Tragedy - A True Crime Podcast

In this emotional and deeply personal episode of Tragedy: A True Crime Podcast, we sit down with Lori Williams, Krystle’s aunt, as she shares the painful reality of reliving trauma during the parole hearing process and the emotional toll that violent crime continues to have on surviving family members years later. Lori opens up about the challenges of navigating victim advocacy, the frustration many co-victims experience when...

In this special bonus episode of Tragedy: A True Crime Podcast, we reconnect with three guests from Season One to hear what's happened since they first shared their stories with us.

For many families affected by violent crime, missing loved ones, or an unsolved case, life doesn't simply move on when an episode ends. The search for answers, the fight for justice, and the daily reality of loss continue long after the public attention ...

In this emotional and deeply personal interview, Hannah Mosbrucker shares the lasting impact of losing her sister, Krystle Cook, and the painful reality of navigating life after tragedy. Hannah opens up about the nonprofit created in Krystle’s honor, the mission behind their advocacy work, and the ongoing fight to support victims’ families facing similar heartbreak.

She also discusses the emotional toll of the parole boa...

In Part 2 of the Krystle Cook story, we continue our powerful conversation with Lee Cook, Krystle’s father, as he shares the ongoing realities of navigating grief, the legal system, and the long road toward justice. Lee opens up about the emotional and financial toll families often face after tragedy, the frustrations and limitations within the court process, and how those experiences pushed his family to take action beyond t...

In this powerful introduction to our series on the case of Krystle Cook, we begin examining the heartbreaking realities surrounding her story — the challenges of victim advocacy, the frustrations families often face within the legal system, and the lasting emotional toll left behind after tragedy.

We also begin our two-part interview with Krystle’s father, as he shares his firsthand experience navigating grief, unanswere...

For years, LaTonya Thomas’s story has gone largely unheard. In this episode, we speak with her mother, Thomasene Butler, as she shares intimate details about her daughter’s life, the events surrounding the day she died, and the lasting emotional toll.

We also explore new updates in the case, including possible law enforcement involvement and growing efforts to bring long-overdue media attention to LaTonya’s story. ...

In this powerful interview, we sit down with Vicki Jenkins to uncover the woman behind the case. Vicki shares deeply personal stories of who LaTonya was, the days leading up to her death, and what she understands about the day everything changed.

Through firsthand accounts and lived experience, this episode sheds light on unanswered questions and the lasting impact LaTonya’s death has had on those who loved her.

Vicki also make...

In this deeply personal episode, we sit down with Crystal Newkirk—one of LaTonya’s closest friends—to hear a firsthand account of the days leading up to LaTonya’s death, the day everything changed, and the lasting impact left behind.

Crystal shares intimate details about LaTonya as a person—the friend she was, the life she lived, and the moments that now carry new weight in hindsight. Through her voice,...

LaTonya Thomas’s case is one that truly defines what it means to be underserved—and overlooked.

In this episode, we break down the facts uncovered through our FOIA request, examining the official records, timelines, and key details that paint a troubling picture. What we found raises serious questions about how this case was handled and why it was closed when so much remains unresolved.

We walk through what is known today...

In this episode, we sit down with Amanda Rowton, one of Hailey Athay’s closest friends, for a deeply personal and emotional conversation about who Hailey really is beyond the headlines.

Amanda shares what it was like to know Hailey as a friend—the kind of person she was, the memories they built together, and the bond they shared. But this story doesn’t stop at loss. It’s about what comes after.

Amanda opens up...

Ashley Griggs joins us to discuss the disappearance of her sister, Hailey Athay, and the details she believes matter most. From her perspective on the events of that day to the lingering questions that continue to haunt the case, Ashley provides a candid and emotional account. She also shares what it means to raise Hailey’s daughter in the absence of answers—and how that responsibility fuels her pursuit of truth. 

A...

Behind every missing persons case is something we don’t always talk about enough—grief.

In this episode, we speak with Nick Gaylord, host of Grief Is Not a Dirty Word, about why grief deserves a louder voice and how his podcast is helping break the stigma around it. He shares his journey into podcasting, what drives his mission, and why these conversations matter.

We also explore how grief impacts families, communities, a...

When someone goes missing, the world moves on—but families don’t.

In this episode, we speak with Nicole Brooks, the mother of Hailey Athay, who shares the reality of living in the unknown. Nicole walks us through the details she knows, the questions that still linger, and how Hailey’s disappearance has changed her life forever.

We also explore the importance of community support and advocacy in keeping cases like Ha...

For our 50th episode milestone, we sit down with Julia Cowley, a former profiler from the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Behavioral Analysis Unit and host of the podcast The Consult.

In this conversation, we reflect on our first experience meeting Julia and how her philosophy and approach to investigative work helped shape the focus and mission behind our own podcast. Julia shares insights from her time working inside the F...

In this episode of Tragedy: A True Crime Podcast, we speak with Shasta Ives, a close friend of Hailey Athay and a passionate advocate in the ongoing search for answers surrounding Hailey’s disappearance.

Hailey vanished while mushroom picking in Washington, and despite search efforts and years of unanswered questions, those closest to her have never stopped looking for the truth.

Shasta shares what Hailey was like as a person a...

Hailey Athay went into the woods for a simple day of mushroom picking — and never came home.

In this episode, we break down the known timeline of Hailey’s disappearance, the location where she was last seen, and the search efforts that followed. What should have been an ordinary outing turned into a haunting mystery that still demands answers.

We walk through the facts, the unanswered questions, and the challenges that ar...

In this special roundtable episode, we sit down with members of the Cold Case Collective to take a deep, collaborative look at the disappearance of Audrey Herron. Together, we walk through the known timeline, key details of the case, and the evidence that has shaped the investigation over the years.

This conversation explores the many theories surrounding Audrey’s disappearance, from the most widely discussed possibilities to ...

In this deeply personal episode, we speak with Mitzie Wilson, one of Audrey Herron’s closest friends. Mitzie takes us back to the days when Audrey wasn’t a missing person case — she was a mother, a friend, a presence in the room.

Mitzie shares intimate memories of their time together, what made Audrey unique, and the moments that now carry a different weight in hindsight. We discuss Audrey’s disappearance, th...

In this special short-format update, we bring you a focused five-minute briefing on several cases that continue to weigh heavily on families and communities: Jody Kilgore, Ian Rogers, Cody Haney, Johnathan Hagans, and Michael John Olson. We share the latest developments, where each case stands today, and what listeners need to know right now.

We are also joined by Jeanne Turk, stepmother of Audrey Herron and the person who reported ...