EP10 • “Small podcast, notwithstanding”

Thirty-two years after Stacy’s death, a local editor calls this show “a small podcast notwithstanding.” In this episode, we put that attitude on trial. You’ll hear the emails, my dad’s 2023 body-cam interview (largely unedited), and a newly discovered ~16-minute call where the investigator asks my sister to consider a confrontation call. This is what it looks like when a family—not the system—drags a case forward.

 

 

Quick links

• ✍️ Sign the petition: Petition · DEMAND a complete Homicide investigation for the murder of Stephanie Marie Wasilishin - Sedona, United States · Change.org

• Yavapai County Attorney’s Office — request an active review of Stephanie Marie Wasilishin (Case #930004944) and direct coordination with Sedona PD. (928) 771-3344 · [email protected]

 

• Sedona Police Department — move the case from inactive to active, release the complete file to the family, and pursue new leads. (928) 282-3100 · [email protected]

 

• Sedona Red Rock News (Editor) — cover the family’s perspective with appropriate domestic-violence context. (928) 282-7795 · [email protected]

 

Copy/paste email subject: Justice for Stephanie Marie Wasilishin — Case #930004944 Be respectful, be firm, and let them know you’re watching.

Copy-and-paste email (short)

Subject: Justice for Stephanie Marie Wasilishin — Case #930004944 Body: Hello, I’m writing in support of the family of Stephanie Marie Wasilishin (Case #930004944). Please take the steps necessary to ensure an active, victim-centered review of this homicide and transparent communication with the family. The community is watching and asking for accountability, a complete case file, and renewed investigative effort. Thank you for your time.

 

 

 

Audio notes: The dad interview is converted body-cam audio. I kept it essentially edit-free. The only cuts are moments where my sister’s name is spoken; those are muted for privacy. Expect a few spots that sound “chunky” due to redactions and the source format. I cleaned levels without altering content.

 

 

The receipts: Email chain with Red Rock News

• We walk through the August 10–11, 2025 exchange with the managing editor, including the line: “A small podcast notwithstanding…”

• We unpack why that’s inaccurate on the numbers and harmful in practice:

• This show has surpassed 160,000+ total downloads and has charted in Apple’s Top 200 (twice), placing it in the top 5–10% of podcasts.

• Independent shows are public pressure: coverage → tips → action.

• Pull quote: “Words matter. Using ‘notwithstanding’ here says ‘you don’t matter.’ The audience—and my mom’s name—say otherwise.”

 

 

Dad’s 2023 interview: what changes

• Plan to leave: He says my mom called the night of July 8–9, 1993, saying she was leaving and heading to his home the next morning.

• Surveillance angle: He reports she told him there was a phone-recording device in the house because of suspected infidelity.

• Gun mechanics: He challenges the plausibility of a left-hand, one-handed shot with a .44 Magnum by someone he says disliked guns.

• The new shocker (to me): He admits they were still sleeping together while she was with Russell—information he had never told me.

• Tone matters: He’s confident, unhesitating, and calls me a “pest.” Hearing that off-mic hurt, but it also underlines the truth: it took public pressure to get this interview at all.

 

 

 

My sister’s call 

• What it is: A recorded call between my sister and Sgt. Leon discovered in a folder labeled “Calls with Sgt. Leon.”

• Why now: It’s a public record; anyone could request it. You’re hearing it with context, from family—not as a sensational headline.

• What’s in it:

• Health status and urgency; offers of cell numbers, addresses, hospital info.

• A push from the investigator for a confrontation call (and possibly an in-person wired attempt).

• Ex-wives & leads: Names to contact; alleged statements Russell made over the years.

• My take: Asking a victim’s daughter to be “the key” is heavy and risky. It signals gaps that should be closed by investigators—not placed on family.

 

 

New workplace tip

Following national coverage, a listener recognized Russell from a former workplace and described a long pattern: uncomfortable comments to young women, a snap temper, and frequent statements that “his girlfriend shot herself.” One memory is not a case; a pattern can be. If you heard similar statements—or anything about that night—please reach out.

Tip line options: • 📧 [email protected] (confidential; I’ll pass to PD if you prefer) • ☎️ / ✉️ Sedona PD (contacts in show notes)

 

 

Key takeaways

• Media ≠ noise. It’s the channel that finally forced movement in a case left to gather dust.

• Dad’s interview adds stakes: plan to leave, possible surveillance, mechanics that challenge the suicide framing, and a relationship detail I never knew.

• The burden shift is real: My sister was asked to carry investigative weight. Families shouldn’t have to do that—but we will if we must.

• Patterns matter: Third-party statements, workplace behavior, and repeated narratives can build corroboration.

 

 

How you can help (today)

• ✍️ Sign the petition (link in show notes). 60 seconds. Real pressure.

• ☎️/✉️ Contact Sedona PD & Yavapai County Attorney (numbers/emails in show notes). Be respectful, be firm: ask for renewed interviews, follow-through on ex-spouses, and full review of new/old leads.

• 📰 Email or call the Red Rock News (contacts in show notes). Ask for family-POV coverage. Remind them: media is public pressure.

• 📣 Share the episode. Visibility brings tips. Tips bring action.

 

 

Credits & gratitude

• Host/Writer: Nikki — “the daughter of a murdered woman.”

• Production: Independent—no network safety net, just stubborn love and receipts.

• Special thanks: Everyone who’s sent tips, shared episodes, and stood up when it was easier to look away. And to those who bought Dickie Birdie goodies (nose cream, yellow ducky, AirTag case)—you made our week. His wishlist is still active if you want to send a little love. 🐥💛Amazon.com

 

 

Next on Papi Killed Mommy

The turning point: the viral spark, the rumor mill, the found sibling, and why I built my own platform when the “official” ones wouldn’t listen. If schedules align, Texas attorney Mike Hansen joins me to break down the file and why this case grabbed him.

 

 

Shareable blurb

A local editor called this show “a small podcast notwithstanding.” In EP10, we answer with receipts: the emails, my dad’s first in-person interview in 32 years, and a newly uncovered ~16-minute call where police ask my sister to consider a confrontation call. This is what it looks like when a family refuses to let a case go cold. Links in show notes to sign, call, and write. #PapiKilledMommy

Follow & Share 

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@nicolewasilishin?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicolewasilishin Email: [email protected]

Hey weirdos — I’m Nikki, daughter of Stephanie Marie Wasilishin. If you found this show through Morbid, welcome. Thank you for giving space in your day to my mom’s story and to a new podcast that’s still building its voice.

Content note: This episode discusses domestic violence and homicide. The man discussed is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

What this episode is about

This is the chapter where I stop waiting for the system and start pushing it. After the Red Rock News coverage and my first email from Sedona Police (Nov 2020), I filed a public-records request. The case file landed in my inbox mid-Jan 2021—and I couldn’t open it for nine months. When I finally did, it was with a student filmmaker filming in my living room while the printer spit the pages out backwards: autopsy first. I learned I’d received 176 pages of what Red Rock once reported was nearly 400; key autopsy pages were missing. That night the flashbacks came, and something in me shifted from waiting to fighting.

I started posting on Facebook, then a local ABC reporter reached out. A friend reminded me I knew Sarah Turney from years back; Sarah said, “Start with TikTok.” I did. Within weeks my aunt Wendy—who never stopped pushing in the background—found me online. She had pages I didn’t (including four autopsy pages). Together, we tried the “proper channels,” up to an FBI contact who asked Sedona PD if they’d accept help. They declined.

Shout-Out: Sarah Turney & Voices for Justice

Sarah Turney has been a mentor and friend since our TGI Friday’s days—she’s the blueprint for family-led advocacy in true crime and has had my back from day one. Follow her and check out her show:

• Sarah on Instagram: @saraheturney Voices for Justice • Voices for Justice (website): voicesforjusticepodcast.com

In March 2022 we received a letter from Sedona PD labeling my mom’s homicide “inactive,” shifting responsibility to prosecutors, citing “old technology,” and warning our family about “harassment.” I read that letter verbatim in this episode and break down why the language is hostile and not trauma-informed.

Then media pressure kicked in. FOX 10’s Justin Lum pushed for interviews; suddenly a zip drive appeared with the 911 call and Russell’s interviews—the first time my family heard them in 29 years. We filmed in Sedona; my aunt cried in front of the house. Justin’s two-part special, “Insufficient” (June 11, 2022), put facts in front of the public. Unsolved in Sedona: Decades later, family members frustrated at lack of progress in cold case | FOX 10 Phoenix

We expected movement. We got silence. So I launched a petition Petition · DEMAND a complete Homicide investigation for the murder of Stephanie Marie Wasilishin - Sedona, United States · Change.org and began pitching podcasts. 

Huge thank you to The Mombies for being the first true-crime podcast to cover my mom’s case back in September 2022. If you want to support them for amplifying Stephanie’s story, follow and listen here:

• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mombies/id1621473706 Apple Podcasts

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mombieshorror/ (they announced Episode 19: “Stephanie Wasilishin”)

In Jan 2023 the Vice Mayor helped facilitate a meeting with police. There was finger-pointing, and a lead I provided was labeled “hearsay.” But one thing finally changed: after thirty years, investigators agreed to record an interview with my dad—the person who was on the phone with my mom for hours the night she planned to leave Russell.

Next episode: you’ll hear that January 2023 interview, start to finish. No summaries. Listen with me and decide what it means.

Why you heard ads (and what’s next)

You may hear short ads now. I’ve moved hosts to make the show sustainable—to cover records fees, transcripts, travel, and production. To my 16 Buzzsprout supporters: you are the backbone. Listener Support on Buzzsprout is closed to new sign-ups; existing payments stay there until you cancel. I may add Patreon or an ad-free option later; I’ll announce it here first. Season Two will elevate other domestic-violence cases alongside my mom’s. To submit a case: [email protected].

How to help today

• Yavapai County Attorney’s Office — request an active review of Stephanie Marie Wasilishin (Case #930004944) and direct coordination with Sedona PD. (928) 771-3344 · [email protected]

• Sedona Police Department — move the case from inactive to active, release the complete file to the family, and pursue new leads. (928) 282-3100 · [email protected]

• Sedona Red Rock News (Editor) — cover the family’s perspective with appropriate domestic-violence context. (928) 282-7795 · [email protected]

Copy/paste email subject: Justice for Stephanie Marie Wasilishin — Case #930004944 Be respectful, be firm, and let them know you’re watching.

Copy-and-paste email (short)

Subject: Justice for Stephanie Marie Wasilishin — Case #930004944 Body: Hello, I’m writing in support of the family of Stephanie Marie Wasilishin (Case #930004944). Please take the steps necessary to ensure an active, victim-centered review of this homicide and transparent communication with the family. The community is watching and asking for accountability, a complete case file, and renewed investigative effort. Thank you for your time.

 

Follow & Share 

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@nicolewasilishin?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicolewasilishin Email: [email protected]

Thank you for listening—and for standing with my family as we fight for justice for my mother.

 

In this special bonus episode of Papi Killed Mommy, I share my very first CrimeCon experience — a three-day whirlwind in Denver that was emotional, overwhelming, and unforgettable.

The journey started on the road: 900 miles, 14 hours, my best friend Melissa by my side, and my emotional support pup, Dickie Birdie, curled up in the backseat. Between reroutes, pouring rain, thick fog, and deer threatening to dart across the road, the drive was intense. We kept each other laughing and passed the time listening to hours of Crime Weekly. By the time we rolled into Denver at 3:00 a.m., I was exhausted but ready.

Nothing could have prepared me for the emotions of walking into the convention hall the next morning. Within minutes, I spotted Sherrilyn Dale — one of the first creators to cover my mom’s story, and someone who had donated to help get me to CrimeCon. I burst into tears. Suddenly I was surrounded by people who had spoken my mom’s name out loud, who had amplified her story on their platforms.

The rest of the weekend felt surreal. Podcasters I’d admired from afar — Generation Why, Killer Queens, Crime Salad, Moms & Mysteries, Navigating Advocacy — all stopped by. Media giants like Court TV, Dateline, and Law and Crime were everywhere. But the most powerful part wasn’t the “big names.” It was the listeners, survivors, families, and advocates who came to my booth, looked me in the eye, and told me they cared about my mom’s story.

CrimeCon also forced me to face a big decision. A company approached me about monetizing my podcast. At first, I resisted — I’ve always been afraid of looking like I was profiting from my mom’s death. But after conversations with other creators and advocates, I realized this isn’t about profit. It’s about sustainability. If I want to keep sharing my mom’s story, traveling to events, and building this platform, I can’t keep relying only on my listeners to carry the financial burden. So, I’ve decided to monetize the rest of Season One and all of Season Two — not for me, but for my mom, for justice, and for every family like mine.

And here’s the announcement: Season Two of Papi Killed Mommy is officially happening. This season belongs to my mom and will continue until justice comes, but Season Two will expand to cover other domestic violence cases. My best friend Melissa — my partner in Denver, my rock through CrimeCon — will join me as co-host. Together, we’ll bring new voices, new cases, and new energy to the show.

CrimeCon also made one thing painfully clear: despite encouraging words from officials, my mom’s case is not being actively investigated. Emails from both the Yavapai County Attorney’s Office and Sedona PD reveal contradictions and carefully chosen language — “ongoing investigation,” “annual review,” “if any” new information. In the end, Sedona PD admitted the truth: this is a cold case review, not an open homicide investigation. My mom deserves better.

So here’s my call to action. Please stand with me:  📞 Call the Yavapai County Attorney’s Office at (928) 771-3344 📧 Email them at [email protected] — demand they pursue justice.

📞 Call the Sedona Police Department at (928) 282-3100 📧 Email [email protected] — insist they reactivate my mom’s case.

📞 Contact the Sedona Red Rock News at (928) 282-7795 📧 Email [email protected] — tell them to report this story from the family’s perspective.

CrimeCon reminded me that I am not alone. People care. My mom’s story matters. And with your help, I’ll never stop fighting for justice.

Support the show

 

In this episode of Papi Killed Mommy, for the first time, I read three articles about my mom’s death: the original piece from 1993, and two follow-ups nearly three decades later in July 2020 by the Sedona Red Rock News. These articles shaped how the public saw my mom’s case.

The 1993 article framed my mom’s murder as a “domestic fight,” erasing her identity and repeating Russell Peterson’s account uncritically through police statements. There was no context about domestic violence, no family voice, and no scrutiny of why no arrest was made despite the homicide ruling. That first story planted doubt and distorted the truth.

In July 2020, after my aunt Wendy reignited the case, the Red Rock News finally returned to the story — but once again, my family was excluded. The July 15 article leaned almost entirely on law enforcement, recycled Peterson’s story, and framed my mom’s death as “maybe homicide, maybe suicide,” despite the medical examiner ruling it homicide. Missing was accountability for decades of inaction or any context about intimate partner violence.

The July 27 article was the most damaging. It quoted Sgt. Michael Dominguez dismissing my family as “over-focused,” printed speculative suicide theories, emphasized my mom’s blood alcohol level without balance, and recycled Peterson’s contradictions. Most harmful of all, Dominguez’s reckless comments — published without challenge — led to his removal from the case. The Red Rock News didn’t just fail us; their reporting obstructed progress and retraumatized my family.

I’ll never forget my reaction to reading these articles. I fell to the floor, sobbing uncontrollably, stunned that the word “suicide” was still being repeated decades later. Suicide was never on the table — except from the suspect’s mouth. Yet here it was, still being printed as though it carried weight.

This episode also includes my first direct communication from Sedona PD in November 2020: an email from Sgt. Laura Leon. I read it word-for-word, then break down why it was so damaging — dismissive of me, minimizing my trauma, treating my mom’s case like closed paperwork, and telling me “everyone finds closure differently” instead of fighting for justice. That email crushed me, but it also lit the fire that pushed me to act.

Episode 8 is a raw look at how journalism and law enforcement failed my mom — not just in 1993, but again in 2020. It’s about erasure, bias, and the harm caused when the people we’re supposed to trust don’t do their jobs. But it’s also about my determination to reclaim my mom’s story and demand accountability.

📣 CALL TO ACTION

Your voice matters. Please take a few minutes to demand justice for my mom:

Sedona Police Department 📞 (928) 282-3100 📧 [email protected] ➡️ Ask them to officially reactivate Stacy’s case.

Yavapai County Attorney’s Office 📞 (928) 771-3344 📧 [email protected] ➡️ Urge them to re-examine the evidence and pursue accountability.

Sedona Red Rock News 📞 (928) 282-7795 📧 [email protected] ➡️ Demand they finally report this case from the family’s perspective.

💜 Support the Podcast & Dickie Birdie

This podcast is 100% independent and ad-free. If you’d like to help me keep fighting for justice:

• 🛒Fundraiser by Nicole Wasilishin : Birthday Wish: Help me bring my moms case to crime con
• 🐶Dickie Birdie's wishlist Amazon.com

Every call, email, share, and d

Support the show

 

 📍 Hi, I’m Nikki — the daughter of a murdered woman. Welcome back. This week, I take you back to 1993, when my mom’s case stalled—but my Aunt Wendy never stopped fighting. Together with Grandma Bea, they held on to hope, and now I carry their legacy as the third generation of Wasilishin women demanding justice for my mother Stacy Wasilishin. This cycle must stop—

You’ll hear the story of my sister’s unsettling shift from “Papi killed Mommy” to “Mommy killed herself,” how a 1999 letter from Yavapai County Attorney Jim Landis laid out a path for renewed investigation that was never followed, and how the most poignant moment came when my sister reappeared in my life—only to vanish again.

Today marks 1,858 days since she's called. And today is her 36th birthday—four years older than Mom ever lived to be. Kay, happy birthday. Please call me. We have so much to catch up on. Mom needs your help. I need your help. I’m sorry—sorry for everything. Please call.

💌 A huge thank you to Joanne and Mikayla — your support means everything in this ad-free journey.⬇️⬇️ Want to support the show directly? ⬇️⬇️ Hit the “Support the Show” button at the bottom of this episode’s page. Every dollar helps keep Papi Killed Mommy ad-free and gets Mom’s story in front of more people.

🛒 Support the Podcast — funds are still needed for CrimeCon travel and merch: GoFundMe

🐶 Limited editions on Dickie Birdie's Amazon Wishlist — My emotional support pup is CrimeCon-bound, too: Amazon Wishlist

CALL TO ACTION — Together, we can demand justice

Sedona Police Department 📞 (928) 282-3100 📧 [email protected] Ask them to officially reactivate Mom’s case.

Yavapai County Attorney’s Office 📞 (928) 771-3344 📧 [email protected] Urge them to re-examine the evidence.

Sedona Red Rock News 📞 (928) 282-7795 📧 [email protected] Ask them to share this story from the family’s perspective.

When we ALL speak up, they can’t ignore us.

Next Week on Episode 8

In July 2020, I discovered that Mom’s case had quietly been reopened—and that a local paper had blindsided my family with two articles. A detective floated “suicide” as a cause of death, and an investigator’s email lit a fire under me to finally request the full case file… The file sat unopened for eight months. When I did open it, my life—and this case—changed forever.

Support the show

 

📍 Bonus Episode: Laurie Swift Remembers Stacy I’m Nikki—daughter of a murdered woman. This bonus episode features longtime friend Swifty sharing candid memories of my mom, Stacy, that bring her to life beyond the headlines. Recorded back in May, these clips are raw, unscripted, and mostly unreleased. Through Swifty's voice you’ll see a young Stacy who thrifted, cleaned obsessively, and lived through music like Aerosmith and Foghat.

We’re halfway through this journey—six episodes complete, six more to go. The first half covered 1993, the year my mom was murdered. The second half will span the next three decades of silence, missed opportunities, and my fight for justice. Before moving forward, I want to pause and remind you: Stacy wasn’t just a case file. She was a daughter, sister, mother, and friend.

📞 Calls to Action

If you believe Stacey’s story deserves another look, please reach out:

Sedona Police Department • Phone: 928‑282‑3100 • Email: [email protected] (Chief Stephanie Foley) Ask them to reopen Stephanie Marie Wasilishin’s cold case.

Yavapai County Attorney’s Office • Phone: 928‑771‑3344 • Email: [email protected] Request reinvestigation and witness reconsideration.

Sedona Red Rock News • Phone: 928‑282‑7795 • Email: [email protected] Encourage them to re-report the case from the family’s point of view.

🎗️ Support the Podcast & Merchandise

Just yesterday I spent $650 (Sticker Mule), $110 (Vistaprint), and $25 (Zazzle)—nearly $785 total—to prepare merch for CrimeCon. I still need more shirts, stickers, and materials. Every donation helps keep my mom’s name visible.

👉 Donate here:  https://www.gofundme.com/f/this-is-my-birthday-wish-help-me-bring-my-mothers-story-to Every donor gets a first-generation Papi Killed Mommy sticker and a handwritten thank-you card.

🐾 Help Dickie Birdie Travel

My best friend Dickie Birdie just had a vet bill of $827 to make sure he’s fit for CrimeCon. He still needs a few more small things for the trip, if you're willing. 

👉 Check his Amazon Wishlist

💌 Special Thank-Yous

💖 Stacey Wheaton — my angel. You’ve carried this podcast more times than I can count. 💖 Alex — thank you for always supporting the show. 💖 Brittany Wells Art — a Kansas City-based artist, author, and true crime junkie who designed and PAID for my banners. Find her work in the Facebook group

👉 Brittany Wells Art — facebook.com/groups/brittanywellsart 🖌️ 

📲 Stay Up to Date

Follow me on TikTok & Instagram: @nicolewasilishin for behind-the-scenes updates, merch drops, and reflections.

🔔 Next up: Episode 7 — “Mommy Killed Herself.” My sister, who had always said “Papi killed Mommy,” suddenly changes her story a year later. Was it coached? Manipulated? Or something more?

Thank you for listening, supporting, and fighting for justice with me. This is Papi Killed Mommy.

Support the show

 

📍 Hi, my name is Nikki and I’m the daughter of a murdered woman. Welcome to a special bonus episode of Papi Killed Mommy.

⚠️ Before we begin, a quick trigger warning: this podcast contains discussions of domestic violence, homicide, and other potentially distressing topics. Listener discretion is advised.

One of the questions I get asked most often is: What about your dad? What does he remember from that night? What does he think really happened? How does he feel all these years later? Today, you’ll finally hear his story — in his own words.

This is unlike any episode I’ve released before. What you’re about to hear is my father’s full, unedited interview. Nothing cut. Nothing polished. Just raw audio — including my own questions. I’ve chosen not to edit myself out, because I want you to hear the conversation exactly as it happened. You’ll hear us overlap, stumble, even ramble a little — but that’s the point. This isn’t a script. This is real.

💔 My dad was one of the very last people to speak to my mom before she was killed. Their nearly two-hour phone call on July 8th, 1993, may have been the very spark that set Russell Peterson off. She told my dad she was leaving. She told him she was coming home. She even admitted she knew Russell was recording her calls — and she didn’t care.

Yet despite how critical my father was to understanding the truth, investigators never once drove down to Phoenix to interview him in person in 1993. They never recorded his statement. They never transcribed it. Instead, they took a single phone call, dismissed what he told them, and left his words out of the official case file. When he spoke about the phone recorder, Russell’s drinking, and my mom’s plans to leave, he wasn’t met with interest — he was met with anger. They minimized him. They silenced him.

That failure is still one of the most damaging gaps in my mom’s case. My dad has always carried the weight of knowing she was supposed to come back — that she was ready to pack up me, my sister, the dog, the cat, and come home. And when you hear his voice today, you’ll understand why this interview matters.

🎙️ It’s raw. It’s emotional. And it’s crucial. Because without my dad’s voice, the picture of who my mom was — and why she was taken from us — is incomplete.

💌 If this episode moves you, here’s how you can help keep my mom’s story alive:

✨ 👉 Support the Show — scroll down and tap the button at the bottom of the notes. Every bit helps me continue producing this podcast independently.

✨ 👉 GoFundMe for CrimeCon — help me share my mom’s story at CrimeCon this September. Your support covers merchandise, travel, and awareness. Every donor will receive a thank-you card 💌 and one of my first-generation Papi Killed Mommy stickers while supplies last.

🐾✈️ Traveling to CrimeCon with my best friend, Dickie Birdie, comes with some unexpected expenses — his recent vet visit alone was $827. If you’d like to help make sure he’s safe and comfy on this trip, I’ve put together a small Amazon Wishlist with his travel essentials (like a stroller, pop‑up kennel, and car seat). Every bit of support means the world. 💙

🛒 Click here to check out Dickie Birdie’s Wishlist

✨ 👉 Follow me on TikTok & Instagram: @nicolewasilishin for behind-the-scenes updates, clips, and more ❤️

📞 And if you or anyone you know has any information about the death of my mother, Stephanie Marie Wasilishin, please con

Support the show

 

It was three weeks before my 11th birthday, when my mother, Stacy Wasilishin, was killed. For weeks now, I’ve taken you back to July of 1993 — to the night she died, the hours after, and the painful days that followed. In this episode, we reach a turning point: the final interview Russell Peterson ever gave to police about my mother’s death.

On September 3, 1993, detectives sat down with Russell for over 30 minutes. This was his fourth version of events, and by then his story had completely changed. He claimed my mom pulled his .44 Magnum from a closet shelf, stood eight feet away, and said, “Russell, I’m going to kill you.” He rambled about his career plans, expensive knives, and culinary dreams — but avoided talking about her, or the fact that her two young daughters were in the house that night.

When pressed with the forensic evidence — that she couldn’t have fired the gun at that angle and that she was in a defensive posture — Russell admitted, “I can’t explain it.” He explained away my little sister’s words, “Papi killed Mommy,” saying she must have misunderstood when she saw him moving the gun. The detectives called him out directly: “Every time we talk to you, your story changes.” His response? He asked to leave. It was Friday, and he said he had to get to work. They let him walk out.

That was the last time Russell Peterson ever spoke to police. Weeks later, he  dropped off his July phone bill — evidence that revealed a 1:36 a.m. call giving him at least three minutes to stage the scene before dialing 911. Investigators never subpoenaed that phone record, never followed up on the call, and by November 1993, the county attorney declared “insufficient evidence to prosecute.” Soon after, the Sedona Police Department even canceled further tests on the murder weapon.

And just like that, the investigation into my mother’s death was over.

But the story doesn’t end there.

Next episode I’ll share one of the most devastating moments of my life — the first time I was finally alone with my little sister after our mother’s death. In the squad car, she told me “Papi killed Mommy.” She told the detectives, our foster family, and every adult who would listen. But one year later, on a long‑awaited Disneyland trip, those words were gone. Replaced with a version I never expected: “Mommy killed herself.” What happened in that year? How did her story change so drastically — and why?

This podcast is completely independent. It’s just me, no production team, no corporate backing — working full‑time while pouring every spare hour into telling my mother’s story. If you’d like to help me bring her case to more people, especially as I prepare for CrimeCon this September, please consider donating to the GoFundMe linked below:  👉 Fundraiser by Nicole Wasilishin : Birthday Wish: Help me bring my moms case to crime con

🐾✈️ Traveling to CrimeCon with my best friend, Dickie Birdie, comes with some unexpected expenses — his recent vet visit alone was $827. If you’d like to help make sure he’s safe and comfy on this trip, I’ve put together a small Amazon Wishlist with his travel essentials (like a stroller, pop‑up kennel, and car seat). Every bit of support means the world. 💙

🛒 Click here to check out Dickie Birdie’s Wishlist

You can also support the show directly using the “Support the Show” button at the bottom of these episode notes

Follow me on TikTok and Instagram @nicole

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Sunday, July 11, 1993. The day I learned my mother was dead.

In this episode, I take you into the moment that shattered my childhood. That morning, my foster family drove me and my little sister to the Sedona Police Department. Inside a room filled with silver folding chairs and scattered toys, I sat frozen — until the only familiar face in the room, my mother’s boyfriend Russell Peterson, broke the news. “Your mom is gone.” He was the one who told me. Not a police officer. Not a therapist. No family member. Him.

My sister played like nothing had happened, but my world collapsed. And just hours later, Russell signed us out of CPS custody and took us on a scenic Pink Jeep tour through Sedona — a “family outing” on the worst day of my life. That ride wasn’t about grief. It was about manipulation. He pushed me to say I wanted to live with him, using my little sister as leverage.

Later that afternoon, Russell contacted police and asked to walk them through the house where my mother died. In a calm, detached tone, he reenacted the scene — contradicting himself repeatedly. He said my mom told him she was going to shoot him… then turned the gun on herself. He picked the gun up, put it away, then changed his mind and placed it back on the ground — before calling 911.

He added new details: that his father found a bottle of Seagram’s in my mom’s bag after the shooting. Another attempt to make her look unstable — a pattern that never stopped.

You’ll hear that walkthrough. You’ll hear detectives gently challenge his contradictions. And you’ll hear the line that’s haunted me for 30 years: “Whatever mindset she was in at that given moment… it’ll never be known.”

But it could have been — if anyone had dug deeper.

This episode also includes a interview with my father, Craig. He remembers a long, emotional call with my mom the night before she died — a call she knew Russell was recording. My dad’s story has never changed. But the case file summary of his interview? Doesn’t match what he actually said.

I end this episode with one of the most vivid memories of my life — seeing my mother at her viewing. Blue dress. Blue makeup. Blue carnations. A sea of blue that made the world feel cold. I’ve hated the color ever since.

 

Next episode on Papi Killed Mommy I’ll take you inside Russell Peterson’s final police interview. His last story. His final contradictions. And the moment the investigation quietly fell apart.

If you’ve made it this far — thank you. This podcast is 100% independent. No team. No studio. Just me, telling my mom’s story and fighting for justice.

To support the show and help bring her case to CrimeCon, please consider donating:  👉 gofundme.com/f/this-is-my-birthday-wish-help-me-bring-my-mothers-story-to

🐾✈️ Traveling to CrimeCon with my best friend, Dickie Birdie, comes with some unexpected expenses — his recent vet visit alone was $827. If you’d like to help make sure he’s safe and comfy on this trip, I’ve put together a small Amazon Wishlist with his travel essentials (like a stroller, pop‑up kennel, and car seat). Every bit of support means the world. 💙

🛒 Click here to check out Dickie Birdie’s Wishlist

Follow me on TikTok and Instagram @nicolewasilishin for updates and more ways to spread the word.

If you have any information about the death of Stephanie Marie Wasilishin, please contact the Sedona Police Department at (928) 282-3100.

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In the previous episodes, I walked you through my mother’s final day, the chaotic hours after her death, and Russell Peterson’s first interview. But the story didn’t stop there. In this episode of Papi Killed Mommy, I take you deeper into July 10, 1993—the day after my mother’s murder—and into Russell’s second police interview, where his story starts to unravel.

This was the interview where Russell’s narrative began to shift. In his own words, you’ll hear him pivot from blaming a supposed struggle over the gun… to suggesting my mother shot herself… to finally admitting he doesn’t know what happened at all. His version of events changes mid-conversation. And throughout the interrogation, he centers himself—his career, his finances, his struggles as a “provider”—while painting my mother as unstable, abusive, and manipulative.

But this episode isn’t just Russell’s voice. I’ll also walk you through the interviews investigators conducted that same day—conversations with my grandmother, my aunt, and my mother’s coworkers. You’ll hear how my mother’s own family described the abuse she endured. You’ll hear how her coworkers misunderstood her depression and saw her as the problem. And you’ll hear the devastating moment my grandmother revealed that Russell had called her the day of my mother’s death to say my mom had “shot herself”

You’ll hear Russell minimize past violent incidents, dismiss my mother's fears, and focus on the sacrifices he made to support her and her children. He claims he wasn’t angry about her rekindled conversations with my father. Yet he keeps circling back to him in his interview—volunteering the detail again and again. He admits he took my mother’s Disneyland savings to pay for his culinary school. 

Next week, I’ll take you inside Russell Peterson’s final police interview—the last time he ever spoke to law enforcement about my mother’s death.

If you’ve made it this far—thank you. This podcast is 100% independent. No sponsors. No production team. Just me—a daughter telling her mother’s story. I’ve worked hard to keep Papi Killed Mommy ad-free, but the truth is: producing a podcast is like having a second full-time job.

I’ve launched a GoFundMe to help cover costs for CrimeCon this September, where I’ll be sharing my mother’s case with thousands of people. Every donation helps me create merch that keeps her story alive. And as a thank you—every single donor will receive a handwritten thank-you card and a first-generation Papi Killed Mommy sticker from me personally. I’m mailing out thank-you cards this weekend, and it’s honestly one of my favorite parts—getting to thank each person helping me fight for justice.

🐾✈️ Traveling to CrimeCon with my best friend, Dickie Birdie, comes with some unexpected expenses — his recent vet visit alone was $827. If you’d like to help make sure he’s safe and comfy on this trip, I’ve put together a small Amazon Wishlist with his travel essentials (like a stroller, pop‑up kennel, and car seat). Every bit of support means the world. 💙

🛒 Click here to check out Dickie Birdie’s Wishlist

If you’re able to help, even a few dollars makes a difference.  Donate here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/this-is-my-birthday-wish-help-me-bring-my-mothers-story-to

And if you know anything about the death of Stephanie Wasilishin—my mom—please contact the Sedona Police Department at (928) 282-3100.

Support the show