AFTERTHOUGHTS: Ashley Elkins

19-year-old Aniah Blanchard disappeared after a late-night stop just minutes from home in Auburn, Alabama. What followed was a multi-agency search that uncovered violence, raised serious questions, and led to the arrest of a man who never should have been free. In 2026, that man was convicted in connection to her death. Aniah’s story is one of loss, accountability, and the lasting impact that led to the creation of Aniah’s Law. SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS Shopify Visit Shopify.com.com/girlgone Kikoff Visit getkikoff.com/girlgone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Afterthoughts, we’re unpacking the disappearance of Ashley Elkins. From the moment that stood out in hindsight to the timeline that doesn’t quite add up, we’re talking through the details that stayed with us after the episode , and the questions that still remain. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ashley Elkins was a mother of two who left her home one morning and never returned. In the days that followed, her family searched for answers as the details surrounding her disappearance raised more questions than clarity. As the investigation unfolded, it would point toward someone close to her — but Ashley has never been found. SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS Shopify www.Shopify.com/GirlGone EarnIn Download the EarnIn App in the App Store or Google Play Bilt www.Bilt.com/GirlGone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In February 2015, 29-year-old Samantha Dean, 6 months pregnant was found shot to death inside her car in Bastrop County, Texas. As investigators searched for answers, what first appeared to be a staged crime scene began to reveal a far more disturbing truth. The investigation would uncover a murder-for-hire plot involving burner phones, multiple conspirators, and the father of Samantha’s unborn child. SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS BetterHelp Visit BetterHelp.com/girlgone for 10% Off Your First Month Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In December 1984, fourteen-year-old Gloria Pointer left her Cleveland home to walk to school. She never made it. Later that morning, Gloria was found at the bottom of a fire escape staircase. An investigation began immediately, and over the years, multiple suspects were considered. But it would take nearly three decades and advances in DNA technology for the truth to finally come to light. SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS Shopify Visit Shopify.com/girlgone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After nearly 30 years, the murder of Robin Lawrence was finally solved through DNA and a chilling confession. In this Afterthoughts episode, we unpack the randomness of the crime, the lack of remorse shown by her killer, and what this case means for the many families still waiting for answers in cold cases. Because justice may be delayed but sometimes, it still arrives. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 1994, 37-year-old Robin Lawrence was brutally murdered inside her Virginia home while her two-year-old daughter remained inside. For nearly three decades, the case went unsolved until advances in forensic genealogy led detectives to an unexpected suspect and a chilling confession. After 30 years of silence, Robin’s case was finally solved. SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS HelloFresh HelloFresh.com/girlgone10fm BILT JoinBilt.com/girlgone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In honor of Black History Month, we’re revisiting the story of Alberta Jones — Louisville’s first Black woman prosecutor and a civil rights trailblazer. On August 4, 1965, Alberta left her home after a late-night phone call. Hours later, her body was found floating in the Ohio River. The investigation was marked by conflicting timelines, missing evidence, and suspects who were never charged. Decades later, police claimed they knew who was responsible — but said they couldn’t prosecute. Sixty years later, Alberta Jones’ murder remains unsolved. Her story deserves to be remembered. SUPPORT OUR SPONOR EARNIN Download today in the Apple App Store or Google Play Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this Afterthoughts conversation, we talk through what stayed with us after telling Carmen Sanders’ story. We reflect on the details that mattered most, the warning signs that were easy to miss in real time, and how proximity and familiarity played a role in what happened. This isn’t a rehash of the case. It’s a space to sit with the unanswered emotional weight, the choices Carmen was preparing to make, and the larger questions her story raises about access, trust, and safety especially when danger doesn’t come from the outside. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In January 2010, Carmen Sanders, a twenty-two-year-old woman living in Ridgeland, Mississippi, was murdered inside her apartment. The investigation moved quickly, resulting in an arrest, formal charges, and a guilty plea that led to a life sentence. Carmen’s story is told through the life she was living before her death a young woman balancing work, school, and plans to move forward and the circumstances that allowed violence to occur in a space that appeared ordinary and familiar. This Episode Was Sponsored By BetterHelp Go To BetterHelp.com/girlgone for 10% off Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices