Papi Killed Mommy

Letter from a friend: Cheryl Mendel


Listen Later

Send us a text

Hello, I’m Nikki, daughter of a woman whose life was tragically cut short. Welcome back to Papi Killed Mommy.

These bonus episodes share letters from my mom’s closest friends — a way to meet the woman I never fully knew.

She was taken when I was ten. These letters bring her memory alive and reveal parts of her story missing from Episode 1, which premieres July 8 at 11 PM MST — the moment I last said goodnight to her.

Before this podcast, I had almost no audio experience. Social media helped keep her name alive, but I needed a louder way to tell her story.

I built a home studio, wrote these episodes, and started speaking from the heart. It’s been emotional and challenging, but each episode brings the truth forward.

This episode features a letter from Cheryl Mendel, a friend of my mom’s in 1976. Cheryl saw Stacy as a spirited, resilient teen with a bold personality and gentle soul.

Though brief, their friendship reveals the woman behind the mother — the woman inspiring this fight for justice.

If Cheryl’s memories bring you closer to my mom, stay with me. There’s so much more to uncover.

Papi Killed Mommy launches July 8 at 11 PM MST — the moment my life changed forever.

Each week, we’ll explore facts, memories, and the ongoing search for truth.

Next week, I’ll share one last bonus letter — from me to my mother. It’s deeply personal, and I hope it helps you feel closer to her.

How you can help

  • Subscribe, follow, and share to amplify this story.
  • If you have info, contact Sedona Police at (928) 282-3100 or [email protected].
  • Sign the petition for a full homicide investigation: https://www.change.org/p/demand-a-complete-homicide-investigation-for-the-murder-of-stephanie-marie-wasilishin.
  • Support the show to fund interviews, FOIA requests, and forensic work via the “Support the Show” link.

🐾✈️ Traveling to CrimeCon with my best friend, Dickie Birdie, comes with some unexpected expenses — his recent vet visit alone was $827. If you’d like to help make sure he’s safe and comfy on this trip, I’ve put together a small Amazon Wishlist with his travel essentials (like a stroller, pop‑up kennel, and car seat). Every bit of support means the world. 💙
🛒 Click here to check out Dickie Birdie’s Wishlist

Resources

This podcast discusses domestic violence, trauma, and homicide. If you or someone you love needs help:

  • National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233 | thehotline.org
  • Sedona Police Department: (928) 282-3100
  • More resources at the podcast website.

Stay connected

  • TikTok & Instagram: @nicolewasilishin
  • YouTube: Daughter of a Murdered Woman
  • Website: daughterofamurderedwoman.com

Thank you for listening, caring, and standing with me to give my mom’s story a voice.

Support the show

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Papi Killed MommyBy NIKKI

  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8

4.8

120 ratings


More shows like Papi Killed Mommy

View all
The Vanished Podcast by Wondery

The Vanished Podcast

15,325 Listeners

A Murder On Orchard Street by ABC News

A Murder On Orchard Street

3,984 Listeners

Morbid by Morbid Network | Wondery

Morbid

98,169 Listeners

America's Crime Lab by iHeartPodcasts and Kaleidoscope

America's Crime Lab

3,453 Listeners

Voices for Justice by Sarah Turney

Voices for Justice

8,931 Listeners

Park Predators by audiochuck

Park Predators

17,769 Listeners

Serialously with Annie Elise by 10 to LIFE & Audioboom Studios

Serialously with Annie Elise

9,526 Listeners

What Happened to Talina Zar by iHeartPodcasts

What Happened to Talina Zar

1,780 Listeners

Betrayal: Weekly by iHeartPodcasts and Glass Podcasts

Betrayal: Weekly

7,474 Listeners

Fear Thy Neighbor by ID

Fear Thy Neighbor

566 Listeners

Who Took Misty Copsey? by ID

Who Took Misty Copsey?

5,428 Listeners

Unlawful Acts by Rhapsody Voices

Unlawful Acts

31 Listeners

Devil in the Desert by ABC News

Devil in the Desert

1,557 Listeners

The Hunter by BBC Studios

The Hunter

50 Listeners

Cold Blooded: Mystery in Alaska by ABC News

Cold Blooded: Mystery in Alaska

1,011 Listeners