his mental state, suicide watch status, and behavior in the days before his parents were killed, a troubling picture is coming into focus. This episode explores the Christmas party his parents didn’t want to attend without him, how their daughter Romy was alerted after a massage therapist couldn’t access the home, and why investigators are still withholding key details. With first-degree murder charges and the death penalty on the table, this case may be about far more than a single night. Sponsor Tovala: For a limited time, save up to $300 on the Tovala smart oven when you order meals 6+ times, by visiting Tovala.com/HIDDEN and using code HIDDEN. About Hidden True Crime What started as a simple conversation at their dinner table became a captivating podcast. Join the dynamic duo of Dr. John Matthias, a criminal psychologist, and Lauren Matthias, an investigative journalist, as they delve into the psychological facets of unthinkable crimes every week. Their unique perspectives and in-depth analysis offer a fresh take on true crime storytelling. Thank you for your support through sponsorships, subscribing, listening, and becoming a Patreon member at⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon.com/HiddenTrueCrime⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As first-degree murder charges are filed in the Reiner case, new reporting is complicating the timeline. A missed massage appointment, dinner plans that abruptly vanished, and the moment their daughter Romy was alerted something was wrong all raise new questions about when the killings occurred—and what the family may have known. With special circumstances alleged and the possibility of the death penalty looming, this case is only becoming more complex. About Hidden True Crime What started as a simple conversation at their dinner table became a captivating podcast. Join the dynamic duo of Dr. John Matthias, a criminal psychologist, and Lauren Matthias, an investigative journalist, as they delve into the psychological facets of unthinkable crimes every week. Their unique perspectives and in-depth analysis offer a fresh take on true crime storytelling. Thank you for your support through sponsorships, subscribing, listening, and becoming a Patreon member at⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon.com/HiddenTrueCrime⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ New York Times Article: https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/12/16/us/rob-michele-reiner-death-investigation Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

About Hidden True Crime What started as a simple conversation at their dinner table became a captivating podcast. Join the dynamic duo of Dr. John Matthias, a criminal psychologist, and Lauren Matthias, an investigative journalist, as they delve into the psychological facets of unthinkable crimes every week. Their unique perspectives and in-depth analysis offer a fresh take on true crime storytelling. Thank you for your support through sponsorships, subscribing, listening, and becoming a Patreon member at⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon.com/HiddenTrueCrime⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices