Cafecito & Crime

In the fall of 1994, 18-year-old Christa Pike believed she would be starting a new chapter, leaving behind a life of abuse. She appeared to be on the right path, studying nursing at the Job Corps Center in Knoxville, Tennessee. But meeting fellow student Tadaryl Shipp would lead her down a dark path that included a brutal murder.

Join us for today’s case to learn why Christa Pike is the only woman on death row in the state of Tennessee. Grab your coffee, and let’s get started.

You can keep up with us on Instagram at @cafecitoandcrimepod

Or you can send us a nice email to [email protected]

In late June 2011, recent college graduate Lauren Giddings was preparing for the biggest test of her academic career, the bar exam. After returning home to Macon, Georgia, from her younger sister's wedding, Lauren planned to focus solely on studying and shut out the outside world. However, after days of unanswered calls and texts, her family grew worried. After learning that her friends also hadn't heard from her, her family reported her missing to the police. 

As the investigation into Lauren's disappearance began, it wouldn't take long before investigators discovered Lauren's dismembered torso in the garbage at the apartment complex where she lived. And the killer was not far away. 

Join us for today's case to learn what happened to Lauren. So grab your cafecito and let's get started. 

You can keep up with us on Instagram at @cafecitoandcrimepod

Or you can send us a nice email to [email protected]

On September 20, 1983, 22-year-old Laurie Stout was working as a late-night office cleaner in Austin, TX. That night was like any other, except that this time, Laurie wouldn't make it back home to her one-year-old daughter and husband. As she performed her duties, she was ambushed from behind, sexually assaulted, and then strangled to death. Her body was found the following morning by a tenant in the restroom. 

As the investigation into Laurie's murder began, detectives believed they had the perfect suspect, her husband, Gary. But when evidence at the scene excluded Gary, it was time to shift their attention elsewhere. Suspect after suspect was cleared, and it would be years before advances in DNA testing finally provided a match to Laurie's killer. 

Join us for today's episode to learn what happened to Laurie Stout, and how her killer was finally apprehended. So, grab your cafecito, and let's get started.

You can keep up with us on Instagram at @cafecitoandcrimepod

Or you can send us a nice email to [email protected]

In today's episode, we cover Reddit stories! In our second episode, we tell four stories that consist of stalkers, being locked in a sauna, and owing a biker gang $260,000. 

So, join us for today's episode, grab your cafeicto, and let's get started. 

You can keep up with us on Instagram at @cafecitoandcrimepod

Or you can send us a nice email to [email protected]

In the very early hours of December 25, 1945, the Sodder family, which consisted of parents George and Jennie and their 10 children, was asleep in their beds when the home caught fire. Georgie, Jennie, and four of their children rushed out of the home, yelling for the other five to run out too, but they didn’t hear them rushing downstairs. Multiple attempts were made to rescue the children and get them to safety, but they were all unsuccessful.

When the fire department finally arrived, the home had burned down. As recovery efforts for the five children’s remains began, the Sodders were shocked to learn that there were none. Investigators claim all five children perished in the fire, though no remains have ever been found. 

Join us for today’s episode to learn what happened to the Sodder children and the theories that have circulated since the tragic fire in 1945. So, grab your cafecito, and let's get started. 

You can keep up with us on Instagram at @cafecitoandcrimepod

Or you can send us a nice email to [email protected]

What was supposed to be a regular winter day on February 7, 2015, turned out to be 69-year-old Ron Browning’s last day alive. His wife of just nine months, Rexanna, found it strange that he hadn’t contacted her all day, as she had spent it away from home with her family. When she made it home early evening, she stumbled across the most brutal scene with Ron lying on a massive pool of blood, dead. 

As the investigation into Ron’s murder begins, detectives have no leads pointing towards the killer, but it wouldn’t take long before a possible suspect emerges. However, the suspect raised more questions about why Ron was murdered, especially since the two had never met each other.  

Join us for today’s case to learn what happened to Ron and who killed him. So, grab your cafecito and let’s get started. 

You can keep up with us on Instagram at @cafecitoandcrimepod

Or you can send us a nice email to [email protected]

On July 15, 1976, school bus driver Ed Ray was driving a bus full of children home from a fun summer day trip to the pool. However, just after 4 pm, the unexpected happened that would change their lives forever. Three men with nylon stockings covering their faces and guns hijacked the bus, which carried children ranging from the ages of 5 to 14. The following 36 hours after the kidnapping were harrowing for everyone involved, but thankfully, Ed and the children were able to escape. As the investigation into who could have committed this type of crime began, it wouldn’t take long for law enforcement to narrow down its suspects. 

Join us for today’s case to learn what happened to Ed and the bus full of kids on that fateful day. So, grab your cafeito and let’s get started. 

You can keep up with us on Instagram at @cafecitoandcrimepod

Or you can send us a nice email to [email protected]

In this episode, we'll be trying out a new segment on the podcast where we will read crime-related, creepy, ominous stories from people who experienced them (supposedly). 

The first story is about a young woman who a friend almost killed because of a boy she had been obsessed with for years. The second is about another young woman who was picked up on the side of the road by someone trying to teach her a lesson for hitchhiking, but was he really? 

Join us for this new venture, so grab your cafecitos and let's get to it. 

You can keep up with us on Instagram at @cafecitoandcrimepod

Or you can send us a nice email to [email protected]

When 15-year-old Kirsten Costas left her home on the night of June 23, 1984, she was attending a secret initiation dinner for the Bobbies, a philanthropic school club. However, she soon found out that was not the case, when another member of the Bobbies picked her up to attend a party instead. The two girls made a stop at a church parking lot before heading there, but things soon took a turn which then caused Kirsten to walk to a nearby home and ask to use the phone to call her mom and pick her up. When no one answered, Kirsten was driven to a neighbor’s home instead, but before she reached the front door, she was attacked and killed. 

Join us for today’s to learn what happened to Kirsten Costas and how a regular night out turned into the last night of her life. So grab your cafecitos and let’s get started. 

You can keep up with us on Instagram at @cafecitoandcrimepod

Or you can send us a nice email to [email protected]

In July 2022, 20-year-old Jay Lee was living his life to the fullest. The popular University of Mississippi student was openly gay and well-liked in the LGBTQ+ community. But when Jay disappeared without a trace on July 8, it was believed to be due to his sexual orientation. As the investigation began, detectives found leads pointing to someone who didn’t want people to know he and Jay had some sort of relationship. 

Join us for today's case to learn what happened to Jay and who was responsible for his disappearance and murder. So, grab your cafecito and let's get started.

You can keep up with us on Instagram at @cafecitoandcrimepod

Or you can send us a nice email to [email protected]