A judge writes an open letter to the killer. In it, he outlines what he believes are the nine-year-old’s last moments on Earth and vows to watch the killer as he dies in the gas chamber. Nancy walks the path Shirley Jane Rose took on October 17th, 1975.

S01 E03 - The Judge's Letter

The Toll focuses on the effects a violent crime or traumatic event has on a family and community. Season 1 focuses on a cold case from Springfield, Missouri; the 1975 murder of 9-year-old Shirley Jane Rose. Our host, award winning journalist Nancy Simpson, interviews investigators and family members, taking the listener on a journey of what ends up being not just one, but many tragedies intertwined.

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True crime

Nancy here... A pregnant teenager was murdered in the Ozarks in the 1970s. My mother married the girl's killer. So many lies. What was the truth? Eventually, I had to know more.

My Mom Married A Murderer

A woman's body was found on a truck stop parking lot in Springfield, Missouri in 1997 - far from her home near Memphis. Gloria Jean Barnes' body was discovered the day before her 36th birthday. No family gathering, no cake, no celebration. Gloria got an autopsy for her birthday. As police work on leads, all they find are dead ends. For the first time in over two decades, Gloria's sister and brother are speaking out about what they believe happened the night Gloria was taken from Joiner, Arkansas. A family's secret, a mother's crusade to catch a killer, and details in this case that have never been revealed. It's a cold case brought back to life by "The Toll: Hearts For Gloria."

Hearts for Gloria - E02

Hearts for Gloria - E01

A bartender and mom of 3 went missing after closing up after work in Ava, Missouri. A newly elected sheriff picks up the case several years later, looking to find who murdered Rene Williams. What he uncovers is a suspected serial killer. Where was Rene buried? Who helped move her body? How many more victims are connected to Christopher Revak? Join us on our journey into a murder in the Ozarks. Part 2 of “The Toll: Unsettled”

Unsettled - E02

A bartender and mom of 3 went missing after closing up after work in Ava, Missouri. A newly elected sheriff picks up the case several years later, looking to find who murdered Rene Williams. What he uncovers is a suspected serial killer. Where was Rene buried? Who helped move her body? How many more victims are connected to Christopher Revak? Join us on our journey into a murder in the Ozarks. Part 1 of “The Toll: Unsettled”

S01 E03 - The Judge's Letter

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