Shannon Matthews | 232

When Jason Corbett lost his wife unexpectedly, he was left raising their two babies on his own.  Enter Molly Martens, a young American au pair who moved to Ireland to help out. Although Jason was her new boss, Molly couldn't help being attracted to him, and within weeks, he swept her off her feet... then all hell broke loose. What followed was a complicated investigation filled with bizarre discoveries and questions about what was really happening inside the Corbett home. And, sadly, the only people who could speak to it were Jasons own children. Research Assistance: Molly McGuigan Join our ⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠ Shop ⁠⁠merch⁠⁠ Follow us on socials: ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ ; ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ Sponsors: -Goodles: Goodles.com Available at Target, Walmart, and other retailers -IM8: IM8health.com/patw for a free Welcome Kit, 5 free travel sachets, and 10% off your order -KiwiCo: KiwiCo.com promo code WORST to get up to 50% off your first crate  -OSEA: Oseamalibu.com Use code THEWORST for 10% off your first order  -Quince: Quince.com/PATW for free shipping + 365-day returns -Ruggable: Ruggable.com Use code PATW for 10% off your first order -Shopify: Shopify.com/WORST for a $1/month trial -TaskRabbit: Taskrabbit.com Use code THEWORST for $15 off your first task -Zenni: Zenni.com/podcast use code PODCAST15 for 15% off your first order Click here for a full list of sponsors and discount codes A Time for Truth — Sarah LynchMy brother Jason by Tracey Lynch20/20: The Last Ones Standing48 Hours: In Jason's NameA Deadly American Marriage — NetflixMolly Martens: The Making of a Murderer — Irish Independent seriesELLE — linkPeople — linkLimerick Post — linkThe Irish Times — linkIreland Live / Limerick Live — linkEvening Herald — linkIrish Independent — link Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A bonus episode for all! We're recapping, reacting, and adding some insider insight to the latest Netflix documentary, Taken: Natalee Holloway.  If you're new here, Natalee's story is personal to us because we went to high school with her. Natalee's case is the one we're asked about the most and with the help of one of her best friends, Claire Fierman, we give our 2 cents (plus some). Natalee Holloway went on her senior trip in 2005 and never came back. While we all know who is responsible, it’s been over 21 years and her body has never been found A special thank you to two people who helped made this episode happen at a moment's notice: our producer, Jacob Hollabaugh and the GOAT, Claire Fierman (co-host of the podcast Before You Cut Bangs) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 2008, the town of Dewsbury was shaken after 9-year-old Shannon Matthews didn't return home from school. It was the coldest night of the year and she had never run away before. Shannon's mom, Karen Matthews, was struggling financially as a single mom, and when Shannon's kidnapping doesn't get the same attention as another missing young girl, Madeleine McCann, there is a huge conversation about social class. Finally after 24 days and the area's largest investigation since the Yorkshire Ripper, we get answers and they are even more shocking than you can imagine. Sources from this episode: Shannon: Betrayed from Birth by Rose Martin (book) The Guardian (multiple articles) The Independent (multiple articles) The Sun (multiple articles) BBC (multiple articles) Join our ⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠ Shop ⁠⁠merch⁠⁠ Follow us on socials: ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ ; ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ Sponsors: -Goodles: Goodles.com Available at Target, Walmart, and other retailers -KiwiCo: KiwiCo.com promo code WORST to get up to 50% off your first crate  -OSEA: Oseamalibu.com Use code THEWORST for 10% off your first order  -Quince: Quince.com/PATW for free shipping + 365-day returns -Ruggable: Ruggable.com Use code PATW for 10% off your first order -Shopify: Shopify.com/WORST for a $1/month trial -TaskRabbit: Taskrabbit.com Use code THEWORST for $15 off your first task -Zenni: Zenni.com/podcast use code PODCAST15 for 15% off your first order Click here for a full list of sponsors and discount codes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With the new Netflix documentary, Taken: Natalee Holloway, coming out this week, we've decided to re-release our series on Natalee's case. A few things to keep in mind: This was originally released in 2023 when we were still little baby podcasters and certainly had some things to figure out, so please don't judge our former selves too harshly if we sound a little cringey.  This was originally a 4 part series, but we're re-releasing it as one long episode. We've done our best to clean it up, but some transitions between the parts may sound abrupt. You may also hear references to the other parts but just ignore those—you're getting all of it in one episode, we promise!  Natalee's case is personal for us and is the one we are asked about most often. We're from the same hometown as Natalee and as two people who knew her, we wanted to bring a more personal perspective to this story. Natalee Holloway went on her senior trip in 2005 and never came back. While we all know who is responsible, it’s been over 21 years and her body has never been found Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Happy Halloween!! In honor of the holiday, we have two Halloween-themed AITW stories, and the theme? A prank gone too far and was the boyfriend's girl BFF sending a message with her costume? Lets find out! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In February 2000, 27-year-old Suzette Trouten packed up her belongings and moved from Michigan to Kansas City for a job opportunity. But just weeks after arriving, Suzette stopped calling. Her family continued receiving letters from her (even in her handwriting) but something wasn't adding up. As investigators did their thing, they uncovered a double life that lasted decades. And just when they thought had it all figured out, police and FBI made a discovery that would turn an entire family's world upside down. Research Assistance: Molly McGuigan  Join our ⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠ Shop ⁠⁠merch⁠⁠ Follow us on socials: ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ ; ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ Sponsors: -Goodles: Goodles.com Available at Target, Walmart, and other retailers -OSEA: Oseamalibu.com Use code THEWORST for 10% off your first order  -Quince: Quince.com/PATW for free shipping + 365-day returns -Ruggable: Ruggable.com Use code PATW for 10% off your first order -Shopify: Shopify.com/WORST for a $1/month trial -TaskRabbit: Taskrabbit.com Use code THEWORST for $15 off your first task -Zenni: Zenni.com/podcast use code PODCAST15 for 15% off your first order Click here for a full list of sponsors and discount codes Sources for this episode: Depraved: A True Story of a Sadistic Killer in the Heartland by John Glatt Vanity Fair — Link Crime Library  FBI: Criminal Pursuit Very Scary People: The Slave Master, Parts 1 & 2 20/20: Sole Survivor Cold Case Files: Sex, Lies & Murder ABC News — Link 1 | Link 2 | Link 3 Lawrence Journal-World — Link The Dark Side of Humanity — Link LegalClarity — Link Kansas Supreme Court — Link MoreLaw — Link Find a Grave Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On June 26, 2010, a woman walked into her friend Denise Merhi's house to get her car keys. The house was eerily quiet and when the woman called out, nobody answered. She found her keys, then found a horrific scene in the kitchen. After a very stressful few minutes, she then sees a shadow reflected on the wall. The killer was still in the house. What she didn't know was that the scene is much more horrific than she realized. It's what urban legends are made of: a mass murder and a message written on the wall in blood. Police knew Denise Merhi had been torn between two men: Michael Eric Ballard & Brian Miller. Did one of them do this? Research Assistance: Jim Rowley Join our ⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠ Shop ⁠⁠merch⁠⁠ Follow us on socials: ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ ; ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ Sponsors: -Goodles: Goodles.com Available at Target, Walmart, and other retailers -OSEA: Oseamalibu.com Use code THEWORST for 10% off your first order  -Quince: Quince.com/PATW for free shipping + 365-day returns -Ruggable: Ruggable.com Use code PATW for 10% off your first order -Shopify: Shopify.com/WORST for a $1/month trial -TaskRabbit: Taskrabbit.com Use code THEWORST for $15 off your first task -Zenni: Zenni.com/podcast use code PODCAST15 for 15% off your first order Click here for a full list of sponsors and discount codes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In September 1993, Donna Palomba woke up to a masked intruder standing in her bedroom. What follows is a terrifying attack that leaves her fearing for her life and the safety of her two children. But when she turns to the police for help, the investigation takes an unimaginable turn and Donna's the one being questioned.   Years later, a shocking new crime brings investigators the break they've been waiting for, and nothing could prepare them for what they uncovered. janedoenomore.org Research Assistance: Jim Rowley Join our ⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠ Shop ⁠⁠merch⁠⁠ Follow us on socials: ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ ; ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ Sponsors: -Goodles: Goodles.com Available at Target, Walmart, and other retailers -OSEA: Oseamalibu.com Use code THEWORST for 10% off your first order  -Quince: Quince.com/PATW for free shipping + 365-day returns -Ruggable: Ruggable.com Use code PATW for 10% off your first order -Shopify: Shopify.com/WORST for a $1/month trial -TaskRabbit: Taskrabbit.com Use code THEWORST for $15 off your first task -Zenni: Zenni.com/podcast use code PODCAST15 for 15% off your first order Click here for a full list of sponsors and discount codes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 2004, the decomposing body of a young woman was found at an abandoned house in Winnie, Texas. The woman didn't have any belongings with her: no phone, no ID, no wallet. The only clue as to who she is was a class ring on her finger. It indicated she graduated high school in 2003, making her roughly 19 years old. When they look inside the ring, they see a name inscribed: Courtney Coco. The only problem is: Courtney lived about 3 hours away in Alexandria, Louisiana and had no ties to Texas. How did she end up there? This would be the first of MANY bizarre discoveries and even though there are a ton of suspects, Courtney Coco's murder would go cold for 15 years until a badass named Woody Overton launches a podcast about it & solves it 7 weeks later... Research Assistance: Jim Rowley Join our ⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠ Shop ⁠⁠merch⁠⁠ Follow us on socials: ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ ; ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ Sponsors: -Goodles: Goodles.com Available at Target, Walmart, and other retailers -OSEA: Oseamalibu.com Use code THEWORST for 10% off your first order  -Quince: Quince.com/PATW for free shipping + 365-day returns -Ruggable: Ruggable.com Use code PATW for 10% off your first order -Shopify: Shopify.com/WORST for a $1/month trial -TaskRabbit: Taskrabbit.com Use code THEWORST for $15 off your first task -Zenni: Zenni.com/podcast use code PODCAST15 for 15% off your first order Click here for a full list of sponsors and discount codes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 1969, Liz Kendall was a newly divorced single mom who moved to Seattle with her bestfriend for a fresh start.  On her first night out she meets Rob Nelson at the Sandpiper Tavern and end up spending nearly a decade together. He's the kind of guy who gets up early to make scrambled eggs, runs around with the neighborhood kids, and literally brings a kitten back to life. According to her daughter, Molly, he was the last puzzle piece to their family.  Then women in their neighborhood start getting attacked and the cops are looking at everyone, including Rob, but eventually he's cleared. Liz was (obviously) relieved but did the police get it right? Or was the person sleeping next to her pure evil?  Stay until the end. Research Assistance: Molly McGuigan Join our ⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠ Shop ⁠⁠merch⁠⁠ Follow us on socials: ⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠ ; ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ Sponsors: -Goodles: Goodles.com Available at Target, Walmart, and other retailers -OSEA: Oseamalibu.com Use code THEWORST for 10% off your first order  -Quince: Quince.com/PATW for free shipping + 365-day returns -Ruggable: Ruggable.com Use code PATW for 10% off your first order -Shopify: Shopify.com/WORST for a $1/month trial -TaskRabbit: Taskrabbit.com Use code THEWORST for $15 off your first task -Zenni: Zenni.com/podcast use code PODCAST15 for 15% off your first order Click here for a full list of sponsors and discount codes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices