This episode was originally released as a bonus for subscribers and is now available on the main feed for all listeners. If you want to get more episodes like this (three bonus episodes per month) check-out patreon.com/momsandmysteriespodcast, or Apple + and Spotify's Bonus episodes. Enjoy!

Be back on January 1st for a brand-new episode!

From the original episode:

If you've ever wondered what happens when a Disney cast member, a Craigslist ad, an Orlando Magic cheerleader, and a man with a toe-related fantasy collide inside a perfectly normal Orlando townhouse, well, you might also be from Florida. Because the rest of the world is not ready for this story.

In this episode, we break down a Craigslist job offer that absolutely should not exist, a man named Phil who is deeply committed to Bassnectar, a woman named Carolyn who deserved hazard pay just for walking through the door, a safe word that is somehow "Connecticut," and a toe-removal attempt set up with the precision of a DIY disaster. It is a story that is somehow both deranged and oddly sincere, which is to say: perfectly Florida.

And since we were born and raised in the Sunshine State, we feel uniquely qualified to bring you these stories. All month long we're recapping episodes of It's Florida, Man over on our bonus feed as part of Florida Women Bonus Month.

Thanks for listening, and remember: if a man asks you to bring a witness to a toe-removal appointment, perhaps reconsider your life choices.

From Max: A broke Orlando man responds to a Craigslist ad offering $4,000 to fulfill a stranger's lifelong fantasy. Luckily there's a safe word.

This week, we are revisiting our most downloaded episode of the year: the heartbreaking case of Lauren Burk. In March 2008, the brutal murder of this 18-year-old Auburn University student shattered a community and left a family searching for answers in a case that is as tragic as it is controversial. Lauren was a bright, promising freshman who was abducted at gunpoint from her campus, robbed, and shot before she bravely jumped from a moving car in a desperate attempt to save her life. Her story is one of unimaginable terror, but also of incredible courage in her final moments. The investigation led police to Courtney Lockhart, an Iraq War veteran whose life had taken a dark turn after returning home. His confession painted a disturbing picture of a man pushed to the edge, but was it the full story? We dive into the complexities of the case, from the initial crime to the controversial trial that followed, where a judge overrode a unanimous jury recommendation for life in prison and sentenced Lockhart to death. Join us as we take a second look at the case that resonated so deeply with our listeners. We explore the devastating impact of Lauren's murder, the questions surrounding her killer's mental state, and the unique legal proceedings that still spark debate today.

In 1908 Glasgow, 82-year-old Marion Gilchrist was brutally murdered in her home during a ten-minute window while her maid was out. There was no forced entry, and the only thing missing was a single diamond brooch. The police quickly zeroed in on Oscar Slater, a German-Jewish immigrant with a gambling habit, and built a case around him with flimsy evidence and coached witnesses. Despite a weak case, Slater was convicted and sentenced to death, a sentence later commuted to life in prison. After a nearly 20-year fight for justice, championed by Sherlock Holmes author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Slater was finally exonerated. But the question remains: if Slater didn't do it, who did? New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday! Follow us on Instagram: @momsandmysteries Join our Patreon: patreon.com/momsandmysteries Visit our website: momsandmysteries.com #TrueCrime #Podcast #MomsAndMysteries #OscarSlater #MarionGilchrist #UnsolvedMysteries #HistoricalCrime #WrongfulConviction #Scotland

The polished facade of NXIVM has shattered, and in Part 2, we take you inside the federal courthouse where its leaders finally face justice. We explore the harrowing trial of Keith Raniere, built on the brave testimony of the women who escaped his control. From the secret master-slave sorority known as DOS to the shocking details of branding, blackmail, and psychological abuse, the full truth of the cult is laid bare.

We cover the verdicts, the sentences, and the downfall of the man who called himself "Vanguard." But what happens after the headlines fade? To discuss the case's complex legacy, we are joined by a special guest: Natalie, the host of the popular podcast "Allison After NXIVM." She shares her unique insights into the story, the people involved, and the long road to recovery for those who lived through it. Find more information about "Allison After NXIVM" here

Thank you to this week's sponsors!

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#truecrime #truecrimepodcast #momsandmysteries #nxivm #keithraniere #trial #dos #allisonafternxivm #justice #cult

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Imagine thinking you signed up for a self-improvement course, only to wake up inside a secret hierarchy where starvation, blackmail, and branding were sold as empowerment. This is the story of NXIVM, the so-called leadership program that unraveled into one of the most disturbing criminal enterprises in modern history. In Part 1, we pull back the curtain on how Keith Raniere, a man who called himself "Vanguard," and his partner Nancy Salzman built a multi-million dollar empire on the promise of human potential. We explore the early days of their Executive Success Programs (ESP), the manipulative techniques used to lure in thousands of followers—including celebrities and business leaders—and the slow, deliberate process of indoctrination. How did a group that started with corporate retreats and PowerPoint presentations devolve into a destructive cult? We trace the origins of the abuse, the creation of a master-slave sorority, and the psychological tactics that kept its members loyal, even as the darkness closed in. Thank you to this week's sponsors! Find gifts so good you'll want to keep them with Quince! Go to Quince.com/moms for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too. Head to Wayfair.com right now to shop all things home. #truecrime #truecrimepodcast #momsandmysteries #nxivm #keithraniere #cult #nancysalzman #selfhelp #esp #vanguard New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday! Follow us on Instagram: @momsandmysteries Join our Patreon: patreon.com/momsandmysteries Visit our website: momsandmysteries.com

In 1931 Liverpool, a bizarre phone call sent William Herbert Wallace on a wild goose chase across the city. The caller, a man named "Qualtrough," had left a message for him at his chess club, asking him to meet at a non-existent address. When William returned home, he found his wife, Julia, brutally murdered in their parlor. The house was locked, there were no signs of forced entry, and the timeline seemed impossibly tight. Police immediately suspected William, believing the phone call was a ruse to create a fake alibi. He was quickly arrested, tried, and convicted, only to have the verdict overturned in an unprecedented move by the Court of Criminal Appeal. For nearly a century, the case has remained one of Britain's greatest unsolved mysteries. Was William a cunning killer who almost got away with it, or an innocent man framed by a phantom? New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday! Follow us on Instagram: @momsandmysteries Join our Patreon: patreon.com/momsandmysteries Visit our website: momsandmysteries.com #TrueCrime #Podcast #MomsAndMysteries #JuliaWallace #UnsolvedMysteries #HistoricalCrime #Liverpool #LockedRoomMystery

When police responded to a domestic dispute call at a Victorian home in Louisville, Kentucky, they stumbled into a house of horrors. The fight between lovers Jeffrey Mundt and Joseph Banis led them to a gruesome discovery in the basement: the body of James Carroll, who had been stabbed and shot, his body hidden inside an airtight container buried beneath the floor. The investigation unraveled a dark story of a love triangle fueled by meth, jealousy, and counterfeit cash. As Jeffrey and Joseph turned on each other, each painting the other as the mastermind, detectives were left to piece together what really happened. Was it a robbery gone wrong, a crime of passion, or something even more sinister? This is the twisted story of a murder that exposed the dark secrets hidden within a historic home. New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday! Follow us on Instagram: @momsandmysteries Join our Patreon: patreon.com/momsandmysteries Visit our website: momsandmysteries.com #TrueCrime #Podcast #MomsAndMysteries #JamesCarroll #Louisville #KentuckyCrime #Murder #LoveTriangle

In 2012, a 16-year-old girl in a quiet Dutch town made a simple mistake: she accidentally set her Facebook birthday party invitation to "public." Within days, the invite went viral, attracting tens of thousands of RSVPs and becoming known online as "Project X Haren." While the birthday girl and her family fled, thousands of strangers descended on the small town, ready to party. What started as a digital joke quickly spiraled into a real-world riot. Fireworks, flipped cars, and clashes with police turned the night into a scene of chaos that made international headlines. This is the unbelievable true story of how one click of a button unleashed the power of the internet and turned a quiet Sweet 16 into one of the most infamous parties in European history. New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday! Follow us on Instagram: @momsandmysteries Join our Patreon: patreon.com/momsandmysteries Visit our website: momsandmysteries.com #TrueStory #Podcast #ProjectXHaren #FacebookFail #Viral #Riot #Netherlands #SocialMedia

In 1998, a polite and oddly courteous criminal known as "Roofman" began a crime spree across nine states, targeting mostly McDonald's restaurants. Jeffrey Manchester, a former Army paratrooper, would cut holes in the roofs of buildings, wait for employees to arrive, and then rob them at gunpoint—after politely telling them to grab a jacket before locking them in the freezer. After being caught and sentenced to 45 years, he escaped prison by hiding under a truck. For six months, he lived inside the walls of a Toys "R" Us in Charlotte, North Carolina, surviving on baby food and entertaining himself with remote-controlled cars. He even started a new life, complete with a girlfriend and a church community who knew him as "John Zorn." This is the unbelievable true story of the criminal who turned a toy store into his personal hideout and the bizarre double life he led before his final capture. New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday! Follow us on Instagram: @momsandmysteries Join our Patreon: patreon.com/momsandmysteries Visit our website: momsandmysteries.com #TrueCrime #Podcast #JeffreyManchester #Roofman #RooftopRobber #ToysRUs #CharlotteNC #CrimeSpree #PrisonEscape

In September 1999, 17-year-old Nicole Sanchez was a talented singer with a contagious laugh and big dreams of becoming a veterinary assistant. But her life was brutally cut short by her 23-year-old boyfriend, Lionel Villarreal, in a horrifying act of intimate partner violence. After just four months of dating, Nicole had decided to end the controlling relationship. That weekend, she was shot and killed. Lionel claimed it was a suicide, but the evidence told a different story. The single gunshot wound was a deliberate, humiliating act of aggression. He was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to what the court called "life," but in Michigan, that could mean parole in just 20 years. For over two decades, Nicole's family has lived with the devastating loss, while her killer has been planning his future. This is the story of a vibrant young life stolen too soon and the relentless fight her sister has waged to keep a dangerous man behind bars and to ensure that Nicole's story is never forgotten. New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday! Follow us on Instagram: @momsandmysteries Join our Patreon: patreon.com/momsandmysteries Visit our website: momsandmysteries.com #TrueCrime #Podcast #NicoleSanchez #JusticeForNicole #DomesticViolence #DatingViolence #SaginawMichigan #LionelVillarreal #EndDV