Never Light Up A Room Podcast

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

References: 

Hutchinson, Bill, “Timeline of Manhattan mass shooting: Suspect Shane Tamura allegedly drove from Nevada to commit attack” , ABC News, July 29, 2025, https://abcnews.go.com/US/timeline-manhattan-mass-shooting-suspect-shane-tamura-allegedly/story?id=124170934, Accessed July 31st 2025. 

Sundel, Jenna, “Bryan Kohberger Sentencing: Heartbreaking Moments as Victim Statements Read”, Newsweek, July 23, 2025, https://www.newsweek.com/idaho-student-murders-victim-statements-bryan-kohberger-sentencing-2102986, accessed July 29, 2025 

Silver, Lauren, “So long, farewell: Another attorney withdraws from Sarah Boone’s case”, CourtTV, July 29, 2025, https://www.courttv.com/news/so-long-farewell-another-attorney-withdraws-from-sarah-boones-case/, accessed Aug 1, 2025. 

“The Idaho Student Murders: Sentencing| Court TV Podcast”, CourtTV Podcast, July 30, 2025, https://www.courttv.com/podcasts/the-courttv-podcast/?itm_campaign=menu, accessed Aug 1, 2025.  

On January 31st 2013, 21 year old Elisa Lam who was traveling on the west coast of the United States missed a check in call with her parents who were home in Vancouver. After not hearing from her, Elisa’s parents would then call the Los Angeles Police to search the infamous Cecil Hotel. A surveillance video from an elevator would be the last time anyone would see Elisa alive. 

Sources: 

Brknhrt, “Elisa Lam”, Find a grave, May 20, 2013, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/110876498/elisa-lam, Accessed July 27th 2025 

Gurley, Alex, “Elisa Lam’s Body Was Found at the Infamous Cecil Hotel 13 Years Ago. Inside the Mysterious Circumstances Around Her Death — and What Police Really Think Happened”, People, February 19, 2025, https://people.com/what-happened-to-elisa-lam-cecil-hotel-11680025, Accessed July 27th 2025 

Ishak, Natasha, “Elisa Lam: The Real Story Of Her Death In The Cecil Hotel”, Allthatsinteresting, September 1, 2023, https://allthatsinteresting.com/elisa-lam-death, Accessed July 27th 2025 

Biography.com Editors, “Elisa Lam Biography”, A&E; Television Networks, February 9, 2021, //www.biography.com/crime/elisa-lam, Accessed July 27th 2025 

St.Clair, Joshua, “The True Story of What Happened to Elisa Lam at the Cecil Hotel”, Mens Health, February 10, 2021, https://www.menshealth.com/entertainment/a35410248/elisa-lam-death-vanishing-cecil-hotel-true-story/, Accessed July 27th 2025  

Veliz, Leslie, “Tragic Details Found In Elisa Lam's Autopsy Report”, Grunge, January 30, 2023, https://www.grunge.com/706604/tragic-details-found-in-elisa-lams-autopsy-report/, Accessed July 27th 2025 

On January 26, 2022, 23-year-old Alexis went out to meet up with one of her friends, however, she never returned home. Alexis’s family reported her missing the next day. Over time, investigators pieced together what happened the night that Alexis went missing and uncovered the horrifying truth. 

Sources: 

“Where Is Alexis?” On the Case with Paula Zahn, season 27, episode 8, narrated by Paula Zahn, Investigation Discovery, 24 Apr. 2024. 

Goard, Alyssa, “Family, friends gather to remember Alexis Gabe at memorial in Concord”, NBC Bay Area, June 17, 2023, https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/alexis-gabe-memorial-concord/3254548/, accessed July 20, 2025.   

Nakano, Andrea,  “Alexis Gabe murder investigation ends with no charges against ex-boyfriend's mother; family "very disappointed"”, CBS News, Jan 24, 2025, https://www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/news/alexis-gabe-murder-investigation-ends-no-charges-against-ex-boyfriend-mother-oakley/, accessed July 20, 2025.  

Shrestha, Naman,  “Alexis Gabe Murder: How Did Marshall Curtis Jones Die?”, The Cinemaholic, April 24, 2024, https://thecinemaholic.com/alexis-gabe/, accessed July 20, 2025.  

Hassan, Anser,  “Alexis Gabe's family upset at DA's decision not to charge mother of accused killer”, Jan 24, 2025, https://abc7news.com/post/alexis-gabes-family-upset-das-decision-not-charge-mother-accused-killer/15832839/, accessed July 20, 2025.  

Nakano, Andrea, “Oakley community honors memory of Alexis Gabe with "kindness day"”, CBC News, January 26, 2024, https://www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/news/oakley-community-honors-memory-alexis-gabe-kindness-day/, accessed July 20, 2025.   

Balagtas, Tristan, “Months After Discovering Ex's Cryptic Notes, Police Find Remains of Calif. Woman Who Vanished in January”, People, Nov 7, 2022, https://people.com/crime/alexis-gabe-california-woman-murdered-by-ex-police-find-remains/, accessed July 20, 2025.   

Reid, Kyani, “Ex-boyfriend of missing California woman Alexis Gabe killed after charging officers attempting to arrest him for her murder”, NBC News, June 3, 2022, https://www.nbcnews.com/dateline/ex-boyfriend-missing-california-woman-alexis-gabe-killed-after-charging-n1295964, accessed July 20, 2025.   

In October of 2012, 37-year-old, Cari Farver began casually dating Dave Kroupa, however 2 weeks into the relationship Cari suddenly disappeared. Although Cari had essentially vanished physically, Dave was soon being bombarded by texts and emails from Cari and the harassment was not limited to just Dave. Another woman who Dave had been casually seeing, Liz Goylar, was also being harassed by threatening texts and emails supposedly from an incredibly jealous Cari. The harassment continued for years, but finally in 2015, investigators were able to track down the source of the harassment as well as the truth of Cari’s whereabouts.    

Sources: 

Gowen, Gwen; Deutsch, Gail, “What seemed like a horrific stalking case was a jealous lover's cover for murder”, ABC News, Dec 3, 2020, https://abcnews.go.com/US/horrific-stalking-case-jealous-lovers-cover-murder/story?id=74431142, accessed July 7, 2025.  

Giacomazzo, Bernadette, “The Chilling Murder Of Cari Farver, The Woman Who Seemingly Sent Texts For Years After Her Disappearance”, AllThatsInteresting.com, Jan 13, 2024, https://allthatsinteresting.com/cari-farver, accessed July 7, 2025.  

Sager, Jessica, “Lover, Stalker, Killer: Where Are Dave Kroupa and Liz Golyar Now?”, People.com, Feb 9, 2024, https://people.com/lover-stalker-killer-where-are-dave-kroupa-liz-golyar-now-8558923, accessed July 7, 2025.  

Mehrotra, Kriti, “Cari Farver Murder: How Did She Die? Who Killed Her?”, TheCinemaholic, Feb 8, 2024, https://thecinemaholic.com/cari-farver-murder/, accessed July 7, 2025.  

On June 24th 2002 while at a friends house, 15 year old Kara was outside watering plants when a man pulled into the driveway. Striking up a conversation, the man would then go on to kidnap Kara and take her back to his apartment where he would assault her for the next 18 hours.  

Sources: 

Pelisek, Christine, “At 15, Kara Robinson Chamberlain Was Kidnapped by a Serial Killer. She Not Only Escaped — She Helped Catch Him”, People, February 17th 2022, https://people.com/crime/kara-robinson-chamberlain-survived-serial-killer-helped-catch-him-as-teen/, Accessed July 6th 2025  

Morgan, Amber, “Kara Robinson: The 15-Year-Old Girl Who Escaped A Serial Killer, Then Helped Police Solve Three Of His Murders”, All Thats Interesting, August 29, 2024, https://allthatsinteresting.com/kara-robinson, Accessed July 6th 2025  

Finn, Natalie, “Why Kara Robinson's Escape From a Suspected Serial Killer in 2002 Is as Timely a Story as Ever”, E News, February 11, 2023, https://www.eonline.com/news/1364336/why-kara-robinsons-escape-from-a-suspected-serial-killer-in-2002-is-as-timely-a-story-as-ever, Accessed July 6th 2025 

Dziemianowicz, Joe, “‘Picking Me Was The Greatest Mistake He Ever Made’: Where Is Kara Robinson’s Kidnapper Now?”, Oxygen True Crime, September 26, 2021, https://www.oxygen.com/escaping-captivity-the-kara-robinson-story/crime-news/where-is-kara-robinsons-kidnapper-richard, Accessed July 6th 2025  

Gokhale, Stuti, “Kara Robinson Chamberlain: Where is Kidnapping Survivor Now?” The Cinemaholic, February 11, 2023, https://thecinemaholic.com/kara-robinson-chamberlain-where-is-kidnapping-survivor-now/, Accessed July 6th 2025  

Gal Vallerius was a seemingly mild-mannered Frenchman, with a wife and family, living in Paris France. However, behind the scenes, or should we say, behind the screen, Gal was known as “OxyMonster”, one of the most prominent drug dealers on the dark web.    

Sources: 

“Dark web”, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_web, accessed June 17, 2025. 

“Dark Web Administrator Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Narcotics Trafficking and Money Laundering”, U.S. Department of Justice Archives, Oct 9, 2018, https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/dark-web-administrator-sentenced-20-years-prison-narcotics-trafficking-and-money-laundering, accessed June 16, 2025 

Schaffer, Lisa M., “Underground Drug Trafficker 'OxyMonster' Sentenced to 20 Years”, FindLaw.com, Mar 21, 2019, https://www.findlaw.com/legalblogs/criminal-defense/underground-drug-trafficker-oxymonster-sentenced-to-20-years/, accessed June 16, 2025. 

DAILYMAIL.COM REPORTER and ASSOCIATED PRESS, “French 'OxyMonster' drug dealer who was arrested when he arrived in the US for a beard competition is sentenced to 20 years in prison for running a trafficking operation on the dark web”, Dailymail.com, Oct 9, 2018, https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6258439/French-OxyMonster-jailed-20-years.html, accessed June 17, 2025.  

Thubron, Rob, “Dark web drug dealer and fan of large beards gets 20-year prison sentence”, TechSpot, Oct 11, 2018, https://www.techspot.com/news/76879-dark-web-drug-dealer-fan-large-beards-gets.html, accessed June 17, 2025. 

Schwartz, Drew, “Competitive Beard Grower Admits He Helped Run Massive Dark Web Drug Site”, Vice, June 12, 2018, https://www.vice.com/en/article/competitive-beard-grower-oxymonster-dream-market-pleads-guilty-vgtrn/, accessed June 17, 2025. 

“Mustache and Beard Competitions: The Complete Guide”, Beard Growth World, https://www.beardgrowthworld.com/beard-and-mustache-competition/, accessed June 21, 2025.  

“Opioids and the opioid crisis – Get the facts”, Government of Canada, https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/opioids/get-the-facts.html, accessed June 21, 2025. 

“Understanding the Opioid Overdose Epidemic”, CDC, Nov 1, 2024, https://www.cdc.gov/overdose-prevention/about/understanding-the-opioid-overdose-epidemic.html, accessed June 21, 2025. 

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

References: 

CBS News, “Travis Decker, fugitive dad accused of killing 3 daughters, may have died while evading police, authorities say” CBS News, June 25 2025, https://www.cbsnews.com/news/travis-decker-dad-accused-killing-daughters-possibly-dead-authorities/, Accessed June 26 2025  

“Victimly Insane: The Frank Jarvis Atwood Interview”, Amazon, https://www.amazon.com/Victimly-Insane-Jarvis-Atwood-Interview/dp/0991359186, June 29, 2025. 

“And the Two shall become One: The Frank J. Atwood & Rachel L. Atwood Story”, GoodReads, https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40077422-and-the-two-shall-become-one, accessed June 29, 2025. 

Shrestha, Naman, “John O’Keefe: How Did He Die? Was He Killed?”, TheCinemaholic, Oct 17, 2024, https://thecinemaholic.com/john-okeefe/, accessed June 29, 2025. 

El-Bawab, Nadine; Murtha, Erin; Deliso, Meredith, “Karen Read found not guilty of murder in retrial on police officer boyfriend's death”, ABC News, June 18, 2025, https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/karen-read-found-not-guilty-of-murder-in-retrial-on-police-officer-boyfriends-death/ar-AA1GYA93, accessed June 29, 2025. 

McColgan, Flint, “Not Guilty! Jury clears Karen Read of murder, leaves only OUI conviction”, Boston Herald, June 18, 2025,  https://www.bostonherald.com/2025/06/18/karen-read-found-not-guilty-on-murder-manslaughter-guilty-on-oui/, accessed June 29, 2025. 

Dostal, Peter, “History of Sexual Assault”, The Criminal Law Notebook, https://criminalnotebook.ca/index.php/History_of_Sexual_Assault, accessed June 29, 2025. 

“Tougher Penalties for Child Predators Act”, Canada Justice Laws Website, June 6, 2015, https://laws.justice.gc.ca/eng/AnnualStatutes/2015_23/page-1.html, accessed June 29, 2025. 

On the night of June 2nd 2011, 20-year-old University of Indiana student Lauren Spierer had some friends over to watch a basketball game. Deciding that the night was not finished, Lauren went over to a friend's place to keep the party going. Lauren and her friends then went to several other locations that evening. Lauren would last be seen leaving her friend, Jason’s home around 4:30AM on June 3rd, but has not been seen since. Lauren was last seen wearing black leggings and a white tank top with a white shirt over it.  

If you have any information on Lauren or her whereabouts, please contact either Bloomington Police at 812-339-4477 or Crime Stoppers of central Indiana at 317-262-tips

Sources:  

Kelly, Erin, “The Chilling Story Of Lauren Spierer, The College Student Who Vanished Into Thin Air”, All Thats Interesting, February 6th 2022, https://allthatsinteresting.com/lauren-spierer, Accessed June 21 2025 

Sinha, Shivangi, “Lauren Spierer: What Happened to Her? Has She Been Found?”, The Cinemaholic, August 24th 2023, https://thecinemaholic.com/lauren-spierer-found-or-missing-is-she-dead-or-alive/, Accessed June 21 2025 

Deutschmann, Jennifer, “The Biggest Lauren Spierer Theories: What Really Happened?”, Grunge, January 24th 2023, https://www.grunge.com/631090/the-biggest-lauren-spierer-theories-what-really-happened/, Accessed June 22 2025 

Uncovered contributors, “Lauren Spierer”, Uncovered, June 9th 2024, https://uncovered.com/cases/lauren-spierer, Accessed June 22 2025  

On May 16, 2007, 20-year-old Sean Kennedy was leaving a nightclub where he had spent the evening with his friends. As he was leaving the club, he was confronted by a group of men in a vehicle. An altercation occurred between Sean and one of the men in the car, Stephen Moller, who exited the car, yelled a homophobic slur at Sean and then punched Sean in the face causing Sean to fall backwards and hit his head on the concrete curb. Stephen, along with his friends then fled the scene, leaving Sean to die.  

Sources: 

“Remembering Sean William Kennedy (1987-2007)”, Unfinished Lives, April 8, 2010, https://unfinishedlivesblog.com/2010/04/08/remembering-sean-william-kennedy-1987-2007/, accessed June 9, 2025.  

Sprinkle Stephen V., “The Death and Life of Sean Kennedy: A Commemoration”, Unfinished Lives, May 17, 2009, https://unfinishedlivesblog.com/2009/05/17/the-death-and-life-of-sean-kennedy-a-commemoration/, accessed June 9, 2025.  

Kennedy, Elke, “Remembering My Son 10 Years After a Hate Crime Took His Life”, Advocate, May 16, 2017, https://www.advocate.com/commentary/2017/5/16/remembering-my-son-10-years-after-hate-crime-took-his-life#toggle-gdpr, accessed June 9, 2025. 

“Sean William Kennedy”, Find A Grave, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/27871515/sean_william-kennedy, accessed June 9, 2025. 

“Defendant In Gay Man's Death Gets 2.5 Year Sentence”, WYFF4, June 13, 2008, https://www.wyff4.com/article/defendant-in-gay-man-s-death-gets-2-5-year-sentence/6986701, accessed June 9, 2025. 

Landrum, Cindy,  “Remembering Sean Kennedy, 10 years after his tragic death”, Greenville Journal, May 22, 2017, https://greenvillejournal.com/news/remembering-sean-kennedy-10-years-tragic-death/, accessed June 9, 2025. 

“Researching Hate Crimes & Hate Crime Legislation: The Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009”, Pence Law Library, April 28, 2025, https://wcl.american.libguides.com/hatecrimes/shepardbyrdact, accessed June 9, 2025. 

CJ, “S.16 Ep.14 The Murder of Sean Kennedy”, Beyond the Rainbow Podcast, Rainbowcrimes, Jan 28, 2025, https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/s-16-ep-14-the-murder-of-sean-kennedy/id1476793938?i=1000686125589.  

On July 14th, 2019, 17-year-old Bianca Devins went to a concert in New York with someone that she thought was her friend. Unfortunately, on their way home from the concert, Bianca’s “friend” revealed that he had a very sinister plan for Bianca, which including posting horrific photos online that would later go viral. 

Sources: 

Fraga,Kaleena, “Bianca Devins Was Murdered By Brandon Andrew Clark — Then He Posted Pictures Of Her Dead Body Online,” All thats interesting, May 30, 2024, https://allthatsinteresting.com/bianca-devins, Accessed June 5th 2025 

Mehrotra, Kriti, “Bianca Devins Murder: How Did She Die? Who Killed Her?”, The Cinemaholic, June 13, 2024, https://thecinemaholic.com/bianca-devins-murder-how-did-she-die-who-killed-her/, Accessed June 5th 2025,  

Mehrotra, Kriti, “Brandon Clark: Where is Bianca Devins’ Killer Now?”, The Cinemaholic, June 13, 2024,  https://thecinemaholic.com/where-is-brandon-clark-now/, Accessed June 5th 2025 

CBS News, “Violent images sent to victim's family a form of "psychological terrorism," expert says”, CBS News, August 13th 2022, https://www.cbsnews.com/news/bianca-devins-murder-violent-images-psychological-terrorism-48-hours/, Accessed June 5th 2025 

Leigh Cooper. Kelly, “Bianca Devins: The teenager whose murder was exploited for clicks”, BBC News, July 20 2019, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-49002486, Accessed June 5th 2025 

Miller, Hayley, “Man Who Murdered Teen Girl, Posted Photos Of Dead Body Online Sentenced To Prison”, HuffPost, March 17, 2021, https://www.huffpost.com/entry/bianca-devins-killer-sentenced_n_6051f003c5b685610fd3e4e5 -, Accessed June 5th 2025