“I don’t want to tell her daddy’s gone”

In the early hours of March 10th, 2017, police officers enter the home of Valerie McDaniel and Leon Jacob with seemingly unexpected news – cops tell the new couple that Valerie’s ex-husband has just been killed in a robbery gone wrong, but there’s something else they’re hiding. What Leon and Valerie don’t know is that they’ve walked right into a trap—one designed to catch them in their own deadly scheme. Behind it all was the last person they expected: Leon’s ex, Meghan Verikas.

Directed, written and edited by Matthew Rice

Researched by Bianca Yzabelle Tan

Produced by Alexandra Salois & Salim Sader

Voiceover by William Akana

Sources

KPRC

ABC 13 Houston

ABC, 20/20

Law&Crime

Dateline NBC, Twisted in Texas

Oxygen, Murder for Hire, Doctor’s Orders

A&E, American Justice, “The Bad Doctor”

“She knew who did it all along”On July 31st 1970, in the small town of Price Utah, 4 year old Heidi wakes up to eerie silence, and after peeking through the keyhole of her bedroom door, she sees a terrifying scene that will stick with her forever: the tragic murder of her mother. However, no one is convicted, and before the case file is officially marked as unsolved, Heidi’s grandmother takes one last photo of her, standing in front of the outline: nobody could imagine that this photo would actually hide the key to solve the murder, which will only be done 46 years later.

“You’re gonna pay for this”

On May 1st, 2001, 11 YO Leah Henry is dropped off by her school bus less than a mile from the safety of her house, but as she starts her walk home, a car suddenly drives up to her and parks, blocking the road. Unbeknownst to her, Leah is about to be kidnapped by one of Texas’ most notorious serial predators, but she will also be known as the girl who outsmarted him using her wits, and even her camera, and ultimately, took him down for good.

Sources:

A&E

2013 - Investigation Discovery

“If he doesn’t get it his way, he may literally lose his mind”

“He shot my daughter in the face!”

On Christmas Eve 2008, just before midnight, 911 operators scramble as every phone rings off the hook in the city of Covina, California. All the callers frantically report a massive explosion on East Knollcrest drive—the Ortegas' family home. In the chaos, neighbors are sheltering the panicked surviving family members, running for their lives from what should have been a normal Christmas dinner. But what the survivors tell 911 dispatchers is even more deeply disturbing: the nightmare actually began before the house went up in flames when a man dressed as Santa Claus opened fire at the family dinner. Now, the surviving Ortega family must figure out how to rebuild after an unimaginable tragedy, and keep the Christmas spirit alive.

In her journey to rebuild, Leticia Yuzefpolsky now shares empowering stories about healing, love, & family on her blog: https://leticiashope.com/about/

CreditsDirected, written & edited by Alexandre Gendron & Justin ChalifouxResearched by Manon LafosseProduced by Alexandra Salois & Salim SaderVoiceover by William AkanaSourcesOxygen Emerge Pictures Jarrett Creative GroupKristina KuzmicBellum Entertainment OWNMichele F RosenthalABC7CNNAP ArchiveAssociated PressCBS NewsAssociate Press2KCAL9Chasing reality RawBill Rhetts - hi-caliber.orgWhy are we friends? PodcastRory Smithristmas - Short Film 2022Little Help - Christmas Short Film 2022Advent - Christmas Short Film 2024Santa Flamethrower - Garden CenterSanta Claus On Fire - Stuntman Phil

“I think he’s right behind me — watching me”

Red Marble Media

“I just know something is wrong with her”

On June 10th, 2016 Josephine Wentzel receives the worst call of her life: her 30-year-old daughter is dead, and her boyfriend Raymond McLeod is MIA. This date marks the beginning of a 6-year-long international manhunt, but after months of fruitless efforts by police, a desperate Josephine takes matters into her own hands. She will use all her experience as a former police officer to catch him before he kills again, and get justice for her daughter, and two grandchildren.

For more information or to support Josephine’s efforts to help other families with missing or murdered loved ones: https://angelsofjustice.org/

Josephine also wrote two books about her journey to get justice for Krystal:

“The Chase: In Hot Pursuit of My Daughter’s Killer” and “The Capture: The riveting account of capturing my daughter's murderer.”

The Chase: 

https://www.amazon.com/Chase-hot-pursuit-daughters-killer/dp/B09JVJ2F49 

The Capture: 

https://www.amazon.com/Capture-riveting-capturing-daughters-murderer/dp/B0C9SLBV8W/ref=pd_bxgy_q_d_sccl_1/130-3774193-1159422?pd_rd_w=hWHL9&content-id=amzn1.sym.27be5bbe-3574-4f40-8c57-ce12023a2e77&pf_rd_p=27be5bbe-3574-4f40-8c57-ce12023a2e77&pf_rd_r=086VJBT0QFNXRS7C87AZ&pd_rd_wg=kdGnQ&pd_rd_r=317921c6-348b-46ed-a821-cd0731db4b22&pd_rd_i=B0C9SLBV8W&psc=1 

Credits:

Directed, written & edited by Alexandre Gendron

Researched by Tiffany Loxton

Produced by Alexandra Salois & Salim Sader

Voiceover by William Akana

John Walsh: In Pursuit - Investigation Discovery/Zero Point Zero Production Inc.

• John Walsh: The Search Continues

• America’s Most Wanted New Season - Fox Alternative Entertainment

• Still A Mystery: Charmed By A Killer - Investigation Discovery, Efran Films

• Crime Stories With Nancy Grace Red Seat Ventures

• Tamron Hall Show - ABC News/Disney Media Distribution/Summerdale Productions

• Access Hollywood - NBC

• Inside Edition - CBS Media

• Philip DeFranco 

• Court TV

• Unsolved Podcast
  

“It was like making a deal with the devil” 

At 3:30 am on February 21st 2008, Melissa Oxley frantically calls 911 from her bedroom. She’s just woken up next to the dead body of her husband, Ben, who’s been murdered with a shotgun in his sleep. She hides with her 6-year-old stepdaughter, Alyssa, pleading with dispatchers to hurry, since she can hear footsteps downstairs, but when police arrive, there’s no intruder found. As all clues point to Melissa, Ben’s daughter, 6-year-old Alyssa, breaks her silence: she was the only one awake in the house, and what she saw that night will take the investigation in a whole different direction.

Directing, writing & editing by Matthew Rice

Research by Tianyi Zhang

Produced by Alexandra Salois & Salim Sader

Voiceover by William Akana

Sources:

Documentary:

Dateline NBC - While They Were Sleeping 2019

Discovery Plus - Does murder sleep - S01E01 Deadly awakening

Oxygen - Killer Motive: S2E7 Waking nightmare

Apple TV - In Plain Sight : Family Nightmare

Interrogation Footage:

Law & Crime Network - She Woke Up Covered in Her Husband’s Blood

“I’m gonna die tonight, or I’m gonna escape somehow” July 20, 2014. Zenya Hernandez is on the phone, desperately trying to organize the search for her 15-year-old daughter, who has been missing for 9 months. She doesn’t know it yet, but her wait is about to end: miraculously, Abby Hernandez reappears at her front door that night. But to Zenya’s concern and the community’s disbelief, Abby won’t speak about the horrors she went through, nor reveal the name of her kidnapper. She’ll keep these terrifying secrets to herself... until she gathers enough courage to bring this monster to justice.Credits:Directing, writing, & editing by Alexandre GendronResearched by Manon LafosseProduced by Alexandra Salois & Salim SaderVoiceover by William AkanaSources - Documentary:20/20 - What Happened To Abby20/20 Extra - Exclusive Abby Hernandez InterviewSources - Film:Lifetime - Girl In The Shed: The Kidnapping Of Abby Hernandez

This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at ⁠betterhelp.com/UNSEEN⁠ and get on your way to being your best self.

“I think daddy killed mommy in the bathtub” --

It’s April 11th 2007, and young medical student Alexis Somers tries to call her mom, but repeatedly gets no answer, until her dad finally picks up: “mom is dead”. After rushing home from college following his disturbing announcement, Alexis realizes something in the house is horribly wrong. Out of her 7 other siblings, she is the one her mom shared her secrets with, and she remembers one of the last conversations they had: “if something happens to me, make sure your dad isn’t behind it.”

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Uncover what true crime documentaries don’t show you: real cases and real people, but with a new twist. This is Unseen.

Sources:

ABC 20/20

Oxygen - Abuse of Power

Dateline - NBC

Rachel MacNeill - Veimo - Tribute Video

University of Nevada

CNN

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