In the summer of 2021, 22-year-old Gabby Petito and her boyfriend, 23-year-old Brian Laundrie, set out on a cross-country road trip from New York to Oregon. What was supposed to be the trip of a lifetime turned into a nightmare when Brian returned to his home in Florida in early September without Gabby. A nationwide search for Gabby ensued which sadly ended in tragedy.  

Sources: 

Louallen, Doc; " Gabby Petito’s parents reveal disturbing details about the case in new interview"; ABC News; May 19, 2025; https://abcnews.com/US/new-interview-gabby-petitos-parents-reveals-disturbing-details/story?id=118933322; accessed Sept 2, 2026.  

Piccotti, Tyler; "The Disappearance and Murder of Gabby Petito"; Biography.com; Feb 20, 2025; https://www.biography.com/crime/a63774730/gabby-petito-death-documentary-true-story; accessed Sept 2, 2026.  

Benson, Emma; "5 years after Gabby Petito's disappearance, her story continues to drive change"; KSL; Aug 25, 2026; https://www.ksl.com/article/51615683/5-years-after-gabby-petitos-disappearance-her-story-continues-to-drive-change; access Sept 2, 2026.  

Maranzani, Barbara; " Case File: Gabby Petito"; A&E; https://www.aetv.com/articles/gabby-petito; accessed Sept 2, 2026.  

"Gabby's Story"; Gabby Petito Foundation; https://gabbypetitofoundation.org/gabbys-story; accessed Sept 3, 2026.  

"Gabby Petito case: Full Utah Bodycam Video"; Fox 13 Tampa Bay; Sept 16, 2021; https://youtu.be/fCGsW41aQEw?si=IYSa-6LisArcMvMt; accessed Sept 4, 2026.  

In October 1985, 17-year-old Michele “Missy” Avila went for a walk in the Angeles National Forest with a group of friends, but she would never make it home. As investigators began trying to piece together what happened, the people closest to Missy would become increasingly important to a case filled with jealousy, betrayal, and shocking twists. What happened during that walk would leave a family devastated and raise questions that would linger for years.

Sources: 

Marissak, " Michele Yvette “Missy” Avila", Find a Grave, January 3, 2004, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/8237359/michele_yvette-avila, Accessed August 27, 2026 

Palmer, Emily, " Friends Mourned Teen's Suspicious Drowning with Her Mother, Then Were Accused of Murdering Her Out of Jealousy", People, November 3, 2024, https://people.com/missy-avila-murder-teens-killed-friend-jealousy-8738378, Accessed August 27, 2026  

Joe, " From Best Friend to Murder: The Missy Avila Story", 10 Minute Murder, December 10, 2025, https://www.10minutemurder.com/blog/from-best-friend-to-murder-the-missy-avila-story/, Accessed August 27, 2026

We're back with our thirtieth Leave the Light On episode where we recap the cases covered in the previous month, discuss true crime headlines from the month, and give you a sneak peek at what is coming up in the next month. If we know!

References:

Hill, Jessica; Landrum, Jonathan Jr.; " Prosecutors rest in Tupac Shakur murder trial, putting Duane Davis’ defense up next"; AP News; Aug 26, 2026; https://apnews.com/article/tupac-shakur-shooting-murder-trial-1239e5e027cd6879913db1de012976f8; accessed Aug 26, 2026.

Cann, Christopher; Martinex, Amethyst; " Luigi Mangione pleads guilty to federal stalking charges in surprise decision"; USA Today; Aug 16, 2026; https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2026/08/14/luigi-mangione-guilty-federal-charges/91290392007/; accessed Aug 26, 2026

In the summer of 1892, a quiet Massachusetts home became the scene of a brutal double murder that would capture the attention of the entire country. As investigators searched for answers, suspicion quickly turned toward a member of the Borden family, raising questions about money, family tensions, and what may have happened behind closed doors. More than a century later, the murders of Andrew and Abby Borden, and the woman at the center of the accusations, Lizzie Borden, remains one of America’s most enduring true crime mysteries.

Sources:

Caruso, Catherine; "Lizzie Borden"; Biography; n.d.; https://www.biography.com/crime/lizzie-borden; Accessed on Aug 23, 2026.

“Lizzie Borden”; Britannica; n.d.; https://www.britannica.com/biography/Lizzie-Borden-American-murder-suspect; Accessed on Aug 23, 2026.

"Emma Borden"; The Famous People; n.d.; https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/emma-borden-43224.php; Accessed on Aug 23, 2026.

"Lizzie Borden"; The Famous People; n.d.; https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/lizzie-borden-5240.php; Accessed on Aug 23, 2026.

Eddy, Cheryl; "All the Evidence Against Lizzie Borden—And Why She Was Acquitted"; Gizmodo; Aug 4, 2015; https://gizmodo.com/all-the-evidence-against-lizzie-borden-and-why-she-was-1721936980; Accessed on Aug 23, 2026.

"The Borden Household"; Bristol Community College Library; n.d.; https://libguides.bristolcc.edu/c.php?g=474198&p=5283591; Accessed on Aug 23, 2026.

"Abby Durfee Gray Borden (1828–1892)"; Find a Grave; n.d.; https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/4155/abby_durfee-borden; Accessed on Aug 23, 2026.

"Lizzie Borden and the Murders of Andrew and Abby Borden"; Genealogy Trails; n.d.; https://genealogytrails.com/mass/bristol/lizzieborden.html; Accessed on Aug 23, 2026.

Kelly, Erin; "Inside The Mysterious Life And Grisly Death Of Andrew Borden, The Father Of Lizzie Borden "; All That’s Interesting; Feb 17, 2025; https://allthatsinteresting.com/andrew-borden; Accessed on Aug 23, 2026.

 When 19-year-old Nona Dirksmeyer was found brutally murdered inside her Russellville apartment, investigators quickly turned their attention toward the person closest to her. But as the case unfolded, questions began to emerge about the evidence, the investigation, and whether police had been looking in the right direction. With multiple suspects, conflicting evidence, and two trials ending without a conviction, Nona’s murder remains a haunting mystery decades later. 

Sources: 

Rahim, Abdullah, “ College Beauty Queen, 19, Found Beaten and Bludgeoned in Her Apartment – Two Men Charged but No One Convicted”, Daily Crime Post, December 6 2025, https://dailycrimepost.com/college-beauty-queen-19-found-beaten-and-bludgeoned-in-her-apartment-two-men-charged-but-no-one-convicted/#google_vignette, Accessed August 16, 2026 

Mitra, Shraman, “Nona Dirksmeyer Murder: What Happened to the Teenager?”, The Cinemaholic, September 29,2023, https://thecinemaholic.com/nona-dirksmeyer-murder-how-did-she-die-who-killed-her/, Accessed August 16, 2026  

AJ, “The Murder That Divided a Town: The Nona Dirksmeyer Case”, True Crime Weekly, October 30, 2025, https://truecrimesweekly.com/2025/10/30/the-murder-that-divided-a-town-the-nona-dirksmeyer-case/, Accessed August 16, 2026  

In 1935, the remains found inside a shark led police into Sydney’s criminal underworld, where gambling, smuggling, blackmail, and suspected murder all collided. But whose arm was it, how did it end up in the ocean, and what happened to the man it belonged to? As investigators began pulling at the threads, they uncovered a case far stranger than anyone could have imagined. This week we discuss the story of the Shark Arm Murders. 

Sources: 

“The Shark Arm Case: When a Captive Tiger Shark Exposed a Murder (1935)”; Shark Data Lab; June 3, 2026; https://www.sharkdatalab.com/en/stories/shark-arm-case-1935; accessed Aug 9, 2026 

“The Shark Arm Murders”; Sydney Crime Museum; https://www.sydneycrimemuseum.com/crime-stories/the-shark-arm-murders/; accessed Aug 9, 2026. 

“Shark Arm murder 1935”; Dictionary of Sydney; 2010; https://dictionaryofsydney.org/entry/shark_arm_murder_1935; accessed Aug 9, 2026. 

Eliza Fletcher left for what should have been another ordinary early morning run through the streets of Memphis, but within minutes, her routine took a terrifying and unimaginable turn. A beloved kindergarten teacher, devoted mother, and passionate runner, Eliza's disappearance sent shockwaves through her community and launched an urgent investigation that quickly captured international attention. As detectives raced against the clock, surveillance footage, forensic evidence, and one suspect's troubling past began revealing a story more disturbing than anyone could have imagined. In this episode, we trace Eliza's final morning, examine the investigation that unfolded, and explore the questions her case raised about violent offenders, public safety, and whether a devastating tragedy could have been prevented.

Sources: 

True Crime Writers, “Four Minutes in a Parking Lot: The Murder of Eliza Fletcher”, True Crime News Weekly, June 29, 2026, https://truecrimesweekly.com/2026/06/29/four-minutes-in-a-parking-lot-the-murder-of-eliza-fletcher/, Accessed August 8, 2026 

Saunders, Angel, “Man Who Kidnapped and Killed Eliza Fletcher During Her Morning Run Pleads Guilty, Gets Life”, People, October 28, 2026, https://people.com/man-who-kidnapped-killed-eliza-fletcher-during-her-morning-run-pleads-guilty-gets-life-8735773, Accessed August 8, 2026 

CBS AP, “Man pleads guilty to kidnapping and killing Eliza Fletcher, Memphis teacher abducted during morning run”, CBS News, October 28, 2024, https://www.cbsnews.com/news/eliza-fletcher-murder-cleotha-abston-pleads-guilty-memphis-teacher-jogging/, Accessed August 8, 2026  

We're back with our twenty ninth Leave the Light On episode where we recap the cases covered in the previous month, discuss true crime headlines from the month, and give you a sneak peak at what is coming up in the next month. If we know!

References: 

TMZ Staff;  “Bryan Kohberger Read His Handwritten Letter Slamming Ex-Lawyer, Blaming Them For Life Sentence”; TMZ.com; July 30, 2026; https://www.tmz.com/2026/07/30/bryan-kohbergers-letter-blaming-ex-lawyer-for-prison-sentence/; accessed July 31, 2026. 

Matt Schooley; “Lindsay Clancy now on trial in murder of her 3 children in Duxbury, Massachusetts”; CBS News; July 27, 2026; https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/live-updates/lindsay-clancy-trial-live-updates-patrick-clancy/; accessed July 31, 2026. 

Gainor, Danya; “A timeline of Nolan Wells’ disappearance, death and the unfolding investigation”; CNN; July 29, 2026; https://www.cnn.com/2026/07/13/us/nolan-wells-death-mississippi-timeline; accessed July 31, 2026. 

 On Friday, January 13, 2012, The Costa Concordia set sail for a weeklong cruise around the Mediterranean. Tragically, hours into the voyage tragedy struck as the captain sailed the ship recklessly close to the rocks near Giglio Island. By morning, 32 lives had been lost and, in the years following the tragedy, a criminal trial would be held to hold those responsible accountable. 

Sources: 

Tikkanen, Amy; “Costa Concordia disaster”; Britannica; July 12, 2026; https://www.britannica.com/event/Costa-Concordia-disaster; accessed July 21, 2026. 

Blair, Caroline; “7 Fatal Mistakes Made During the Costa Concordia Shipwreck”; People; July 16, 2026; https://people.com/what-went-wrong-during-costa-concordia-shipwreck-12019840; accessed July 21, 2026. 

Bain, Ellissa; “The names, ages and nationalities of all 32 Costa Concordia victims, and how they died”; The Tab; July 15, 2026; https://thetab.com/2026/07/15/the-names-ages-and-nationalities-of-all-32-costa-concordia-victims-and-how-they-died; accessed July 21, 2026. 

Bain, Ellissa; “Heartbreaking court records reveal exactly how people died on the Costa Concordia”; The Tab; July 16, 2026; https://thetab.com/2026/07/17/heartbreaking-court-records-reveal-exactly-how-people-died-on-the-costa-concordia; accessed July 21, 2026. 

Lyon, Rivy;  “The Shocking Story Of The Costa Concordia, The Luxury Cruise Ship That Catastrophically Capsized Near Italy”; All Thats Interesting; March 1, 2026; https://allthatsinteresting.com/costa-concordia; accessed July 21, 2026. 

Comiter, Jordana;  “Why Did the Costa Concordia Deviate from Its Planned Route? Inside the Captain’s Fatal Decision”; People; July 16, 2026; https://people.com/why-the-costa-concordia-deviated-from-itinerary-12019847; accessed July 21, 2026.  

LaCroix, Emy;  “The Disastrous True Story of Netflix’s Shipwrecked and the 2012 Costa Concordia Sinking”; People; July 11, 2026; https://people.com/costa-concordia-shipwreck-what-to-know-12014447; accessed July 23, 2026. 

“Full transcript: Coast guard berates cruise ship captain”; ABC.net.au; Jan 17, 2012; https://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-01-18/recording-of-schettinos-conversation-with-coast-guard/3779592; accessed July 23, 2026.  

“Five guilty in Costa Concordia trial”; BBC; July 20, 2013; https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-23388680; accessed July 23, 2026. 

“Did a diver died on Costa Concordia?”; Citizen Daily; July 2026; https://www.citizendailypost.com/faq/did-a-diver-died-on-costa-concordia/; accessed July 26, 2026. 

“Shipment of Mafia drugs was hidden in Costa Concordia?”; Crew-Center; https://crew-center.com/shipment-mafia-drugs-was-hidden-costa-concordia; accessed July 26, 2026. 

In 2012, the disappearance of an 18-year-old barista from Anchorage, Alaska shocked her community and launched a desperate search for answers. What began as a seemingly isolated kidnapping soon unraveled into something far more disturbing, exposing a killer who had spent years operating in the shadows. In this episode, we explore the lives of Samantha Koenig, Bill Currier, and Lorraine Currier, and the chilling investigation that uncovered one of the most calculating criminals in modern true crime. How many secrets can one man hide and how many may still remain buried today? 

Sources 

Sinha, Shivangi, “Samantha Koenig: How Did She Die? Who Killed Her?”, The Cinemaholic, December 4, 2024, https://thecinemaholic.com/samantha-koenig/, Accessed July 19, 2026  

Kabra, Prathamesh, “Samantha Koenig: The 2012 Anchorage Abduction, Ransom Trail, Arrest, and Indictment”, Thar Tribune, January 16, 2026, https://thartribune.com/samantha-koenig-the-2012-anchorage-abduction-ransom-trail-arrest-and-indictment/, Accessed July 19, 2026  

Giacomazzo, Bernadette, “Inside The Grisly Murder Of Samantha Koenig And The Horrifying ‘Ransom’ Photo Her Killer Took”, All Thats Interesting, January 29, 2026, https://allthatsinteresting.com/samantha-koenig, Accessed July 19, 2026  

Sinha, Shivangi, “Bill and Lorraine Currier: How Did They Die? Who Killed Them?”, The Cinemaholic, December 4, 2024, https://thecinemaholic.com/bill-lorraine-currier/, Accessed July 19, 2026