Burden of Proof

After escaping her abusive first marriage, Heather thought she finally found her happily ever after with her second husband, John. Unfortunately, her ex-husband, Ronald Samuels, continued to use his money and power to abuse her through a bitter custody and child support battle. Heather warned the Family Court Judge that there was something far more sinister than missing child support payments going on, but the Judge simply threatened Ron with contempt and suspended his visitation with their children. This only fueled Ron's hatred for Heather and put her in more danger.

Listen along as Elysia shares this harrowing story of a man who thought he could get away with murder and the woman who survived to not only tell the tale, but help other victims of domestic violence.

Follow up on social media to let us know if you agree with Savannah's thoughts on Ron's appearance and accent! Find us on Instagram and Facebook!

 

Sources:

The Puppetmaster – Someone They Knew with Tamron Hall

 

https://www.courttv.com/trials/fl-v-samuels-2006/

 

https://caselaw.findlaw.com/court/fl-district-court-of-appeal/1094137.html

 

https://www.azfamily.com/2023/03/08/arizona-woman-shares-domestic-violence-experience-after-ex-husband-hired-hitman-kill-her/

 

http://www.friendsofheathergrossman.com/

 

https://www.gofundme.com/f/paralyzed-in-paradise

 

https://www.amazon.com/Paralyzed-Paradise-Heather-Grossman/dp/1720128545/ref=sr_1_1

 

 

 

 

 

Music By:

https://www.fesliyanstudios.com/royalty-free-music/download/shady-business/2181

Celeste Beard's life was far from perfect, but that’s no excuse for her heinous actions. She seemed to have a knack for getting others to believe that her own ghastly behavior was the result of her own abuse.

Join us on the second part of Celeste's journey as Savannah shares the lengths Celeste went to for money and freedom. Meanwhile, Elysia shares the good and the bad of being overly aware of narcissistic behavior. 

 

Join the conversation! Find us on Instagram and Facebook!

 

 

Sources: 

https://www.oxygen.com/snapped/true-crime-buzz/first-episode-of-snapped-where-is-celeste-beard-johnson-nowhttps://open.spotify.com/episode/7f0CiFMw0ZjGTgYAmrhFCL?si=65Ey8KrOTWCHp0N4TBRrFw

https://open.spotify.com/episode/1BOsgkXVRkVyzI4qC6XCpA?si=HuR_OL70QEaB0nxogScWyw

https://abcnews.go.com/amp/US/alleged-love-triangle-turn-deadly-wife-center-millionaire/story?id=93120519

https://caselaw.findlaw.com/tx-court-of-appeals/1175149.html

https://www.oxygen.com/snapped/true-crime-buzz/first-episode-of-snapped-where-is-celeste-beard-johnson-now

Snapped, episode One 

 

Music By:

https://www.fesliyanstudios.com/royalty-free-music/download/shady-business/2181

Celeste Beard's life was far from perfect growing up but no one really understands why she would do the things she did. It's possible her mother was abusive, at least for a time. Though, it's not her mother that she accused of abuse. Throughout her life she went on to make several abuse and/or sexual assault allegations toward different men. She seemed to have a knack for getting others to believe that her own ghastly and abusive behavior was the result of these allegations. Unfortunately, some of those believers paid terrible consequences.

Join us on the first part of Celeste's journey as Savannah shares what is known about her childhood, her many marriages, and her love of committing fraud. Meanwhile, Elysia fights to find words in the face of all the audacity. 

 

Join the conversation! Find us on Instagram and Facebook!

 

 

 

Sources: 

https://www.oxygen.com/snapped/true-crime-buzz/first-episode-of-snapped-where-is-celeste-beard-johnson-nowhttps://open.spotify.com/episode/7f0CiFMw0ZjGTgYAmrhFCL?si=65Ey8KrOTWCHp0N4TBRrFw

https://open.spotify.com/episode/1BOsgkXVRkVyzI4qC6XCpA?si=HuR_OL70QEaB0nxogScWyw

https://abcnews.go.com/amp/US/alleged-love-triangle-turn-deadly-wife-center-millionaire/story?id=93120519

https://caselaw.findlaw.com/tx-court-of-appeals/1175149.html

https://www.oxygen.com/snapped/true-crime-buzz/first-episode-of-snapped-where-is-celeste-beard-johnson-now

Snapped, episode One 

 

Music By:

https://www.fesliyanstudios.com/royalty-free-music/download/shady-business/2181

When Mark Wangler's wife, Kathy, dies from carbon monoxide poisoning, he tells investigators he believes it was the faulty water heater. There was just one issue. The water heater and every other appliance and fireplace in the home seemed to be in working order. 

Tune in as Elysia deep dives into this complicated case of marital woes, pilot lights, unusual soot markings, and a questionable 911 call. Meanwhile, Savannah questions both state and defense evidence and discusses how she will haunt her fiance. 

 

Join the conversation! Find us on Instagram and Facebook!

 

Sources:

Dateline: Season 19, Episode 74 Deadly Exposure

 

https://casetext.com/case/state-v-wangler

 

https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCOURTS-ohnd-3_13-cv-02598/pdf/USCOURTS-ohnd-3_13-cv-02598-0.pdf

 

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ohio-killers-son-wife-continue-innocence-crusade/

 

 

 

 

 

Music By:

https://www.fesliyanstudios.com/royalty-free-music/download/shady-business/2181

They say money changes everything. It certainly did for 19 year old Sarah Stern. After Sarah's mother passed away and she found a stash of "old" cash, two of her closest friendships took a very dark turn. Despite the appearance of being life long close friends, Liam McAstney and Preston Taylor conspired as to how they would get Sarah's money for themselves. 

Tune in as Savannah shares this unbelievable tale of betrayal including clips of Liam's confession. Meanwhile, Elysia passionately defends Sarah's dog and finds humor in her own worst prom date story. Spoiler, Preston turned out to be worse.

 

Join the conversation! Find us on Instagram and Facebook!

 

Sources:

https://www.distractify.com/p/liam-mcatasney-family-twin#:~:text=Here's%20an%20overview%20of%20the,who%20helped%20clinch%20the%20conviction.&text=Liam%20McAtasney%20grew%20up%20in,twin%20brother%20Seamus%2C%20and%20sister.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6761397/amp/Filmmaker-details-secretly-recorded-friend-confessing-murder-Sarah-Stern.html

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shark_River_Inlet#:~:text=Despite%20its%20name%2C%20sharks%20swimming,shark%20teeth%20commonly%20found%20upstream.

https://abc7ny.com/amp/sarah-stern-liam-mcatasney-trial-murder/5355987/

https://medium.com/crimebeat/from-best-friends-to-murder-the-case-of-sarah-stern-f10999a1902f

https://www.nj.com/monmouth/2023/02/friend-who-killed-sarah-stern-dumped-body-from-jersey-shore-bridge-has-appeal-rejected.html?outputType=amp

https://abcnews.go.com/amp/US/liam-mcatasney-sentenced-life-parole-murdering-friend-sarah/story?id=63869375

https://thelinknews.net/2017/02/02/two-men-charged-in-death-of-missing-teen/

https://youtu.be/taTGZcInpDw

https://youtu.be/t6XhPwotjcQ

 

 

Music By:

https://www.fesliyanstudios.com/royalty-free-music/download/shady-business/2181

The Nesler family story starts like so many others. Ellie Nesler sent son to a trusted church youth camp one summer. Month's later when Ellie finds out that a previously convicted pedophile who was working at the camp had sexually assaulted her son, she did what any mother would do. She notified the police. Unfortunately, it took well over two years for the man to face justice. It's then that Ellie changes the ending.

Tune in as Elysia explains Ellie's downward spiral and her final act in an attempt to end her family's nightmare. Meanwhile, Savannah throws tomatoes at the court and scolds Elysia for the aftermath.

 

Join the conversation! Find us on Instagram and Facebook!

 

Sources:

https://law.justia.com/cases/california/supreme-court/4th/16/561.html

 

https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-obit-nesler-122908-2008dec29-story.html

 

https://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-nesler30-2008dec30-story.html

 

https://www.oprah.com/oprahshow/how-far-would-you-go-to-protect-your-child_1

 

https://www.oprah.com/oprahshow/how-child-molestation-tore-the-nesler-family-apart/all

 

https://www.oprah.com/oprahshow/nesler-family-timeline

 

https://www.denverpost.com/2008/12/29/ellie-nesler-killed-sons-accused-molester-in-courtroom-shooting/

 

https://www.upi.com/Archives/1993/04/08/Evaluation-paints-portrait-of-man-killed-in-courtroom/7421734241600/

 

https://rarefilmm.com/2020/02/judgement-day-the-ellie-nesler-story-1999/

 

Ellie Nesler Killed her son's molester in Jamestown court

 

 

 

Music By:

https://www.fesliyanstudios.com/royalty-free-music/download/shady-business/2181

This week Savannah ventures way out of her comfort zone to give you all the details of Taylor Schabusiness and her crimes against Shad Thyrion, her former boyfriend. After Shad's mother found his head in a bucket at the bottom of her basement steps, police immediately found Taylor who was presumably the last person to see him alive. Taylor was literally caught red handed!

Tune in to hear Savannah deep dive into all the gory details including what drove this woman to commit such atrocities as murders and changing her name to Schabusiness. For fun, you can create a game around how many times Elysia says "Oh my God!" or "Schabusiness!". 

 

Join the conversation! Find us on Instagram and Facebook!

 

Sources:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/423UisBKCJJWajgMeAEDY3?si=B7IPqIYZSau63QPOt0kgDA

https://nypost.com/2023/07/27/taylor-schabusiness-guilty-of-kiling-lover-abusing-corpse/amp/

https://nypost.com/2023/07/26/taylor-schabusiness-describes-allegedly-dismembering-abusing-lovers-body/

https://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/story/news/2022/03/04/what-we-know-green-bay-decapitation-taylor-schabusiness-shad-thyrion/9363885002/

https://heavy.com/news/taylor-schabusiness-husband-warren-family/amp/

https://www.wearegreenbay.com/news/local-news/updates-from-the-courtroom-everything-that-happened-on-day-1-of-taylor-schabusinesss-trial/amp/

https://www.scribd.com/document/646744221/Schabusiness-Motion-to-Suppress

https://www.distractify.com/p/why-did-taylor-schabusiness-attack-her-attorney

https://www.sportskeeda.com/amp/pop-culture/news-what-happened-taylor-schabusiness-mom-brother-real-last-name-family-wake-father-s-trial-testimony

 

 

Music By:

https://www.fesliyanstudios.com/royalty-free-music/download/shady-business/2181

**********WARNING: This case includes extra sensitive material including a child victim, sexual assault, and addiction**********

 

Join us for this listener requested case that has left us reeling! On Super Bowl Sunday of 2004, 11 year old Carlie Brucia made the grave mistake of walking home alone from a friend's house. Her mom, Susan, and stepfather, Steve, immediately began looking for her but it was too late. Just minutes after leaving her friend's house, Carlie was approached and grabbed by a stranger. Find out how detectives catch the murderer, why he thought he could escape the death penalty, and the terrible aftermath as Elysia walks us through this tragic story and Savannah hates every word so much she can't sit still. 

 

Join the conversation! Find us on Instagram and Facebook!

 

Sources:

https://www.investigationdiscovery.com/video/see-no-evil-investigation-discovery/come-home-carlie

 

https://caselaw.findlaw.com/court/fl-supreme-court/1504427.html

 

https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/109/hr3107

 

https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/2013/05/29/murder-victims-mother-arrested-near-nokomis-park/29178835007/

 

https://people.com/crime/mom-carlie-brucia-florida-girl-killed-in-high-profile-2004-case-dies-suspected-drug-overdose/

 

https://www.mysuncoast.com/2021/07/26/convicted-killer-carlie-brucia-dies-prison/

 

 

 

Music By:

https://www.fesliyanstudios.com/royalty-free-music/download/shady-business/2181

When we left Captain John Orr in Part 1, he was just about to become the ATF's number one suspect in the Pillow Pyro arson cases. Hold on because the story is far from over! Elysia spills all the tea about John's dream of being a published author, the last series of fires, and how his, not one, not two, but three trials went! Meanwhile Savannah discusses a couple more brief legal lessons and confesses her love for ambiance. 

 

Join the conversation! Find us on Instagram and Facebook!

 

Sources:

Burned: Pyromania, Murder, and a Daughter's Nightmare by Frank C. Girardot, Jr. and Lori Orr Kovach

 

https://www.aetv.com/real-crime/john-orr-arsonist-father-firefighter-murderer-family-lori-orr-kovach

 

https://murderpedia.org/male.O/o/orr-john-leonard.htm

 

https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/F3/29/636/480471/

 

https://www.oxygen.com/a-lie-to-die-for/crime-time/john-leonard-orr-serial-arsonist-unpublished-book-arrest/california

 

 

 

Music By:

https://www.fesliyanstudios.com/royalty-free-music/download/shady-business/2181

What comes to mind at the mention of fires in the L.A. area in the early 1990's? Eclipsed in the national news by things like police brutality, riots and the infamous OJ Simpson trial, The Pillow Pyro and the prolific string of arsons he committed is probably not the first thing that comes to mind. Tune in to find out how investigators began to suspect John Orr, an otherwise esteemed air force veteran and fire captain. Elysia walks us through John's early life, who he was as a family man, and the hunt for The Pillow Pyro as Savannah picks John out of a line up and discusses her love of certain mustached men.

 

Join the conversation! Find us on Instagram and Facebook!

 

Sources:

Burned: Pyromania, Murder, and a Daughter's Nightmare by Frank C. Girardot, Jr. and Lori Orr Kovach

 

https://www.aetv.com/real-crime/john-orr-arsonist-father-firefighter-murderer-family-lori-orr-kovach

 

https://murderpedia.org/male.O/o/orr-john-leonard.htm

 

https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/F3/29/636/480471/

 

https://www.oxygen.com/a-lie-to-die-for/crime-time/john-leonard-orr-serial-arsonist-unpublished-book-arrest/california

 

 

Music By:

https://www.fesliyanstudios.com/royalty-free-music/download/shady-business/2181