#323 - In 1986, a Washington woman was convicted of intentionally killing two people with cyanide-laced extra-strength Excedrin capsules. One of the victims was her very own husband. The other was a complete stranger. 

Her conviction and 90-year prison sentence became the first under federal product tampering laws instituted after the 1982 Chicago Tylenol murders that killed at least 7 people. 

Is she a victim of a system that got it wrong during a time when people were paranoid of product tampering? Or is she guilty as charged?

Forensic Tales is a Rockefeller Audio production. The show is written & produced by Courtney Fretwell.

If you’d like to support the show and help fund research, production, and editing, you can do so with a small monthly contribution on Patreon.

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And if you enjoy the show, leaving a positive rating or review really helps others discover it.

For a full list of sources used in this episode, visit ForensicTales.com.

Until then… remember: not all stories have happy endings.

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#322 - In 2007, two-year-old Mariah Alvarez was rushed to a hospital in Brownsville, Texas. She wasn’t breathing. Doctors were unable to revive her.

Within hours, suspicion turned toward her mother, Melissa Lucio.

After a lengthy interrogation, Melissa said four words that prosecutors would later present as a confession. She was charged with capital murder, convicted, and sentenced to death.

But over the years, serious questions have been raised about the case from the forensic conclusions surrounding Mariah’s death, to the interrogation tactics used by investigators, to testimony the jury never heard.

Forensic Tales is a Rockefeller Audio production.

The show is written and produced by Courtney Fretwell.

If you’d like to support the show and help fund research, production, and editing, you can do so with a small monthly contribution on Patreon.

Patreon supporters get early access to ad-free episodes and exclusive bonus content.

You can learn more at Patreon.com/ForensicTales.

You can also watch Forensic Tales on YouTube. Just search Forensic Tales Podcast and be sure to subscribe.

And if you enjoy the show, leaving a positive rating or review really helps others discover it.

For a full list of sources used in this episode, visit ForensicTales.com.

Remember... not all stories have happy endings.

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#321 - In December 2004, 21-year-old Johnia Berry was attacked inside her Knoxville, Tennessee apartment.

The crime scene raised more questions than answers. There were no clear signs of forced entry. The weapon came from inside the home. And despite the brutality of the attack, there was no obvious motive.

Investigators initially focused on someone close to her, but forensic evidence would soon complicate that theory.

A partial fingerprint. A single shoe print. And an unidentified DNA profile left behind at the scene.

For years, the case seemed stalled. Then, an unexpected lead shifted the investigation in a new direction.

In this episode of Forensic Tales, we examine the forensic evidence, the missteps, the turning points, and the lasting impact this case had on DNA laws in Tennessee.

Because sometimes the science speaks clearly even when the “why” never does.

Forensic Tales is a Rockefeller Audio production. The show is written and produced by Courtney Fretwell.

If you'd like to support the show and gain access to exclusive content, early and ad-free episodes, please consider joining the show's Patreon.

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Subscribe to Forensic Tales on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen so you don't miss an episode. Also, be sure to follow us on YouTube.

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Remember... Not all stories have happy endings...

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#320 - In 2008, a South Carolina man disappeared while checking his mail outside his home. His body was soon found in nearby woods, and an autopsy revealed he had been strangled to death.

At first, the police had few suspects. But right before the case turned cold, investigators did something outside the box. They turned to cell phone forensics.

Forensic Tales is a Rockefeller Audio production. The show is written and produced by Courtney Fretwell.

If you'd like to support the show and get access to early, ad-free episodes, consider joining the show's Patreon page. You can support the show for as little as $3/month.

For a complete list of sources used in this episode, please visit our website.

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BONUS UPDATE

Yesterday, Juliana Peres Magalhães, the former au pair and key witness in the so-called “Au Pair Affair” murder trial, was sentenced.

In this short follow-up episode of Forensic Tales, we recap the sentencing hearing, including the defense’s motion to exclude victim impact statements from Christine Banfield’s family, the judge’s ruling, and the final sentence handed down in connection with the death of Joseph Ryan.

Juliana previously entered into a plea agreement and testified for the Commonwealth against Brendan Banfield, serving as the prosecution’s central witness in a case built heavily on digital forensic evidence and allegations of a calculated online setup.

This episode breaks down what happened in court, what the sentence means, and how this development fits into the larger case.

If you haven’t listened to our full trial recap, be sure to check out last week’s special episode for the complete breakdown.

Forensic Tales is a Rockefeller audio production. The show is written and produced by Courtney Fretwell.

If you'd like to support the show and get access to early, ad-free episodes, please consider joining the show's Patreon page. You can support the show for as low as $3/month.

For more ways to listen and support, subscribe to Forensic Tales on YouTube. You can also leave the show a positive review or tell friends and family about the show.

Remember... not all stories have happy endings.

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#319 - In May of 1993, three eight-year-old boys were brutally murdered in West Memphis, Arkansas. Within weeks, police arrested three teenagers, despite a complete lack of physical evidence tying them to the crime.

What followed was an investigation shaped by fear, rumor, and the cultural panic of the early 1990s. A confession filled with factual errors. Forensic interpretations that would later be widely challenged. And a jury decision that would haunt the justice system for decades.

In this episode of Forensic Tales, we take a forensic-first look at the case of the West Memphis Three, examining the crime scene, the investigative failures, the role of junk science, and how belief replaced evidence at every critical turn.

We also explore why advances in DNA testing could still hold answers today and why, nearly thirty years later, the murders of Stevie Branch, Michael Moore, and Christopher Byers remain unresolved.

Because this case didn’t end with justice.

It ended with questions.

Forensic Tales is a Rockefeller Audio production. The show is written and produced by Courtney Fretwell.

If you'd like to support the show and get access to early, ad-free episodes, please consider joining the show's Patreon.

You can support the show for as little as $3/month.

For a complete list of sources used in this episode, please visit our website.

Listen on YouTube: Search Forensic Tales and subscribe.

Not all stories have happy endings...

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Special Episode

In February 2023, police were called to a quiet home in northern Virginia. Inside the master bedroom, they found Christine Banfield, a wife and mother, suffering from multiple stab wounds. A second man, Joseph Ryan, was also found dead. He had been shot inside the same room.

Christine’s husband, Brendan Banfield, would later be charged with their murders. What followed was a case that quickly drew national attention, centered on allegations of a secret affair, digital deception, and a FetLife account prosecutors say was used to lure Ryan to the home.

In this special episode of Forensic Tales, we break down the facts of the so-called “au pair affair murder trial,” including the competing narratives presented in court and the digital forensic evidence at the heart of the case. Was this a tragic, chaotic confrontation or a calculated online setup that ended in murder?

This episode examines how modern investigations now extend beyond the physical crime scene and into logins, messages, and digital footprints before turning to the jury’s verdict.

Forensic Tales is a Rockefeller Audio production. The show is written and produced by Courtney Fretwell.

If you'd like to support the show and get access to early ad-free episodes, please consider joining the show's Patreon page. You can support Forensic Tales for as little as $3/month.

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#318 - In February 2005, an Ohio woman suddenly collapsed and died while driving to a local movie theater. At first, her death was thought to be the result of a minor car accident. But as the forensic evidence started to reveal itself, the thought that this woman died in a car accident seemed impossible. And the deeper investigators looked, the more suspicious one of the victim’s loved ones looked.

If you’d like to help create compelling new cases, fund research, and assist with production and editing costs, you can support the show with a small monthly contribution. In return, you’ll be one of the first to listen to new, ad-free episodes and gain access to exclusive content.

You can support the show for as low as $3/month.

For a complete list of sources used in this episode, please visit forensictales.com

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#317 - When a pattern emerges in criminal investigations, it often becomes the strongest lead. In Southern California, that pattern pointed to a serial sexual offender who used a knife to control his victims and left DNA behind at multiple scenes.

For years, the DNA sat unmatched.

Today’s episode examines the San Diego Knifepoint Rapist case, the forensic evidence that connected the assaults, and how modern genetic genealogy transformed a cold case into a solved one.

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From the Archives: The Mysterious Death of Tiffany Valiante

In 2015, 18-year-old Tiffany Valiante was struck and killed by a train in New Jersey. Authorities quickly ruled her death a suicide but from the very beginning, her family has insisted that explanation doesn’t make sense.

Tiffany had made plans for the future. She had no known history of depression. And crucial pieces of evidence, including her phone, shoes, and the circumstances surrounding how she ended up on the tracks, raised troubling questions that were never fully answered.

In this episode, we take a closer look at Tiffany’s final hours, the investigation that followed, and the inconsistencies that continue to fuel doubt years later. Was this truly a suicide… or was something else overlooked?

This is a case that has haunted listeners since it first aired and one that deserves another careful listen.

Forensic Tales is a Rockefeller Audio production. The show is written and produced my Courtney Fretwell.

If you'd like to support the show & get access to early ad-free episodes, please consider joining the show's Patreon page. You can support the show for as low as $3/month.

You can also support the show by leaving a positive review & telling friends and family.

For a complete list of sources used in this episode, please visit our website.

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