PODCAST · true crime
Murder On The Mic
by Vanessa Wilson
About the Host & PodcastVanessa Wilson is the host of Murder on the Mic. Every Wednesday at noon she approaches true crime with a focus on accuracy, accountability, and respect for victims and their families. Rather than sensationalizing violence, centers each case on the people whose lives were affected—and the lasting impact these crimes have on families and communities. About the PodcastMurder on the Mic is a true crime podcast that revisits closed cases to tell the stories that remain after the headlines fade.
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15
THE AFTERMATH OF KATRINA: THE UNFORTUNATE FATE OF ADDIE HALL AND ZACK BOWEN
🎙️ Vanessa Wilson dives into the disturbing case of Zack Bowen and Addie Hall…In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Zack and Addie became known around New Orleans as the couple who stayed behind during the storm. Walking through empty streets, drinking in abandoned buildings, and surviving inside a city that had been left underwater—it almost looked like a twisted love story.But behind the walls of their apartment at 826 North Rampart Street, their relationship was unraveling fast.Cheating. Instability. Isolation. Psychological collapse.And what happened next would leave one of the most horrifying crime scenes New Orleans had ever seen.This episode breaks down the relationship between Zack Bowen and Addie Hall, the warning signs leading up to the murder, the disturbing confession left behind, and the devastating aftermath that followed.
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14
A GEORGIA NIGHTMARE: THE SHORT FAMILY TRIPLE MURDER
A late-night phone call.A familiar voice.A front door opened.And within hours, everything changed.On this week’s episode of Murder on the Mic, Vanessa Wilson breaks down the Short family murders in a town right side of Columbus in Upatoi, Georgia—where what started as a planned burglary escalated into a brutal act heartbreaking triple homicide.This is a case about access, decisions, and the moments where everything could have stopped… but didn’t.
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THE AU PAIR AFFAIR: THE MURDERS OF CHRISTINE BANDFIELD AND JOSEPH RYAN
On February 24, 2023, a quiet home in Herndon became the center of a shocking double homicide investigation.Inside that home, 37-year-old pediatric ICU nurse Christine Banfield was found dead. Also killed was Joseph Ryan, a man who, according to investigators, believed he was arriving for a consensual encounter.What initially appeared to be a home invasion quickly began to unravel.As detectives examined digital evidence and timelines, prosecutors allege that the situation may have been carefully orchestrated — involving Christine’s husband, Brendan Banfield, and the family’s live-in au pair, Juliana Peres Magalhães.In this episode, we break down the investigation, the alleged online deception, and the events that led to two lives being lost inside the same home.This is a case of betrayal, manipulation, and devastating consequences.—⚠️ Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussions of violence, murder, and domestic betrayal. Listener discretion is advised.—🎧 New episodes drop every Wednesday at noon.Always victim-focused. Always truth-driven.
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PEACE, LOVE, AND A PREDATOR AMONG THEM: THE DATING GAME MURDERS
🎙️ Episode 10: Peace, Love… and a Predator Among Them — The Dating Game MurdersIn 1978, a man stepped onto the stage of The Dating Game and won the heart of a bachelorette in front of a national audience.To viewers, he was charming.To producers, he was just another contestant.But behind the smile… was a predator who had already committed unimaginable acts of violence—and would continue to do so.In this episode of Murder on the Mic, Vanessa Wilson breaks down the disturbing case of the victims of the Dating Show killer Rodney Alcala, a man who slipped through the cracks of the justice system again and again.From the brutal attack on 8-year-old Tali Shapiro…to the murders of Robin Samsoe, Jill Parenteau, and others…This case is more than a timeline of violence—it’s a chilling look at missed warnings, system failures, and the importance of trusting your instincts.Because sometimes…the most dangerous people don’t look dangerous at all.🎧 New episodes drop every Wednesday at noon.Always victim-focused. Always truth-driven.
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Dating a killer the murder of Nicole White
It started as a simple date.But by the end of the night, Nicole White was gone.In this episode, we break down the 2015 murder of a young mother in Washington, the investigation that followed, and the evidence that led to justice. This is the story of Nicole White—her life, her final hours, and the truth behind what happened.
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10
THE COACHELLA VALLEY MURDERS : BEHIND THE FIRE
Three lives were taken in a remote mountain community above the Coachella Valley… and then, someone tried to erase it all with fire.But what that fire revealed would expose something far more disturbing than the scene itself.In this episode of Murder on the Mic, Vanessa Wilson takes a deeper look at the 2006 Pinyon Pines triple homicide—where eighteen-year-old Becky Friedli, her mother Vicki Friedli, and Jon Hayward were murdered inside their home before it was set ablaze.As investigators began to piece together what happened that night, the case quickly shifted from a fire investigation to something far more targeted.A relationship.A pattern of behavior.And a level of escalation that would take years to fully prove.This episode walks through the night of the murders step by step… the evidence that survived the fire… and the decade-long road to justice that followed.Because sometimes, the truth isn’t lost.It just takes time to rise out of the ashes.
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9
The Case That Broke Me: The Victims of The Toolbox Killers.
When asked what case has haunted her the most, Vanessa didn’t hesitate.In this episode of Murder on the Mic, she dives into one of the most disturbing cases in California history—the Toolbox Killers. Through a victim-focused lens, Vanessa tells the stories of the young girls whose lives were taken, the calculated brutality behind the crimes, and the lasting impact this case left on an entire generation.This isn’t just a case.It’s one that stays with you.
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Episode 6: The Case of: Primm, Nevada — Taken in Plain Sight: The Sherrice Iverson Story
On a warm May night in 1997, seven-year-old Sherrice Iverson walked into a restroom inside a busy casino in Primm, Nevada. Just minutes later, her life was taken in a crime that would shock the nation.What makes this case even more haunting is not only the brutality of what happened, but the disturbing reality that someone else knew a child was in danger — and chose to walk away.In this episode of Murder on the Mic, Vanessa Wilson tells the heartbreaking story of Sherrice Iverson, the events that unfolded inside the Primadonna Resort & Casino, and the national outrage that followed when the public learned the words that would haunt this case forever: “I didn’t want to get involved.”This episode also explores the impact of Sherrice’s story and how it helped inspire what became known as Sherrice’s Law, a push for accountability when children are in danger.Most importantly, this episode remembers the little girl at the center of it all — a child whose life mattered.
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Episode 5: A TEXT FROM THE DEAD: THE TORTURE AND MURDER OF BRITTANY KILLGORE
When 22-year-old Brittany Killgore left her home in Fallbrook, California, she believed she was heading to San Diego for a dinner cruise.Minutes after getting into the truck of the man who invited her, she sent a chilling text message:“Help.”Days later, Brittany’s disappearance would lead investigators to uncover a disturbing crime involving three suspects, a web of deception, and evidence that would eventually bring the truth to light in a California courtroom.Join Vanessa Wilson on Murder on the Mic as we break down the timeline, the investigation, and the fight for justice for Brittany Killgore.
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EPISODE 4: Jealousy in the canyon: The Michele “Missy” Avila Murder
In October 1985, 17-year-old Michele “Missy” Avila left her Arleta home with two girls she had known for years — one of them a former best friend. She never came back.Days later, her body was discovered in a shallow creek in Big Tujunga Canyon. What investigators uncovered would expose jealousy, humiliation, shifting stories, and a betrayal that shook the San Fernando Valley.This isn’t just a story about teenage drama gone too far.It’s about trust.It’s about deception.And it’s about what happens when someone you believe is safe… isn’t.Nearly three years passed before arrests were made. In 1990, both women were convicted of second-degree murder. Decades later, they walked free.Missy never got that chance.This episode examines the crime, the investigation, the courtroom, and the devastating impact left behind — always victim-focused, always truth-driven.Because the case may be closed… but the story isn’t.P.s my apologies for being under the weather during this episode, but I needed to tell it so thank you for showing me Grace and allowing me to still be here to tell the story. Hugs and kisses.~Nessa🦋
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5
30 YEARS OF SILENCE: THE JAMES MAY MURDER COLD CASE
In the early morning hours of September 20, 1996, a quiet home in Lancaster, California became the scene of a violent and deeply personal crime. Twenty-eight-year-old James May was inside his residence when two young males entered, a struggle followed, and his life was taken in a matter of moments. Despite statements being taken, evidence collected, and the scene processed, no arrests were ever made.Nearly three decades later, the case remains unsolved.In this episode of Murder on the Mic, Vanessa takes listeners back to 1996 — a time before smartphones, cameras, and digital footprints — to revisit the night James was killed and to shed light on a case that has grown quiet with time. Through a factual retelling of the events and the circumstances surrounding the investigation, this episode focuses on the life lost, the questions that remain, and the hope that renewed attention can help bring movement to a case that has waited far too long for answers.If you have any information regarding the murder of James May, please contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500. Anonymous tips can be submitted to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS or at lacrimestoppers.org.The case may be cold… but the story isn’t over.
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Episode 2: The David Family Massacre on Garnet Lane
In this heartbreaking episode, we examine the devastating 2021 Lancaster tragedy that claimed the lives of four young children and their grandmother inside their own home. What appeared to be a normal Sunday night ended in unimaginable loss when the violence came from someone they trusted most. Through the timeline, courtroom outcome, and lasting impact on the surviving mother, this episode explores the painful reality of familicide, the hidden struggles that can exist behind closed doors, and the silence left behind when a family is taken in an instant.
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EPISODE DEBUT: THE ANTELOPE VALLEY 3: THE SYSTEM THAT FAILED THEM
This episode was incredibly hard to record. I’ve been sitting with these stories for weeks, and I’m honestly disgusted.Today, we’re looking at the Antelope Valley- Palmdale and Lancaster in California—a place that’s literally an hour’s disconnect from the Hollywood Hills and the ocean—where the system completely looked away, no matter how many calls were made or reports were written.We’re honoring the lives of Gabriel, Anthony, and Noah by being their voice. Vanessa is telling their stories of abuse by the very hands that were supposed to protect them and love them the most. Three boys. Dozens of reports. A "campaign of abuse" that should have been stopped.
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
About the Host & PodcastVanessa Wilson is the host of Murder on the Mic. Every Wednesday at noon she approaches true crime with a focus on accuracy, accountability, and respect for victims and their families. Rather than sensationalizing violence, centers each case on the people whose lives were affected—and the lasting impact these crimes have on families and communities. About the PodcastMurder on the Mic is a true crime podcast that revisits closed cases to tell the stories that remain after the headlines fade.
HOSTED BY
Vanessa Wilson
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