Cafecito & Crime

When Yingying Zhang arrived in Illinois as a visiting scholar from China, she was filled with excitement, knowing that this opportunity would help advance her academic career. After arriving in late April 2017, she concentrated on her research and began to settle into a routine. However, what was meant to be a wonderful opportunity turned into an unimaginable tragedy. 

On June 9, after Yingying did not return to campus from lunch, her colleagues became concerned and reported her missing later that evening. Early in the investigation, police discovered that Yingying had been approached by a black vehicle while she was waiting for a bus. She was seen getting into the car and was never seen again. 

Join us for today's episode to learn what happened to Yingying Zhang, and who was responsible for her disappearance. So, grab your cafecito, and let's get started. 

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In the afternoon of January 13, 2010, 16-year-old twin sisters, Jasmiyah and Tasmiyah, ran out of their home and flagged down a passing police car. They informed the officer that their mother appeared to be dead. Inside the home, 34-year-old Nikkie appeared to have been the victim of a brutal attack and was, in fact, deceased. As the investigation into the murder began, there were a couple of strong suspects, but they were eventually ruled out. 

It wasn't until detectives began to look more closely into the history that Nikki had with her daughters that led them to believe that the girls knew more about what happened to their mothers than they were letting on. Join us for today's case to learn what really happened to Nikki Whitehead. So, grab your cafecito, and let's get started. 

You can keep up with us on Instagram at @cafecitoandcrimepod

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On Friday, May 11, 2007, the Haines family spent quality time together, having dinner and watching a movie before they all went to bed. What they were unaware of was that just hours later, 3 of its 4 members would be brutally killed. For weeks into the investigation, there were no leads or suspects, but then, out of seemingly nowhere, the killer confessed. 

Join us for today’s case to learn what happened to the Haines family and who was responsible for the murders. So, grab your cafecito, and let’s get started. 

Book - Refuse To Drown - by Tim Kreider and Shawn Smucker 

You can keep up with us on Instagram at @cafecitoandcrimepod

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On February 24, 2020, 911 dispatch received a call from 42-year-old Sarah Boone informing them that her boyfriend was dead and that she needed help. When officers arrived at the scene, they had no idea what they were about to walk into. Not only was 42-year-old Jorge Torres dead, but he had died due to being left inside a suitcase after the couple decided to play hide and seek. During the investigation, Sarah claimed that it was an accident, but when forensic investigators searched her phone, they found videos stating just the opposite. 

Join us for today's case to learn what truly happened to Jorge that night. 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]

When 41-year-old chef Joe Vuli didn't show up for work on Monday, April 6, 2004, his business partner and nephew, Marash Gojcaj, wasn't too concerned. His uncle, Joe, tended to take a breather when things got too hectic at their restaurant, Gusto. After a couple of days of not hearing from Joe, he was reported missing by Marash and Joe's brother on April 8. The investigation into his disappearance began immediately, but it would take weeks before Joe was found. 

On April 24, a group of cleaning volunteers came across a back trash bag in a wooded area. Inside the bag were human remains, which were later identified as those of Joe Vuli. 

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

You can keep up with us on Instagram at @cafecitoandcrimepod

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On the night of October 5, 1997, 14-year-old Lauren Barry and 16-year-old Nichole Collins planned to walk to a party around 9 pm. Since the girls came from small, safe towns, they didn’t believe they were in danger. Sadly, that was the last night they were seen alive by their friends and family. After the girls didn’t show up the next morning, a large search began, but it yielded no results. Weeks went by with no credible leads until eventually, investigators received information that pointed them in the right direction, leading to the girls’ killers, and learning about the suffering they endured before their deaths. 

Join us for today’s episode to learn about what happened to Lauren and Nichole. So, grab your cafecito and let’s get started. 

You can keep up with us on Instagram at @cafecitoandcrimepod

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When a couple of young women, Christine Vu and Wendie Prestcott, who lived in the same apartment complex, were sexually assaulted and killed at the end of 1996, fear gripped the Arlington, Texas community. Despite investigators finding physical evidence at the crime scenes, the killer remained at large for years. It wasn't until 2000, when the FBI introduced new technology, that police finally discovered who they were looking for. And they learned that Christine and Wendie were not the killers' only victims. 

Join us for today's episode to learn what happened to Christine and Wendie. So, grab your cafecitos and let's get started. 

You can keep up with us on Instagram at @cafecitoandcrimepod

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On the night of December 30, 2000, the Miyazawa family had no idea that they would not live to see the following morning. The Miyazawas consisted of the father, Mikio, the mother, Yasuko, and their children, 8-year-old Niina and 6-year-old Rei. When Yasuko's mother, who lived next door, went to check on her daughter, whom she hadn't been able to contact, she made a horrifying discovery. Her daughter and her entire family had been brutally murdered. 

As the investigation began, Tokyo's police force faced a horrific crime scene unlike any they had encountered before. And although there was plenty of physical evidence left behind at the scene, the case remains unsolved to this day.

So, grab your cafecito, and join us for today's case to learn about what happened to the Miyazawas. 

You can keep up with us on Instagram at @cafecitoandcrimepod

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

On the night of March 25, 1996, 15-year-old Joey Martin had plans to meet his best friends for a night of drinking and comet-watching. The following morning, when Joey wasn't on the school bus, his older brother, Bill, knew something was wrong. As the Martin family begins to search for Joey with friends, their slight worry turns into full panic as they realize no one has seen or heard from Joey. And the friends who were supposed to meet him the night before say that Joey never showed up. 

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

You can keep up with us on Instagram at @cafecitoandcrimepod

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When Adam Baker connected with a woman named Elisa online and started exchanging messages, he believed he had fallen in love. So much so that he moved himself and his young daughter, Zahra, from Australia to America to be with her. What no one ever expected was that Zahra's life would be marred by abuse from Elisa, tragically, leading to her death. Elisa quickly became a person of interest, and as the investigation unfolded, police discovered that her background revealed patterns of manipulation and abuse.

Join us for today's case to learn about what her life was like at the hands of Elisa. 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]