This will be the Criminal Discourse Podcast’s final episode. It has been a journey and we want to thank everyone who took the time to listen in, give us feedback, and reach out with their connections to the stories we covered. Wendi and I’s focus has always been to bring our audience well-researched episodes that honor the victims and their families. We hope we have done just that. Thank you all for spending your time with us. Remember to be safe, watch out for o...

Cara Rintala was a woman whose life seemed like any other, a devoted wife, loving mother, and respected paramedic. But behind closed doors, tensions simmered within her marriage to her wife, Annamarie Cochrane Rintala. On the evening of March 29, 2010, police responded to a 911 call from a neighbor of the Rinatals, only to discover Annamarie's lifeless body at the foot of the basement stairs, the victim of a brutal homicide. Years of legal proceedings, including two highly publicized mistrial...

Can secrets buried within a small town and the heart of a seemingly ordinary family lead to a haunting mystery that lingers for decades? Join us as we navigate the twisted tale of Kathy Heckel, a Pennsylvania mother whose 1991 disappearance from Lock Haven left a void in her family and perplexed investigators for years. This episode peels back the layers of Kathy's life, revealing a suspected affair, enigmatic financial transactions, and the unnerving lack of physical evidence that would baff...

Could your trusted local minister harbor a secret life of malevolence? This episode peels back the veneer of piety surrounding Arthur Burton Schirmer, the "sinister minister," exposing a trail of untimely deaths including those of his two wives and a troubled congregant. As we share the heart-wrenching narratives of those affected by these tragedies, we also spotlight the relentless pursuit of truth by the families and law enforcement that eventually cast a glaring light on Shermer's sh...

The last years of Christina Sanoubane’s short life were filled with violence and ended in tragedy. She was brutally murdered just days after moving into a new apartment with her toddler-aged son, seeking a fresh start. In her final days, Christina encountered three men who shared a history of violence against women. One was convicted of her murder, but a hasty investigation has left his guilt up for debate. Is Christina’s killer in prison where he belongs, or did the real perpetrator get away...

Certain cases stand out for the way they impact those who knew the victim along with those investigating their demise. This case is no different. When a bright light is extinguished all too soon, all that is left are questions. The hope is that those questions can be answered quickly but when they are not, those answers and justice may seem out of reach. Time and technology were the hope for the family of Sarah Yarborough but just how long would they have to wait?

As we piece together the life and untimely passing of Dr. Teleka Patrick, a story emerges that challenges our understanding of the intersection of mental health, online personas, and real-world consequences. The enigma of Teleka's existence, from a high-achieving psychiatrist to a woman ensnared by her own mind's illusions, casts a haunting light on the secrets we keep and the facades we maintain. Our journey through her world uncovers a labyrinth of tweets to an elusive love, the unheeded wa...

In this episode, we will look into the twisted tale of a woman who got away with her first murder, almost got away with her second, and failed to complete her third. This woman from the outside looked like an unlucky mother of two whose two husbands died far too young and whose daughter tried to commit suicide. Betrayal, deception, and ultimately murder were the hallmarks of the Black Widow’s calling card.

DNA evidence can crack even the coldest, hardest-to-convict cases, including the 1998 murder of 13-year-old Christina Williams. Investigators suspected just one man from the beginning, but it wasn’t until 2017 that they finally had enough evidence – through a DNA match – to make an arrest. Charles Holifield is a repeat sex offender with links to more assaults, disappearances, and murders that are still unsolved. Although there may be no such thing as “closure” after losing someone...

In this episode, we will delve into a budding serial killer's dark and twisted world. We will unravel the sinister tale of Tim Boczkowski, a man whose charisma masked a malevolence that claimed the lives of not one, but two innocent victims. As we examine the evidence, motives, and the web of deceit meticulously woven by Tim Boczkowski, we confront the unnerving question: How does a man harbor such darkness beneath a veneer of normalcy?

We’ve made it to the third and final episode diving deep into toddler Corey Edkin’s disappearance and other related cases. People who have been interviewed in recent years about Corey’s case say they were also asked about individuals connected to the 1986 murder of Rickey Wolfe and the 1989 disappearance and presumed murder of Barbara Miller. Join us as we wrap up this fascinating & multi-layered case.

Join us for part two as we bring our timeline to the present day, following the developments in Corey’s cold case and the suspicious coincidences and charges that continue to pile up around his family members. That will include the unsolved homicide of his mother’s future boyfriend and his grandmother’s conviction for poisoning her third husband. More twists and turns to come!

Two-year-old Corey Edkin disappeared from his central Pennsylvania home in October 1986 and is still missing. His grandmother, Myrle Rovenolt, was accused of poisoning his grandfather two months later, and this past summer she was sentenced to life in prison for the poisoning death of her third husband. Corey and Myrle have connections to three other local cold cases – two homicides, and one disappearance presumed homicide – and that’s why we’re diving into the first of three episodes c...

Join us as we journey into the heart of Midwestern America, where the echoes of a chilling crime reverberated for decades. In this episode, we delve into the haunting mystery surrounding the life and tragic death of 18-year-old Michelle Martinko, a vibrant young woman whose promising future was brutally extinguished six days before Christmas in 1979. As we unravel the threads of this perplexing case, we'll explore the enigma of Michelle herself—her dreams, her passions, and the pr...

What would you do if your family member went missing and the police wouldn’t help you find them? Andre Daigle’s family reached out to a psychic medium for help, and her visions led them straight to Andre’s murderers. She even ended up testifying at trial, helping Andre’s family secure justice and preventing his killers from continuing their criminal plans.

Listen to part two of our Halloween month spotlight on The Toolbox Killers; Lawrence Bittaker and Roy Norris. One of their trials made true crime history in the state of California. Make sure to check it out.

In this installment, we delve into one of the most horrifying and infamous cases: the gruesome tale of the Toolbox Killers. Join us as we explore the harrowing story of Lawrence Bittaker and Roy Norris, an evil duo whose reign of terror in the late 1970s sent shockwaves through Southern California and beyond. We will step back in time to explore the background and motivations of these killers, and the horrifying details of their crimes so listener discretion is advised.

Laureen Rahn’s disappearance has puzzled anyone investigating it for more than four decades. With each new piece of information, there are only more questions. Did she run away? Was she abducted or trafficked? Is her case connected to other missing local women or her serial killer neighbor? In this episode, we’ll examine all the mysterious clues and theories, hopefully drawing us closer to a resolution.

In this episode, we turn our attention to the haunting case of the Newman family murders, a tragic event that rocked the city of Anchorage, Alaska in March 1987. Join us as we journey back to uncover the unsettling details surrounding this heinous crime. As we navigate through the evidence, witness testimonies, and tireless law enforcement efforts, we will piece together the puzzle surrounding the murders of wife and mother Nancy Newman and her two young daughters Melissa an...

In June 2009, Martinsburg, West Virginia lost a beloved resident to domestic violence, an all too common occurrence in the United States and abroad. And for an all too common reason: Donald Surber couldn’t accept that his girlfriend, Kathy Sharp, had ended their relationship. Today's episode examines Kathy’s case, how it impacted her community, how her killer was punished, and the roles of victim protection and violence prevention.