This is Actually Happening from Wondery  What would you do if a singular moment changed your life forever? This is Actually Happening is a weekly podcast from Wondery that features extraordinary life-changing stories told by the people who lived them. We’ve all had powerful moments in our lives that have given us the feeling of, “Nothing is ever going to be the same.” This is Actually Happening explores these moments head-on. These immersive, gripping stories will have you on the edge of your seat, waiting to hear what will happen next. This is just a preview of This is Actually Happening, but you can listen to the full episode at wondery.fm/TIAH_MurderInMy  This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/4119331/advertisement

This is Actually Happening from Wondery

Murder is a crime of many victims. It affects not only the murdered, but also those who loved them. The Murder in My Family tells the effects of murder from the perspective of the family members of the victims and shows how they, too, are victims in this terrible crime.

True crime

Episode 152 Juan Leon Laureles Rewind  In this episode, we rewind and go back into The Murder In My Family vault to explore the case of Juan Leon Laureles who was murdered in Brown County, TX and was seemingly the victim of a hate crime because he was gay. Since the original release of our episode in July, 2021, Leon's case has gotten a lot more media attention in an ongoing effort to see his case solved, and his killer, or killers identified. You'll hear from Leon's niece Arlene in this episode and she discusses how Leon's loss has greatly affected the lives of those who knew and loved him. If you have any information Leon’s case, please call the Brown County Sheriff’s Office at (325) 646-5510 or go to http://www.heartoftexascrimestoppers.org/ to submit an anonymous tip  To learn more about Leon’s case, visit the  Facebook group run by his niece, Arlene or the website for his case      To support and listen AD-FREE to every single epsiode of not only The Murder in My Family, but also to every other show on the AbJack network of podcasts, consider an AbJack Insider subscription through Apple Podcasts. You can start with a free trial, and then for just $4.99 a month or $49.99 a year, you'll get not only AD-FREE listening to hundreds of episodes, but also early-previews, and access to bonus content.To contact the podcast or learn more about the case we discuss, please visit The Murder In My Family Home Page   Follow us on social media on Facebook or on X (formerly Twitter)

Juan Leon Laureles Rewind

Episode 151 Rachael Runyan Rewind In this episode, we go back into The Murder In My Family vault to pull from episodes 9 and 68 to re-examine the case of 3 year old Rachael Runyan who was abducted and murdered in Sunset, Utah in 1982. You'll hear from both Rachael's mom Elaine, and Private Investigator Jason Jensen who has worked extensively on her case.  If you have information about Rachael’s case, please contact the Sunset, UT police department or Private Investigator Jason Jensen. This episode is sponsored by Greenlight the money app that helps parents teach their children how to responsibly save and manage their money. Listeners of The Murder in My Family can sign up now  to try their first month of Greenlight free.  To support and listen AD-FREE to every single epsiode of not only The Murder in My Family, but also to every other show on the AbJack network of podcasts, consider an AbJack Insider subscription through Apple Podcasts. You can start with a free trial, and then for just $4.99 a month or $49.99 a year, you'll get not only AD-FREE listening to hundreds of episodes, but also early-previews, and access to bonus content.To contact the podcast or learn more about the case we discuss, please visit The Murder In My Family Home Page

Rachael Runyan Rewind

Episode 150 Raymond Saenz On October 11, 2019, Raymond Saenz a 30 year old father of 3, went to a bar in San Bernardino, CA with a couple friends to have a couple drinks and some wings. While he was there, Raymond found himself cornered in a small bathroom with multiple members of a biker gang, and he wouldn't come out alive. Raymond was shot once in the face and left to die on the bathroom floor as the bikers fled the scene. Raymond's murder was shocking because he was well liked and got along with all kinds of people; in fact, surveillance footage from the bar showed Raymond being friendly with the bikers prior to being shot by them. That same surveillance footage may hold clues, that along with eye witness testimony, may help convict the men who have been arrested for Raymond's murder. The trial has been delayed in court for various reasons, and over four years later, Raymond's family is still waiting for justice. In this episode, Raymond's mom Mary discusses what is taking so long, and the challenges in getting justice for her son.   To support and listen AD-FREE to every single epsiode of not only The Murder in My Family, but also to every other show on the AbJack network of podcasts, consider an AbJack Insider subscription through Apple Podcasts. You can start with a free trial, and then for just $4.99 a month or $49.99 a year, you'll get not only AD-FREE listening to hundreds of episodes, but also early-previews, and access to bonus content.To contact the podcast or learn more about the case we discuss, please visit The Murder In My Family Home Page

Raymond Saenz

Episode 149 James 'Jimmy' Townsend In 1985, 13 year old James 'Jimmy' Townsend was a popular boy in his hometown of Monroe, Louisiana. He was a friendly and gifted athlete who played a variety of sports and excelled at them. By September of that year, Jimmy had become involved in boxing, but that wasnt all that was new for Jimmy. He was also a new father to a baby girl; Kristy. Being a father at 13 was certainly going to be a challenge for Jimmy, but he was ready to take it on. Sadly, he'd never get the chance. On September 28th, 1985, Jimmy along with a couple friends went to a local fair, and while there, they got into an altercation with a group of seven young men and boys, thought to be members of a local gang. Jimmy fought back before he and his friends ran for their lives. Sadly, Jimmy couldn't outrun his attackers, and he was savagely beaten to death. Although police had the accounts of multiple witnesses, and names of suspects, the case was never resolved and remains unresolved to this day. The mother of Jimmy's daughter Kristy wound up giving her up for adoption when she was just eleven months old so she never got to know her father. As she grew up and began to wonder about her roots, Kristy was upset that her father's murder forever changed the outcome of her life. She was determined to get justice for her father, and has helped to re-ignite a fresh look into the case. In this episode, Kristy discusses her father's tragic and violent murder, and how her life was affected by it.  Kristy is personally offering a reward of at least $1000 for information that leads to a conviction in her father's case. If you have any information or tips, please call Crime Stoppers of North Delta at 318-388-CASH or the Monroe PD at 318-329-2600. To learn more about the case, be sure to visit the  Facebook discussion group set up by Kristy. You can also  check out the petition Kristy kicked off in order to get her father's case looked at with fresh eyes.   To support and listen AD-FREE to every single epsiode of not only The Murder in My Family, but also to every other show on the AbJack network of podcasts, consider an AbJack Insider subscription through Apple Podcasts. You can start with a free trial, and then for just $4.99 a month or $49.99 a year, you'll get not only AD-FREE listening to hundreds of episodes, but also early-previews, and access to bonus content.To contact the podcast or learn more about the case we discuss, please visit The Murder In My Family Home Page

James 'Jimmy' Townsend

Episode 148 The Hanson Family Murders In December, 2021, a shocking triple murder happened in Milbank, SD. 29 year old Jessica Hanson, her unborn daughter Annika, who she was 9 months pregnant with, and her 59 year old husband Clyde were murdered in their residence in separate attacks in an act of domestic violence at the hands of Clyde's brother, Brent Hanson. The attacks were brutal; while Jessica was at work, Clyde was beaten to death with a baseball bat in his bed while the Hanson's young son Ty slept nearby. When Jessica returned home from work, she was attacked with a machete, and both she and her baby Annika were killed. Brent Hanson admitted to police that he had committed the murders saying that he 'lost it'.  It came to light that proceeding the murders, Brent  who was living with Jessica and Clyde, had violently attacked Jessica, and when her husband Clyde came to her defense, he too was attacked. Despite the attack on his brother and sister in law, Brent Hanson remained a free man. Following the domestic violence, Jessica and Clyde understndably did not feel safe living with Brent, but he and Clyde co-owned their home, so they decided to essentially sub-divide the residence, and live in one section while Brent lived in another. Sadly, the new living arrangements did not keep them safe from Brent. Following the tragedy, Jessica's sister Jasmine King tried to adopt her nephew Ty who had survived the ordeal, but South Dakota CPS stepped in and adopted Ty out to another family. To make matters worse, although Jessica's family was pushing for the death penalty, prosecutors without consulting them, agreed to a plea deal with Brent Hanson, and instead of the death penalty, he was sentenced to life in prison.  This story is tragic all the way around, and has devastated Jessica's family. Despite Jessica's son Ty surviving the violence, they feel he was stolen away from them. In this episode, Jessica's sister Jasmine King discusses the tragic details of this case, and the aftermath which has left her heartbroken.  If you or someone you know needs help escaping a domestic violence situation, you can seek help by calling the National domestic violence hotline at 800-799-7233  To support and listen AD-FREE to every single epsiode of not only The Murder in My Family, but also to every other show on the AbJack network of podcasts, consider an AbJack Insider subscription through Apple Podcasts. You can start with a free trial, and then for just $4.99 a month or $49.99 a year, you'll get not only AD-FREE listening to hundreds of episodes, but also early-previews, and access to bonus content.To contact the podcast or learn more about the case we discuss, please visit The Murder In My Family Home Page   Follow us on social media on Facebook or on X (formerly Twitter)

This is Actually Happening from Wondery

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