PODCAST · true crime
Straight to the Case
by Jewel Lugo
A true crime podcast uncovering cold cases, current investigations, and everything in between — hosted by married duo Jewel and Jeremy Lugo.
Episodes
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Ep. 27 - Innocent or Guilty? The Preppy Murderer (PT. 1)
In August 1986, the brutal killing of 18-year-old Jennifer Levin in New York City’s Central Park shocked the nation. Within hours, suspicion fell on her last known companion: Robert Chambers, a privileged prep-school student whose clean-cut image clashed violently with the crime he was accused of...
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Ep. 26 - The Disappearance of George Allen Smith
In July 2005, newlywed George Allen Smith boarded a luxury cruise ship for what should have been a dream honeymoon. By the end of the trip, George was gone—vanishing without a trace somewhere in the middle of the Aegean Sea. What followed was a tangled web of unanswered questions, conflicting...
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Ep. 25 - The Disappearance Lori Slesinski
In July of 2006, 24-year-old Lori Slesinski left her Minnesota home to meet someone she trusted. She never came back. What followed was years of uncertainty, false hope, and a case built almost entirely without a body—forcing investigators to rely on digital footprints, shifting alibis, and the...
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Ep. 24 - Ken and Barbie Killers: The Evil Duo Part 2
Ken and Barbie Killers: The Evil Duo — Part Two In Part Two of Ken and Barbie Killers: The Evil Duo, the illusion finally shatters. As teenage girls continue to vanish across Ontario, police begin to connect the dots between the unsolved Scarborough Rapist attacks and a new wave of horrifying...
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Ep. 23 - Ken and Barbie Killers: The Evil Duo Part 1
In the late 1980s, Canada was on edge. A violent predator known as the Scarborough Rapist was stalking women, leaving fear in his wake — and no one knew who he was. In Part One of Ken and Barbie Killers: The Evil Duo, we trace the origins of one of Canada’s most disturbing true crime cases. We...
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Ep. 22 - Poisoned: David Castor
In this episode of Straight to the Case, we unravel one of the strangest and most unsettling poisoning cases in modern true crime — the death of David Castor. What was first ruled a suicide quickly unraveled into something far more sinister. Antifreeze. A staged scene. A so-called confession…
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Ep. 22 - The McStay Family Disappearance
Just after the holidays, a family of four vanished without a trace. Their home looked lived in. Their dogs were left behind. Their phones, wallets, and passports never moved. At first, investigators believed the McStay family had chosen to leave—possibly crossing the border to start a new life....
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Ep. 21 - The Mystery of Bryce Laspisa
Bryce Laspisa was a college student with no known enemies, no history of running away, and no clear reason to disappear. But over the course of a single night, a series of strange decisions, missed warnings, and unanswered phone calls would lead to a mystery that still haunts his family—and...
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Ep. 20 - Son of Sam: The Evil Inside
When we talk about evil, we usually point to the choices someone makes. They had options, and they still chose to do something horrific. But it always raises the question: is evil purely a decision, or can something else push a person toward those dark acts? Is it outside influence… or a lie the...
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Ep. 19 - The Disappearance of Kelsey Smith
In this episode of Straight to the Case, we’re examining the haunting disappearance of 18-year-old Kelsey Smith. A quick trip to a local Target should’ve been routine — instead, it turned into a nightmare that unfolded in real time. Security footage, a frantic family, and a race against the clock...
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Ep. 18 - Innocent or Guilty? Darlie Routier
This week on Innocent or Guilty, we’re diving into the case of Darlie Routier — a story that shook an entire community and still sparks debate decades later. Two young boys attacked in their own home, a mother left injured, and a narrative that split the nation in half. The prosecution called it…
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Ep 17 - Case File: Hulu’s Murdaugh: Death in the Family
In this episode of Case File, Jewel takes the mic solo to break down Hulu’s Murdaugh: Death in the Family — episode by episode. Jewel walks you through the docuseries exactly the way it unfolds, while calling out what the show gets right, what it changes, and the real facts behind one of the most...
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Ep 16 - The Yogurt Shop Murders Pt. 2
In Part One, the trials brought answers — or so it seemed. But behind the convictions were cracks the public never saw. In this second half of the investigation, Jewel and Jeremy dig deeper into the confessions, the interrogation tactics, and the questions that refused to stay buried. As new...
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Ep 15 - The Yogurt Shop Murders Pt. 1
In 1991, a fire tore through a small yogurt shop in Austin, Texas — and what firefighters found inside changed the city forever. Four teenage girls were gone, and the search for answers would expose secrets, suspects, and shocking confessions. Join Jewel and Jeremy as they reopen one of Texas’…
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Ep. 14 - Trick or Treat: The Murder Behind the Mask
It’s one of Los Angeles’s most haunting Halloween stories — a knock at the door, a mask, and a single gunshot that ended a man’s life. But behind the disguise was no stranger… it was a plan born from jealousy, loneliness, and a love that couldn’t exist in 1957. In this Halloween special, Jewel...
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Bonus Episode 2: Ep. 7-14 Recap
In this special bonus episode of Straight to the Case, Jewel and Jeremy revisit four stories that defined the show — The Night Stalker: Face of Evil, The Disappearance of Crystal Rogers, Innocent or Guilty: Crosley Green, and Survivor’s Story: Random Attacks. They reflect on the cases that still...
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Ep. 14 - The Nightstalker: Face of Evil (Pt. 3)
The trial of Richard Ramirez became more than a legal battle—it was a spectacle of horror, obsession, and disbelief. Inside the courtroom, survivors faced the man who haunted their nights, while the public watched a killer turn infamy into performance. Every smirk, every word, every moment…
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Ep. 13 - The Nightstalker: Face of Evil (Pt. 2)
As fear consumed California, detectives raced against time to stop a killer who seemed to vanish as quickly as he struck. Each new crime scene brought more horror, more confusion, and more pressure. The Night Stalker had no pattern—his victims came from every walk of life, every age, and every...
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Ep. 12 - The Nightstalker: Face of Evil (Pt. 1)
There are crimes that shake a community, and then there are crimes that paralyze entire cities. In the mid-1980s, California faced a nightmare unlike any before. A faceless predator moved silently through the night, leaving behind only fear, devastation, and unanswered questions. Neighbors locked...
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Ep. 11 - The Disappearance of Crystal Rodgers
A mother of five disappears over a holiday weekend. Her car is found abandoned on the side of the road—keys, purse, and phone still inside. What begins as a missing person case quickly unravels into something much darker, pulling in family, suspicion, and years of unanswered questions. In this...
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Ep. 10 - Innocent or Guilty? Crosley Green (PT. 3)
In the final chapter of Innocent or Guilty: Crosley Green, we follow Crosley’s long fight for freedom to its heartbreaking present. With Keith Harrison leading the charge, appeals exposed hidden prosecutor notes, flawed dog tracking, and a suggestive lineup that should have never stood. For a...
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Ep. 9 - Innocent or Guilty? Crosley Green (PT. 2)
In Part 2 of Innocent or Guilty: Crosley Green, we dig deeper into the cracks in the state’s case. Witnesses recant, investigators admit doubts, and the flaws in the physical evidence begin to surface. We break down the questionable dog tracking, the suggestive photo lineup, and the jury bias…
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Ep. 8 - Innocent or Guilty? Crosley Green
In 1989, Charles “Chip” Flynn was found dying in a Florida orange grove, his hands tied behind his back. The only witness, his ex-girlfriend Kim Halleck, said a random Black man ambushed them and pulled the trigger. Her story set off a chain of events that would change a man’s life forever.…
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Ep. 7 - Survivors’ Story: Random Attacks
Two college dates. Two different states. Two brutal, random attacks. In this episode, Jewel and Jeremy take you inside the harrowing survivor stories of Danielle Keener and Dan Zapp in Pennsylvania, and Yvette and Zach Snarr in Utah. What began as simple nights out quickly turned into…
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Bonus Episode 1: Ep. 1-6 Recap
We’re switching things up this week with a bonus episode! Instead of diving into a new case, Jewel and Jeremy sit down to look back at our first six episodes of Straight to the Case. We talk about the wild details that stuck with us, why we picked certain cases, and even share a few extra…
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Ep. 6 - R. Gene Simmons: Evil in Family (Part 2 of 2)
In Part 2, we dive deeper into the disturbing life of R. Gene Simmons—his violent past, obsession with control, and the warning signs that were missed. As we unravel his history, a chilling picture forms of a man whose evil ran deeper than anyone imagined. This episode explores the years leading…
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Ep. 5 - R. Gene Simmons: Evil in Family (Part 1 of 2)
Triggering an investigation that would uncover one of the most horrific mass murders in U.S. history. In Part 1, we follow the shocking events that led to his surrender, the disturbing crime scenes, and begin to unravel the twisted dynamics within his family. This episode contains sensitive...
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Ep. 4 Napa Valley House Murders
On Halloween night 2004, Napa Valley’s peace was shattered. In this episode of Straight to the Case, we cover the story of the Napa Valley House Murders, the tragedy that struck this home, and the investigation that followed. Listener discretion advised. Ref:...
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Ep. 3 – The Disappearance of Susan Powell
When Susan Powell vanished from her Utah home in 2009, suspicion quickly turned toward those closest to her. In this episode, we examine the timeline of her disappearance, and the disturbing events that unfolded in the years after. Content Warning: This episode contains real 911 audio and…
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Ep. 2 - Survivor’s Story: Holly Dunn
We explore the harrowing survivor story of Holly Dunn—the only known survivor of the Railroad Killer. From trauma to triumph, Holly’s account is both heartbreaking and inspiring. Includes sensitive content Ref links: http://www.clarkprosecutor.org/html/death/US/resendiz1028.htm Holly K. Dunn…
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Ep. 1 – The Call from Inside: Heidi Firkus
A 911 call reports a home invasion, but the truth is far darker. We explore the murder of Heidi Firkus, a case that shocked a community and took years to unravel. From the chilling call to the final verdict, we break down what really happened that night. ⚠️ This episode contains real 911 audio....
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
A true crime podcast uncovering cold cases, current investigations, and everything in between — hosted by married duo Jewel and Jeremy Lugo.
HOSTED BY
Jewel Lugo
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Straight to the Case have?
Straight to the Case currently has 31 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Straight to the Case about?
A true crime podcast uncovering cold cases, current investigations, and everything in between — hosted by married duo Jewel and Jeremy Lugo.
How often does Straight to the Case release new episodes?
Straight to the Case has 31 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Straight to the Case?
You can listen to Straight to the Case 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 Straight to the Case?
Straight to the Case is created and hosted by Jewel Lugo.
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