Sister Discovers Her Brother Has Believed a Lie for 40 Years

A twenty-year-old woman was found dead in her apartment with a rope around her neck, and authorities closed the case the same day. Her three-year-old son would spend the next forty years believing his mother died in a shameful accident, but what did the official record leave out?

In this episode, we analyze the case of Rowena Wilkinson Zapalac, a twenty-year-old woman whose death was ruled an accident in 1984. We explore the critical details missing from the original police report and the questions her sister, Jolita Wilkinson, began to ask decades later. What really happened in that apartment in Flatonia, Texas?

Person: Rowena Wilkinson Zapalac
Location: Flatonia, Texas
Year: 1984
Relationship: Sister, Son, Ex-husband
Cause of Death: Autoerotic asphyxiation (official)

- A twenty-year-old woman was found dead in her apartment in Flatonia, Texas, with a rope around her neck and a sex toy on the bed.
- The case was closed within hours, with the official cause of death listed as autoerotic asphyxiation.
- Rowena's sister, Jolita Wilkinson, found a bloody, broken acrylic nail near the coffee table, a detail not in the official report.
- The autopsy report noted Rowena's fourth nail on her right hand was missing, corresponding to the broken nail found.
- The shower was still running a full day after Rowena was last seen alive, a detail not documented by investigators.

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OBOMEDIA presents true crime storiesa true crime podcast built on real cases.

Every true crime story in our crime files follows the crime investigation from the missing person report to the trial: investigators and police building a murder case, a police investigation gone cold, justice for the victim and those who survived.

We open the unsolved murder, the cold case reopened decades later, the mysterious death, the disappearance, the serial killer, the family murder, the murder mystery; the missing persons  a missing woman, a missing girl, a missing man found dead and the missing and murdered.

From the infamous case to the unsolved case, from classic true crime to dark true crime and disturbing true crime: true crime reports, real crime stories, real murder cases, true murder stories and unsolved mysteries one true crime case at a time, from the OBOMEDIA true crime vault.

© 2026 Created with OBOMEDIA technology. All rights reserved. This episode and its content (audio, text and related materials) are the property of their respective creator and are distributed under the OBOMEDIA name on platforms such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music and Pocket Casts. Reproduction, distribution, editing or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission is prohibited. For permissions, licensing and business inquirie

Woman Found Dead Inside a Trash Chute Nobody Could Fit Through

A young woman's body was found inside a trash chute in a luxury apartment building, an opening too small for an adult to fit through. No fingerprints were ever found on the chute, and her jeans were pulled down to her knees, making the official explanation of accidental death even harder to believe. How did she end up there?

In this episode, we analyze the mysterious death of Phoebe Handsjuk, a 24-year-old woman whose case remains one of Australia's most contested accidental death rulings. We explore the physical evidence, the official explanation involving impairment, and the unanswered questions that continue to plague her family fifteen years later.

Case: Phoebe Handsjuk
Date: December 2, 2010
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Age: 24 years old
Substances: Alcohol (0.16 BAC), Stilnox

- Phoebe Handsjuk's body was found in a trash chute measuring 11.8 inches high.
- Her jeans were pulled down to her knees when her body was discovered.
- No fingerprints were found on the trash chute.
- The only surviving CCTV footage from the day of her death is a seven-minute window from 11:43 AM to 11:50 AM.
- Phoebe's grandfather, a retired detective, built a replica of the trash chute to understand the investigators' claims.

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OBOMEDIA presents true crime storiesa true crime podcast built on real cases.

Every true crime story in our crime files follows the crime investigation from the missing person report to the trial: investigators and police building a murder case, a police investigation gone cold, justice for the victim and those who survived.

We open the unsolved murder, the cold case reopened decades later, the mysterious death, the disappearance, the serial killer, the family murder, the murder mystery; the missing persons  a missing woman, a missing girl, a missing man found dead and the missing and murdered.

From the infamous case to the unsolved case, from classic true crime to dark true crime and disturbing true crime: true crime reports, real crime stories, real murder cases, true murder stories and unsolved mysteries one true crime case at a time, from the OBOMEDIA true crime vault.

© 2026 Created with OBOMEDIA technology. All rights reserved. This episode and its content (audio, text and related materials) are the property of their respective creator and are distributed under the OBOMEDIA name on platforms such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music and Pocket Casts. Reproduction, distribution, editing or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission is prohibited. For permissions, licensing and business inquirie

Cop Visits His Pregnant Lover Hours Before She Dies

A police officer's wife just gave birth, but hours later, he visited his pregnant lover. Three days after that visit, the woman was found dead in her locked apartment, a gym bag strap around her neck. Why did local police rule it a suicide before a formal determination, and what evidence emerged that led the FBI to indict a sworn law enforcement officer?

In this episode, we analyze the suspicious death of Sandra Birchmore, a 23-year-old woman found dead in her Canton, Massachusetts apartment. We examine the initial suicide ruling by local and state police, and the subsequent federal grand jury indictment of a police officer. What critical details did the initial investigation overlook?

Key Data:
Person: Sandra Birchmore
Date: February 1, 2021
Location: Canton, Massachusetts
Event: Death of Sandra Birchmore
Investigation: Suicide ruling, federal indictment

- On February 1, 2021, a police officer visited Sandra Birchmore's apartment.
- Sandra Birchmore was found dead on February 4, 2021, with a gym bag strap tied around her neck.
- Her apartment door was locked from the inside, with no signs of forced entry or struggle.
- Local police ruled her death a suicide before a formal medical examiner's determination.
- Sandra had informed the officer, Matthew Farwell, of her pregnancy in December 2020 via text message.

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OBOMEDIA presents true crime storiesa true crime podcast built on real cases.

Every true crime story in our crime files follows the crime investigation from the missing person report to the trial: investigators and police building a murder case, a police investigation gone cold, justice for the victim and those who survived.

We open the unsolved murder, the cold case reopened decades later, the mysterious death, the disappearance, the serial killer, the family murder, the murder mystery; the missing persons  a missing woman, a missing girl, a missing man found dead and the missing and murdered.

From the infamous case to the unsolved case, from classic true crime to dark true crime and disturbing true crime: true crime reports, real crime stories, real murder cases, true murder stories and unsolved mysteries one true crime case at a time, from the OBOMEDIA true crime vault.

© 2026 Created with OBOMEDIA technology. All rights reserved. This episode and its content (audio, text and related materials) are the property of their respective creator and are distributed under the OBOMEDIA name on platforms such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music and Pocket Casts. Reproduction, distribution, editing or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission is prohibited. For permissions, licensing and business inquirie

The Skull Under the Shrub: Linda Sherman's Unsolved Murder

Five years after a St. Louis County mother vanished, her skull was found under a shrub in Bridgeton, Missouri, not buried or hidden, but simply resting there. This discovery reclassified her disappearance as a homicide, yet the man police suspected was already out of reach. What truly happened to Linda Sherman on that ordinary Monday evening in April 1985?

In this episode, we delve into the baffling disappearance and murder of Linda Sherman, a 27-year-old mother whose case remains unsolved. We examine the details of her last known day, her troubled marriage, and the strange circumstances surrounding the discovery of her remains. Was her husband, Don Sherman, involved, and why was no one ever charged?

Case: Linda Sherman Homicide
Victim: Linda Sherman, 27
Location: St. Louis County, Missouri
Discovery: Bridgeton, Missouri
Vehicle: 1971 yellow Volkswagen Beetle

- Linda Sherman was last seen on Monday, April 22, 1985, driving her yellow Volkswagen Beetle.
- Her car was found locked in a short-term parking lot at Lambert Airport four days after she vanished.
- Five years later, her skull was found by two flight attendants under a shrub near a restaurant.
- Linda worked the night shift at the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis, Missouri.
- She was wearing a blue jersey with the number seventy-six and a matching necklace.

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OBOMEDIA presents true crime storiesa true crime podcast built on real cases.

Every true crime story in our crime files follows the crime investigation from the missing person report to the trial: investigators and police building a murder case, a police investigation gone cold, justice for the victim and those who survived.

We open the unsolved murder, the cold case reopened decades later, the mysterious death, the disappearance, the serial killer, the family murder, the murder mystery; the missing persons  a missing woman, a missing girl, a missing man found dead and the missing and murdered.

From the infamous case to the unsolved case, from classic true crime to dark true crime and disturbing true crime: true crime reports, real crime stories, real murder cases, true murder stories and unsolved mysteries one true crime case at a time, from the OBOMEDIA true crime vault.

© 2026 Created with OBOMEDIA technology. All rights reserved. This episode and its content (audio, text and related materials) are the property of their respective creator and are distributed under the OBOMEDIA name on platforms such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music and Pocket Casts. Reproduction, distribution, editing or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission is prohibited. For permissions, licensing and business inquirie

Father Lets In the Man Who May Have Killed His Daughter

A father arrived home to find an ununiformed police officer waiting in his driveway, only to discover his eighteen-year-old daughter dying minutes later. The officer, who had no official reason to be there, had sent her a chilling message hours earlier: "I'm headed to your house right now." What truly happened inside that house remains unanswered by the law.

In this episode, we delve into the mysterious death of Heidi Gatliff, an 18-year-old dedicated to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department's Explorer program. We explore the events leading up to November 2, 2015, and the unanswered questions surrounding the officer's presence and the circumstances of her death.

Key Data:
Person: Heidi Gatliff
Date: November 2, 2015
Location: Indianapolis
Program: IMPD Explorer program
Hours in program: Approximately 2,000 hours

Evidence:
- On November 2, 2015, a father found an ununiformed police officer in his driveway before discovering his daughter dying.
- The officer sent Heidi a message that day: "I'm headed to your house right now."
- Heidi Gatliff was 18 years old and had accumulated approximately 2,000 hours in the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department's Explorer program.
- Phone records showed over 300 calls between Heidi and the officer in the month and a half before her death.
- The officer sent Heidi a rapid sequence of text messages on November 2, including "You can't do this to me" and "I'm headed to your house right now."

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OBOMEDIA presents true crime storiesa true crime podcast built on real cases.

Every true crime story in our crime files follows the crime investigation from the missing person report to the trial: investigators and police building a murder case, a police investigation gone cold, justice for the victim and those who survived.

We open the unsolved murder, the cold case reopened decades later, the mysterious death, the disappearance, the serial killer, the family murder, the murder mystery; the missing persons  a missing woman, a missing girl, a missing man found dead and the missing and murdered.

From the infamous case to the unsolved case, from classic true crime to dark true crime and disturbing true crime: true crime reports, real crime stories, real murder cases, true murder stories and unsolved mysteries one true crime case at a time, from the OBOMEDIA true crime vault.

© 2026 Created with OBOMEDIA technology. All rights reserved. This episode and its content (audio, text and related materials) are the property of their respective creator and are distributed under the OBOMEDIA name on platforms such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music and Pocket Casts. Reproduction, distribution, editing or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission is prohibited. For permissions, licensing and business inquirie

Woman Writes Her Attacker's Name in Her Own Blood

Bound, bleeding, and certain she was going to die, a woman used her last ounce of strength to write a name in her own blood. This desperate act not only identified her attacker but also quietly reopened a murder case that had been unsolved for sixteen years.

In this episode, we analyze the harrowing attack on Linda in Rough River Lake, Kentucky, and the extraordinary decision she made that led to her attacker's arrest. How did a neighbor, known as a churchgoing man, become a brutal assailant, and what hidden past did his name reveal?

Case: Linda's Attack
Year: 2008
Location: Rough River Lake, Kentucky
Attacker: Ernest Pine
Victim: Linda (pseudonym)

- Linda, in her sixties, was attacked in her home with her 22-month-old granddaughter present.
- Her attacker, Ernest Pine, was her neighbor and gained entry under the pretext of speaking with her husband.
- Pine brought plastic zip ties and a knife, indicating a premeditated attack.
- Linda was bound, stabbed, and left for dead, but she used her own blood to write "Ernest Pine" on the floor.
- Pine was arrested in 2008 and indicted on seven charges, largely due to Linda's identification.

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OBOMEDIA presents true crime storiesa true crime podcast built on real cases.

Every true crime story in our crime files follows the crime investigation from the missing person report to the trial: investigators and police building a murder case, a police investigation gone cold, justice for the victim and those who survived.

We open the unsolved murder, the cold case reopened decades later, the mysterious death, the disappearance, the serial killer, the family murder, the murder mystery; the missing persons  a missing woman, a missing girl, a missing man found dead and the missing and murdered.

From the infamous case to the unsolved case, from classic true crime to dark true crime and disturbing true crime: true crime reports, real crime stories, real murder cases, true murder stories and unsolved mysteries one true crime case at a time, from the OBOMEDIA true crime vault.

© 2026 Created with OBOMEDIA technology. All rights reserved. This episode and its content (audio, text and related materials) are the property of their respective creator and are distributed under the OBOMEDIA name on platforms such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music and Pocket Casts. Reproduction, distribution, editing or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission is prohibited. For permissions, licensing and business inquirie

The Husband, The Necklace, The Vanished Wife

A woman vanished in 1997, weeks after asking her husband for a divorce, and her body has never been found. The piece of physical evidence that could have changed everything was collected by detectives, then handed back to the very man they suspected.

In this episode, we analyze the disappearance of Bonnie Lee Schultz, a woman who sought financial independence before she vanished. We explore the troubling investigation that followed, and ask whether anyone ever investigated seriously enough to know what happened to Bonnie.

Key Data:
Person: Bonnie Lee Schultz
Year: 1997
State: Wisconsin
Husband: Rick Schultz
Children: Josh, Gretchen

Evidence:
- Bonnie Lee Schultz disappeared in the summer of 1997, weeks after asking her husband for a divorce.
- Her body has never been found, and her husband died without ever being formally charged.
- Approximately two weeks before Bonnie disappeared, she called her close friend Diane Dando, who immediately sensed a shift in Bonnie's voice.
- Bonnie had taken a job with RGis to build her own financial footing, indicating preparation to leave on her own terms.
- When Bonnie was reported missing, the department did not immediately assign a detective, delaying the formal start of the case by days.

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OBOMEDIA presents true crime storiesa true crime podcast built on real cases.

Every true crime story in our crime files follows the crime investigation from the missing person report to the trial: investigators and police building a murder case, a police investigation gone cold, justice for the victim and those who survived.

We open the unsolved murder, the cold case reopened decades later, the mysterious death, the disappearance, the serial killer, the family murder, the murder mystery; the missing persons  a missing woman, a missing girl, a missing man found dead and the missing and murdered.

From the infamous case to the unsolved case, from classic true crime to dark true crime and disturbing true crime: true crime reports, real crime stories, real murder cases, true murder stories and unsolved mysteries one true crime case at a time, from the OBOMEDIA true crime vault.

© 2026 Created with OBOMEDIA technology. All rights reserved. This episode and its content (audio, text and related materials) are the property of their respective creator and are distributed under the OBOMEDIA name on platforms such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music and Pocket Casts. Reproduction, distribution, editing or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission is prohibited. For permissions, licensing and business inquirie

Husband Declares His Missing Wife Dead After Seven Years

A woman disappeared from her Indianapolis home in 1997, and 26 years later, her body has not been found, no one has been charged, and a crucial room was never examined for evidence. What happened to Bonnie, and why was key evidence never collected?

In this episode, we analyze the disappearance of Bonnie, a woman whose private life and the actions of those around her created a web of unanswered questions. We explore the critical pieces of evidence that were never secured and the contradictions that plagued the investigation.

Case: Bonnie's Disappearance
Year: 1997
Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
Missing Person: Bonnie
Husband: Rick
Children: Josh, Gretchen
Other Man: Jeremy Johnson
Friend: Anita

- Bonnie stepped out of her Indianapolis home at 8:30 PM in 1997 and never returned.
- Twenty-six years later, Bonnie's body has not been found, and no one has been charged.
- The one room investigators believed held the answer to her disappearance was never examined for evidence.
- Bonnie's cell phone records, which could have shown activity before her disappearance, were never physically obtained.
- Rick reported Bonnie missing, claiming he called her cell from the home phone, but landline records showed no outgoing calls.
- Rick's cell phone records were never requested by investigators.

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OBOMEDIA presents true crime storiesa true crime podcast built on real cases.

Every true crime story in our crime files follows the crime investigation from the missing person report to the trial: investigators and police building a murder case, a police investigation gone cold, justice for the victim and those who survived.

We open the unsolved murder, the cold case reopened decades later, the mysterious death, the disappearance, the serial killer, the family murder, the murder mystery; the missing persons  a missing woman, a missing girl, a missing man found dead and the missing and murdered.

From the infamous case to the unsolved case, from classic true crime to dark true crime and disturbing true crime: true crime reports, real crime stories, real murder cases, true murder stories and unsolved mysteries one true crime case at a time, from the OBOMEDIA true crime vault.

© 2026 Created with OBOMEDIA technology. All rights reserved. This episode and its content (audio, text and related materials) are the property of their respective creator and are distributed under the OBOMEDIA name on platforms such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music and Pocket Casts. Reproduction, distribution, editing or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission is prohibited. For permissions, licensing and business inquirie

The Laundry Room Men: Nikki Macau Vanished.

A young woman loads laundry into a coin machine at a neighborhood wash house, completely ordinary, completely alone. She will never be seen again - and the man who last spoke to her has never been charged. What happened to Nikki Macau?

In this episode, we analyze the disappearance of Nikki Macau from a Richmond, Indiana coin laundry in 2001. We examine the last confirmed sightings, the men whose names surfaced in the investigation, and the unresolved questions that have haunted her family for over two decades.

Case: Nikki Macau Disappearance
Date: July 22, 2001
Location: Richmond Coin Laundry, Southeast Street, Richmond, Indiana
Missing Person: Marilyn "Nikki" Macau
Fiancé: Bobby Webster

- Nikki Macau was a mother, weeks away from her wedding, and had just attended church with her fiancé on the day she vanished.
- Surveillance footage from a nearby Village Pantry captured Nikki getting change, almost certainly for the washing machines, shortly before her disappearance.
- Nikki told her parents that men at the laundry had been bothering her, but she returned to the laundry despite her mother's offer to use their home washer.
- A witness identified Bobby Webster, Nikki's fiancé, speaking with her at the laundry on the day she disappeared, an account not corroborated by other witnesses.
- Nikki never returned to her apartment or picked up her nine-year-old daughter, Payton, after her last confirmed sighting at the laundry around 3 PM.

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OBOMEDIA presents true crime storiesa true crime podcast built on real cases.

Every true crime story in our crime files follows the crime investigation from the missing person report to the trial: investigators and police building a murder case, a police investigation gone cold, justice for the victim and those who survived.

We open the unsolved murder, the cold case reopened decades later, the mysterious death, the disappearance, the serial killer, the family murder, the murder mystery; the missing persons  a missing woman, a missing girl, a missing man found dead and the missing and murdered.

From the infamous case to the unsolved case, from classic true crime to dark true crime and disturbing true crime: true crime reports, real crime stories, real murder cases, true murder stories and unsolved mysteries one true crime case at a time, from the OBOMEDIA true crime vault.

© 2026 Created with OBOMEDIA technology. All rights reserved. This episode and its content (audio, text and related materials) are the property of their respective creator and are distributed under the OBOMEDIA name on platforms such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music and Pocket Casts. Reproduction, distribution, editing or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission is prohibited. For permissions, licensing and business inquirie

Firefighter Watches His Family Die After Suspicious House Fire

A Chicago firefighter was on duty when his own home address came across the radio, only to arrive and perform CPR on his wife as his children lay unconscious inside. Despite the official ruling of non-criminal deaths, two unexplained details at the scene raise unsettling questions about the fire's true origin.

In this episode, we analyze the tragic house fire that claimed the lives of Summer Stewart and her three children, Autumn, Ezra, and Emery, on March 7, 2023. What do the specific details documented by investigators reveal about the moments leading up to the blaze, and why do some facts refuse to align with the official conclusion?

Case: Stewart Family House Fire
Date: March 7, 2023
Location: 2554 North Rutherford Avenue, Montclare neighborhood, Chicago
Victims: Summer Stewart (36), Autumn (9), Ezra (7), Emery (2)
Cause of Death: Smoke inhalation
Official Ruling: Non-criminal deaths

- The 911 call for the fire came in at 9:09 PM, but investigators estimated the fire started between 8:30 PM and 8:49 PM, indicating a minimum 20-minute delay before help was called.
- A domestic violence protective order was active against Summer Stewart's husband, Walter Sean Stewart, a Chicago firefighter, at the time of the fire.
- A pot was found on the rear left burner of the stove with the control stem turned to HIGH, and its plastic knobs had melted completely.
- A sandwich, apparently freshly prepared, was found on a nightstand in the master bedroom.
- A dog named Mabel was found in her crate on the back porch and did not survive, suggesting doors were closed and the family was settled for the evening.

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OBOMEDIA presents true crime storiesa true crime podcast built on real cases.

Every true crime story in our crime files follows the crime investigation from the missing person report to the trial: investigators and police building a murder case, a police investigation gone cold, justice for the victim and those who survived.

We open the unsolved murder, the cold case reopened decades later, the mysterious death, the disappearance, the serial killer, the family murder, the murder mystery; the missing persons  a missing woman, a missing girl, a missing man found dead and the missing and murdered.

From the infamous case to the unsolved case, from classic true crime to dark true crime and disturbing true crime: true crime reports, real crime stories, real murder cases, true murder stories and unsolved mysteries one true crime case at a time, from the OBOMEDIA true crime vault.

© 2026 Created with OBOMEDIA technology. All rights reserved. This episode and its content (audio, text and related materials) are the property of their respective creator and are distributed under the OBOMEDIA name on platforms such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music and Pocket Casts. Reproduction, distribution, editing or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission is prohibited. For permissions, licensing and business inquirie