Episodes

  • Cathy Swartz

    Cathy Swartz
    Mar 23 2026
    #325 - When the body of a 19-year-old mother was discovered murdered inside her apartment in 1988, the residents of Three Rivers, Michigan, were shocked. But the brutal details of her murder weren’t the one thing that left people in the community on the edge. It was the fact that when the young mother’s body was discovered by her fiancé, the victim’s eight-month-old daughter was found still sleeping in her crib in the bedroom next door. But without any solid leads, the investigation quickly turned cold. And the victim’s family would have to wait over three decades and new advancements in forensic science technology to finally get justice. If you’d like to support the show and help fund research, production, and editing, you can do so with a small monthly contribution on Patreon. Patreon supporters get early access to ad-free episodes and exclusive bonus content. You can learn more at Patreon.com/ForensicTales. You can also watch Forensic Tales on YouTube. Just search Forensic Tales Podcast and be sure to subscribe. And if you enjoy the show, leaving a positive rating or review really helps others discover it. For a full list of sources used in this episode, visit ForensicTales.com. Thank you for listening. And I’ll see you next week. Until then… remember: not all stories have happy endings. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    49 mins
  • SPECIAL EPISODE: A Forensic Breakdown of the Kouri Richins Trial

    SPECIAL EPISODE: A Forensic Breakdown of the Kouri Richins Trial
    Mar 17 2026
    In March 2022, 39-year-old Eric Richins was found unresponsive in his Utah home. His death was initially believed to be the result of a fentanyl overdose, a tragic loss for his family. But what followed would shock investigators. Eric’s wife, Kouri Richins, later published a children’s book about grief, written to help her young sons cope with the sudden loss of their father. At first glance, it seemed like a story of heartbreak and healing. Until questions began to surface. As investigators dug deeper, the case took a dramatic turn, one that would ultimately lead to charges and a high-profile trial. In this special episode of Forensic Tales, we break down the trial from a forensic perspective, examining the toxicology findings, digital evidence, and key testimony presented in court. From the prosecution’s theory to the defense’s strategy, we walk through the most critical moments that shaped this case. What did the forensic evidence really reveal? And how did it influence the outcome of the trial? Forensic Tales is a Rockefeller Audio production. The show is written and produced by me, Courtney Fretwell. If you’d like to support the show and help fund research, production, and editing, you can do so with a small monthly contribution on Patreon. Patreon supporters get early access to ad-free episodes and exclusive bonus content. You can learn more at Patreon.com/ForensicTales. You can also watch Forensic Tales on YouTube. Just search Forensic Tales Podcast and be sure to subscribe. And if you enjoy the show, leaving a positive rating or review really helps others discover it. Remember...not all stories have happy endings. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    36 mins
  • Shirley Ramey

    Shirley Ramey
    Mar 16 2026
    #324 - It was supposed to be a normal night for 78-year-old Shirley Ramey and her husband of 57 years, Daryl, from Hope, Idaho. Daryl went to play cards with friends while Shirley stayed inside at their quiet home near the Canadian border. But when Daryl returned home that evening with a bacon cheeseburger she had asked for, he found the sliding glass door open and Shirley lying on the floor in a pool of blood. His wife of nearly six decades had been shot twice at close range. But just when the police thought they had everything figured out, the case went ice-cold. Who would want a 78-year-old wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother dead? Forensic Tales is a Rockefeller Audio production. The show is written & produced by Courtney Fretwell. If you’d like to support the show and help fund research, production, and editing, you can do so with a small monthly contribution on Patreon. Patreon supporters get early access to ad-free episodes and exclusive bonus content. You can learn more at Patreon.com/ForensicTales. Forensic Tales is now on YouTube. Be sure to subscribe for even more content. For a full list of sources used in this episode, visit ForensicTales.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    44 mins
  • Stella Nickell

    Stella Nickell
    Mar 9 2026
    #323 - In 1986, a Washington woman was convicted of intentionally killing two people with cyanide-laced extra-strength Excedrin capsules. One of the victims was her very own husband. The other was a complete stranger. Her conviction and 90-year prison sentence became the first under federal product tampering laws instituted after the 1982 Chicago Tylenol murders that killed at least 7 people. Is she a victim of a system that got it wrong during a time when people were paranoid of product tampering? Or is she guilty as charged? Forensic Tales is a Rockefeller Audio production. The show is written & produced by Courtney Fretwell. If you’d like to support the show and help fund research, production, and editing, you can do so with a small monthly contribution on Patreon. Patreon supporters get early access to ad-free episodes and exclusive bonus content. You can learn more at Patreon.com/ForensicTales. You can also watch Forensic Tales on YouTube. Just search Forensic Tales Podcast and be sure to subscribe. And if you enjoy the show, leaving a positive rating or review really helps others discover it. For a full list of sources used in this episode, visit ForensicTales.com. Until then… remember: not all stories have happy endings. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    39 mins
  • Melissa Lucio

    Melissa Lucio
    Mar 2 2026
    #322 - In 2007, two-year-old Mariah Alvarez was rushed to a hospital in Brownsville, Texas. She wasn’t breathing. Doctors were unable to revive her. Within hours, suspicion turned toward her mother, Melissa Lucio. After a lengthy interrogation, Melissa said four words that prosecutors would later present as a confession. She was charged with capital murder, convicted, and sentenced to death. But over the years, serious questions have been raised about the case from the forensic conclusions surrounding Mariah’s death, to the interrogation tactics used by investigators, to testimony the jury never heard. Forensic Tales is a Rockefeller Audio production. The show is written and produced by Courtney Fretwell. If you’d like to support the show and help fund research, production, and editing, you can do so with a small monthly contribution on Patreon. Patreon supporters get early access to ad-free episodes and exclusive bonus content. You can learn more at Patreon.com/ForensicTales. You can also watch Forensic Tales on YouTube. Just search Forensic Tales Podcast and be sure to subscribe. And if you enjoy the show, leaving a positive rating or review really helps others discover it. For a full list of sources used in this episode, visit ForensicTales.com. Remember... not all stories have happy endings. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    43 mins
  • Johnia Berry

    Johnia Berry
    Feb 23 2026
    #321 - In December 2004, 21-year-old Johnia Berry was attacked inside her Knoxville, Tennessee apartment. The crime scene raised more questions than answers. There were no clear signs of forced entry. The weapon came from inside the home. And despite the brutality of the attack, there was no obvious motive. Investigators initially focused on someone close to her, but forensic evidence would soon complicate that theory. A partial fingerprint. A single shoe print. And an unidentified DNA profile left behind at the scene. For years, the case seemed stalled. Then, an unexpected lead shifted the investigation in a new direction. In this episode of Forensic Tales, we examine the forensic evidence, the missteps, the turning points, and the lasting impact this case had on DNA laws in Tennessee. Because sometimes the science speaks clearly even when the “why” never does. Forensic Tales is a Rockefeller Audio production. The show is written and produced by Courtney Fretwell. If you'd like to support the show and gain access to exclusive content, early and ad-free episodes, please consider joining the show's Patreon. You can support the show for as low as $3/month. Subscribe to Forensic Tales on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen so you don't miss an episode. Also, be sure to follow us on YouTube. If you love the show, please leave a positive review or tell friends and family about us. For a complete list of sources used in this episode, visit our website. Remember... Not all stories have happy endings... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    38 mins
  • Fred Engel

    Fred Engel
    Feb 16 2026
    #320 - In 2008, a South Carolina man disappeared while checking his mail outside his home. His body was soon found in nearby woods, and an autopsy revealed he had been strangled to death. At first, the police had few suspects. But right before the case turned cold, investigators did something outside the box. They turned to cell phone forensics. Forensic Tales is a Rockefeller Audio production. The show is written and produced by Courtney Fretwell. If you'd like to support the show and get access to early, ad-free episodes, consider joining the show's Patreon page. You can support the show for as little as $3/month. For a complete list of sources used in this episode, please visit our website. Listen on YouTube: Search Forensic Tales and subscribe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    29 mins
  • SPECIAL UPDATE: Sentencing in the Au Pair Affair Case

    SPECIAL UPDATE: Sentencing in the Au Pair Affair Case
    Feb 14 2026
    BONUS UPDATE Yesterday, Juliana Peres Magalhães, the former au pair and key witness in the so-called “Au Pair Affair” murder trial, was sentenced. In this short follow-up episode of Forensic Tales, we recap the sentencing hearing, including the defense’s motion to exclude victim impact statements from Christine Banfield’s family, the judge’s ruling, and the final sentence handed down in connection with the death of Joseph Ryan. Juliana previously entered into a plea agreement and testified for the Commonwealth against Brendan Banfield, serving as the prosecution’s central witness in a case built heavily on digital forensic evidence and allegations of a calculated online setup. This episode breaks down what happened in court, what the sentence means, and how this development fits into the larger case. If you haven’t listened to our full trial recap, be sure to check out last week’s special episode for the complete breakdown. Forensic Tales is a Rockefeller audio production. The show is written and produced by Courtney Fretwell. If you'd like to support the show and get access to early, ad-free episodes, please consider joining the show's Patreon page. You can support the show for as low as $3/month. For more ways to listen and support, subscribe to Forensic Tales on YouTube. You can also leave the show a positive review or tell friends and family about the show. Remember... not all stories have happy endings. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    19 mins