Crime Bit with Danelle Hallan continues with Part 2 of the Sandra and Jim Melgar case, as the focus shifts from the chaotic crime scene to a trial built almost entirely on circumstantial evidence. Despite missing forensic links, mishandled leads, and unidentified DNA throughout the house, prosecutors push the theory that Sandra staged a home invasion to murder her husband.

What happens when a jury must choose between a “ridiculous” story and a broken investigation?

In Part 2, Danelle unpacks the courtroom battle, the controversial conviction, and the new DNA testing that could decide whether Sandra is a cold-blooded killer or the victim of a wrongful conviction. 

In this episode of Crime Bit with Danelle Hallan, we examine the 2012 murder of Jim Melgar in Houston, Texas, and the controversial conviction of his wife, Sandy. Despite no physical evidence tying her to the crime, Sandy was charged, tried by multiple prosecutors, and ultimately sentenced to 27 years in prison while her family insisted she was innocent.

In Part 1, Danelle traces Jim and Sandy’s decades long love story, the night of the attack, and the early investigation, including ignored DNA and a lead detective later fired for falsifying records.

In this episode of Crime Bit with Danelle Hallan, we examine the disappearance of nine-year-old Melody Buzzard, a quiet California girl who seemed to slip out of sight between a routine school enrollment meeting and months of unanswered welfare checks. As conflicting explanations pile up and basic responsibilities are ignored, a troubling picture forms of a child overlooked at every turn. How could Melody vanish while so many systems were meant to protect her?

Join us as we uncover how this case unraveled and what it reveals about the gaps that allowed a child to disappear.

In this episode of Crime Bit with Danelle Hallan, we examine the chilling unsolved murder of Ladonna Cooper, a 31-year-old mother of three who vanished after closing her restaurant shift in Marion, Illinois. What seemed like a routine night quickly unraveled into a mystery marked by a missing deposit, an abandoned car, and evidence of a violent struggle. 

When Ladonna’s body was later discovered near a wildlife refuge, investigators were left with clues but no answers. Despite renewed efforts and advances in DNA testing, her case remains unsolved, leaving her family searching for justice nearly four decades later.

Who killed Ladonna Cooper, and why has the truth stayed hidden so long?

Join us as we uncover the story of Ladonna Cooper on Crime Bit with Danelle Hallan.

In this episode of Crime Bit with Danelle Hallan, we examine the haunting disappearance of Alyssa McLemore, a 21-year-old Indigenous mother from Washington whose sudden vanishing began with a frantic 911 call and ended in years of unanswered questions. Raised in a close Alutiiq family and devoted to caring for her terminally ill mother and young daughter, Alyssa vanished the very night she was called to say her final goodbye.

As her family fought for help, a chilling 10-second 911 call, a mysterious man in a green pickup, and severe gaps in the investigation revealed a larger crisis facing missing Indigenous women. Despite community searches, ignored warnings, and years of missed opportunities, Alyssa has never been found.

How does a young woman vanish in plain sight while her family begs for answers?

Join us as we uncover the story of Alyssa McLemore on Crime Bit with Danelle Hallan.

In this episode of Crime Bit with Danelle Hallan, we uncover the tragic story of Janna Barry, a 21-year-old student whose life was taken inside her Knoxville apartment. Her case exposed critical failures in safety and justice and sparked DNA reform that now protects countless victims across multiple states.

How did one young woman’s story lead to nationwide change?

Join us as we uncover the story of Janna Barry on Crime Bit with Danelle Hallan.

In this episode of Crime Bit with Danelle Hallan, we look into the disappearance of siblings Monica and Michael Bennett, who vanished from Brunswick, Georgia, in 1989. What was first called a runaway case quickly revealed troubling gaps, shifting accounts, and a home environment filled with red flags.

The teens walked away from a relative’s apartment and were never seen again. Their family moved shortly after, leaving behind questions that still have no answers.

Join us as we break down what is known and what remains unexplained in the case of Monica and Michael Bennett.

In this episode of Crime Bit with Danelle Hallan, we examine the disappearance of Courtney Holden, a young mother whose quiet life inside a troubled Spokane home hid a much darker reality. What seemed like an ordinary family arrangement slowly revealed signs of control, neglect, and a truth no one expected.

As investigators traced Courtney’s last known movements, conflicting stories, missing records, and unanswered questions exposed a pattern of isolation that had gone unnoticed for years. Her case raised alarm and heartbreak throughout the community as hope for answers faded.

How did a mother vanish without a trace in a house full of people?

Join us as we uncover the story of Courtney Holden on Crime Bit with Danelle Hallan.

In this episode of Crime Bit with Danelle Hallan, we examine the Richmond spree murders, a series of shocking killings that unfolded over one week in 2006. What began as a joyful New Year celebration for the Harvey family ended in unimaginable tragedy, and days later the Baskerville Tucker family was found murdered in their home. As investigators connected the scenes, a pattern of brutality emerged that shook Virginia to its core.

Join us as we uncover how this spree unfolded and the legacy it left behind.

In this episode of Crime Bit with Danelle Hallan, we examine the tragic case of Male Bush and her 16-month-old son, Noah McConnell, whose lives were taken by a repeat sex offender in Alberta, Canada. What began as a young family’s fresh start turned into an unimaginable nightmare when their neighbor, a convicted predator, struck again. Their story not only exposes the devastating consequences of Canada’s flawed offender laws but also inspires a powerful movement for reform.

Through the relentless efforts of Male’s fiancé, Cody, and their community, Noah’s Law was born a call to strengthen public safety and protect families from hidden dangers.

How could a tragedy like this have been prevented?

Join us as we uncover the heartbreaking case of Male and Noah on Crime Bit with Danelle Hallan.