The Girl in the Dark

On March 17, 2012, 24-year-old mother of two Jamee Christine Grossman disappeared from Billings, Montana.

Fourteen years later, her family is still waiting for answers.

For the first time on The Girl in the Dark, I worked directly with a missing woman’s family to tell her story. What began as a request from Jamee’s sister became a deep dive into her disappearance—and an investigation that left me with far more questions than answers.

What happened to Jamee Grossman?

Someone knows something.

It’s time to make some noise for Jamee.

Because some stories don’t stay buried. 🖤

Eight years ago, Shanann Watts and her two young daughters, Bella and Celeste, disappeared from their home in Frederick, Colorado.

At first, Shanann’s husband, Chris Watts, pleaded for his family to come home safely. But behind closed doors, Chris was hiding an affair, a crumbling marriage, and a horrifying secret.

In this episode, we go back to the beginning—who Shanann was, the life she built, her marriage to Chris, and the events that led to August 13, 2018. We’ll follow the investigation, Chris’s lies and confessions, and the devastating truth about what happened to Shanann, Bella, CeCe, and unborn baby Nico.

Eight years later, we remember the lives that were taken and examine one of America’s most infamous family annihilators.

Fifteen-year-old Sydney thought she was home alone after a long day at school. But when unfamiliar footsteps echoed through the house, her world changed forever.

Dragged from beneath her bed by two armed intruders, Sydney endured unimaginable violence as they searched her home for money. Bound, assaulted, and shot, she refused to believe her story would end there. With nothing left but instinct and determination, Sydney made a split-second decision that would save her life.

This is not just a story of survival—it's a story of courage, resilience, and a young girl who refused to let evil have the final word.

⚠️ Listener Warning: This episode contains discussions of home invasion, sexual assault, and violence that may be disturbing to some listeners. Please take care of yourself and skip this episode if needed.

Before The Conjuring terrified audiences around the world, there was the real-life Perron family.

In 1971, Roger and Carolyn Perron moved their five daughters into a centuries-old farmhouse in Harrisville, Rhode Island. Almost immediately, they claimed to experience unexplained phenomena—shadow figures, strange noises, moving furniture, foul odors, and terrifying encounters that would eventually bring famed paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren to their doorstep.

But how much of the blockbuster horror film actually happened?

In this episode, we'll separate Hollywood fiction from the real story, explore the Perron family's alleged haunting, examine the Warrens' investigation, and uncover what happened during the infamous séance that ended their involvement with the family. We'll also look at where the movie took creative liberties, what became of the famous farmhouse, and who owns it today.

So...do you believe the hauntings were real?

Be sure to vote in this episode's Spotify poll and let me know what you think.

On November 30, 2022, 7-year-old Athena Strand disappeared from her family’s property in Wise County, Texas. What began as a normal evening at home quickly turned into every parent’s worst nightmare.

Athena was a free spirit who loved climbing trees, riding horses, talking a little too much in class, and spending time with her family. She was tough, independent, and fiercely loved by everyone who knew her.

In this episode, we explore Athena’s life, the desperate search to bring her home, the horrifying truth of what happened, and the sentencing trial that revealed the details of her final moments. We also look at the impact Athena’s loss had on her family, her classmates, her community, and the lasting legacy her mother has built in her name.

This episode contains discussion of child abduction, sexual assault, and murder and may not be suitable for all listeners.

If you would like to support Athena’s legacy, please consider learning more about Athena Strand’s Army and the work being done in her honor.

💗 In memory of Athena Presley Monroe Strand

May 23, 2015 – November 30, 2022

On January 11, 2013, 17-year-old Kendrick Johnson left for school at Lowndes High in Valdosta, Georgia… and never came home.

Hours later, Kendrick’s body was discovered upside down inside a rolled-up wrestling mat in the school’s old gymnasium. Authorities quickly ruled his death a tragic accident.

But for Kendrick’s family, the evidence never added up.

In this episode we dive into the haunting and highly controversial death of Kendrick Johnson — the conflicting autopsies, missing surveillance footage, rumors of a cover-up, allegations of racism and corruption, and the questions that continue to divide the public more than a decade later.

Was this a freak accident… or something far darker?

Listener discretion is advised due to discussions of death and graphic details.

Follow, rate, and share The Girl in the Dark wherever you listen to podcasts.

The Murdaugh saga is far from over.

In a shocking decision, the South Carolina Supreme Court has overturned Alex Murdaugh’s 2023 murder convictions in the killings of his wife Maggie and son Paul, ordering a brand new trial after allegations of jury tampering and misconduct involving former court clerk Becky Hill.

In this breaking update episode of The Girl in the Dark:

🕯️ Why the convictions were overturned
🕯️ Becky Hill’s criminal charges and controversy
🕯️ What happens next for Alex Murdaugh
🕯️ Why a retrial could heavily benefit the defense
🕯️ The emotional fallout for the surviving Murdaugh family

The battle lines are being drawn once again in the Lowcountry… and the world is watching.

Follow, rate, and share The Girl in the Dark wherever you listen to podcasts.

Before Jonestown… before the poison… there was a man people believed in.

In this episode, we dive into the life and rise of Jim Jones—a charismatic preacher who built the People’s Temple on promises of equality, community, and hope during one of the most divided times in American history.

But behind the image of a progressive leader, something darker was taking shape.

As his influence grew, so did his control. From faith healings and political power to manipulation, fear, and isolation, we follow the path that led hundreds of people to a place called Jonestown… and to the Jonestown Massacre.

This isn’t just the story of what happened.

It’s the story of how it happened.

Because cults don’t start with control…

they start with trust.

And sometimes…

the devil doesn’t come with horns.

He comes as someone you believe in.

A devil in disguise.

New Orleans is a city where music drifts through the streets, magic lingers in the air, and monsters are never too far from the shadows.

In this episode of The Girl in the Dark, we take a walk through one of the most mysterious cities in America. A city where history, legend, and spirituality blur together until it’s hard to tell where one ends and the other begins.

First, we step into the terror of the Axeman of New Orleans, the mysterious killer who stalked the city in the early 1900s and sent a chilling letter demanding that jazz be played throughout the night.

Then we travel back to the French colonial era to uncover the eerie legend of the Casket Girls, whose arrival in New Orleans sparked rumors of sealed attic windows, missing luggage, and whispers of vampires in the French Quarter.

Finally, we explore the life and legacy of the legendary Marie Laveau, the Voodoo Queen whose influence shaped the spiritual traditions of the city and whose presence some believe still lingers in New Orleans today.

From killers to vampires to voodoo queens, these are the stories that helped make New Orleans the most haunted and fascinating city in America.

Because in New Orleans… myth becomes legend, and killers become lore.

In November 1986, Helle Crafts vanished from her home in Newtown, Connecticut. She was a mother, a flight attendant, a traveler, and a woman preparing to leave a dangerous marriage. What followed was one of the most disturbing and groundbreaking investigations in American criminal history.

This episode tells the full story of Helle’s life, her growing fear, and the meticulous police work that ultimately led to the conviction of her husband, Richard Crafts — despite the fact that only fragments of her remains were ever recovered. It became the first murder conviction in Connecticut history without a body, proving that evidence can be destroyed, but truth cannot be erased.

⚠️ Content Warning:
This episode contains discussion of domestic violence, murder, and graphic subject matter. Please listen with care.

If you or someone you love is experiencing domestic violence, help is available. You are not alone.