TRUE CRIME with Bratterstein

As always, thank you for hanging out and remembering Maria Eugenia Munoz with me today.

On September 22, 2020, 31-year-old Maria Muñoz, a stay-at-home mother in Laredo, Texas, was found unresponsive after her husband called 911 claiming she had overdosed. What seemed like a tragic accident soon revealed dark secrets.

Toxicology results uncovered seven powerful anesthetic drugs, including one typically administered only via IV and no evidence of the pill he claimed she took. Investigators learned Maria’s husband, Joel Pellot, a nurse anesthetist, had access to controlled substances and had deleted CCTV footage and tampered with the crime scene.

Maria’s own journals painted a different picture: she was preparing for a future, asking for “prayers” the night before their scheduled talk about their marriage.

In March 2023, after a nine-day trial, Pellot was found guilty of murder and evidence tampering, and sentenced to life in prison.

As always, thank you for hanging out and remembering Robert Whitwell with me today. In August 2016, 19-year-old Brittney Jade Dwyer traveled from Queensland to Adelaide with her friend, Bernadette Hoang, to visit her grandfather, 81-year-old Robert Whitwell. But the visit wasn’t out of love, it was part of a plan. Brittney wanted the $100,000 inheritance she believed she was entitled to, and she was willing to kill to get it.

When she arrived at his home, Robert welcomed her with warmth and trust, completely unaware of her intentions. Brittney later confessed that she hesitated for hours, even watching TV with him, before finally stabbing him to death in his living room.

After the murder, Brittney and Bernadette fled, leaving Robert’s body behind and attempting to cover their tracks. But phone messages, CCTV, and the pair’s own conversations quickly exposed the truth.

In 2017, Brittney Dwyer was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison with a minimum of 21 years. Bernadette Hoang received 6 years for her role in planning the crime.

As always, thank you for hanging out and remembering Channon Christian and Chris Newsom with me today.

As always, thank you for hanging out and remembering Cherica Adams with me today.
In November 1999, 24-year-old Cherica Adams, who was eight months pregnant, was shot four times while driving through Charlotte, North Carolina. Before she lost consciousness, Cherica was able to call 911 and name the man responsible for setting her up, her boyfriend, former NFL player Rae Carruth.

Investigators learned that Carruth had orchestrated a murder-for-hire plot to avoid paying child support. He arranged for another man, Van Brett Watkins, to ambush Cherica as they drove in separate cars. Cherica survived long enough to give birth to her son, Chancellor, who suffered permanent brain damage due to lack of oxygen following the shooting. Cherica died a month later from her injuries.

At trial, Carruth was convicted of conspiracy to commit murder and was sentenced to 18 to 24 years in prison. He was released in 2018. The shooter, Watkins, received a life sentence.

Cherica’s legacy lives on through her son, who is cared for by Cherica’s mother and continues to inspire people with his resilience and strength.

As always, thank you for hanging out and remembering Michelle Camile DeMarzo with me today.

In June 1978, 18-year-old Michelle DeMarzo was found brutally murdered at a conservation center in Cranford, New Jersey, nude, bludgeoned, and surrounded by signs of extreme violence.

Her former boyfriend, Neil Costanzo, who had known Michelle for years and from whom she had broken up a while earlier, was arrested and charged with her murder.

The killing rocked the community, turning a suburban high school graduation season into a scene of horror and fear. To this day, the case stands as a chilling reminder of how violence can shatter lives and the innocence of youth.

As always, thank you for hanging out and remembering the Broaddus family with me today. In June 2014, Derek and Maria Broaddus purchased a $1.35 million home at 657 Boulevard in Westfield, New Jersey. Just days after closing, but before they even moved in, they received the first of several anonymous letters addressed to “The New Owner” from someone calling themselves “The Watcher.”
The letters claimed the house had been “watched” by the sender’s family for generations, referenced the Broaddus children as “young blood,” and threatened that the homeowners would be drawn into the sender’s plans.
Over the next several years, the family was terrorised with more letters, hired private investigators and ex-FBI agents, and ultimately never moved in. In July 2019 they sold the house at a loss, after spending five years haunted by unanswered questions and no identified perpetrator.

As always, thank you for hanging out and remembering Holly Lynn Bobo with me today.

In April 2011, 20-year-old nursing student Holly Lynn Bobo disappeared from her family home in rural Darden, Tennessee, after being led into the woods by a man wearing camouflage.

Nearly three years later, partial remains were discovered in a remote area of Decatur County. The autopsy confirmed she died of a gunshot wound to the back of the head.

In September 2017, Zachary Adams was found guilty of kidnapping, rape and murder in Holly’s case and was sentenced to life in prison without parole plus 50 years.

As always, thank you for hanging out and remembering Georgia Williams with me today.

In May 2013, 17-year-old Georgia Williams disappeared after visiting the home of her friend, 23-year-old Jamie Reynolds, in Shropshire, England. What seemed like an innocent visit quickly turned into a premeditated murder.

Reynolds, obsessed with violent sexual fantasies, lured Georgia to his house under false pretenses, where he attacked and strangled her. He filmed part of the assault and later disposed of her body in woodland more than 100 miles away.

When police arrested him, they discovered hundreds of disturbing images, violent writings, and a detailed plan outlining Georgia’s murder. Prosecutors described the crime as “cold, calculated, and sexually motivated.”

In 2014, Jamie Reynolds pleaded guilty to murder and was sentenced to life in prison with a whole-life order, ensuring he will never be released.

In January 2010, 45-year-old Fiona Donnison walked into a police station in Heathfield, East Sussex, and told officers she had killed her children. Hours earlier, she had smothered her two young children, 3-year-old Harry and 2-year-old Elise, then packed their bodies into holdalls and locked them in the boot of her car.

Investigators revealed the murders were part of a calculated plan to inflict maximum pain on her former partner. Prosecutors described her as using the children as “ultimate pawns,” driven by a mix of jealousy, rage, and entitlement.

At trial, her defence argued severe depression and diminished responsibility, but the jury found her guilty of murder. In 2011 she was sentenced to life with a minimum term of 32 years in prison.

In May 2001, 30-year-old U.S. Army Captain Lynn Armstrong Reister, six months pregnant and stationed at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas, was found brutally murdered in her home: her throat deeply slashed, and her unborn child lost with her.

Investigators uncovered a chilling conspiracy: her husband Roger Reister and his brother Rodney Reister allegedly planned her killing so that Roger could avoid divorce, retain custody of their son, and benefit from life insurance proceeds. A bloody palm print at the scene matched Rodney’s.

Both brothers were eventually convicted, Roger received life in prison for solicitation of murder, and Rodney was found guilty of murder