A five-year-old’s world narrowed to a locked closet, bread for dinner, and hours facing a corner while adults traded excuses. We unpack the forensic interviews that finally put words to what was happening inside the home, then follow a trail of witness statements from family, coworkers, and school staff that reveal how the truth leaked out—tied to a bed “so adults could sleep,” a drowning story that doesn’t align, and a pattern of minimization that let a crisis become a catastrophe.

We talk through what the brothers shared with detectives, why their accounts align with dates and routines, and how one child’s hesitation turned to heartbreak when he learned his sister had died. From Ryan’s mother’s warnings months earlier to the grandmother’s contradictory admissions about duct tape and “protein,” the picture that emerges is both intimate and systemic. The details are tough; they should be. Abuse often hides behind euphemisms like “time-out,” and it survives when bystanders convince themselves a child is just “hyper” or “on a special diet.”

Then we step back and look at the system: repeated calls to DCS, expedited closures, and visits that reportedly failed to verify the one child in danger. Policy meant to streamline cases can turn into a blindfold when workers don’t lay eyes on the named child. We explore what accountability can mean now—across the courts, within the family, and throughout a community that’s rightfully furious—and what prevention must look like if we want a different outcome next time.

If this conversation moved you, share the episode with someone who needs to hear it, tap follow so you don’t miss updates on the trials, and leave a review with your thoughts on what should change first. Your voice can push this story toward real accountability.

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Disclaimer: All defendants are INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY in a court of law. All facts are alleged until a conviction!

A five-year-old weighed twenty-one pounds, her hair crawling with lice, her world reduced to a closet blocked by a dresser. We trace how a child’s life narrowed to that small space—and how the adults around her layered lies, delay, and denial over obvious danger.

We walk you through the full timeline: the delayed 911 call, the shifting claims about a father who hadn’t seen the children, and the last-hours visit from child services that missed a hidden room. Inside the home, investigators found tiny handprints on the closet door, a stale peanut butter sandwich on the floor, and empty Ensure bottles nearby. The mother’s story fractures under the weight of evidence; she admits to routine confinement, “one small meal a day,” and a fear of losing her other children that outweighed the risk to Kinsley. The boyfriend describes cleaning piles of feces, threatening to call 911, then doing nothing that changed the outcome. Family members float a drowning story that collapses when the autopsy shows malnutrition and almost no stomach contents.

Along the way, we examine the systemic gaps: repeated DCS contacts, school concerns about lice and attendance, and a house visit hours before Kinsley died. We ask hard questions about complicity, bystander responsibility, and what real accountability looks like when neglect is prolonged and visible. This conversation is unflinching and detail-rich, grounded in affidavits, search warrants, interviews, and medical findings. It’s not just a true crime story—it’s a call to recognize the warning signs early, to act decisively when a child’s safety is uncertain, and to build systems that don’t depend on luck to save a life.

If this moved you, share the episode, leave a review, and hit follow so you don’t miss part two as we continue to pursue answers and accountability.

Visit Rosie's Posy for all your farmstead, sourdough and flower needs at 6082 E. Hadley Rd. , Moorseville, Indiana. 

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Disclaimer: All defendants are INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY in a court of law. All facts are alleged until a conviction!

A trusted mentor. Four phones. Hundreds of messages. We trace how a robotics “helper” turned access into leverage and mentorship into control, grooming a 17-year-old through flattery, secrecy, and fear. The story unfolds in stages: off-campus meetups, gas station weed, a house visit that became a crime scene, and a flight to a rural hideout where deputies later seized devices and a firearm. What emerges through texts, diary entries, and an interview is a pattern that experts recognize: minimize boundaries, isolate the target, reframe coercion as care, and blame “primal nature” when caught.

We walk through the timeline from the first contact to delayed disclosure, explaining why many survivors need time to speak and how Indiana’s mandatory reporting laws apply to any adult who learns of abuse. The seized digital evidence matters: workstations, hard drives, a tablet, and messaging apps that enable secrecy. In his own words, the accused admits attraction to younger people, claims he can control urges, and insists age is “a legal problem,” not a moral one. Those statements aren’t slips—they’re a window into intent, entitlement, and the rationalizations that let grooming thrive in plain sight.

This conversation isn’t just about one case; it’s a checklist for prevention. We unpack school oversight failures, credential gaps, and the need for bright-line boundaries: no private texting between staff and students, two-adult supervision rules, transparent communication channels, and third‑party audits. For families, we share practical steps: monitor secondary apps, set exit phrases for unsafe situations, and debrief after any one-on-one mentorship. And to survivors: your voice matters, your timing is valid, and corroboration is possible.

Hear the full breakdown, then help us push for safer schools and stronger accountability. If this episode moved you, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a review so others can find it. Your support helps us keep the lights on and the stories coming.

Visit Rosie's Posy for all your farmstead, sourdough and flower needs at 6082 E. Hadley Rd. , Moorseville, Indiana. 

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Disclaimer: All defendants are INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY in a court of law. All facts are alleged until a conviction!

A simple traffic stop cracked open a far more unsettling story. We start with a warrant, a BMW X5, and a baggie that tested positive for cocaine—but the real revelations unfold through a chain of search warrants, IP logs, Amazon receipts, and devices pulled from a condo that point to harassment, nonconsensual recording, and calculated online impersonation. We walk through how fake Instagram accounts pushed intimate videos to the victim’s contacts, how detectives traced activity back to a Verizon home internet account, and how a forensic sweep uncovered a likely hidden-camera setup, a taped-over GoPro, and a closet bag packed with lock picks, AirTags, night vision, a fake badge, and more.

Along the way, we unpack the legal and human stakes: why “my house, my footage” fails when consent is absent, how revenge porn laws and protective orders intersect, and why prosecutors often enhance charges when drugs and firearms appear together. We also explore the platform side—how quick-burn sockpuppet accounts evade detection, what IP and device metadata can prove, and where Meta, Apple, and Google records become pivotal evidence. The iCloud trove matters here, including videos the victim says she never consented to and screenshots of her social graph that suggest a deliberate plan to maximize harm.

We then consider allegations from the workplace: late-night messages, missing wages, and attempts to access restricted sorority floors tied to a cleaning contract. Those claims, if true, fit the broader pattern of control and proximity. Our aim is clarity and caution: practical steps for digital safety, from recognizing clone profiles and unexpected AirTags to documenting harassment in ways that help investigators build a case. If you care about consent, privacy, and the way technology can be twisted to intimidate, this story offers a clear, sobering map of how abuse escalates—and how careful documentation can fight back.

If this resonated, follow the show, share it with a friend who needs the awareness, and leave a review so others can find it. Want to support our work and keep new episodes coming? Join us at patreon.com/69South.

Visit Rosie's Posy for all your farmstead, sourdough and flower needs at 6082 E. Hadley Rd. , Moorseville, Indiana. 

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Disclaimer: All defendants are INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY in a court of law. All facts are alleged until a conviction!

Blue lights cut through the dark on KY-80, a state trooper lies 18 feet from his cruiser, and the questions haven’t stopped for 35 years. We revisit the life and final shift of Kentucky State Trooper Johnny Edrington, retracing the timeline from Post 11 to a fateful U-turn after a speeding pickup and the moments that vanished in between. With eyewitness accounts, a stolen light-colored Ford truck, and scene details that don’t add up, we unpack a case that sits between homicide, suicide, and something that looks a lot like a cover-up.

We start with who Johnny was—a hometown helper turned trooper, newly married and expecting—then follow the late-night radar run, the trucker’s statement, and the discovery of a right-handed officer found with his .357 in his left hand. We interrogate rumors that refuse to die: lapsed insurance, disconnected phones, and a staggering tax debt. Using Kentucky law, pay stub logic, and an earlier disciplinary case, we show why those claims wobble under pressure. Along the way, we examine the role of the Phelps brothers, the weight of small-town grudges during bootlegging and marijuana crackdowns, and how gossip can bury truth.

The serial killer thread adds heat: Robert Foley lived about two miles from the scene and offered shifting stories that investigators largely dismissed. Is he a misdirect or a missing key? We break down the forensics, including world-renowned pathologist Dr. Vincent DiMaio’s homicide conclusion, and consider what modern testing—touch DNA on the revolver and vehicle surfaces—could still reveal. Most of all, we push for sunlight: redacted files released, evidence reexamined, and rumors replaced by facts. Press play to walk the road, weigh the theories, and help us move this cold case toward clarity.

If this story matters to you, share the episode, leave a review, and tell us your theory—homicide, suicide, or something else entirely?

Visit Rosie's Posy for all your farmstead, sourdough and flower needs at 6082 E. Hadley Rd. , Moorseville, Indiana. 

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Disclaimer: All defendants are INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY in a court of law. All facts are alleged until a conviction!

The predatory saga of former teacher Brittany Fortenberry takes another disturbing turn as we examine shocking new allegations from a third victim. What began as innocent visits to a friend's "aunt's" house quickly spiraled into a calculated pattern of exploitation that parents never suspected.

Through exclusive analysis of the latest probable cause affidavit, we uncover how Fortenberry allegedly groomed this teenage boy beginning at age 14. The victim describes a methodical progression of boundary violations—from providing marijuana and psychedelic mushrooms to escalating physical contact, ultimately leading to sexual encounters in her garage while other students were kept distracted elsewhere in the home. Most disturbing are the details about Fortenberry's creation of a sexualized environment with explicit materials readily accessible to minors visiting her home.

We dive deep into the digital aspects of this case, particularly how Snapchat's disappearing message feature allowed Fortenberry to send explicit content with minimal evidence trail. As parents ourselves, we share genuine concerns about how modern technology can enable predatory behavior, making this case a crucial wake-up call for any parent with teenagers. The victim's statement that Fortenberry was "handing it out to everybody and anybody" suggests this case may continue expanding as the investigation proceeds.

The discussion explores not just the criminal aspects but the psychological damage inflicted when trusted authority figures exploit their positions. With new charges added including sexual misconduct with a minor, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, and dissemination of harmful material to minors, this case represents a devastating breach of professional ethics and basic human decency.

Subscribe to Podcast 69 South for continued updates on this developing case, and support our independent journalism at patreon.com/69South as we keep digging into stories that matter to our community.

Visit Rosie's Posy for all your farmstead, sourdough and flower needs at 6082 E. Hadley Rd. , Moorseville, Indiana. 

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Disclaimer: All defendants are INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY in a court of law. All facts are alleged until a conviction!

The digital shadows we cast can sometimes conceal our darkest impulses - but what happens when the monster behind the screen is the very person sworn to protect you?

In the tiny Michigan town of Bill City (population 312), 13-year-old Lauren received her first anonymous text message during a Halloween party. "Owen is breaking up with you," it claimed, referring to her boyfriend. What began as seemingly typical teenage drama quickly spiraled into a 15-month nightmare of relentless psychological torture. The unknown texter bombarded Lauren with up to 40 messages daily, calling her an "anorexic toddler," commanding her to "kill herself," and attempting to destroy her relationship.

The texting intensified around social events, showcasing intimate knowledge of Lauren's whereabouts and activities. Even after the teenage couple broke up under the pressure, the harassment continued, shifting to target Owen's new girlfriend. Parents contacted police, school officials held meetings, and the FBI was eventually called in. The entire community became consumed with speculation about who could harbor such hatred toward these teenagers.

When digital forensics finally traced the messages through sophisticated VPN networks to their source, no one was prepared for the truth. The tormentor wasn't a jealous classmate or online predator - it was Lauren's own mother, Kendra Lacari. The same woman who coached Lauren's basketball team, comforted her after receiving the texts, and actively participated in the investigation was creating the very trauma she pretended to help solve.

Psychological experts suggest Kendra's behavior aligns with "Munchausen by Internet," where someone creates crises to position themselves as heroes. While financial troubles and job loss may have contributed to her mental state, the calculated cruelty of her actions - including attempts to frame another student and explicit encouragement for the teens to engage in sexual activities - reveals something profoundly disturbing about the potential for betrayal from those we trust most.

Despite everything, Lauren showed remarkable resilience, continuing her education and becoming a standout athlete who now studies criminology in college. Her story reminds us that while technology can be weaponized in unimaginable ways, the human spirit can withstand even the most intimate betrayals.

If you've experienced cyberbullying or digital harassment, remember that help is available, and you deserve support no matter who the perpetrator might be.

Visit Rosie's Posy for all your farmstead, sourdough and flower needs at 6082 E. Hadley Rd. , Moorseville, Indiana. 

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Disclaimer: All defendants are INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY in a court of law. All facts are alleged until a conviction!

What happens when every system meant to protect a child fails at once? Five-year-old Zara Arnold's story answers this question in the most devastating way possible.

Zachary Arnold's violent history was no secret. With multiple arrests for violating protective orders, stalking charges, and even a rape accusation, he was a walking red flag. Yet somehow, the courts kept setting him free with minimal consequences, reducing his bonds from $200,000 to just $4,000, and dismissing serious felony charges in favor of misdemeanor pleas.

Meanwhile, Zara's mother Tiara fought a desperate battle to protect her daughter. She documented bruises, reported incidents to DCS, and even captured video evidence of Zachary grabbing Zara by the neck in public. Her reward? A family court judge who not only granted Zachary full custody but ordered Tiara to stop reporting abuse altogether, dismissing her legitimate fears as "paranoia."

The final days of Zara's life reveal a horror story of escalating violence. Hotel employees witnessed and reported Zachary choking Zara in a parking lot, but police never responded. Digital evidence would later show videos of Zachary placing a noose around his daughter's neck and strangling her repeatedly – all while his girlfriend Andrea watched via video calls without intervening.

By the time authorities found Zara's body on May 19, 2025, she had endured unimaginable suffering. The autopsy revealed blunt force trauma to her head, extensive bruising across her body, and evidence of repeated strangulation. At five years old, she weighed just 39 pounds.

This case exposes catastrophic failures at every level – from law enforcement to child protective services to family courts. It forces us to confront uncomfortable questions about how we handle domestic violence cases, particularly when children's lives hang in the balance.

Zara's story reminds us why we must speak up when we see something wrong. The system might fail, but perhaps we don't have to. Listen, share, and remember: your vigilance could save the next child that institutions overlook.

Visit Rosie's Posy for all your farmstead, sourdough and flower needs at 6082 E. Hadley Rd. , Moorseville, Indiana. 

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Disclaimer: All defendants are INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY in a court of law. All facts are alleged until a conviction!

A disturbing pattern of institutional failure at Mooresville Christian Academy has finally come to light with the arrest of Jacob Wessel, a former robotics teacher now facing multiple charges involving minors. For years, school administrators ignored glaring red flags while Wessel allegedly groomed and victimized students right under their noses.

The earliest documented incident dates back to 2021, when Wessel reportedly showed pornography to a 12-year-old student while driving him to a soccer game. Despite the student immediately reporting this to his mother (who worked at the school), administrators allegedly swept it under the rug. Afterward, Wessel began calling the boy a "snitch" in front of classmates – clear evidence that school principal Bruce Peters had spoken to Wessel about the allegations without taking any meaningful action.

Throughout 2022, concerned parents documented multiple disturbing incidents: female students sitting on Wessel's lap during technology class, uncomfortable interactions in hallways, and other boundary violations. Each time, Peters and the school board dismissed these reports as "harmful hearsay and gossip," gaslighting parents who were desperately trying to protect their children.

What makes this case particularly infuriating is the revelation of an "unwritten rule" within Mooresville schools that mandated staff report abuse concerns to administrators rather than directly to authorities as required by law. This created a filter where school officials could decide what warranted reporting – potentially violating mandatory reporting laws and endangering countless children.

When Wessel was finally terminated in December 2024 after texting a 13-year-old student, Peters sent an email to the entire school community praising him as "a wonderful employee" and bizarrely stating, "these types of things happen, and I speak from experience." After charges were filed in May 2025, Wessel went on the run for months before being arrested in August after barricading himself in an Indianapolis home.

As we await Wessel's November hearing, this case serves as a stark reminder of what happens when institutions prioritize their reputation over children's safety. If you've witnessed or experienced abuse, remember: you don't have to report to school administrators first – go directly to police or child protective services. Your voice matters, and speaking up could prevent others from suffering the same fate.

Visit Rosie's Posy for all your farmstead, sourdough and flower needs at 6082 E. Hadley Rd. , Moorseville, Indiana. 

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Disclaimer: All defendants are INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY in a court of law. All facts are alleged until a conviction!

What drives someone to risk everything for the darkest of compulsions? In this gripping episode, we dive into the disturbing case of Christopher Cooley, a Mooresville man who couldn't stop his predatory behavior even while out on bond for child exploitation charges.

The digital breadcrumbs tell a chilling story. Despite pretrial release restrictions, Cooley acquired burner phones, created fake accounts, and attempted to cover his tracks with technological tricks that ultimately failed. When Detective Henson of the IMPD Internet Crimes Against Children Unit received a report from a sex worker who'd been sent child pornography and offered $1,000 to bring a child for sexual services, it launched an investigation that revealed just how deeply entrenched these behaviors can become.

What's particularly disturbing isn't just Cooley's repeated offenses, but his escalation. From viewing to potentially facilitating hands-on abuse, his internet searches for content involving "mother rape," "infant," and even a browser game simulating child abduction paint a picture of someone whose compulsions were spiraling dangerously out of control. During his confession, Cooley admitted his attraction to infants and detailed how he sought out the darkest corners of the web to feed his addiction.

We also explore the troubling phenomenon of enablers – specifically Cooley's girlfriend who publicly defended him, calling his behavior merely a "slip-up" while insisting he had changed after just four months. Her contradictory statements about her own children's contact with Cooley raised serious safety concerns that we couldn't ignore.

This case forces us to confront uncomfortable questions: Can monsters truly change? Why do some individuals risk everything to continue behavior they know is wrong? And what does it say about our society when these predators find defenders even after confessing to the most disturbing of attractions?

Subscribe, share, and join our Patreon at patreon.com/69south to support our ongoing efforts to expose those who prey on the most vulnerable.

Visit Rosie's Posy for all your farmstead, sourdough and flower needs at 6082 E. Hadley Rd. , Moorseville, Indiana. 

Support the show

Disclaimer: All defendants are INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY in a court of law. All facts are alleged until a conviction!