What happens when institutions that promise to protect vulnerable teenagers are given the power to isolate them, control their communication and dismiss their reports of abuse?

In Part 1 of this investigation into the troubled teen industry, the hosts are joined by guest hosts Heather Ford and Jessica to examine criminal convictions, survivor allegations and regulatory failures connected to Lakeside Academy, Circle of Hope Girls Ranch and Provo Canyon School. The episode also explores how limited oversight, monitored communication and the label “troubled teen” can make it dangerously difficult for young people to be heard.

The episode begins with the death of 16-year-old Cornelius Fredericks, who lost consciousness after employees at Lakeside Academy restrained him on the floor for approximately 12 minutes. The hosts then examine the allegations exposed by former residents of Circle of Hope Girls Ranch, the criminal cases against Boyd and Stephanie Householder and the guilty plea that established crimes had been committed against children at the facility.

The investigation concludes at Provo Canyon School, where Paris Hilton transformed her own allegations of abuse into a courageous national campaign for accountability. Her advocacy reached the Utah State Capitol and Congress, helped advance the Stop Institutional Child Abuse Act and gave other survivors a powerful public ally as Utah regulators moved to revoke the licenses of both Provo Canyon School campuses.

→ How the fatal restraint of Cornelius Fredericks led to the closure of Lakeside Academy and the convictions of three employees

→ Why none of the employees convicted in connection with Cornelius’s death served an active prison sentence

→ How former residents publicly exposed allegations of physical abuse, forced labor, food deprivation and other mistreatment at Circle of Hope Girls Ranch

→ The criminal charges against Boyd and Stephanie Householder, Boyd’s death before trial and Stephanie’s guilty plea to child-abuse, neglect and endangerment charges

→ Paris Hilton’s allegations about Provo Canyon School and her courageous fight to bring the troubled teen industry before lawmakers

→ The Stop Institutional Child Abuse Act and the continued push for greater transparency in youth residential programs

→ The criminal conviction of a Provo Canyon School employee who punched a 15-year-old resident

→ The injuries, medical-care allegations and regulatory findings that preceded Utah’s 2026 license revocations

→ Jessica’s firsthand experience with her daughter’s court-ordered placement in an out-of-state residential program

→ How guardianship arrangements, monitored calls and restricted communication can prevent families from knowing what is happening to a child inside a facility

→ Heather Ford’s perspective on teenagers being sent away after attempting to report or expose abuse

→ The live discussion about weak oversight, institutional power, profit incentives and why children labeled “troubled” are not always believed

The hosts, guest hosts and live audience examine whether the crimes connected to these facilities should be viewed as isolated acts by individual employees and owners—or as foreseeable consequences of a system that gives residential institutions extraordinary control while offering children too little independent protection.

Subscribe to Debate The News: True Crime on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or anywhere else you listen to podcasts. Rating, reviewing and sharing the show helps more listeners discover these cases and become part of the conversation.

Download the Chatter Social app in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store and join the next live recording Thursday, August 27th at 7PM EST / 4PM PST.

Have a case suggestion? Email [email protected].

This episode includes discussions of child abuse, alleged sexual assault, physical restraint, medical neglect and the death of a minor. Some details may be deeply disturbing. Listener discretion is advised. Anyone who needs immediate emotional support can call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

The hosts and guest hosts are not attorneys, law-enforcement officials, physicians, psychologists or mental-health professionals. The show is recorded live with minimal editing, and any factual errors are unintentional.

Any individual, business or organization that has not been convicted of a crime is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. Civil allegations and administrative findings are not criminal convictions. The opinions expressed by guest hosts and audience members are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the hosts or Debate The News: True Crime.

→ Heather Ford — Guest Host

→ Jessica — Guest Host

→ Angiesworld - Guest Contributor

→ Benjamin - Guest Contributor

Credits:

Debate The News: True Crime

"True Crimes in the Troubled Teen Industry: Part 1 (with Heather Ford & Jessica)"

Special Thanks: Nelson, Lea, Nawzil, and the entire Chatter Social team

Theme Song: Alaina Cross — “Karma” [NCS Release]

Music provided by NoCopyrightSounds

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Just before sunrise on July 31, 2022, 17-year-old Mackenzie Shirilla was behind the wheel of a Toyota Camry when it accelerated to approximately 97 miles per hour and slammed into a brick building in Strongsville, Ohio. Shirilla survived, but her boyfriend, 20-year-old Dominic Russo, and their 19-year-old friend, Davion Flanagan, were killed.

What first appeared to be a horrific crash became a double-murder case after investigators examined the car's data recorder, Shirilla's turbulent relationship with Russo, and evidence prosecutors argued showed the crash was intentional.

In this episode, we break down the crash, the murder trial, the controversial medical-emergency defense, Shirilla's 15-years-to-life sentence, the Netflix documentary The Crash, and her latest federal court challenge.

What you'll hear:

→ The turbulent four-year relationship between Mackenzie Shirilla and Dominic Russo, including an earlier incident in which a witness testified that Shirilla threatened to wreck the car during an argument.

→ The final night Dominic Russo and Davion Flanagan were alive and what witnesses said about the hours leading up to the crash.

→ How the Toyota Camry accelerated down Progress Drive at full throttle, reached approximately 97 miles per hour, crossed a T-intersection and struck the PLIDCO manufacturing building.

→ What investigators discovered in the Camry's event data recorder, including full acceleration, no braking, movement of the gearshift and a major steering input during the final seconds before impact.

→ Shirilla's claim that her vision faded to black and the defense theory that POTS, a seizure or another medical emergency may have contributed to the crash.

→ Why investigators ultimately treated the deaths as homicides and why prosecutors argued the Camry had been used as a weapon.

→ Shirilla's transfer from juvenile court, her 12-count adult indictment, the 2023 bench trial and Judge Nancy Margaret Russo's guilty verdicts.

→ The sentence of 15 years to life for each murder, ordered to run concurrently, and Shirilla's first parole eligibility in 2037.

→ The appeals that have upheld her convictions, including a post-conviction petition dismissed after it was filed one day beyond Ohio's deadline during a leap year.

→ The renewed attention surrounding Netflix's The Crash, the release of thousands of text messages and recorded jail calls, the proposed Dom and Davion's Law, and Shirilla's July 2026 federal habeas corpus petition.

Disclaimer:

This episode includes discussion of a fatal motor-vehicle crash, catastrophic injuries, murder, substance use and the deaths of two young people. Listener discretion is advised. Debate The News: True Crime is presented for informational and discussion purposes only. Joseph Lobosco and Adrienne Barker are not attorneys, law-enforcement officials, medical professionals or forensic experts. We research each case carefully, but the show is recorded live with minimal editing and any factual errors are unintentional. Any individual discussed who has not been convicted of a crime is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. The opinions of guests and audience members are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the hosts or or Debate The News.

Guest Contributors:

→ Porsha Belle

→ Mariana Thomas

→ Danielle Paci

→ Too Bee

→ Shannon

→ Denise

→ Mama K

→ Benjamin

→ Lorenzo

Credits:

Debate The News: True Crime

"The Crash: Mackenzie Shirilla"

Special Thanks: Nelson, Lea, Nawzil, and the entire Chatter Social team

Theme Song: Alaina Cross — “Karma” [NCS Release]

Music provided by NoCopyrightSounds

Free Download/Stream: ncs.io/karma

Watch: ncs.lnk.to/karmaAT/youtube

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In Part 2, we continue examining the unexplained death of the Ocean Springs, Mississippi, college football player Nolan Wells, whose body was found near Horn Island on July 6, 2026 - two days after the boat that brought him to the island returned without him. This episode focuses on the evidence and conflicting accounts at the center of the investigation.

At the time of the July 23, 2026 recording, the official Mississippi autopsy and toxicology findings had not been publicly released. The family’s independent autopsy classified Nolan’s cause and manner of death as undetermined pending further investigation. No one had been arrested or charged in connection with his death, and the completed investigation was expected to be reviewed by a grand jury.

⚖️ Disclaimer:

This episode includes discussion of a possible drowning, possible physical trauma, and an active death investigation. Some details may be disturbing. Listener discretion is advised. If you need support, help may be available in the United States by dialing or texting 988.

Debate The News: True Crime is presented for informational and discussion purposes only. The hosts are not attorneys, law-enforcement officials, medical professionals, forensic pathologists, or investigators. The show researches each case carefully but is recorded live with little to no editing, and any factual errors are unintentional.

At the time of the July 23, 2026 recording, no one had been arrested or charged in connection with Nolan Wells’s death. The official Mississippi autopsy and toxicology findings had not been publicly released, and the family’s independent autopsy was preliminary and inconclusive. It did not establish homicide, accidental death, or drowning.

All individuals discussed are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. Witness statements, family concerns, attorney representations, online theories, and social-media accusations should not be treated as proven facts. The opinions expressed by guests and audience members are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the hosts or Debate The News: True Crime.

Guest Contributors:

→ DJ Rell

→ Leslie

→ Lorenzo

→ Sir Jude

→ Angiesworld

→ Benjamin

→ Debbie Dowling-Wahba

Credits:

Debate The News: True Crime

"The Death of Nolan Wells: PART 2"

Special Thanks: Nelson, Lea, Nawzil, and the entire Chatter Social team

Theme Song: Alaina Cross — “Karma” [NCS Release]

Music provided by NoCopyrightSounds

Free Download/Stream: ncs.io/karma

Watch: ncs.lnk.to/karmaAT/youtube

🎧 A Debate the News: True Crime Production

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On July 4, 2026, 18-year-old Nolan Xavier Wells, a college football player from Ocean Springs, Mississippi, traveled by boat with three friends to Horn Island for a crowded Independence Day celebration. By that evening, the boat and Nolan’s friends had returned to the mainland - but Nolan had not. Two mornings later, a National Park Service ranger found his body in the water near the island’s northwestern tip.

What happened between Nolan’s last confirmed sighting and the discovery of his body remains unknown. In Part 1, we reconstruct the known timeline, examine the conflicting accounts of why Nolan allegedly remained on Horn Island, and break down the boat, phone, search, recovery, and preliminary autopsy evidence. They also discuss the involvement of attorney Ben Crump, the family’s independent investigation, and the theories surrounding Nolan’s death - from an accidental drowning to possible foul play or a concealed accident. At the time of the recording, none of those possibilities had been conclusively established.

⚖️ Disclaimer:

This episode includes discussion of a possible drowning, possible physical trauma, and an active death investigation. Some details may be disturbing. Listener discretion is advised. If you need support, help may be available in the United States by dialing or texting 988.

Debate The News: True Crime is presented for informational and discussion purposes only. The hosts are not attorneys, law-enforcement officials, medical professionals, forensic pathologists, or investigators. The show researches each case carefully but is recorded live with little to no editing, and any factual errors are unintentional.

At the time of the July 23, 2026 recording, no one had been arrested or charged in connection with Nolan Wells’s death. The official Mississippi autopsy and toxicology findings had not been publicly released, and the family’s independent autopsy was preliminary and inconclusive. It did not establish homicide, accidental death, or drowning.

All individuals discussed are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. Witness statements, family concerns, attorney representations, online theories, and social-media accusations should not be treated as proven facts. The opinions expressed by guests and audience members are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the hosts or Debate The News: True Crime.

Guest Contributors:

→ Debbie Dowling-Wahba

→ DJ Rell

→ Angiesworld

→ Sauvage

→ Niki Hammer

→ Tony

Credits:

Debate The News: True Crime

"The Death of Nolan Wells: PART 1"

Special Thanks: Nelson, Lea, Nawzil, and the entire Chatter Social team

Theme Song: Alaina Cross — “Karma” [NCS Release]

Music provided by NoCopyrightSounds

Free Download/Stream: ncs.io/karma

Watch: ncs.lnk.to/karmaAT/youtube

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In this episode, we examine the rise and fall of Alex Murdaugh, the once-prominent South Carolina attorney whose wife, Maggie Murdaugh, and 22-year-old son, Paul Murdaugh, were shot and killed on June 7, 2021. Their bodies were found near the dog kennels at the Murdaugh family’s rural Colleton County property, known as Moselle.

What followed became one of the most closely watched true crime cases in America: two missing murder weapons, no eyewitness, no confession, a video recorded on Paul’s phone that placed Alex near Maggie and Paul shortly before their deaths, and years of financial crimes that were beginning to close in around him.

This episode traces the Murdaugh family’s generations of legal influence in South Carolina, Alex’s theft of millions of dollars from clients and settlement funds, the death of longtime housekeeper Gloria Satterfield, and the fatal boat crash that killed 19-year-old Mallory Beach. It also follows the staged roadside shooting that Alex allegedly arranged, the financial prosecutions that destroyed his legal career, and the six-week murder trial that ended with his conviction in March 2023.

Then the case took another extraordinary turn. In May 2026, the South Carolina Supreme Court ordered a new murder trial after finding that former Colleton County Clerk of Court Rebecca “Becky” Hill improperly interfered with the jury and denied Alex a fair trial. The decision did not declare him innocent or erase the evidence presented against him. It returned the murder charges to the trial court for a new jury to decide. South Carolina prosecutors announced that they would try him again, and jury selection is currently scheduled to begin on April 5, 2027. Alex remains incarcerated for his separate state and federal financial-crime convictions.

⚖️ Disclaimer:

Debate The News: True Crime is for informational and discussion purposes only. The hosts are not attorneys, law enforcement officials, medical professionals, or forensic experts. This episode includes discussion of murder, violence, substance abuse, and other disturbing subject matter. Listener discretion is advised. Any factual errors are unintentional. Any individual, business, or organization mentioned that has not been convicted of a crime is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. Guest and audience opinions are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the hosts or Debate The News: True Crime.

Guest Contributors:

→ Angiesworld

→ Debbie Dowling-Wahba

→ Mariana Thomas

→ Danielle Paci

→ Leslie

Credits:

Debate The News: True Crime

"The Trials of Alex Murdaugh"

Special Thanks: Nelson, Lea, Nawzil, and the entire Chatter Social team

Theme Song: Alaina Cross — “Karma” [NCS Release]

Music provided by NoCopyrightSounds

Free Download/Stream: ncs.io/karma

Watch: ncs.lnk.to/karmaAT/youtube

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In this episode of Debate The News: True Crime, we examine the chilling case of Robert Zarinsky, a convicted New Jersey murderer whose name became tied to some of the Garden State’s most disturbing cold cases. From the disappearance of 17-year-old Rosemary Calandriello, to the murders of Mary Agnes Klinsky and Jane Durrua, to the long-unsolved killing of Rahway police officer Charles Bernoskie, this case raises haunting questions about missed warnings, family secrecy, forensic limitations, and how many victims may never have received full justice.

What you’ll hear:

→ How 18-year-old Mary Agnes Klinsky was found murdered near the Garden State Parkway in 1965 — and how DNA testing decades later linked her case to Robert Zarinsky.

→ The 1968 murder of 13-year-old Jane Durrua, a Monmouth County cold case that would later lead to a new indictment before Zarinsky died in prison.

→ The 1969 disappearance of Rosemary Calandriello from Atlantic Highlands after she left home to buy milk and ice pops and never returned.

→ The disturbing evidence investigators found inside the Zarinsky family car, including hair clips, women’s underwear, tools, blood evidence, and removed passenger-side handles.

→ How Zarinsky was convicted of Rosemary Calandriello’s murder even though her body was never found, making the case a landmark no-body homicide prosecution in New Jersey.

→ Why Zarinsky’s name later resurfaced in the 1958 murder of Rahway police officer Charles Bernoskie — and how that case ended in an acquittal.

→ The live discussion about whether Zarinsky should be called a serial killer, even though he was only convicted of one murder during his lifetime.

→ The debate over family secrecy, Zarinsky’s mother Veronica, and whether the people around him helped shield him from consequences.

→ Why older cold cases were so difficult to prosecute before modern DNA testing, digital fingerprint databases, and better communication between jurisdictions.

→ Why this case still haunts New Jersey true crime history decades after Zarinsky’s death.

In the discussion portion of the episode, the hosts and the live audience debate how someone like Zarinsky could remain connected to so many disturbing cases without ever being fully held accountable for all of them. The conversation explores his alleged pattern of targeting vulnerable young girls, the role of his family, the limits of law enforcement in the 1960s and 1970s, and the difficult question of how to discuss crimes linked to a suspect who died before a jury could hear every case.

This episode also looks at the cruelty of time. For Mary Agnes Klinsky’s family, answers came more than 50 years too late. For Jane Durrua’s family, the prosecution ended before trial. And for Rosemary Calandriello’s loved ones, Zarinsky died without ever revealing where her body was.

⚖️ Disclaimer:

Debate The News: True Crime is for informational and discussion purposes only. The hosts are not attorneys, law enforcement officials, medical professionals, forensic experts, or mental health professionals. This episode includes discussion of sexual assault, murder, violence against minors, and other disturbing subject matter. Listener discretion is advised. Any factual errors are unintentional. Any individual, business, or organization not convicted of a crime is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. Guest and audience opinions are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Debate The News: True Crime.

Guest Contributors:

→ Anne

→ Debbie Dowling-Wahba

→ Jessica

→ Momo

Credits:

Debate The News: True Crime

"The New Jersey Serial Killer: Robert Zarinsky"

Special Thanks: Nelson, Lea, Nawzil, and the entire Chatter Social team

Theme Song: Alaina Cross — “Karma” [NCS Release]

Music provided by NoCopyrightSounds

Free Download/Stream: ncs.io/karma

Watch: ncs.lnk.to/karmaAT/youtube

🎧 A Debate the News: True Crime Production

Download the Chatter Social app: (for iOS / for Android).

In this episode, we revisit the Gilgo Beach murders after one of the biggest developments in the Long Island Serial Killer case. Rex Heuermann, the Massapequa Park architect accused in multiple killings, recently pleaded guilty to seven charged murders and admitted responsibility for an eighth killing.

This episode traces the case from the 1993 murder of Sandra Costilla through the discovery of the Gilgo Four along Ocean Parkway, the long years of stalled investigation, and the renewed Suffolk County task force that eventually focused on Heuermann. The hosts, guest contributors, and the live audience also debate whether the motive behind Heuermann's guilty plea was rooted in true accountability, legal strategy, or his own form of twisted control.

At the center of this episode are the women whose lives were stolen: Sandra Costilla, Karen Vergata, Valerie Mack, Jessica Taylor, Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman, and Amber Lynn Costello. The conversation also recognizes the broader Gilgo Beach investigation, including Shannan Gilbert, Tanya Denise Jackson, Tatiana Marie Dykes, and other victims whose cases remain part of the wider Long Island mystery.

Trigger Warning & Disclaimer:

This episode involves discussions about murder, sexual violence, dismemberment, and violence against women, including woman involved in sex work. Listener discretion is advised.

If you or someone you know needs support, help may be available in the United States by dialing or texting 988.

The hosts are not attorneys, law enforcement officials, forensic experts, or mental health professionals. The show researches each case carefully, but episodes are recorded live with minimal editing, and any factual errors are unintentional. The opinions of guests, audience members, and live commenters are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the hosts or Debate The News.

Guest Contributors:

→ Sha

→ Anne

→ Angiesworld

→ AR

→ Markeith

Credits:

Debate The News: True Crime

"The Long Island Serial Killer & The Gilgo Beach Murders"

Special Thanks: Nelson, Lea, Nawzil, and the entire Chatter Social team

Theme Song: Alaina Cross — “Karma” [NCS Release]

Music provided by NoCopyrightSounds

Free Download/Stream: ncs.io/karma

Watch: ncs.lnk.to/karmaAT/youtube

🎧 A Debate the News: True Crime Production

Download the Chatter Social app: (for iOS / for Android).

In this episode of Debate The News: True Crime, we return to the disturbing case of Celeste Rivas Hernandez and singer D4vd, whose legal name is David Anthony Burke.

In Part 1, we covered Celeste’s disappearance, her alleged connection to Burke, the discovery of her remains inside a Tesla registered to him, and the search of his Los Angeles rental home. In Part 2, the case has moved from a suspicious death investigation into an arrest and criminal charges.

Burke has been charged with murder, sexual abuse, and unlawful mutilation of human remains. The criminal complaint also includes special circumstance allegations of lying in wait, murder for financial gain, and murder of a witness. Burke has pleaded not guilty, and his defense denies that he killed Celeste or caused her death.

This episode walks through the new timeline, the prosecution’s theory, the alleged Tesla evidence, the DNA and digital evidence claims, and the questions that still do not make sense to the panel — especially why Celeste’s remains would allegedly be left for months in a car tied directly to D4vd.

Trigger Warning & Disclaimer:

This episode involves discussions about the death of a minor, alleged child sexual abuse, homicide, mutilation of human remains, decomposition, dismemberment, and graphic criminal allegations. Listener discretion is advised.

If you or someone you know needs support, help may be available in the United States by dialing or texting 988.

The hosts are not attorneys, law enforcement officials, forensic experts, or mental health professionals. The show researches each case carefully, but episodes are recorded live with minimal editing, and any factual errors are unintentional. The opinions of guests, audience members, and live commenters are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the hosts or Debate The News. David Anthony Burke is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

Guest Contributors:

→ Angiesworld

→ Lauren LaPointe

→ Debbie Dowling-Wahba

→ Anne

→ Jessica

→ Billie

Credits:

Debate The News: True Crime

"D4vd & The Death of Celeste Rivas Hernandez: Part 2"

Special Thanks: Nelson, Lea, Nawzil, and the entire Chatter Social team

Theme Song: Alaina Cross — “Karma” [NCS Release]

Music provided by NoCopyrightSounds

Free Download/Stream: ncs.io/karma

Watch: ncs.lnk.to/karmaAT/youtube

🎧 A Debate the News: True Crime Production

Download the Chatter Social app: (for iOS / for Android).

Debate The News: True Crime will be back in June!

In this episode, the hosts are joined by guest host Angiesworld to break down Kaitlin Armstrong & The Murder of Moriah Wilson — the shocking 2022 Austin, Texas murder case that ended the life of elite cyclist Anna Moriah “Mo” Wilson. What begins as a story about jealousy and a complicated love triangle quickly turns into a digital-age true crime case filled with hidden text threads, deleted messages, shared passwords, GPS data, surveillance footage, a black Jeep near the scene, a fake passport, a flight to Costa Rica, cosmetic surgery, and a fugitive manhunt that gripped the country.

At the center of the case is Mo Wilson, a gifted young cyclist with enormous promise, and Kaitlin Armstrong, the yoga teacher and former partner of cyclist Colin Strickland, who prosecutors said became consumed by jealousy. This episode follows the timeline from the early cracks in Armstrong and Strickland’s relationship, to Wilson’s final night in Austin, to the investigation, trial, conviction, 90-year sentence, and the legal fallout that continued long after the verdict.

Tune in to hear:

The relationship timeline — Colin Strickland and Kaitlin Armstrong begin an on-again, off-again relationship in 2019, eventually becoming financially intertwined, while Strickland later forms a brief romantic connection with rising cycling star Mo Wilson.

The jealousy builds — Witnesses later describe Armstrong as deeply upset over Wilson, with testimony that she made alarming statements about wanting to kill her if Strickland seriously moved on.

May 11, 2022 — Wilson travels to Austin for the Gravel Locos race and reconnects with Strickland. To avoid conflict, he saves her contact under a fake name and deletes their text thread before the two meet up that night.

The final evening — After spending time together, Strickland drops Mo Wilson off at her friend Kaitlyn Cash’s residence. Not long after, a nearby camera captures a scream followed by gunshots. Wilson is later found shot to death inside the home.

The investigation turns fast — Police interview both Strickland and Armstrong, but within days the case takes a dramatic turn when Armstrong sells her Jeep, flies to New York, uses her sister’s passport, and flees to Costa Rica.

The fugitive chapter — Authorities say Armstrong tried to disappear under the name Allison Page, underwent cosmetic procedures, and even worked as a yoga instructor before U.S. Marshals arrested her after a 43-day manhunt.

The prosecution’s case — Investigators point to GPS and vehicle data, deleted iCloud evidence, surveillance video, phone records, and DNA on Wilson’s discarded bike as key pieces of the murder case.

The trial and verdict — In November 2023, a jury convicts Armstrong of murder. She is sentenced to 90 years in prison and fined $10,000.

The aftermath — This episode also covers Armstrong’s pretrial escape attempt, the later dismissal of that related charge, the January 2026 appellate ruling that upheld her conviction and sentence, and the $15 million wrongful death judgment awarded to Wilson’s family.

Joseph, Adrienne, and Angie also debate the bigger questions at the center of this case: Was Colin Strickland himself living inside a coercive, emotionally abusive relationship? Did Armstrong intend only to kill Mo Wilson, or could things have ended even worse? Did Armstrong’s jealousy come from fear of losing Colin, resentment of Wilson’s talent and future, or both? And how do cases like this expose the dangerous line between obsession, control, stalking, and deadly violence?

⚠️ Listener discretion: This episode includes discussion of murder, stalking, domestic abuse dynamics, gun violence, and disturbing criminal allegations. Listener discretion is advised. If you or someone you know needs support, help may be available via the Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988.

⚖️ Disclaimer: Debate the News: True Crime Edition is for informational and discussion purposes only. We are not attorneys, law enforcement officers, or forensic experts. While we research each case, the show is recorded live with little to no editing; any factual errors are unintentional. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Guest and audience views are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the hosts.

Speakers:

→ Adrienne Barker — Host

→ Joseph Lobosco — Host

→ Angiesworld — Guest Host

→ Debbie Dowling-Wahba — Guest Contributor

Credits:

Debate The News: True Crime

"Kaitlin Armstrong & The Murder of Moriah Wilson"

Created by: Jonathan Bing, Adrienne Barker and Joseph R. Lobosco

Producers: Adrienne Barker, Joseph R. Lobosco, Danielle Paci, and Jonathan Bing

Writers: Joseph R. Lobosco and Adrienne Barker

Editor: Joseph R. Lobosco

Cover Art: Joseph R. Lobosco

Special Thanks: Nelson, Lea, Nawzil, and the entire Chatter Social team

Theme Song: Alaina Cross — “Karma” [NCS Release]

Music provided by NoCopyrightSounds

Free Download/Stream: ncs.io/karma

Watch: ncs.lnk.to/karmaAT/youtube

🎧 A Debate the News: True Crime Production

Download the Chatter Social app: (for iOS / for Android).