Day By Day: True Crime Stories podcast artwork

PODCAST · history

Day By Day: True Crime Stories

Your daily dose of true crime history. Join Kona Gallagher, host of And Then They Were Gone, for a story about a crime or justice milestone that happened this day in history.

  1. 366

    December 31 - The Murder of Brandon Teena

    On the final day of 1993, deputies in rural Nebraska entered a small farmhouse outside Humboldt and found a scene of horror: three people had been executed—21-year-old Brandon Teena, 24-year-old Lisa Lambert, and 22-year-old Phillip DeVine.Just days before, Brandon—a young transgender man—had reported being brutally raped by two men. He asked the sheriff’s office for help. They failed him.This episode explores the events leading up to the murders, the failures of law enforcement, the trials of John Lotter and Tom Nissen, and the lasting legacy of Brandon Teena’s life and death. It’s a story of courage, injustice, and the human cost of prejudice.#TrueCrime #BrandonTeenaAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

  2. 365

    December 30 - The Brookline Abortion Clinic Shootings

    On December 30, 1994, just after Christmas, a 22-year-old gunman walked into two abortion clinics on Beacon Street in Brookline, Massachusetts, and opened fire. In under 15 minutes, two receptionists—Shannon Lowney and Lee Ann Nichols—were killed, and five others were wounded. The shooter, John Salvi, fled the state and attempted another attack in Virginia the next day before being arrested.This harrowing attack shocked the Boston area and became a pivotal moment in the history of violence against reproductive healthcare providers. It also highlighted the ongoing tension between political rhetoric and real-world consequences, leaving behind a community forever changed—and a legacy still felt by clinic workers nationwide.#BrooklineShootings #ReproductiveRights #johnsalviAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

  3. 364

    December 29 - The disappearance of Ashley Freeman and Lauria Bible

    On December 29, 1999, two best friends in rural Oklahoma—Ashley Freeman and Lauria Bible—celebrated Ashley’s 16th birthday with a sleepover. By morning, Ashley’s family home was in flames, both her parents were dead from gunshot wounds, and the girls were missing. What followed was a decades-long search marred by early investigative missteps, chilling rumors, and a trail that led to a shocking break years later involving disturbing Polaroids and witness testimony.In this episode of Day by Day: True Crime Stories, host Kona Gallagher walks through the devastating case that became one of Oklahoma’s most haunting unsolved crimes. From the tragedy in Welch to the long road to an arrest—and the painful reality that Ashley and Lauria are still missing—this episode unpacks the timeline, the failures, and the resilience of two families determined to find the truth.#AshleyFreeman #LauriaBible #MissingGirls Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

  4. 363

    December 28 - The Ronald Gene Simmons Christmas Rampage

    On the morning of December 28, 1987, residents of Russellville, Arkansas, had no idea that their quiet post-holiday routine was about to be shattered. What began as a chilling workplace shooting spree turned out to be only the final chapter in one of the most horrifying crimes in American history.By the time police arrested 47-year-old Ronald Gene Simmons, two people were dead and four were seriously wounded. But investigators would soon uncover a far more devastating truth back at Simmons’ rural property—14 members of his own family had been systematically murdered over the course of a week, including children and grandchildren.This episode of Day by Day traces the full timeline of the killings, from the brutal events at Mockingbird Hill to Simmons’ surrender, trial, and eventual execution. We explore the years of abuse, control, and hidden rage that culminated in the deadliest act of familicide in U.S. history.#Familicide #RonaldGeneSimmons #MassMurder #ArkansasCrimeAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

  5. 362

    December 27 - The Disappearance of Patrick Warren and David Spencer

    On the night after Boxing Day in 1996, two best friends—11-year-old Patrick Warren and 13-year-old David Spencer—left their homes on a housing estate outside Birmingham and were never seen again. The only trace ever found was Patrick’s new red bicycle, discovered behind a petrol station. Over the next few weeks, the case would be overshadowed by other news stories, and early assumptions that the boys were runaways delayed a proper investigation.Today, nearly 30 years later, police treat the case as a “no-body” double murder. A known child killer emerged as the prime suspect, but he died in prison in 2024 without ever being charged. Patrick and David—remembered across the UK as the “Milk Carton Kids”—remain missing.In this episode, host Kona Gallagher revisits the timeline of the boys’ last known movements, the troubling early police response, the long shadow cast by suspect Brian Lunn Field, and the families’ continuing fight for answers.#UKCrime #MilkCartonKids #PatrickWarren #DavidSpencer #ColdCase Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

  6. 361

    December 26 – The Edgewater Technology Shooting

    On December 26, 2000, the day after Christmas, employees at Edgewater Technology in Wakefield, Massachusetts, returned to what was supposed to be a quiet workday. Instead, a 42-year-old programmer named Michael McDermottopened fire on his colleagues, killing seven people in a matter of minutes in what remains the deadliest workplace shooting in Massachusetts history.This episode focuses not only on the horrific events of that day but also on the lives that were lost, the aftermath for their loved ones, and the ongoing conversation around mental illness, workplace violence, and accountability.#TrueCrimePodcast #EdgewaterShooting #WorkplaceViolence Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

  7. 360

    December 25 – The Murder of JonBenét Ramsey

    On Christmas morning in 1996, six-year-old JonBenét Ramsey was reported missing from her family’s home in Boulder, Colorado. A ransom note had been left behind, warning her parents not to contact police. But hours later, JonBenét’s body was found in the basement of the house, sparking one of the most infamous and controversial murder investigations in American history.In this episode of Day by Day: True Crime Stories, host Kona Gallagher walks through the tragic and complicated case of JonBenét Ramsey—from the events of that Christmas night, to the flawed early investigation, the grand jury vote, and the decades of speculation and evolving forensic science that have followed.Nearly 30 years later, JonBenét’s murder remains unsolved—but efforts to find the truth continue. With renewed testing, updated evidence, and national attention as recently as late 2025, investigators say they are still pursuing leads. Could this cold case finally be nearing a break?#JonBenetRamsey #UnsolvedMystery #ColdCase #ChristmasCrime Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

  8. 359

    December 24 - The Disappearance and Murder of Laci Peterson

    On Christmas Eve in 2002, 27-year-old Laci Peterson vanished from her Modesto, California home. She was eight months pregnant with her first child, a baby boy named Conner. Her husband, Scott Peterson, told police he’d been fishing alone in San Francisco Bay. Later that day, their dog was found wandering the neighborhood with his leash still on, and Laci was nowhere to be found.Over the next four months, the search for Laci and Conner would capture national attention, turning into one of the most widely covered true crime stories in modern American history. When their remains surfaced near the same bay Scott claimed to have visited, suspicion turned into a criminal case.This episode traces the emotional timeline of the investigation—from Laci’s life and marriage, to the shocking revelations of Scott’s secret double life, the media frenzy, the discovery of the bodies, the high-profile trial, and the legal battles that continue to this day.More than two decades later, questions remain—not just about what happened that day, but about how we investigate, prosecute, and publicize crimes that grip a nation.#LaciPeterson #ScottPeterson #truecrimepodcastAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

  9. 358

    December 23 - The Murder of Paul Logan

    On December 23, 1993, 25-year-old takeaway driver Paul Logan left a Chinese restaurant in Consett, England, expecting to deliver a holiday meal. The order had come in for a remote farmhouse outside Shotley Bridge. But when Paul arrived, the residents hadn’t ordered any food. He had been lured there by a hoax call.Hours later, Paul was found dead in a nearby field, brutally beaten with a blunt weapon that has never been found. His cash and car were untouched. It wasn’t a robbery—it was a trap.Despite arrests, renewed appeals, and a £50,000 reward offered by his daughter decades later, Paul’s murder remains unsolved. Investigators believe he was targeted. But by whom—and why—has never been answered.#TrueCrime #UnsolvedMystery #PaulLogan #UKCrimeAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

  10. 357

    December 22 - The Bernhard Goetz New York City Subway Shooting

    On this day in 1984, a seemingly ordinary subway ride in New York City turned into one of the most polarizing acts of violence in modern American history. When 37-year-old Bernhard Goetz was approached by four Black teenagers asking for $5, he pulled out an unlicensed revolver and opened fire inside a crowded 2 train—paralyzing one and injuring the others.Dubbed the “subway vigilante” by the press, Goetz ignited a national firestorm that touched on crime, race, self-defense, and the fear gripping urban America at the time. Was it justified self-defense—or an act fueled by racial bias and a thirst for retribution?In today’s episode, we trace the full arc of the case: from the shooting and Goetz’s flight from the city, to his dramatic confession, landmark court rulings, and the bitter public debates that followed. We explore how People v. Goetz reshaped legal standards for self-defense—and why, four decades later, this case still sparks controversy.#SubwayVigilante #BernhardGoetz #NYCHistory Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

  11. 356

    December 21 - The Lockerbie Bombing

    On December 21, 1988, Pan Am Flight 103 took off from London’s Heathrow Airport, bound for New York and Detroit, carrying 259 people—many of them heading home for the holidays. Just 38 minutes later, the plane exploded over the Scottish town of Lockerbie, killing everyone on board and 11 people on the ground.The bombing would become the deadliest terrorist attack on British soil and launch a decades-long international investigation. What began as a devastating midair explosion evolved into a massive criminal inquiry involving Libyan intelligence, sanctions, a controversial conviction, and an ongoing search for full accountability.In this episode, host Kona Gallagher walks through the human tragedy, the forensics, and the political ripple effects of the Lockerbie bombing. From the first responders in Scotland to courtroom battles in Europe and the U.S., this case shaped the future of aviation security and international justice—and left behind hundreds of families still seeking answers.#Lockerbie #PanAm103 #AviationDisasterAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

  12. 355

    December 20 - The Abduction and Murder of Jonelle Matthews

    On the night of December 20, 1984, 12-year-old Jonelle Matthews returned home from a Christmas choir performance in Greeley, Colorado — and vanished before her father got home. Her shoes were by the heater, the TV was on, and a message was left by the phone. But outside, someone had tried to cover their tracks — literally — by raking over footprints in the snow.For decades, Jonelle’s face was one of the first in the milk carton campaign, symbolizing the fear and heartbreak of missing children in the 1980s. It would take 35 years for her remains to be discovered — and nearly 38 before someone was convicted in her case.In this episode, we trace Jonelle’s story from that ordinary December night through the long cold case, a surprising suspect, and the trials that finally brought answers to a family and community that had waited far too long.#truecrime #jonellematthews #coldcase #missingchildrenAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

  13. 354

    December 19 – The Murder of Michelle Martinko

    On a cold night in December 1979, 18-year-old high school senior Michelle Martinko attended a choir banquet, stopped by the brand-new Westdale Mall in Cedar Rapids, Iowa — and never came home. The next morning, her body was found in her family’s Buick, parked in a quiet corner of the mall lot. She had been stabbed nearly 30 times in what investigators described as a “personal” and “frenzied” attack. There were no signs of robbery or sexual assault.For nearly 40 years, her murder remained unsolved. But thanks to breakthroughs in forensic genealogy, a discarded straw, and tireless cold-case work, justice finally caught up with her killer — on the very same date the crime took place.In this episode, we explore Michelle’s life, the night she was killed, the investigation that spanned decades, and how a small trace of blood ultimately helped close one of Iowa’s most haunting cold cases.#TrueCrime #MichelleMartinko #GeneticGenealogy Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

  14. 353

    December 18 - The Disappearance of Heather Elvis

    In the early morning hours of December 18, 2013, 20-year-old Heather Elvis vanished from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Just hours earlier, she’d gone on a first date, sent a cheerful selfie, and talked about starting fresh after ending an affair with a married man.But by dawn, her car was found abandoned at a remote riverside boat landing — her phone, keys, and purse gone. Heather herself? Missing without a trace.This episode unpacks the tangled web of secrets, surveillance footage, payphone calls, and jealousy that followed. It also explores the convictions of Sidney and Tammy Moorer for her kidnapping — and the lingering mystery that still haunts Heather’s family and community to this day.More than a decade later, her loved ones are still asking the same question: Where is Heather?#HeatherElvis #MissingPerson #sidneymoorer #tammymoorerAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

  15. 352

    December 17 - The Abduction of Barbara Mackle

    On this day in 1968, 20-year-old college student Barbara Jane Mackle was kidnapped at gunpoint from a Georgia motel room and buried alive in a homemade underground box. For more than 83 hours, she lay trapped beneath the soil while her kidnappers demanded a $500,000 ransom and the FBI raced against time to find her.In today’s episode, host Kona Gallagher walks through the harrowing details of one of the most infamous kidnappings in American history — a case that led to the first woman ever placed on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted list, and that still captivates the public over half a century later.#BarbaraMackle #BuriedAlive #CrimeHistoryAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

  16. 351

    December 16 - The Disappearance and Murders of Kerry Graham and Francine Trimble

    On December 16, 1978, 15-year-old Kerry Graham and 14-year-old Francine “Francie” Trimble walked out of their homes in Forestville, California — and vanished. For decades, their families searched for answers, while two unidentified bodies found in Mendocino County sat in separate cold case files. It wasn’t until 2015 that DNA evidence brought the truth to light: the missing girls and the unidentified victims were one and the same.In this episode, we walk through the timeline of their disappearance, the decades-long misidentification, and the ongoing mystery behind their unsolved double homicide. It’s a story of loss, systemic failure, and the enduring hope for justice.#TrueCrime #UnsolvedMystery #KerryGraham #FrancineTrimble Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

  17. 350

    December 15 - The Kidnapping and Murder of Marion Parker

    On this day in 1927, 12-year-old Marion Parker was abducted from her Los Angeles junior high school by a man posing as a messenger from her father. Within 48 hours, her disappearance turned into one of the most horrific ransom cases in American history — a story of deception, cruelty, and unimaginable loss.In today’s episode, host Kona Gallagher recounts the chilling case of Marion Parker and William Edward Hickman — a man who used familiarity and trust to lure a child, then orchestrated one of the most grotesque crimes of the era. From the schoolyard abduction to the heartbreaking ransom exchange and national manhunt that followed, we explore the crime that shocked a city and left an indelible mark on American legal and cultural history.#MarionParker #kidnapping #crimehistoryAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

  18. 349

    December 14 – The Disappearance of Jason Landry

    On this day in 2020, 21-year-old Jason Landry was officially reported missing—just hours after his crashed car was discovered on a rural Texas road with no sign of the driver.The Texas State University student had been heading home to Missouri City for winter break when he vanished along Salt Flat Road near Luling. His phone, wallet, backpack, and even his clothing were left behind. But Jason was gone—and despite extensive searches, no trace has ever been found.In this episode, we walk through the haunting details of that night, the investigation that followed, and the theories—ranging from hypothermia to foul play—that continue to stir debate. We also examine the toll on Jason’s family and the many questions that remain unanswered three years later.#TrueCrime #MissingPerson #JasonLandryAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

  19. 348

    December 13 - The Texas Seven Prison Break

    On this day in 2000, seven men executed one of the most shocking and well-coordinated prison escapes in American history. Known as the Texas Seven, the group walked out of a maximum-security facility in Kenedy, Texas — not in chaos, but with chilling precision.Their escape from the John B. Connally Unit set off a nationwide manhunt and led to a violent crime spree that culminated in the murder of Irving police officer Aubrey Hawkins on Christmas Eve.This episode revisits the escape, the elaborate planning behind it, the devastating aftermath, and the continuing legal reverberations — including recent developments in 2024.#TrueCrime #TexasSeven #AubreyHawkins #PrisonEscape Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

  20. 347

    December 12 - The Disappearance of Dorothy Arnold

    On a cold afternoon in 1910, 25-year-old Dorothy Arnold — an heiress, aspiring writer, and socialite — left her family’s Upper East Side home for what should have been a simple shopping trip. She bought chocolates. She picked up a book. She ran into a friend on Fifth Avenue.And then, she vanished.More than a century later, Dorothy’s disappearance remains one of New York City’s oldest and most haunting missing-person cases. In this episode, we explore the mysterious final hours of her known life, the secrets uncovered in the aftermath, and the many theories — from elopement to foul play — that still swirl around her case.#MissingPerson #DorothyArnold #HistoryMystery Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

  21. 346

    December 11 - The Murders of Rick and Suzanna Wamsley

    On December 11, 2003, Rick and Suzanna Wamsley were found brutally murdered inside their home in Mansfield, Texas. To friends and neighbors, they seemed like the picture of suburban success — loving parents, a quiet neighborhood, and a home filled with holiday cheer. But prosecutors would soon allege that the violence was no random crime. Instead, it was the result of a calculated plot involving the couple’s own 19-year-old son, Andrew, his girlfriend Chelsea Richardson, and two accomplices.In this episode of Day by Day: True Crime Stories, host Kona Gallagher walks through the shocking timeline of a family torn apart by greed. From the chilling planning stages to the violent end, and through the courtroom outcomes that followed, we explore one of Texas’s most disturbing true-crime cases — a murder-for-inheritance scheme that still haunts the community two decades later.#truecrime #WamsleyMurders #texascrime #andrewwamsleyAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

  22. 345

    December 10 - The Murder of Frances Brown

    On this day in 1945, Chicago police entered a North Side apartment and found a crime scene so brutal — and so chillingly theatrical — that it made headlines across the country and birthed one of the most haunting nicknames in American true crime history: The Lipstick Killer.Frances Brown, a former Navy WAVE and working woman in her early 30s, was found shot and stabbed in her apartment near Wrigley Field. A message, scrawled in red lipstick on the wall, read: “For heaven’s sake catch me before I kill more I cannot control myself.”Her murder stunned postwar Chicago and was eventually linked to a string of crimes that plunged the city into fear — including the later kidnapping and murder of six-year-old Suzanne Degnan.Seventeen-year-old William Heirens was arrested, confessed under controversial circumstances, and spent over 65 years behind bars. But serious doubts about his confession, the evidence, and the police tactics used during the investigation have never gone away.In today’s episode, we revisit the murder of Frances Brown — a woman whose life was overshadowed by a message, a nickname, and a legal case that still sparks debate decades later.#LipstickKiller #FrancesBrown #ChicagoCrime Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

  23. 344

    December 9 - The Disappearance of Joan Bernal

    On this day in 1988, 34-year-old Joan Yarbrough Bernal was supposed to be hitting the road with her husband and children for a holiday trip from Joliet, Illinois, to Texas. Instead, she vanished without a trace—and was never seen again.Her husband, Gilbert “Gil” Bernal, has long claimed that Joan walked away from her life during the road trip. But Joan’s children and investigators believe the truth is much darker—and that Joan may never have made it out of Joliet.In this episode, we trace Joan’s story: her life as a devoted mother of five, the troubling history of domestic abuse in her home, and the suspicious timeline of events surrounding her disappearance. We explore the initial 1993 murder charge against Gil that was later dropped, and how, decades later, the case has been revived with new forensic efforts and national attention thanks to Cold Justice.Thirty-seven years on, Joan’s body has never been found, and no one has been held accountable. But her children—and cold case detectives—still haven’t stopped searching for the truth.#ColdCase #JoanBernal #MissingPerson #ColdJusticeAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

  24. 343

    December 8 — The Murder of John Lennon

    On this day in 1980, music legend John Lennon was shot outside his New York City home by a fan who had waited for hours. Just hours before, Lennon had signed an autograph for the man who would end his life. Within minutes, the world lost one of its most influential voices.In this episode, we retrace Lennon’s final day—from his creative resurgence and time in the studio to the chilling moments on West 72nd Street. We also examine the disturbing motives of Mark David Chapman, the investigation and aftermath, and how Lennon’s death sent shockwaves across the globe.More than four decades later, the pain still lingers, but so does the legacy of a man who believed in peace, love, and the power of music.Day by Day: True Crime Stories is a daily podcast that explores one crime or justice milestone from this day in history. Hosted by Kona Gallagher.#TrueCrime #JohnLennon #markdavidchapman #onthisdayAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

  25. 342

    December 7 - The Martin Family Disappearance

    On December 7, 1958, Kenneth and Barbara Martin and their three daughters—Barbie, Virginia, and Susan—set out from their Portland home for a Sunday drive into the Columbia River Gorge to gather Christmas greenery. They never returned.What followed was one of Oregon’s most perplexing missing-persons cases. Despite a massive search, the family’s station wagon vanished without a trace, and it wasn’t until months later that the bodies of two of the girls were found in the Columbia River. The other three Martins—and their car—remained missing for decades.In this episode, host Kona Gallagher unpacks the haunting mystery of the Martins’ disappearance, explores theories ranging from a tragic accident to foul play, and shares new developments—including a major underwater discovery in 2025 that may finally answer the question of what happened that day.#MartinFamilydisappearance #ColumbiaRiverAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

  26. 341

    December 6 - The Disappearance of Susan Powell

    On December 6, 2009, 28-year-old Susan Powell spent the day going to church, making pancakes, and spending time with her two little boys in their Utah home. By the next morning, she was gone. Her husband claimed he’d taken the children on a spontaneous midnight camping trip in a blizzard. What police found in the home—and what they would learn in the weeks and years that followed—told a much darker story.From a chilling farewell letter to a devastating murder-suicide, the disappearance of Susan Powell became one of the most disturbing true crime cases in recent memory. More than 15 years later, her body has never been found—but investigators say they know exactly what happened.#TrueCrime #SusanPowell #MissingPersons #joshpowellAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

  27. 340

    December 5 – The Westroads Mall Shooting

    On December 5, 2007, a quiet afternoon of holiday shopping in Omaha, Nebraska, turned into a nightmare. Nineteen-year-old Robert Hawkins walked into the Von Maur department store at Westroads Mall with a stolen semi-automatic rifle and opened fire. In just six minutes, he killed eight innocent people, wounded four more, and then took his own life.In today’s episode, we explore the devastating timeline of the attack, the lives of those lost and forever changed, and the difficult aftermath that followed. We also examine the broader questions of mental health, gun access, and public safety—and how a community comes together to remember, grieve, and heal.Victims remembered in this episode:Beverly FlynnJanet JorgensenGary JoyAngie SchusterDianne TrentMaggie WebbJohn McDonaldGary ScharfA tragedy measured not only in numbers—but in lives lived and lost.#TrueCrime #WestroadsMall #MassShooting #OnThisDayAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

  28. 339

    December 4 - The Abduction of Steven Stayner

    On this day in 1972, seven-year-old Steven Stayner disappeared while walking home from school in Merced, California. For the next seven years, he was held captive by a convicted child molester who convinced him his parents didn’t want him anymore. But in 1980, Steven made a brave decision that would save another boy—and bring his own ordeal to light.This episode explores Steven’s abduction, the years he spent living under a false identity, his daring escape, and the lasting impact of his story. It’s a heartbreaking and heroic account of survival, sacrifice, and strength.#StevenStayner #MissingChildren #onthisday Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

  29. 338

    December 3 - The Disappearance of Agatha Christie

    On this day in 1926, famed mystery novelist Agatha Christie vanished from her home in Berkshire, England, sparking one of the most bizarre and captivating missing persons cases in British history. Her empty car was discovered near a chalk quarry the next morning, igniting a national manhunt that drew in over a thousand police officers, 15,000 volunteers, and even fellow crime writers like Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.For 11 days, the “Queen of Crime” was at the center of a real-life mystery that captivated the world. Was it a nervous breakdown, a fugue state, a calculated escape—or something else entirely? When she was finally found at a spa hotel in Harrogate, registered under a false name, she claimed to remember nothing.#TrueCrime #AgathaChristie #OnThisDay #MissingPersonAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

  30. 337

    December 2 - The Murder of Grace Millane

    On December 2, 2018, 22-year-old British backpacker Grace Millane was meant to be celebrating her birthday in Auckland, New Zealand. Instead, she was killed in a hotel room by a man she had met just hours earlier on Tinder. Her death shocked the nation and sparked international outrage, grief, and a reckoning with how violence against women is addressed in both media and the justice system.In today’s episode, we trace Grace’s journey from England to New Zealand, the hours leading up to her murder, the swift police investigation that followed, and the trial that exposed chilling details. We also explore the wider impact of her case—from legal reform efforts to a global conversation about consent, safety, and how we remember victims beyond the headlines.#TrueCrime #GraceMillane #ViolenceAgainstWomen #jessekempsonAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

  31. 336

    December 1 - The Abduction and Murder of Jean McConville

    On this day in 1972, 38-year-old Jean McConville was abducted from her home in West Belfast in front of her ten children. For decades, her disappearance was shrouded in secrecy, fear, and rumor. It wasn’t until 2003—31 years later—that her remains were discovered buried on a beach in the Republic of Ireland. The Provisional IRA eventually admitted to her murder, claiming she was a British informant, though multiple official investigations found no evidence to support that accusation.In today’s episode, we explore one of the most harrowing and politically charged murders of the Troubles: a widowed mother, caught between communities, whose death became a symbol of the era’s unresolved trauma. We trace Jean’s life, the night she was taken, the long silence that followed, and the decades-long fight by her children to uncover the truth.#JeanMcConville #NorthernIreland #TheTroubles #truecrimeAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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    November 30 – The Murder of Richard Mallory

    On November 30, 1989, a seemingly ordinary encounter along a Florida highway marked the start of one of the most infamous crime sprees in American history. That day, 51-year-old Richard Mallory picked up hitchhiker Aileen Wuornos—an act that would end with his murder and launch a high-profile investigation into a series of killings by the woman the press would later call America’s first female serial killer.In this episode, we retrace the events of that night and explore the complex backgrounds of both Wuornos and Mallory. We examine Wuornos’s changing accounts of the shooting, the controversial trial that followed, and the long-running debate about whether her actions were cold-blooded murder—or an act of desperate self-defense.#AileenWuornos #SerialKillers #RichardMalloryAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

  33. 334

    November 29 - The Death of Natalie Wood

    On November 29, 1981, Hollywood legend Natalie Wood disappeared from her yacht off Catalina Island. Hours later, her body was found in the Pacific Ocean, wearing a nightgown, socks, and a jacket. Though her death was initially ruled an accident, shifting witness accounts, newly uncovered injuries, and a changed death certificate have kept the case alive for over four decades. Was it a tragic misstep—or something more?In this episode of Day by Day: True Crime Stories, we revisit the weekend voyage aboard the Splendour, the conflicting stories that emerged, and the reopened investigation that named her husband, actor Robert Wagner, as a person of interest. The result is one of Hollywood’s most enduring mysteries.#NatalieWood #HollywoodMystery #RobertWagner #UnsolvedMystery Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

  34. 333

    November 28 - The Death of Larry Ely Murillo-Moncada

    On November 28, 2009, 25-year-old Larry Ely Murillo-Moncada ran barefoot into a snowstorm and disappeared. For nearly a decade, his family in Council Bluffs, Iowa, searched for answers. Then, in 2019, contractors renovating the grocery store where Larry once worked made a chilling discovery—his remains trapped behind a commercial cooler.This episode explores the heartbreaking story of Larry’s disappearance, the mystery that gripped his family for ten years, and the strange and tragic circumstances that kept him hidden in plain sight. Police ruled his death accidental. But for his loved ones, questions remain: Could more have been done to find him? And how did a young man in crisis end up lost—just feet from where he worked?#LarryMurilloMoncada #PodcastClip Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

  35. 332

    November 27 – The Moscone/Milk Assassinations

    On November 27, 1978, San Francisco Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk were shot and killed inside City Hall by former Supervisor Dan White. What followed was a political and cultural aftershock that would reshape the city forever.This episode traces the morning of the killings, the controversial trial that gave rise to the “Twinkie defense” myth, and the explosive White Night riots that erupted in response. It also examines how this double assassination changed California law, ignited a new era of LGBTQ political activism, and left behind two legacies that still echo through San Francisco’s streets.#DanWhite #HarveyMilk #GeorgeMoscone #WhiteNightRiotsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

  36. 331

    November 26 — The Murder of Thomas Kelly

    On a cold November night in 1993, firefighters in Sunderland, England responded to a blaze in a garden shed—and found the body of 18-year-old Thomas Kelly. At first, it looked like a tragic accident. But within months, two more teenagers were dead under strikingly similar circumstances.This episode traces the chilling investigation that unfolded: from burned buildings and shifting theories, to the forensic breakthrough that exposed a serial killer hiding in plain sight.Steven Grieveson would eventually be convicted of killing three teenagers—and years later, sentenced again for a fourth murder. This case stunned a city, haunted families, and reshaped how investigators approach clustered violent crimes.#ThomasKelly #SunderlandStrangler #StevenGrieveson #CrimeHistoryAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

  37. 330

    November 25 — The Disappearance of Andrew, Alexander, and Tanner Skelton

    On Thanksgiving Day 2010, three brothers—Andrew, Alexander, and Tanner Skelton—vanished from their father’s home in Morenci, Michigan. For nearly 15 years, their disappearance remained unsolved.In 2025, just days before John Skelton was set to be released from prison, he was charged with their murders. This episode explores the heartbreaking timeline, the false leads, and the long-awaited charges in a case that gripped a community for over a decade.#TrueCrime #SkeltonBrothers #johnskelton #missingchildrenAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

  38. 329

    November 24 — The Disappearance of D.B. Cooper

    On November 24, 1971, a man using the name Dan Cooper boarded a flight from Portland to Seattle, handed a flight attendant a note claiming he had a bomb, and calmly hijacked the plane. After collecting a $200,000 ransom and four parachutes, he jumped from the Boeing 727 into the night sky—and was never seen again.Known to the public as D.B. Cooper due to a media error, his identity remains a mystery. In this episode, we walk through the timeline of the hijacking, the FBI’s decades-long investigation, and the clues that continue to puzzle investigators and amateur sleuths alike.#DBCooper #Hijacking #CrimeHistory #AviationMysteryAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

  39. 328

    November 23 — The Hijacking of Ethiopian Airlines Flight 961

    On November 23, 1996, Ethiopian Airlines Flight 961 became the scene of a deadly hijacking that ended in tragedy just off the coast of the Comoros Islands. Three men seized control of the Boeing 767 and demanded to be flown to Australia—despite the plane only carrying enough fuel for its next scheduled stop in Nairobi.After hours of failed negotiations, the aircraft ran out of fuel and crash-landed in the Indian Ocean. Of the 175 people on board, 125 died. Thanks to the captain’s attempt to ditch close to shore, dozens were rescued by locals and tourists.This episode examines how a mid-air hostage situation spiraled into one of the most haunting aviation disasters of the 1990s—and the bravery, loss, and hard lessons that followed.#Flight961 #AviationHistory #Hijacking #PlaneCrashAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

  40. 327

    November 22 — The Kidnapping and Murder of Dru Sjodin

    On November 22, 2003, 22-year-old University of North Dakota student Dru Sjodin vanished after leaving work at Columbia Mall in Grand Forks. What began as a missing-person case quickly escalated into one of the most closely followed criminal investigations in the upper Midwest.In this episode, we trace the timeline of Dru’s disappearance, the massive volunteer-led search across North Dakota and Minnesota, and the mounting evidence that led investigators to Alfonso Rodriguez Jr., a Level-3 sex offender released just six months earlier.We explore the forensic breakthroughs, the emotional discovery of Dru’s body, and the federal trial. We also examine the national impact of Dru’s case, including the creation of “Dru’s Law,” which helped establish the National Sex Offender Public Website.#DruSjodin #TrueCrime #OnThisDayAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

  41. 326

    November 21 — The Murder of Emma Walker

    On November 21, 2016, the quiet Knoxville suburb of Sterchi Hills awoke to devastating news: 16-year-old Emma Walker, a high school cheerleader with a bright future, had been shot to death while sleeping in her bed. The shot came from outside her home, through the wall of her bedroom. What initially baffled investigators soon turned into a swift and chilling investigation—one that led back to Emma’s ex-boyfriend, 18-year-old Riley Gaul. Within 48 hours, a wire-wearing sting operation by two brave teenage friends helped authorities recover the murder weapon and arrest Gaul.Resources:National Domestic Violence Hotlineloveisrespect.org – Resources for young people experiencing relationship abuse#EmmaWalker #TeenDatingViolence #TrueCrimePodcastAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

  42. 325

    November 20 - The Disappearance of Sage Smith

    On November 20, 2012, 19-year-old Dashad “Sage” Smith left her Charlottesville, Virginia apartment to meet a man she’d been seeing—and never came home. This episode traces Sage’s life and identity, the final hours before she vanished, shifting police assessments, and the unresolved questions surrounding the only publicly named person connected to her last known plans.How you can helpIf you have information about Sage Smith or the post-November 2012 whereabouts of Erik McFadden:Charlottesville Police: 434-970-3280Crime Stoppers (anonymous): 434-977-4000#SageSmith #MissingPersons #LGBTQAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

  43. 324

    November 19 - The Disappearance of Michaela Garecht

    On the morning of November 19, 1988, nine-year-old Michaela Garecht was abducted in broad daylight from a neighborhood market parking lot in Hayward, California. What began as a quick trip to grab snacks turned into a case that would haunt the Bay Area and the nation for decades. Despite massive search efforts, national media attention, and countless leads, Michaela was never found.Thirty-two years later, a breakthrough came: a suspect was charged with her kidnapping and murder, based on forensic evidence recovered from the scene. But questions remain—and justice has yet to be fully delivered.This episode traces the facts from that morning at the Rainbow Market, through years of false leads and renewed attention, to the charges now facing a convicted killer with a violent past. Michaela’s case remains open—and her story, unresolved.#TrueCrime #MichaelaGarecht #JusticeForMichaelaAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

  44. 323

    November 18 - The Jonestown Massacre

    On November 18, 1978, more than 900 members of the Peoples Temple, led by Jim Jones, died in a remote commune in Guyana called Jonestown. What began as a congressional fact-finding mission ended in an ambush at a jungle airstrip and a mass poisoning at the compound itself.We walk through the chilling timeline of that day—from Congressman Leo Ryan’s final moments to the chaos at Port Kaituma, to the final orders broadcast over a loudspeaker in Jonestown’s open-air pavilion.#Jonestown #PeoplesTemple #JimJones #CultHistoryAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

  45. 322

    November 17 - The Burger Chef Murders

    On the night of November 17, 1978, four young employees vanished from a Burger Chef in Speedway, Indiana. Two days later, their bodies were discovered in a remote Johnson County field—shot, stabbed, and beaten.This episode explores the timeline of one of Indiana’s most haunting unsolved cases. From early investigative missteps to decades of theories, confessions, and evolving forensic efforts, we walk through the events that began as a suspected robbery and escalated into a quadruple murder.With only $581 missing and few physical clues left behind, the case has remained open for nearly 50 years—driven forward by persistent investigators, public appeals, and the families’ search for answers.#BurgerChefMurders #UnsolvedMystery #ColdCase #OnThisDayAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

  46. 321

    November 16 — The Murder of Bernice Worden

    On November 16, 1957, 58-year-old Bernice Worden vanished from her small-town hardware store in Plainfield, Wisconsin. By nightfall, investigators would discover her body—and uncover one of the most horrifying crime scenes in American history.This episode examines the disappearance that led authorities to local handyman Ed Gein and the grim findings inside his farmhouse. We trace the investigation, Gein’s arrest, the revelations about grave robbing, and the trial that followed. Alongside the true crime legacy, we remember the woman at the center of it all: Bernice Worden.#BerniceWorden #EdGein #OnThisDay #TrueCrimeHistory Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

  47. 320

    November 15 – The Murder of Miranda Fenner

    Eighteen-year-old Miranda Fenner was working the evening shift at a small video store in Laurel, Montana, when someone walked in, brutally attacked her, and disappeared into the night.The case went cold—until nearly 20 years later, a confession and DNA from a separate crime finally revealed what happened that night inside The Movie Store.In this episode of Day by Day: True Crime Stories, we explore the unsolved years, the pattern of violence in the area at the time, and the confession that helped bring closure to one of Montana’s most haunting cold cases.#MirandaFenner #TrueCrimePodcast #OnThisDay #MontanaCrimeAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

  48. 319

    November 14 – The Murder of Reena Virk

    On a Friday night in 1997, 14-year-old Reena Virk went to meet friends near the Craigflower Bridge in Saanich, British Columbia. She never came home.What began as a group gathering quickly turned violent—first with a brutal assault by several teenage girls, then, later that night, a fatal second attack that ended in murder.In this episode of Day by Day: True Crime Stories, we examine the events that led to Reena’s death, the investigation that followed, and the trials that would stretch on for over a decade.Reena’s case became one of Canada’s most talked-about tragedies, raising urgent questions about bullying, peer pressure, and accountability in youth justice.#ReenaVirk #TrueCrimePodcast #OnThisDay #CanadianCrimeAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

  49. 318

    November 13 - The Amityville Murders

    Before it was a bestselling book or a horror movie, it was a crime scene.On November 13, 1974, six members of the DeFeo family were found shot to death inside their Amityville, Long Island home. The killer? Their eldest son, Ronald DeFeo Jr.In this episode of Day by Day: True Crime Stories, we revisit the brutal murders, the eerie unanswered questions that followed, and the trial that led to six convictions. We also explore how a deeply tragic case became overshadowed by ghost stories, legal drama, and one of the most controversial paranormal narratives in pop culture history.Over fifty years later, what remains are two very different stories: the true crime—and the legend it left behind.#Amityville #TrueCrimePodcast #AmityvilleMurders #DeFeoFamilyAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

  50. 317

    November 12 - The Disappearance and Murders of Renée and Andrew MacRae

    On November 12, 1976, 36‑year‑old Renée MacRae and her three‑year‑old son, Andrew, vanished after leaving Inverness, Scotland. That night, Renée’s BMW was found burned in a lay‑by off the A9 — but the mother and child were gone.Their disappearance sparked one of the most haunting and enduring mysteries in UK criminal history. Decades of searches, shifting alibis, new forensic breakthroughs, and persistent family hope ultimately led to a conviction in 2022 — though the bodies have never been found.In this episode, we explore the last known hours of Renée and Andrew’s lives, the investigation that uncovered a hidden relationship and a web of suspicious actions, and the cold‑case work that spanned nearly fifty years.The question that still lingers: Where are Renée and Andrew MacRae?#RenéeMacRae #ScottishCrime #ColdCase #TrueCrimePodcastAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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ABOUT THIS SHOW

Your daily dose of true crime history. Join Kona Gallagher, host of And Then They Were Gone, for a story about a crime or justice milestone that happened this day in history.

HOSTED BY

Little Monster Productions

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does Day By Day: True Crime Stories have?

Day By Day: True Crime Stories currently has 50 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.

What is Day By Day: True Crime Stories about?

Your daily dose of true crime history. Join Kona Gallagher, host of And Then They Were Gone, for a story about a crime or justice milestone that happened this day in history.

How often does Day By Day: True Crime Stories release new episodes?

Day By Day: True Crime Stories has 50 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.

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Who hosts Day By Day: True Crime Stories?

Day By Day: True Crime Stories is created and hosted by Little Monster Productions.
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