This week, we cover the heartbreaking case of Lizzbeth Aleman Popoca, a 27-year-old mother who disappeared from East Haven, Connecticut, in July 2020. As investigators searched for answers, evidence quickly began pointing toward the man closest to her. What unfolded was a tragic case involving coercive control, abuse, and the dangerous reality many victims face when trying to leave a relationship. We break down the timeline of Lizzbeth’s disappearance, the investigation, and the warning signs surrounding domestic violence.

If you or someone you know needs help, support is available:
National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE
Text START to 88788
thehotline.org
Crisis Support: Dial 988


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Sources:
02082024JaraAucapina 
Murder of Lizzbeth Aleman-Popoca by Jonnathan Jara-Aucapina investigated on Crime Junkie 
LoMonaco’s Italian Restaurant, Branford, CT 
Medical Examiner Releases Cause of Death For East Haven Mom Found Behind Restaurant – NBC Connecticut 
Man sentenced in murder of girlfriend found behind CT restaurant 
Common-law husband arrested in death of East Haven’s Lizzbeth Aleman-Popoca 
New Haven man sentenced to 25 years for 2020 murder of longtime girlfriend 

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Updates on the sentencing for Kouri Richins following her conviction for the 2022 murder of Eric Richins

We are also including out orginal case coverage from 2023 to the end of this episode.


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Previous Coverage on Spotify

Case Coverage June 2023
Episode 33
Update Episodes
Jan 2024 
June 2024

Previous Coverage on Apple

Case Coverage June 2023
Episode 33
Update Episodes
Jan 2024
June 2024



Sources

Sentencing Trial on Youtube

https://Utah grief author sentenced to life in prison in husband’s poisoning death

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/timeline-utah-mom-kouri-richins-husband-death-fentanyl-rcna85787

https://www.walker-mortuary.com/obituaries/Eric-Richins

https://www.kpcw.org/summit-county/2023-05-18/how-kouri-richins-learned-she-was-cut-out-of-her-husbands-will

https://www.abc4.com/news/northern-utah/utah-woman-who-wrote-book-about-grief-following-husbands-death-charged-with-murder/

https://www.abc4.com/news/northern-utah/childrens-author-accused-of-murder-allegedly-had-history-of-trying-to-poison-husband/

https://nypost.com/2023/05/13/kouri-richins-threw-party-day-after-allegedly-killing-husband-report/

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/kouri-richins-gag-order-documentary_n_647a5c14e4b045ce2488b373

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In this lighthearted GBC (Good, Badass, Crime) episode of Like Mother Like Murder, Rachel and Heather celebrate Mother’s Day with stories ranging from inspiring to hilarious. 

• The surprising history of Mother’s Day and Anna Jarvis’ fight against commercialization
• “Tenacious Tiffany” Wedekind, an artist and yoga advocate living with progeria who inspires others to embrace gratitude and live fully
• A spotlight on Ashley Rolfe, a nurse and NICU mom reminding listeners that unexpected birth journeys do not define motherhood
• Kentucky Derby history made by trainer Cherie DeVaux
• A bizarre and funny crime story involving 65 stolen Stanley cups from Target
• The viral claim that crime drops on Mother’s Day — and what Snopes had to say about it

Grab your coffee, wine, or Stanley cup and hang out with Rachel and Heather for this feel-good mix of advocacy, inspiration, Kentucky culture, and chaos.

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Sources:
Who is the Kentucky Derby female trainer? Meet Cherie DeVaux, trying to make history with Golden Tempo | Sporting News 
How Cherie DeVaux went from ‘wild child’ premed student to Kentucky Derby-winning trainer - The Athletic 
Cherie DeVaux's Parents & Family: Her Ethnicity and Siblings Always a Runner finishes strong to win 2026 Kentucky Oaks - The Athletic 
Who is Cherie DeVaux? All About the Horse Trainer Behind Golden Tempo’s Historic Kentucky Derby Win - Yahoo Sports 
Cherie DeVaux's Husband and Kids: Her Family and Children 
Interviews/Documentaries 
California woman arrested for stealing Stanley cups valued at nearly $2,500: police | Fox Business


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This is a mini episode, not a full case coverage, where Rachel and Heather share about a recent tragedy in Berea, Kentucky. An armed 18-year-old entered the US Bank in Berea around 2 PM, killing employees Breanna Edwards, 35, a newlywed with a passion for photography, and Brian Sweitzer, 42, a husband and father of three. 

The hosts honor the victims, ask listeners to send prayers and support to the families, and share the GoFundMes created to help their families navigate the financial hardships this loss has created. 

Also highlighted is the tremendous work done by law enforcement. Working together, quick and determined investigation, and efforts that led to an arrest and federal charge within 24 hours. 

Breanna Edwards - GoFundMe
Fundraiser by Lexi Edwards : Support for Breanna Edwards’ Family 

Brian Switzer - GoFundMe
Fundraiser by Rebecca Carpenter : Support for Rachel and Her Children After Tragedy

Overflow Coffee Co. has also been collecting donations for Edwards’ family, accepting cash at a Berea trailer or via Venmo (@ANipp88) and CashApp ($AmberN1226)

Sources:
us bank shooter ended up in somerset and then to lexington - Search 
2 employees killed in U.S. Bank robbery in Berea, suspect at large | Fox News 
Teen accused of killing 2 US Bank employees faces federal charges | Fox News 
Community remembers, grieves loss of 2 Kentuckians killed in fatal bank robbery 
FIRST-PERSON: The Berea bank murders: My town and my people are suffering | Perspectives | kentuckytoday.com 
Kentucky bank robbery update 
Community remembers, grieves loss of 2 Kentuckians killed in fatal bank robbery - WTVQ 

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Missing in Kentucky: Kori Smith, Ashley Matthews, and Angela Storms

Today's episode focused on three women currently missing in Kentucky: Kori Smith, missing since May 6, 2025 after leaving work at Swedish Auto in Nicholasville; Ashley Matthews, missing since March 15 or 16 and last seen on foot in the Summersville area of Green County; and Angela Storms, missing since December 23, 2025 after last being seen near Sulfur Springs Hollow Road in Somerset.

The episode also outlines Kentucky missing-person alert types and suggests steps families can take, including requesting case numbers, using databases like NamUs, contacting media, and gathering strong, recent photos and details.


URGENT: Residents Asked to Save Security Footage as Search for Ashley Matthews Hits One-Month Mark - NewsBreak 
(14) Kentucky Missing People | This is Ashley Creason Matthews | Facebook 
(14) 🚨 STILL MISSING: Kori Smith 🚨 Kori... - The Unsolved in Kentucky | Facebook 

Family continues search for missing Kentucky woman months after disappearance 
Fundraiser by Jaime Smith : Help find Kori Smith Help Find Missing Person Kori Smith in Kentucky | TikTok 
Kentucky Missing Persons Database – Missing People and Unsolved Cold Cases 
Fundraiser by Janie Centers : Hope for Angela: Reward Fund 
The Disappearance of Angela Storms 
Search continues for Somerset woman missing since December - WTVQ 
Kentucky State Police - Missing Persons Center

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Introducing the new long form investigative podcast from the team behind Missing in Hush Town, Secrets Beyond the Sacramento River.
Subscribe now wherever you get podcasts and catch new episodes each Monday.

Apple Podcast Link
Spotify Podcast Link 


Episode 1: Send Recovery
On September 9th, 2023, at 9:45 PM, a 911 call was made.
A witness reported a white sedan sitting on River Road in the Sacramento Delta.
Moments later, that same car began to move—rolling slowly from a stop, turning down an embankment, and disappearing into the Sacramento River.
Emergency response was called.
But what happened next, doesn’t make sense.
Within hours, the call was downgraded.
Medical was cancelled.
No confirmed search took place the following day.
Two days later, a dive team finally located the vehicle.
Four days later, Jeff Anderson was pulled from the bottom of the river—just 500 feet from where the car entered the water.
His car was:
-upside down
- in park.
Keys in his pocket.
His body in the back seat.
His phone was never recovered.
And in the months after his death—someone attempted to access his accounts.

Authorities ruled it an accident.

We disagree. 

In this first chapter of Secrets Beyond the Sacramento River, we walk you through the night Jeff Anderson lost his life—using dispatch calls, witness statements, and official reports—to uncover one question:

What happened to Jeff Anderson?

Subscribe wherver you get podcasts. 

Hosts Jen Rivera & Jules Thorp 
Produced in cooperation with Jeff Anderson's family.

A proud Fire Eyes Media LLC network podcast.


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After 22 years behind bars, Carmen Mejia is finally free. In 2003, a tragic accident left a 10-month-old baby dead. What should have been recognized as a devastating mistake quickly turned into a murder conviction—despite no evidence of abuse and testimony supporting Carmen’s innocence. She was sentenced to life. It took decades, the work of the Innocence Project, and the voices of those who never gave up… to uncover the truth. This episode dives into:

• A tragedy turned wrongful conviction
• The failures that led to 22 years lost
• The fight for justice—and finally, freedom

This isn’t just a case.
It’s a reminder of what happens when the system gets it wrong.

⚠️ Trigger Warning: Child death, wrongful conviction, trauma 

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What started as a small school incident turned into a calculated nightmare. When drugs were found in PTA mom Kelli Peters’ car, it looked like an open-and-shut case… until everything unraveled.

A suspicious 911 call.
Missing evidence.
And a shocking truth—this wasn’t an accident.

This episode dives into the twisted story of a neighborhood rivalry that escalated into a full-blown setup, exposing just how far people will go for revenge. 

Trigger Warning: False accusations, legal manipulation, emotional distress 

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Sources:
https://www.latimes.com/projects/la-me-framed/

https://www.ocregister.com/2016/05/30/irvine-mom-kelli-peters-writes-book-about-drugs-being-planted-in-her-car/

https://mynewsla.com/orange-county/2018/02/14/ex-attorney-who-framed-irvine-pta-mom-drops-appeal-netflix-developing-movie-about-bizarre-saga/



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The Good, The Badass and The Crime #15

The Good:
A mother-daughter Appalachian Trail journey raises $83,000 for Parkinson’s research, and a Virginia auto tech program gifts repaired cars to single moms.
The Badass:
A mom saves $48,000 in child support for her daughter, and a grandmother delivers a baby in a car, helping him take his first breath.
The Crime:
A Taco Bell burrito dispute turns violent in Florida, and a Missouri break-in involves Fruity Pebbles… and a very questionable excuse.

There's Still Hope A Joourney of Adversity, Tragedy, and Unshakeable Faith by Hope Hooton 
https://a.co/d/0gbWKBFx

Sources:
Florida police: Couple arrested after Taco Bell burrito-hitting, fork-stabbing fight
Woman gifts daughter $48K from child support savings for birthday - Blueprint Miami
Mother, Daughter forging 2,190-mile Appalachian Trail to raise funds for Parkinson's - CBS Minnesota
Appalachian Trail for Parkinson's Disease - YouTube



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After disappearing in Zion National Park, Holly Courtier was found alive nearly two weeks later. We explore what happened, how she survived, and why some questioned her story.

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