The most played episodes among Podcast App listeners.

1. 1
   Number 1: The Murder of Lori Ann Slesinski: A Conviction Without a Body

   In June 2006, 24 year old Lori Ann Slesinski left an Auburn Walmart to pick up drink mixes before a night at her best friend’s house. She never arrived. Days later, her Yorkshire Terrier, Peanut, was found safe in her mobile home, but Lori was gone. Her kitchen rugs and telephone cord were missing, the answering machine messages had disappeared, and her Mazda was later found burned on a secluded Auburn street. Lori’s friend Derrill Richard Ennis, known as Rick, was the last person known to be with her. He claimed she had left to make a drug deal, but police found nothing to support that story. The case went cold for years, even as questions remained about the evidence inside Lori’s home and near her burned vehicle. Sixteen years later, investigators rebuilt the case without Lori’s body. A jury ultimately found Derrill guilty of capital murder, but Lori’s remains have never been recovered. We cover Lori’s disappearance, the cold case investigation, and the trial that brought her family a measure of justice. Thank you to this week's sponsors! And right now, IQBAR is offering our special podcast listeners 20% off all IQBAR products—including the Ultimate sampler pack—plus FREE shipping. To get your 20% off, text MOMS to 64000. Message and data rates may apply. See terms for details. Find the fall pieces you’ll reach for most at Quince. Download the Quince app for app-exclusive offers, or go to Quince.com/moms. Get free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada and the UK, too. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

   September 01, 2026·1h 4min
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2. 2
   Number 2: The Murder of Alex Pennig: Behind the Locked Bathroom Door

   When 32-year-old nurse Alex Pennig was found dead inside the bathroom of her St. Paul apartment, the man who called 911, Matthew Ecker, insisted she had taken her own life behind a locked door. Alex had struggled with depression and addiction in the past, and at first, there were details that seemed to support his story. But the scene inside the bathroom told a much more complicated story. Investigators found a strangely clean gun resting on Alex’s chest, almost no blood on Matthew despite his claims that he had tried to save her, and a bathroom door that didn’t seem to fit his version of events. Matthew’s explanation of what happened also began to change. Then, underneath Alex’s head, investigators discovered a tiny piece of metal from the bathroom door’s locking mechanism, which was the evidence they believed showed the door had been forced open before Alex was shot. We cover Alex’s life and the struggles she worked so hard to overcome, her complicated relationship with Matthew, the final hours before her death, the inconsistencies investigators found inside her apartment, and the small piece of evidence that helped reveal what really happened behind that bathroom door. Thank you to this week's sponsors! Sleep cooler this summer with Boll & Branch. Get 15% off your first order plus free shipping at BollAndBranch.com/moms with code moms. TExclusions apply. Upgrade your everyday. Download the Quince app for app-exclusive offers, or go to Quince.com/moms. Get free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada and the UK, too. Sources: Alexandra PENNIG Obituary (2023) - Lindstrom, MN - Pioneer Press State of Minnesota, Respondent, vs. Matthew Phillip Ecker, Appellant The Strange Shooting of Alex Pennig | Full Episode + Post Mortem Matthew Ecker Murder Sentence Longer Than Expected | Fergus Now Fergus Falls Man Charged with 2nd Degree Murder in St Paul Staged Suicide | Matthew Ecker Interrogation A Minnesota woman is fatally shot in her bathroom. Who pulled the trigger? - CBS News How a small piece of a bathroom door lock helped solve the murder of a Minnesota nurse - CBS News Where is Matthew Ecker’s Family Now? https://coms.doc.state.mn.us/publicviewer/OffenderDetails/Index/268547/Search Tracking the hours before a young Minnesota woman became a murder victim - CBS News ER practitioner gets 30 years for murdering girlfriend, staging suicide in her downtown St. Paul apartment Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

   August 25, 2026·56min
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3. 3
   Number 3: The Chicago Strangler Cases: The Unforgotten 51

   Between 2001 and 2017, at least 75 women were strangled or smothered in Chicago. Many were found in alleys, vacant buildings, garbage cans, and other places where it was easy for their deaths to become separate case files instead of a citywide emergency. The women were daughters, mothers, artists, business owners, caregivers, and friends. Their names included Angela Ford, Gwendolyn Williams, Nancy Walker, Margaret Gomez, Teresa Bunn, Hazel Lewis, and Rio Renee Holyfield. In 2018, the Chicago Tribune identified 75 women whose cases showed a devastating pattern. 25 cases had been closed, while more than two thirds remained unsolved. Families and advocates had long questioned whether some of the murders were connected. The term "Chicago Strangler" became shorthand for those fears, but Chicago police have said there is no evidence that one person killed every woman in the group. The available evidence points to an even more difficult possibility: some cases may be linked, some may involve multiple offenders, and far too many families are still waiting for answers. We discuss the women at the heart of these cases, the investigation that revealed the scale of the failures, and the work advocates continue to do to make sure they are not forgotten. Get new episodes a day early and ad free at Patreon.com/momsandmysteriespodcast. Thank you to this week's sponsors! Right now nutrafol is offering our listeners $10off your first month’s subscription and free shipping when you visit nutrafol.com and enter promo code Moms. And right now, IQBAR is offering our special podcast listeners 20% off all IQBAR products—including the Ultimate sampler pack—plus FREE shipping. To get your 20% off, text MOMS to 64000. Message and data rates may apply. See terms for details. Amplify your spring look with Thrive Causemetics. Go to thrivecausemetics.com/MOMS for an exclusive offer of 20% off your first order. Treat yourself to the most advanced bras and shapewear on the market. Use our exclusive link to save 20% off Honeylove at honeylove.com/MOMS. Sources: https://www.newspapers.com/image/823292832/?terms=%2275%20women%20have%20been%20strangled%22&match=1 https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/breaking/ct-met-strangled-women-chicago-police-task-force-20190510-story.html https://www.wbez.org/stories/a-serial-killer-may-be-preying-on-black-women-in-chicago/21b45020-ca53-490e-8efe-b9c6ebbe11f3 https://chicagoreader.com/news-politics/have-you-seen-these-51-women/ https://wgntv.com/news/cover-story/long-untold-student-journalists-share-the-stories-of-51-murdered-chicago-women/ https://www.newspapers.com/image/374929179/?terms=%22Winifred%20Shines%22&match=1 https://uncovered.com/connecting-cases-data-shows-serial-killer-chicago/ https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/chicago-serial-killer-alderman-senator-demand-answers/ https://www.mMurdered: Angela Ford | Chicago, IL | Uncoveredurderdata.org/2017/11/chicagos-cluster-of-unsolved-female_30.html https://www.unforgotten51.com/2021/06/we-walk-for-her-march-brings-light-to.html https://www.unforgotten51.com/2020/12/the-dreamcatcher-foundation-on-street.html https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/angela-ford-family-of-chicago-woman-murdered-over-2-decades-ago-awaits-justice https://uncovered.com/cases/angela-ford https://www.newspapers.com/image/829193408/?terms=angela%20ford&match=1 https://www.newspapers.com/image/231273452/?terms=%22Jody%20Grissom%22&match=1 https://chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/2021/1/9/22221431/gwendolyn-williams-chicago-serial-killer-murder-accountability-project-john-fountain-samantha-latson https://www.newspapers.com/image/829193408/?terms=gwendolyn&match=1 https://www.newspapers.com/image/231245061/ https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2003-08-15-0308150274-story.html https://www.newspapers.com/image/231875803/ https://www.newspapers.com/image/232284252/?terms=%22Mary%20Thomas%22&match=1 https://www.newspapers.com/image/232271548/?terms=%22Tamala%20Edwards%22&match=1 https://www.newspapers.com/image/231547343/?terms=%22Makalavah%20Williams%22&match=1 https://www.newspapers.com/image/231291038/?terms=%22Denise%20Torres%22&match=1 https://news.medill.northwestern.edu/chicago/inconclusive-dna-results-in-chicago-female-homicides-investigator-still-certain-of-serial-killer/ https://www.newspapers.com/image/236338004/?terms=%22Kelly%20Sarff%22&match=1 https://www.newspapers.com/image/232399899/?terms=%22Charlene%20Miller%22&match=1 https://neverforgetchi.org/neverforget/latoya-banks/ https://uncovered.com/cases/latoya-banks-chicago-il-2009 https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-bn-xpm-2009-12-09-28527033-story.html https://uncovered.com/cases/angela-profit-chicago-il-2011 https://digitaledition.chicagotribune.com/tribune/article_popover.aspx?guid=057de0a3-174f-4c3c-b9a1-aaa9f009fdaa https://uncovered.com/cases/pamela-s-wilson-chicago-il-2012 https://chicago.suntimes.com/2018/3/20/18382957/woman-strangled-in-woodlawn-identified https://chicago.suntimes.com/2018/6/22/18327683/woman-found-strangled-in-fernwood-neighborhood-garage-identified https://chicago.suntimes.com/2018/6/22/18327696/woman-found-strangled-in-west-garfield-park-identified https://web.archive.org/web/20181116042940/https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2006-07-16-0607160055-story.html https://neverforgetchi.org/neverforget/marcie-nichols/ https://neverforgetchi.org/neverforget/shannon-williams/ https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/breaking/chi-burned-body-found-in-logan-square-dumpster-20130520-story.html https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2007-05-03-0705021080-story.html https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/breaking/chi-autopsy-woman-found-strangled-in-west-side-alley-20140224-story.html https://www.newspapers.com/image/374929179/?terms=Catherine https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2003-03-30-0303300459-story.html https://www.unforgotten51.com/2020/11/nancie-walker-as-child-nancie-carolyn.html#more https://www.newspapers.com/image/374929175/ https://www.newspapers.com/image/236315832/?terms=%22Theresa%20Bunn%22&match=1 https://www.newspapers.com/image/232051698/?terms=%22Theresa%20Bunn%22&match=1 https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2007-11-26-0711260430-story.html https://www.unforgotten51.com/2020/12/remembering-jenny-daughters-focus-not.html#more https://www.sj-r.com/story/news/2008/10/11/autopsy-says-chicago-woman-was/44241768007/ https://www.newspapers.com/image/374929175/?terms=%22Pamela%20Wilson%22 https://chicago.suntimes.com/2017/6/23/18383763/woman-found-strangled-in-street-in-east-garfield-park https://www.unforgotten51.com/2020/12/portraits-say-her-name-say-all-their.html#more https://abc7chicago.com/chicago-news-breaking-police-department/5890890/ https://abc7chicago.com/post/chicago-crime-arthur-hilliard-found-guilty-killing-21-year-old-diamond-turner-dumping-body-alley-2017/18257712/ HBO/VICE News story https://vpc.org/publication/black-homicide-victimization-in-the-united-states-an-analysis-of-2024-homicide-data/#national-data https://www.ojp.gov/archive/safe-communities/inside-perspectives/shining-light-on-the-crisis-of-missing-or-murdered-black-women-and-girls-in-the-united-states Learn more about your ad choices. 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   September 03, 2026·59min
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4. 4
   Number 4: The Murder of Peggy Carr: Poisoned Coca-Cola and the Neighbor Next Door

   In the fall of 1988, Peggy Carr, her son Duane Dubberly, and her stepson Travis Carr became violently ill inside their rural Florida home. The symptoms were strange and terrifying: severe nerve pain, numbness, weakness, trouble walking, and eventually, hair loss. Doctors discovered they had been exposed to thallium, a rare and deadly heavy metal. The source was even more disturbing. Someone had carefully opened glass bottles of Coca-Cola, added thallium, resealed the caps, and placed the bottles inside the Carr home. Peggy died after spending more than four months in a coma. Six other members of the household were also poisoned, including a young child. The investigation pointed to George Trepal, the Carr family's next-door neighbor. He had chemistry knowledge, a history of disputes with the family, and a bottle-capping machine in his garage. We cover the poisoning, the undercover operation that gave investigators access to Trepal's home, the trial, and the later questions about FBI testimony that did not overturn his conviction. Thank you to this week's sponsors! It’s not too late to enroll for this fall… see how K12-Powered Schools can help your child thrive, this year and beyond! Enroll online today at K12.com/moms. Treat yourself to the most advanced bras and shapewear on the market. Use our exclusive link to save 20% off Honeylove at honeylove.com/MOMS. Experience the new standard in comfort and support with Honeylove. Right now, IQBAR is offering our special podcast listeners 20% off all IQBAR products—including the Ultimate sampler pack—plus FREE shipping. To get your 20% off text MOMS to 64000. Message and data rates may apply. See terms for details. SOURCES: https://law.justia.com/cases/florida/supreme-court/1993/77667-0.html https://caselaw.findlaw.com/court/fl-supreme-court/1378976.html https://caselaw.findlaw.com/court/us-11th-circuit/1606616.html https://www.leg.state.fl.us/capitalcases/inmatedetails7d85.html?IID=403 https://oig.justice.gov/sites/default/files/legacy/special/9704a/21trepal.htm https://supremecourt.flcourts.gov/content/download/345265/file/01-2267_petition.pdf https://www.flsheriffs.org/uploads/apb/ALL_POINTS_BULLETIN%2C_VOL_1%2C_NO_3%2C_1991.pdf https://www.upi.com/Archives/1990/05/01/Poisoning-suspect-had-staged-murder-party/4393641534400/ https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1990/04/08/sebring-man-arrested-in-fatal-cola-tampering/ https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1990/08/26/suspect-used-poison-before-officials-say/ https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1991/02/05/fatal-cola-tampering-case-goes-to-jury/ https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1991/02/06/man-guilty-of-murder-in-poisoning-of-neighbors/ https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1991/03/08/family-s-bitterness-persists-despite-death-sentence-for-man/ https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1995/09/17/murder-on-the-mind/ https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1997/04/16/u-s-probe-fbi-lab-work-flawed-florida-convictions/ https://www.tampabay.com/archive/2000/10/27/judge-calls-fbi-agent-s-work-sloppy-but-death-verdict-stands/ https://books.google.com/books/about/Poison_Mind.html?id=jkoR8UN8-PIC https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38420185/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8249271/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

   August 27, 2026·1h 7min
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5. 5
   Number 5: Emma Compton: The Trial Is Underway

   Today, we’re replaying our 2024 episode about Emma Compton Layne, a woman remembered by the people who loved her for her generous heart, her contagious joy, and the way she always showed up for her family. Emma disappeared in June 2017 after working at her store in Halifax County, Virginia. Months later, her remains were found, leaving her loved ones with years of grief and unanswered questions. Since we first shared Emma’s story, there has been a significant development in the case. In November 2024, Emma’s husband, Russell Wayne Layne, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder in connection with her death. As this episode is re-released, his trial is underway. We’re revisiting Emma’s case because she deserves to be remembered not only for what happened to her, but for the life she lived and the love she gave so freely. Our hearts are with Emma’s family and everyone who continues to carry her memory through this difficult time. Thank you to this week's sponsors! Amplify your spring look with Thrive Causemetics. Go to thrivecausemetics.com/MOMS for an exclusive offer of 20% off your first order. To grab your PAKA hoodie, go to PakaApparel.com. Join Wayfair Rewards today to get 5% back on every purchase and start saving on your next home upgrade. Head to Wayfair.com to shop all things home. Wayfair. Every Style. Every Home. Sources: https://www.timesvirginian.com/news/article_1686a486-580b-11e7-822b-0f6070bab2df.html https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/missing-in-america/emma-compton-layne-still-missing-four-months-after-disappearing-n815781 https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/missing-in-america/four-years-dateline-s-missing-america-90-still-missing-n826516 https://www.facebook.com/TomRodgers197/posts/missing-woman-in-halifax-county-vaemma-layne-age-52-was-last-seen-on-saturday-ev/260060507734080/ https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/missing-in-america/remains-found-very-shallow-grave-identified-missing-virginia-woman-emma-n837286 https://www.chathamstartribune.com/news/article_f342c0f2-d52f-11e7-b4bc-cb5cabdfc22a.html https://www.yourgv.com/news/local_news/medical-examiner-neck-injury-caused-death-in-2017-homicide/article_2b07667a-9396-11e9-b9b5-37dda535c91f.html https://www.wdbj7.com/content/news/New-billboard-in-Halifax-Co-to-help-solve-Emma-Compton-Layne-murder-561157591.html https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgqWAZ1cQdY&ab_channel=WSLS10 https://www.wdbj7.com/content/news/Vigil-to-be-held-for-Halifax-County-murder-victim-Emma-Compton-Layne-568552601.html?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0RPQ3cLtTwBFHE3aAISaGC2hhFOku8wH6jBQTdgJRygpxfes7UJDocxJo_aem_dDfHz6nR1coB6kCl-KWbOg https://www.wdbj7.com/content/news/Three-years-later-Who-murdered-Emma-Compton-Layne-571298181.html https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2023/11/22/emma-compton-layne-murder-still-unsolved-six-years-after-her-body-was-found/ https://www.wdbj7.com/2023/11/24/family-emma-compton-layne-still-seeking-justice-six-years-after-her-murder/ https://www.yourgv.com/news/local_news/justice-for-emma-rally-hosted-in-unsolved-death-of-nathalie-woman/article_f7b56cd2-2c0a-11ef-a6d6-bbbd81dc549b.html https://www.change.org/p/5-years-no-justice-for-emma-compton-layne https://www.wdbj7.com/content/news/Emma-Laynes-family-wants-justice-for-her-murder-469039723.html https://wset.com/news/local/one-year-later-emma-laynes-sister-still-seeking-justice https://www.yourgv.com/news/local_news/reward-offered-in-search-of-missing--year-old-cody/article_31787f4a-59e0-11e7-a45e-7f5dc8ffffb9.html https://www.wdbj7.com/content/news/Halifax-County-missing-woman-search-continues-two-weeks-later-431832353.html https://www.wsls.com/news/2017/08/03/vigil-being-held-for-missing-halifax-county-woman/ https://www.wdbj7.com/content/news/Human-remains-found-in-Halifax-Co-foul-play-expected-459605953.html https://www.wdbj7.com/content/news/Family-believes-human-remains-found-in-Halifax-County-belong-to-Emma-Layne-460626173.html https://www.wdbj7.com/content/news/SHARE-Police-search-for-missing-woman-from-Halifax-county-429921923.html https://www.evaporatethemissing.com/post/with-butterfly-kisses https://www.facebook.com/HelpFindEmmaComptonLayne https://www.yourgv.com/news/lightmare-says-sister-of-missing-cody/article_d96de88e-6d86-11e7-a1cd-d3a4270a79ed.html https://www.yourgv.com/obituaries/sylvia-whitlow-mccurry/article_5d5effb4-b1e5-11e7-95a9-8bf90331c580.html Interview with Shawna https://www.ywcaneks.org/blog-collection/blog/2020/12/04/why-survivors-dont-call-the-police Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

   August 28, 2026·37min
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