A Body Lying There podcast artwork

PODCAST · news

A Body Lying There

The cool waters of the Catawba River, drifting through the quaint suburbs of Charlotte, North Carolina became the backdrop of a horrific tragedy discovered by passing jet-skiers who were just out for a day on the water. A car had run down the banks of the river and lying next to it was the body of Ira Yarmolenko, a popular young college co-ed.The ligatures wrapped tightly around her neck signaled death by asphyxia, and led investigators to conclude she'd been murdered... The circumstances surrounding her death, as well as the ensuing investigation left a community gripped in fear while cops conducted an intense manhunt to solve a real 'whodunit'. They narrowed their sites on two fishermen close by, cousins, and eventually charged them with Ira's murder. Follow the twists and turns as Fedora, a Los Angeles-based media company, re-investigates the circumstances surrounding the death of Ira Yarmolenko. Have the police truly 'got their man', or is their still a murderer walking yet am

Publisher-supplied feed metadata · PodParley refreshed Jan 23, 2026 · Source feed

  1. 19

    episode 19 – the devil's advocate

    episode 19   It might be hard to picture yourself on the river that fateful day — after all, there was "no one else around." Those were the quiet words of Mark Carver, describing what he saw as he pulled into his favorite fishing spot, expecting just another peaceful day on the river. Some say the devil's greatest trick was convincing the world he didn't exist. But if we ever needed proof, why look any further? He was there that morning. We don't always have to see… to believe. The lifeless body of a vibrant college student, lying beside her car on the Catawba River's edge, is all the proof we need. Was it him at the top of the hill, trying to push Ira's car into the river? Or maybe he was the one who drove her car into the YMCA parking lot, only to turn around and disappear — choosing instead a dirt road through the neighboring subdivision… down to the river that way. Was he at the fishing spot too, hiding in the shadows - watching the cousins cast their lines while quietly setting his trap to frame them? Maybe he was with them all along, whispering lies and curses into their ears… One thing's certain: it was his hands that tied the ligatures around her neck. It was his feet that scrambled at the river's edge, desperately trying to salvage a shattered plan — a plan to sink her car deep beneath the surface of the water, wiping away all trace of what he had done. He had it all worked out... he thought. It would've worked, too… until that damn tree stump stopped his diabolical plan. Now the car sat exposed on the shore, like an open tomb. He had to think fast.   artist Ghost Beatz crafts a chilling backdrop, drawing listeners into a mystery...a murder-mystery. As the crisp spring breeze drifted along the tranquil flow of the Catawba River, tragedy waited just ahead. The noon sun beat down on a small-town police department and its tight-knit community — a place unaccustomed to the kind of crime found in large cities. Jetskiers and helicopters buzzed around and above Ira's car and her lifeless body, while whispers of murder stunned the everyone-knows-everyone town, casting dark shadows over peaceful streets and turning neighbors into suspects. As townsfolk went about their daily lives, they suddenly found themselves looking over their shoulders — wondering… could it be him?      

  2. 18

    episode 18 – twinkle little star

    episode 18 things are picking up, and Dr Godwin is back with some groundbreaking revelations. only after studying all of the crime scene photos for the first time, as well as the autopsy report, do we get a glimpse into the mind of Dr. Godwin as he's putting the pieces together. we also travel back to the campus; it's the first day of school again. Cozzo visits her Russian professor who beams as she fondly remembers the student she describes as a 'ray of light', but then her eyes drift slowly down; silence fills the moment...grief and pain fall across her face... Dr. Godwin is lost in thought as well; he now knows there's more to this story than meets the eye, and you can see the wheels turning...like a physician sifting through years of medical books in his mind, decades of experience as well, attempting to unlock the mystery before him. What is he thinking? featured artists CJ Oliver, Wicked Cinema, PianoDeuss, and Ryan Creep set the mood for a story that unfolds like a mysterious melody, a tragedy summoned from the wind, turning back the hands of time to a calm and peaceful day along the banks of the Catawba river. a day of beauty belying the horror, the treacherous act of murder. it was passing jetskiers who came upon her lifeless body lying beside her car, her body sprawled upon the shore, ligatures wrapped tightly around her small neck. each episode brings us a little closer to what really happened that day...closer to the truth.

  3. 17

    episode 17 – a broken cup…

    unraveling a mystery is like drinking from a broken cup…each and every piece is its own mysterious creature, yearning to be put back together with the anticipation of the next episode; whether in search of truth or a longing to be made whole, these shattered pieces…these creatures, if you will, know no rest here among us. They waunder and prowl about at night beneath city lights and auburn moons until the morning dew reminds them of their thirst…their lust! No carnal knowledge, at least nothing here on earth, can satiate their divine hunger or quench their eternal rage. Mortal nitwits are of no consequence to them; their mortality is readily incinerated by a fiery gaze, then reduced to ghastly rubble… they are the Immortals and speak the blood of truth, holding court with Father Time and dine the Prince of Youth… traveling to and fro from here waiting for a sign while gathering earthly temples to build a holy shrine… Interpreting the musical works of artists like Cast of Characters, Lunareh, Lost Ghosts, Hill and CJ Oliver, Fedora's Ben Cozzo chronicles the mystery as it emerges from behind the veil; it's becoming more and more clear, but…where does it end? Dr. Godwin has all of the the crime scene photos, and now has the complete autopsy report he's been requesting as he continues to formulate the criminal profile. abodylyingthere.com

  4. 16

    episode 16 - the raven

    episode 16 :   crime scene   |   maps the Raven... is a mysterious creature, a 'strange bird' for sure. it was rumored to have once been covered in white feathers, but was cursed by the goddess Athena after delivering 'ill tidings'. Enraged she turned the color of its feathers from a perfect white to charcoal-black. Since then, this perplexing fowl has been notorious for being 'the bearer of bad news'… but if the gloomy gossip and hearsay whispered in ancient tales of yesteryear bears the truth, that is, this feathered creature delights in bringing 'bad news', the only remaining question is… for whom? after all, what's bad news for some may be good for others… Fedora's mysterious Ben Cozzo explores with sincere and subliminal politeness that very question. this episode features music from artists such as Lunareh and Ghost Beatz while listeners become entwined in a twisted, winding and unraveling mystery in real-time. Art meets 'hard, cold facts' where caution's flung to the winds and where try as we would…not…out-run the past, and where ever we could…walk, or run, down this path. Dr. Godwin's been requesting more of the crime scene photos, as he continues to formulate the profile…of a murderer. the more information he has, the better. as a Criminal Investigative Psychologist, he's got his work cut out for him on this case…and is now studying the material requested. the profile is evolving. what does it look like now? what's going through his mind?

  5. 15

    episode 15 - by the pale moonlight...

    clues | | website  Ira and the fishermen Dr. Godwin begins his review of the actual crime scene photos, declaring "I need to see pictures of the body".  meanwhile, Cozzo remembers a clue left in a previous episode; it had to do with Ira's timeline up around the campus area that morning. the timeline becomes clearer with each episode - how close to unraveling the timeline mystery are we... ? remember as well, as the clock strikes midnight, Fedora promises to measure, then reveal, the actual distance between the fishermen's fishing spot and where Ira's body was found lying... Fedora  youtube keeps removing these episode videos, for some mysterious reason, but they are available on the website, as well as vimeo A Body Lying There videos Vimeo youtube

  6. 14

    episode 14 - go ask alice...

    A Body Lying There  Fedora    part mystery, part riddle... having identified where Ira's body was found, as well as where the fishermen's spot was in the last episode, Cozzo narrows in on more key features by the river... what path did Ira's car travel all the way to the river? we deduced from video images that she exited the YMCA parking lot, heading down Park View Drive, but from there the pathway to the river bank is unclear... what path did the fishermen take to the river? from their own words, they started down Pearl Beatty drive, but what was their exact travel troute to the their fishing spot? did their paths cross Ira's? Cozzo talks to someone unusually close to the scene that day to help unlock these mysteries...   YouTube keeps deleting these episode videos, for some mysterious reason, but they are available on the website.  A Body Lying There videos vimeo YouYube  

  7. 13

    episode 13 - "x" marks the spot

    Fedora  it's been a long, long day. we've been following Ira's steps that fateful day, carefully timing each leg of the journey. we timed various routes near the campus, then headed to the river from the coffee shop where Ira dropped off gifts for co-workers that morning. then there was the trip to the Gaston county courthouse which was quite fruitful. from there, it was back to the campus area to time travel-paths again, then visit Jane Fisher, and finally another trip to the river, timing the route, this time, from the Goodwill donation center to the YMCA by the river where Ira's car was last captured on video driving into and then out of the YMCA parking lot… Cozzo treks down to the river and pinpoints two important locations. a picture begins to emerge…   YouTube keeps deleting these episode videos, for some mysterious reason, but they are available on the website.  A Body Lying There videos vimeo YouTube

  8. 12

    episode 12 - standing there

    website - a body lying there  |   maps | hand bag Standing on the banks of the Catawba river, Cozzo seems lost in thought. He's reflecting on the local folklore surrounding the river. To the natives who once lived on its shores, the river itself was alive. It had a soul, it was capricious and mysterious... He recalls all that we have learned in the previous episodes; the pieces are starting to come together, but something's buggin' him. Sure, there's the usual "unknowns", but he'll have answers to those soon enough. It's something else, a subtle anxious feeling he can't quite put his finger on, and he can't quite shake... "Oh well" he thinks. "we're just going to have to push on", reasoning "I guess we all feel that way, sometimes." fedora media YouTube keeps deleting these episode videos, for some mysterious reason, but they are available on the website.  A Body Lying There videos vimeo YouTube      

  9. 11

    episode 11 - tracing her steps (iv)

    website - a body lying there  |   ep - 4 (maps) | ep - 5 (maps) Fresh from the Gaston County courthouse and still on Ira's tracks that morning, Cozzo time's the travel path from the Goodwill area (1725 Harris Houston Rd.) to where her car was last seen, driving through the YMCA parking lot all the way across the county. Now we are assuming one of Ira's last stops may have been at the at this donation drop-off location. Meanwhile the few pieces of crime scene information Cozzo was able to obtain at the courthouse are passed on to world renowned forensic psychology expert Dr. Maurice Godwin; Godwin continues formulating the profile of... fedora media YouTube keeps deleting these episode videos, for some mysterious reason, but they are available on the website.  A Body Lying There videos vimeo YouTube

  10. 10

    episode 10 - tracing her steps (iii)

    website - a body lying there fedora media traveling the route from Jacksons Java to the YMCA parking lot where Ira's car was last captured on video has now been timed by Fedora. Mr. Cozzo drives through the YMCA parking lot and travels through the adjacent subdivision, following the path that Ira's car was seen traveling down to the river. You are taken down that path. Cozzo also realizes he's in Gaston County and attempts to uncover some vital clues at the county courthouse...  YouTube keeps deleting these episode videos, for some mysterious reason, but they are available on the website.  A Body Lying There videos vimeo YouTube

  11. 9

    episode 9 - tracing her steps (ii)

    website - a body lying there YouTube we continue tracing Irs's last steps that morning as we move from the campus area to where her car was last captured on camera, the YMCA parking lot is approximately 20 miles from where she was last seen on campus. Executive Producer Ben Cozzo provides clues and insights to what the future holds... fedora media YouTube keeps deleting these episode videos, for some mysterious reason, but they are available on the website.  A Body Lying There videos vimeo YouTube

  12. 8

    episode 8 - tracing her steps (i)

    website - a body lying there Fedora's lead investigator and executive producer introduces another special guest all-the-while tracing Ira's steps up by the campus that morning. You are along for the ride; sit back and close your eyes. What do the clues tell you?  fedora media YouTube keeps deleting these episode videos, for some mysterious reason, but they are available on the website.  A Body Lying There videos vimeo YouTube  

  13. 7

    episode 7 - my dear Watson

    website - a body lying there a very special guest is with us. Please welcome the venerable Dr. Watson. fedora media YouTube keeps deleting these episode videos, for some mysterious reason, but they are available on the website.  A Body Lying There videos Vimeo YouTube

  14. 6

    episode 6 - the cast of characters

    website - a body lying there Season 2 of A Body Lying There: The Ira Yarmolenko Story begins by reflecting on where we are, from whence we've come and with whom. Introduce yourself to the whole cast of characters as the stage has been set; are you ready? Season 2 moves... pretty fast.   fedora media YouTube keeps deleting these episode videos, for some mysterious reason, but they are available on the website.  A Body Lying There videos Vimeo YouTube

  15. 5

    episode 5 - her timeline (cont.)

    website - a body lying there we continue with Ira's timeline on that fateful morning as we follow her...her "footsteps". She travels from the campus area all the way across town, traveling on I-85, heading towards the Catawba river for some reason. She enters the parking lot of a nearby YMCA and abruptly exits the same way, heading down a desolate road which enters a neighboring subdivision, then under construction, then... fedora media YouTube keeps deleting these episode videos, for some mysterious reason, but they are available on the website.  A Body Lying There videos Vimeo YouTube

  16. 4

    episode 4 - her timeline

    website - a body lying there it's about her timeline; Fedora begins tracing Ira's steps that day, and although her exact movements are unclear, a path, or rather pattern, seems to emerge as local Charlotte news channels help develop a picture of her movements...   fedora media YouTube keeps deleting these episode videos, for some mysterious reason, but they are available on the website.  A Body Lying There videos vimeo YouTube

  17. 3

    episode 3 - reflections

    website - a body lying there after re-living the events of "that day", a moment of reflection offers a unique perspective... YouTube keeps deleting these episode videos, for some mysterious reason, but they are available on the website.  A Body Lying There videos Vimeo Fedora media YouTube

  18. 2

    episode 2 - a digital time capsule

    website - a body lying there    As the story was unfolding "over the wire", the listener is taken back in time, re-living that horrific moment in real time...  fedora media YouTube keeps deleting these episode videos, for some mysterious reason, but they are available on the website.  A Body Lying There videos Vimeo YouTube

  19. 1

    episode 1 - the narrative intro

    website - A Body Lying There Investigative Producer Ben Cozzo takes the listener back to that day...when it first happened.  It was early spring, just before noon when jet-skiers moved closer to a car that looked like had traveled down a hill and landed on the river banks... Dennis and Brenda thought someone might need a little help.  As they inched closer to the river-bank, no one could have prepared them for what they found...it was a body, a body lying there.  fedora media    YouTube keeps deleting these episode videos, for some mysterious reason, but they are available on the website.  A Body Lying There videos Vimeo YouTube

Type above to search every episode's transcript for a word or phrase. Matches are scoped to this podcast.

Searching…

We're indexing this podcast's transcripts for the first time — this can take a minute or two. We'll show results as soon as they're ready.

No matches for "" in this podcast's transcripts.

Showing of matches

No topics indexed yet for this podcast.

Loading reviews...

ABOUT THIS SHOW

The cool waters of the Catawba River, drifting through the quaint suburbs of Charlotte, North Carolina became the backdrop of a horrific tragedy discovered by passing jet-skiers who were just out for a day on the water. A car had run down the banks of the river and lying next to it was the body of Ira Yarmolenko, a popular young college co-ed.The ligatures wrapped tightly around her neck signaled death by asphyxia, and led investigators to conclude she'd been murdered... The circumstances surrounding her death, as well as the ensuing investigation left a community gripped in fear while cops conducted an intense manhunt to solve a real 'whodunit'. They narrowed their sites on two fishermen close by, cousins, and eventually charged them with Ira's murder. Follow the twists and turns as Fedora, a Los Angeles-based media company, re-investigates the circumstances surrounding the death of Ira Yarmolenko. Have the police truly 'got their man', or is their still a murderer walking yet am

HOSTED BY

Ben Cozzo

Produced by Frank Gruber

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does A Body Lying There have?

A Body Lying There currently has 19 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.

What is A Body Lying There about?

The cool waters of the Catawba River, drifting through the quaint suburbs of Charlotte, North Carolina became the backdrop of a horrific tragedy discovered by passing jet-skiers who were just out for a day on the water. A car had run down the banks of the river and lying next to it was the body of...

How often does A Body Lying There release new episodes?

A Body Lying There has 19 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.

Where can I listen to A Body Lying There?

You can listen to A Body Lying There on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.

Who hosts A Body Lying There?

A Body Lying There is created and hosted by Ben Cozzo.
URL copied to clipboard!