This episode is rated a 5 (on my Serious Crime Scale). After a night of birthday celebrations and heavy drinking, three friends stumbled back to a tiny high-rise apartment just outside of Washington, D.C. But within just a few hours, one of them would be dead, while the other two would have no memory of what happened, or how. Listen now to hear the full story. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/campus-crime-chronicles/exclusive-content Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This episode is rated a 5 (on my Serious Crime Scale). Imagine losing your father from a heart attack when you’re only 11 years old; losing your stepfather from an apparent suicide a few years later at 16, and then waking up in the hospital at 20 years old, only to be told that you were poisoned by the one person you trusted most in the world. While this might sound like the plot of the next horror film to hit theaters, it was a terrifying reality for college student Ashley Wallace. Listen now to hear the full story. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/campus-crime-chronicles/exclusive-content Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Introducing Campus Crime News! On the morning of Monday, Sept. 15, 2025, the body of a Black male was found hanging from a tree on the campus of Delta State University near the pickle ball courts. At a press conference later that same day, the student was identified as 21-year-old Demartravion “Trey” Reed from Grenada, Mississippi. Listen now to hear the full story. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/campus-crime-chronicles/exclusive-content Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This episode is rated a 5 (on my Serious Crime Scale). In February of 1980, Katherine Foster, an 18-year-old freshman attending the University of South Alabama in Mobile, was found shot to death in a wooded area next to campus. For nearly three decades, her case went unsolved until a new piece of evidence – a confession letter from the killer – busted the case wide open and a suspect was finally arrested in 2008 and later convicted in 2010. Listen now to hear the full story. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/campus-crime-chronicles/exclusive-content Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This episode is rated a 5 (on my Serious Crime Scale). In the summer of 2012, 24-year-old nursing student Megan Sharpton was standing at the edge of a bright future. Just months away from graduation, she was eager to step into the career that she had always wanted – one where she could care for others and put her compassion to work as a nurse. So, when the chance for a potential job interview came along, she leapt at the opportunity to jumpstart her career. But instead of opening the door to the life she had worked so hard for, that so-called “opportunity” led her somewhere far darker. What awaited her was not a new beginning – it was a terrifying tragedy. Listen now to hear the full story. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/campus-crime-chronicles/exclusive-content Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This episode is rated a 5 (on my Serious Crime Scale). On the night of May 11, 2019, three friends met for what was supposed to be a relaxed evening by the pool and hot tub — laughing, drinking, and soaking in the music. But by daybreak on Mother’s Day, May 12, two of them were dead. And the only survivor, had a story that would raise more questions than answers. Listen now to hear the full story. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/campus-crime-chronicles/exclusive-content Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This episode is rated a 5 (on my Serious Crime Scale). In the spring of 2017, Timothy Piazza was like many college sophomores — eager to find his place, to build lasting friendships, and to be part of something bigger than himself. At just 19 years old, he had his sights set on Beta Theta Pi, one of the most respected fraternities at Pennsylvania State University. To Tim, pledging meant brotherhood — an unbreakable, lifelong bond with men who would have his back. But what he couldn’t see was the danger lurking beneath the surface. Behind the promises of tradition and unity was a brutal culture of hazing, one that didn’t just test loyalty — it pushed young men to the edge of what their bodies and spirits could endure. For some, like Tim, the price would prove far too high. Listen now to hear the full story. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/campus-crime-chronicles/exclusive-content Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This episode is rated a 5 (on my Serious Crime Scale). In the spring of 2017, Timothy Piazza was like many college sophomores — eager to find his place, to build lasting friendships, and to be part of something bigger than himself. At just 19 years old, he had his sights set on Beta Theta Pi, one of the most respected fraternities at Pennsylvania State University. To Tim, pledging meant brotherhood — an unbreakable, lifelong bond with men who would have his back. But what he couldn’t see was the danger lurking beneath the surface. Behind the promises of tradition and unity was a brutal culture of hazing, one that didn’t just test loyalty — it pushed young men to the edge of what their bodies and spirits could endure. For some, like Tim, the price would prove far too high. Listen now to hear the full story. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/campus-crime-chronicles/exclusive-content Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This episode is rated a 5 (on my Serious Crime Scale). In the spring of 2017, Timothy Piazza was like many college sophomores — eager to find his place, to build lasting friendships, and to be part of something bigger than himself. At just 19 years old, he had his sights set on Beta Theta Pi, one of the most respected fraternities at Pennsylvania State University. To Tim, pledging meant brotherhood — an unbreakable, lifelong bond with men who would have his back. But what he couldn’t see was the danger lurking beneath the surface. Behind the promises of tradition and unity was a brutal culture of hazing, one that didn’t just test loyalty — it pushed young men to the edge of what their bodies and spirits could endure. For some, like Tim, the price would prove far too high. Listen now to hear the full story. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/campus-crime-chronicles/exclusive-content Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This episode is rated a 5 (on my Serious Crime Scale). Brandy Stevens-Rosine was a bright 20-year-old college student with a passion for understanding human behavior. Studying psychology and sociology at Youngstown State University in 2012, she was driven by the question: Why do people do what they do? But Brandy would never get the chance to answer that question for herself. That spring, Brandy was lured into the woods by someone she once trusted, only to be ambushed, beaten, strangled, and then buried in a pre-dug shallow grave while she was still breathing. Listen now to hear the full story. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/campus-crime-chronicles/exclusive-content Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This episode is rated a 5 (on my Serious Crime Scale). It was supposed to be routine — just another custody handoff between two parents in rural Madison County, Tennessee. Tyeasha Starks, a bright young student at Austin Peay State University, had done this before. She was there to pick up her 1-year-old son. But what happened next would shatter everything. A heated argument. A gunshot. And then, sheer chaos. In broad daylight, in front of her child’s grandparents’ home, Tyeasha was gunned down. The shooter? Known. The method? Recorded. The time? Documented to the second in a chilling audio file. And yet… there’s been no arrest. No trial. No justice. And, the perpetrator is not hiding. He’s simply living his life, in another state, untouched. Listen now to hear the full story. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/campus-crime-chronicles/exclusive-content Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This episode is rated a 5 (on my Serious Crime Scale). In June 2017, Yingying Zhang — a 26-year-old Ph.D. student and visiting scholar from China — vanished after being seen at a campus bus stop at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. What followed was a heartbreaking search, a chilling investigation, and a devastating truth – that Yinying Zhang was no longer alive. While a suspect was identified and convicted, Yingying’s body has never been found, and her final resting place still remains a controversial mystery. Listen now to hear the full story. To Donate to Yingying's Fund, click here: https://payment.giving.illinois.edu/yingying-s-fund Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/campus-crime-chronicles/exclusive-content Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Hey y’all — quick heads up, I’m taking a little break this week. BUT, I didn’t want to leave you hanging with no episode at all. So today, I’m re-airing a story that originally ran back in 2022. It’s Chronicle 40, titled “From Friend to Foe.” Now, I didn’t just pick this one at random — there’s a specific reason I wanted to bring it back. There’s actually been a new development in this case in 2025, and I’ll be sharing that update at the very end of this episode. So definitely stick around for that. Now, with that, this episode is rated a 5. It’s the heartbreaking story of Alexis Crawford — a 21-year-old student at Clark Atlanta University with a bright future ahead of her. She considered her college roommate one of her best friends. But tragically, that same roommate — Jordyn Jones — along with Jones’ then-boyfriend Barron Brantley, would be responsible for ending Alexis’s life. Listen now to hear the full story. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/campus-crime-chronicles/exclusive-content Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Today’s episode is rated a 3 (on my Serious Crime Scale). With March Madness still somewhat fresh in our minds and brackets either busted or celebrated, I figured it was the perfect time to explore a different kind of madness – one that doesn’t involve murder, but still raises serious questions about integrity, pressure, and the high-stakes world of college basketball. In 1994, Stevin “Hedake” Smith was the star point guard at Arizona State University and the leading returning scorer in the Pac-10. But off the court, he was buried in gambling debt. His way out? A dangerous gamble of his own – fixing games in one of the biggest point-shaving scandals in NCAA history. Listen now to hear the full story. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/campus-crime-chronicles/exclusive-content Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This episode is rated a 5 (on my Serious Crime Scale). It was a warm summer night in July 2016 when 23-year-old Kaylee Sawyer crossed paths with a public safety officer from Central Oregon Community College. A simple offer for a ride – something meant to ensure safety – became the start of a nightmare. What happened next was a fight for survival that ended in tragedy. Listen now to hear the full story. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/campus-crime-chronicles/exclusive-content Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This episode is rated a 5 (on my Serious Crime Scale). Now, as you can probably tell from the title on your screen, this is an UPDATE to a previous episode I covered about a year ago, back in March 2024. That episode, Chronicle 72, was titled “Suspension Sparks Murder.” In that episode, I told you the chilling story of Sydney Powell, a college student at the University of Mount Union in Ohio. After being placed on academic suspension for poor grades, Sydney's defense claimed she suffered a psychotic break, which led her to brutally attack and kill her mother, Brenda Powell. But prosecutors argued—and successfully proved in Sydney's September 2023 trial—that she was fully aware of her actions when she beat her mother with an iron skillet and stabbed her roughly 30 times with a steak knife. The jury ultimately found her guilty of murder, and a judge sentenced Sydney Powell, then 23 years old, to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 15 years. Now, you might think that would be the end of the story—a conviction, a sentence, and justice served. But as we know, court cases rarely end there. Appeals are a huge part of the process, and in December 2024, an Ohio appeals court made a surprising move: they REVERSED Sydney Powell’s conviction for her mother’s 2020 murder. Today, I’m bringing you Part 2 of this update in a mini episode, where I will share all the details about the shocking development and where the case stands now, in 2025. Listen now to hear the full story. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/campus-crime-chronicles/exclusive-content Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This episode is rated a 5 (on my Serious Crime Scale). It is an UPDATE to a previous episode from March 2024. That was Chronicle 72: “Suspension Sparks Murder.” In that episode, I told you the chilling story of Sydney Powell, a college student at the University of Mount Union in Ohio. After being placed on academic suspension for poor grades, Sydney's defense claimed she suffered a psychotic break, which led her to brutally attack and kill her mother, Brenda Powell. But prosecutors argued—and successfully proved in Sydney's September 2023 trial—that she was fully aware of her actions when she beat her mother with an iron skillet and stabbed her nearly 30 times with a steak knife. The jury ultimately found her guilty of murder, and a judge sentenced Sydney Powell, then 23 years old, to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 15 years. You might think that would be the end of the story—a conviction, a sentence, and justice served. But as we know, court cases rarely end there. Appeals are a huge part of the process, and in December 2024, an Ohio appeals court made a surprising move: they REVERSED Sydney Powell’s conviction for her mother’s 2020 murder. I’ve got all the details about that shocking development and where the case stands today coming up next week, on Monday, March 24. But before we get to that bombshell update, I wanted to make sure you’re fully caught up on the case. So today, I’m re-releasing the original episode from March 2024. Listen now to hear the full story. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/campus-crime-chronicles/exclusive-content Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Today’s episode is rated a 2 on our Serious Crime Scale—but stick with me, because that scale is a little unconventional this time. While this story leans more toward human interest, the case at its center—the one that made national headlines—would have easily been rated a 5. That’s because today, we’re diving into the incredible story of a college student who used genetic genealogy to crack a decades-old cold case. It’s a fascinating look at the power of advanced DNA technology and the real impact it can have in solving crimes. Listen now to hear the full story. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/campus-crime-chronicles/exclusive-content Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This episode is rated a 5. It was December 2007 when 21-year-old Marshall University student Leah Hickman vanished without a trace in Huntington, West Virginia. As her family and friends desperately searched the city, police launched an investigation into her mysterious disappearance. But one week later, the search came to a devastating end – Leah’s body was discovered hidden in a crawl space beneath her apartment building. Nearly two decades later, her killer remains unknown, and justice has yet to be served. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/campus-crime-chronicles/exclusive-content Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This episode is rated a 5 (on my Serious Crime Scale). You may remember hearing something in the media from back in August of 2016 about a college student who attacked and killed a Florida couple in their garage. And, when police arrived to the scene, they found the student literally eating one of the victim’s faces. Now, at the time, there was a massive media frenzy that suggested the student, 19-year-old Austin Harrouff, had been high on bath salts or some other hallucinogenic drug that resulted in the bizarre, zombie-like attack. But y’all, there is SO much more to the story than that. Listen now to dive into it. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/campus-crime-chronicles/exclusive-content Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy