Invisible Choir

On the afternoon of March 19th, 2018, residents in Lake Wales, Florida were going about their usual day-to-day business. Adults were just getting off work, kids were returning home from school, and others were finishing up their errands. But, around 3 PM, that all changed when waves of police and paramedics made their way to a neighborhood on the south side of town, surrounding a small field near Caloosa Blvd and Lake Blvd. As public interest grew and residents watched on, they learned that just beyond that field, in a small but dense area of trees, lay the dead body of 15-year-old Giovanni Diaz. As for the suspect, 16-year-old Dillen Murray, he was already in custody, claiming that he had beaten the boy to death in self-defense. It just so happened that the community themselves had far more information than investigators initially realized, helping to piece together the puzzle of how a hang out between friends turned deadly.

***We originally covered this case in an abbreviated “Felony Friday” mini-episode back in 2020. This is a follow-up full length rewrite now that the perpetrator has been sentenced and all investigative reports have been made publicly available.***

Written by Trevor Pason, edited and engineered by Scott Ecklein, and executive produced by Michael Ojibway. View full episode source list at https://www.invisiblechoir.com/listen/secretproject 

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The Cloud 9 nightclub in Ocala, FL was a hotspot for young people seeking an unforgettable nightlife experience. The venue had become notable in the community for its raucous crowd and the constant illegal activities that occurred within. When 19-year-old college athlete Benetria Robinson returned home from college to Ocala to celebrate her aunt’s birthday at Cloud 9, neither she nor anyone else in attendance could have anticipated the dark turn the night would take when an argument started up in the middle of the club… 

Written by John Garland Wells, edited and engineered by Scott Ecklein, and executive produced by Michael Ojibway. View full episode source list at https://www.invisiblechoir.com/listen/strengthnumbers  

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In the spring of 2022, Ashley Bocanegra found herself in an exciting new romantic relationship with Daniel Gonzalez… despite knowing it was a mistake. She was already in a committed long-term relationship and raising a young son. Daniel, too, was involved with someone else. But what Ashley never expected was how quickly things would spiral out of control when Daniel's fiancée discovered the affair…

Written by Sam Foster, Edited and Engineered by Scott Ecklein, and Executive Produced by Michael Ojibway. “Surprise Attack - Intro” written, composed and performed by Scott Ecklein. View full episode source list at https://www.invisiblechoir.com/listen/surpriseattack   

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"Have you ever seen a dead body?" It was a haunting question that marked the beginning of a gruesome discovery inside the Smylie family home in Brandon, MS, in March of 2024. A beloved high school teacher was found shot dead, and her husband narrowly escaped with his own life. Amid the chaos that followed, Heath Smylie recognized the killer—but if not for the footage captured on a home security camera in the family’s kitchen, no one might have believed him…

Written by Sam Foster, Edited and Engineered by Scott Ecklein, and Executive Produced by Michael Ojibway. All original music written, composed and performed by Scott Ecklein. View full episode source list at https://www.invisiblechoir.com/listen/perfectstorm 

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Shortly after 5 a.m. on Sept. 10, 2012, three masked men wielding guns broke into a suburban home in Ocoee, Florida. The intruders dragged roommates Alex Zaldivar, 19, Brienna Campos, 20, and her brother Remington Campos, 23, from their beds and lay them face down on the living room floor. Minutes later, bullets were fired into each of the heads. The men fled. When the ringing in their ears subsided, Remington and Brienna Campos realized they had miraculously survived, but their friend did not. Alex Zaldivar lay motionless in a widening pool of his own blood. Who were these men and why were they trying to kill everyone inside? It would later be revealed one of the intruders had been in this house, uninvited, once before. He was facing serious prison time and saw only one solution: he had to kill the witnesses. 

A special thanks to Rafael Zaldivar, who shared photos, videos and personal stories about his son, as well as retired Orlando Police Detective Michael Moreschi, who investigated the murder and provided an interview and information for this episode.

Written by Gus Burns, Edited and Engineered by Scott Ecklein, and Executive Produced by Michael Ojibway. View full episode source list: View full episode source list: https://www.invisiblechoir.com/listen/witness   

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On Monday, June 24th, 2019, 33-year-old Kaylynn Blue failed to show up for her shift at a Walgreens in Idaho Falls, raising concern among her coworkers. Kaylynn had already missed two days—which was highly unusual for her. Worried, they reached out to her family, who soon involved the authorities. By 9 a.m., police arrived at Kaylynn’s residence to conduct a welfare check. There, they encountered her boyfriend, Philip Schwab, also 33. What they discovered was chilling: Philip was not only responsible for Kaylynn’s death, but had left behind a disturbing trail of online confessions detailing his crimes.

Written by Trevor Pason, edited and engineered by Scott Ecklein, and executive produced by Michael Ojibway. View full episode source list at https://www.invisiblechoir.com/listen/beneathsoil 

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We're all drawn to the same things for different reasons. Nineteen-year-old “Serge” craved the freedom and exploration that travel offered. In 2008, he jumped at the chance to join a friend on an illegal train-hopping adventure to Florida. From that moment on, he was hooked. But his carefree nomadic lifestyle soon led him to cross paths with a coarse train hopping veteran known only as,  "Dirty Mike." Serge and his adventurous friends quickly discovered that Dirty Mike was on a journey of his own—one fueled by much darker and disturbing motives…

Special thanks to Serge Z. for taking the time to talk to us and share his story about his experiences traveling the country.  Written by Trevor Pason, edited and engineered by Scott Ecklein, and executive produced by Michael Ojibway. View full episode source list at https://www.invisiblechoir.com/listen/bellybeast 

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On December 7th, 2016, 22-year-old Jessica Seger had plans to visit her sister, 25-year-old Amanda Suarez, at her home in Okeechobee, Florida. When Jessica arrived at the home, she noticed something strange: the door was open. And what lay inside proved to be horrific, as her sister's body was set on the floor, posed and covered in blood. Along with the body was Amanda’s hysterical 2-year-old child. Jessica grabbed her nephew and ran up the block to call the police. In the ensuing investigation and interviews with family and friends, investigators compiled a small list of potential suspects. But it was only after the discovery of a single piece of evidence left behind by Amanda herself, that detectives were able to narrow it down to one prime suspect. What followed was a tale of extreme depravity of the worst kind…  

Written by Trevor Pason, edited and engineered by Scott Ecklein, and executive produced by Michael Ojibway. View full episode source list at https://www.invisiblechoir.com/listen/fog 

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In the early hours of July 23rd, 2013, Amy Lord was heading out of her apartment for a morning gym session with a friend. At the same time, just a few blocks away, a woman had been brutally attacked, and the assailant was now prowling the streets in search of his next target. When he spotted Amy, the events that followed would send shockwaves through South Boston…

Special thanks to Kayleigh Ballantyne for her courage, insight, and willingness to speak with us for this episode. Written by Sam Foster, Edited and Engineered by Scott Ecklein, and Executive Produced by Michael Ojibway. View full episode source list at https://www.invisiblechoir.com/listen/guardian 

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On October 25th, 2018, staff at the California Men’s Colony Prison in San Luis Obispo noticed their beloved co-worker 64-year-old Athena Valentiny had not arrived at work. This absence prompted a wellness check, as was their standard procedure. But it was when two security guards tasked with checking up on Athena noticed her car was still parked in front of her home that they began to worry. To make matters worse, they noticed what appeared to be blood on her window shades. With Athena’s well being put into question, Grover Beach Police were dispatched and, to their horror, they found Athena viciously stabbed to death in her bedroom. As for who was responsible, there was a laundry list of potential suspects. But after some digging, investigators narrowed it down to one person, and with this discovery was a story, and a road trip, almost too far-fetched to be real. 

Written by Trevor Pason , Executive Produced by Michael Ojibway. View full episode source list at https://www.invisiblechoir.com/listen/roadtrip  

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