In this episode, we dive into one of California’s most haunting family stories — the Stayners of Merced. In 1972, seven-year-old Steven Stayner was kidnapped and held captive for seven years before bravely escaping and rescuing another child. Two decades later, his older brother Cary Stayner shocked the same community when he confessed to murdering four women near Yosemite National Park.

This episode unpacks both halves of this tragic story — Steven’s abduction and survival, the years of trauma that followed, and the unraveling of Cary’s quiet life that led to the 1999 Yosemite murders. It’s a story about family, grief, and the thin line between victim and villain — a real-life Cain and Abel story written across generations.

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Michigan Church Shooting, Fugitive Captured in India, and Young Woman's Remains Found in Hoarder House, and FINALLY, the Yogurt Shop Murders have been solved thanks to breakthroughs in DNA testing!

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When a Colorado mom reports being terrorized by a stalker, police race to protect her—only to uncover a far more shocking truth hiding inside closer to home than anyone realized.

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Crime doesn’t take a day off. And neither does Crime House Daily. 

Hosted by self-defense instructor and advocate for victims, Katie Ring, Crime House Daily is coming to you twice every weekday, covering the biggest crime stories as they unfold. 

Morning episodes give you the need-to-know. The latest headlines, breaking developments, and where things are going next. 

Evening episodes go deeper. Into the people, the evidence, and the moments that matter most. 

The pursuit of justice never stops. And with Crime House Daily, you won’t have to either. 

Follow Crime House Daily on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or listen here:

https://link.podtrac.com/2uw1ou9f

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🚩 Five bodies found in Houston bayous — Multiple human remains recovered across Houston waterways in mid-September ignite investigation into possible links. 

🚩 Remains of missing Alaska teen identified — The body of 18-year-old Ataja Banks, missing since 2023, was found in Wasilla and authorities now treat it as a homicide. 

🚩 Gilgo case Judge rejects defense in serial murder trial — A New York judge denied Rex Heuermann’s request to split the charges, ordering that he face all seven murder counts in one consolidated trial. 

🚩 Man stabs fiancée a week after engagement — In Maryland, 34-year-old Rondale Dickerson is accused of killing his fiancée, Shelaya Broadwater, just days after getting engaged. 

🚩 Motel beheading in Dallas — A motel manager, Chandra “Bob” Nagamallaiah, was beheaded in front of his family after a dispute with a coworker wielding a machete.

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At just 23 years old, Sandra Birchmore was found dead in her Canton, Massachusetts apartment. What looked like a tragic suicide soon raised questions that pointed back to her long, complicated relationship with a local police officer. In this episode, we dig into Sandra’s story, the secrets she kept, and the investigation that followed.

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To listen to the exclusive episode on Charlie Kirk's assassination with Austin, go to patreon.com/mamamystery

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In the first half of this episode, I make it clear where I stand and I call out some on the far left who have celebrated this tragedy. In the second half, I discuss the chronology of the events of September 10th-12th.

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In August 1996, 11-year-old Trudy Appleby vanished from her home in Moline, Illinois. She was last seen getting into a gray car with a young man, swimsuit and towel in hand — but she never came back. For nearly three decades, her case haunted the Quad Cities as her family held vigils, detectives chased leads, and suspicions mounted around trusted family friends.

Now, after 29 years, a Henry County grand jury has indicted Jamison “Jamie” Fisher for Trudy’s murder, finally bringing the case closer to justice.

In this episode of Mama Mystery, we explore the full timeline of Trudy’s disappearance, the investigation that went cold, and the decades of determination that led to this long-awaited break in one of Illinois’ most heartbreaking cases.

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In July 2021, Bart and Krista Halderson vanished from their Windsor, Wisconsin home after what was said to be a sudden holiday trip to the family cabin. As days passed with no word, suspicions grew. Friends noticed their cars still in the garage. Coworkers wondered why Krista never called in. And Chandler, their 23-year-old son, was the only one relaying updates. What began as a missing persons report quickly unraveled into something far more disturbing, as investigators pieced together a trail of strange behavior, hidden evidence, and chilling discoveries.

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