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Investigation: HomicideEpisode #32 - Fleeing the Scene: The Hunt for Yerby HughesThis week, join the ladies of Investigation: Homicide as they sit down with Walthall County Detective Justin Dyar to dig into the chilling case of Yerby Hughes, the man who murdered Chad Bryant and then vanished into the woods of rural Mississippi.
How did Hughes slip through law enforcement’s fingers after leaving the scene in his victim’s truck? And what led to his dramatic capture in an abandoned shed—just 48 hours after the crime?
Investigator Dyar recounts the twists, the tracking, and the team effort that brought a killer to justice.
2025-07-2549 minInvestigation: HomicideEpisode 31 -- "Beneath the Surface: The Case of Wayne 'Kysten' Fiddis"Oxford is a college town full of all kinds of people from all over the state. Sometimes that can make certain crimes harder to investigate in the cross-section of Mississippi humanity. Tonight, Therese Apel and Nicole Kral look into the investigation led by Oxford Police Department’s Lt. Mark Hodges, who found himself unraveling a case of attacks, burglaries, and other odd occurrences in Oxford and neighboring Union County.
Wayne “Kysten” Fiddis of Holly Springs appeared to be just an average guy, fairly unassuming, and mostly off the radar. But when police realized the connections between several burgla...2025-07-1845 minInvestigation: HomicideEpisode 30 - Can One Leader Save a City? Chief Joseph Wade and the Fight to Restore JPDJackson, Mississippi — a city long marked by both triumph and turbulence — has seen its share of highs and lows. At the heart of its evolving story stands the Jackson Police Department, an institution as tested as the city itself. After years of strain under a troubled administration that many within law enforcement say pushed the department to the brink, a new chapter is underway at City Hall.
With the retention of Chief Joseph Wade at JPD, optimism is cautiously building Chief Wade has been tasked with — and is succeeding at — restoring stability to the department, rebuildin...2025-07-1126 minInvestigation: HomicideEpisode 29 — Justice Delayed Still Comes: Serial Rapist Daniel Ray SkaggsIn this true story from Rankin County, Mississippi, Chief Medical Examiner David Ruth tells us how a decades-old mystery was finally solved through groundbreaking forensic genetic genealogy. Follow the harrowing 1990 case of a young waitress known as “Jane,” whose courage helped crack open a serial rapist’s identity after years of silence. Discover how science, perseverance, and a fight for justice converged to bring resolution to a survivor and accountability to a predator. Also, we find out how it's connected to the infamous Shondra May case.
Justice may be delayed, but it isn’t denied.
Thi...2025-07-0449 minInvestigation: HomicideEpisode 28 - Prescription for Murder: The Starkville Walmart Shooting of Dr. Shauna WittIn 2018, a peaceful afternoon inside a Starkville, Mississippi Walmart turned into a nightmare. Dr. Shauna Witt, a beloved optometrist, was gunned down while seeing a patient in her clinic just shortly after ending her relationship with William “Tommy” Chisholm.
In this episode, we sit down with Sergeant John Michael Lay, the lead investigator who supervised the scene and directed the collection of key evidence that helped secure a capital murder conviction. He walks us through the critical first moments after the shooting, how the crime scene was processed, and the chilling timeline that unfolded inside those...2025-06-271h 04Investigation: HomicideEpisode 27 - Guarding the Interstates: The Madison/Rankin County Criminal Interdiction TeamEvery day, hundreds of thousands of vehicles travel Mississippi’s interstates. Most of them are occupied by honest, well-meaning citizens, but a small percentage contain cartel drugs, kidnapped minors, and wanted suspects. The members of the Madison Rankin County Criminal Interdiction team encounter them all. Well, what they do is largely misunderstood; it is vital. Today Therese Apel and Amanda Johansson talk with members of the team about what a normal day looks like.
This episode is produced by Daniel Anderson at Audio Alchemy Productions.
2025-06-2059 minInvestigation: HomicideEpisode 26 -The Heather Spencer Case: Justice on Trawick DriveIn 2007, a chilling discovery shook Jackson, Mississippi. The body of Mary Heather Spencer was found inside a home on Trawick Drive, a property tied to her boyfriend’s family. What began as a tragic crime scene quickly unfolded into a high-profile homicide investigation that would become a landmark case in the conversation around domestic violence.
In this episode, we sit down with former JPD Homicide Investigator Derrick Jordan, the man who helped bring the truth to light and put Heather’s killer behind bars. He takes us through the intense investigation, the key moments that broke the case...2025-06-1354 minInvestigation: HomicideEpisode 25 - Talking through it: The role of the Crisis Intervention TeamThe situation is chilling: A suspect has barricaded himself in a building and he has hostages. Law enforcement need to resolve the problem quickly and without any injuries, but it seems a daunting task. Today, Therese Apel talks to co-host Amanda Johansson and Sgt. Terri’s Thomas about the work they do on the Crisis Intervention Team — the job more commonly known as “The Negotiator.”
This episode is produced by Daniel Anderson at Audio Alchemy Productions.
2025-06-0653 minInvestigation: HomicideEpisode 24 - It still echoesIn this riveting episode of Investigation: Homicide, District Attorney Brendon Adams joins us to discuss a case that rocked Lincoln County to its core. Corey Godbolt went on a killing spree during the memorial Day weekend of 2017, and by the time he was done, 8 people were dead, including Lincoln County Deputy William Durr. But before the day was over, he confessed to Durr’s murder on Therese Apel‘s camera. Godbolt got what was coming to him at trial in 2020, ending up being sentenced to four life sentences and four death sentences.
Adams walks us through that harr...2025-05-2358 minInvestigation: HomicideEpisode #23, Behind the Badge: The Sacrifice of Service with Detective Charlie SmithMay 15 marks National Peace Officers Memorial Day—a time set aside to honor those who’ve made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. In this special episode, retired Jackson Police Department Detective Charlie Smith sits down with hosts Therese Apel and Nicole Kral to reflect on what it truly means to serve and protect. From high-stakes investigations to the personal toll that comes with wearing the badge, Detective Smith shares powerful stories from his decorated career and the deeper cost of standing in the gap between right and wrong.
This episode is a tribute not just...2025-05-161h 07Investigation: HomicideEpisode 22: Investigation: Homicide—The Walter Simpson Case UnveiledIn this gripping episode, Therese Apel and Amanda Johansson sit down with Madison/Rankin County DA Bubba Bramlett and Assistant DA Scott Rogillio to unravel the chilling case against Walter Simpson. Driven by rejection and resentment, Simpson’s carefully crafted alibi couldn’t withstand the relentless detective work that exposed his involvement in the 2018 murders of Falonda Jobe-Simpson and her daughter Davonda Washington. Join us as we delve into how justice was served through dedication and skilled investigation.
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#Invest...2025-05-091h 06Investigation: HomicideEpisode 21: Cold Case Cracked—The Arrest in Shondra May’s 40-Year MysteryFor nearly four decades, the murder of Shondra May has haunted central Mississippi—until now. In this powerful new episode of Investigation: Homicide, Sheriff Mike Lee and Chief Deputy Brad Ellis return to the studio to sit down with Therese Apel and walk us through the shocking arrest of Rubin Weeks, a former suspect who had vanished into the shadows… until justice came knocking. Weeks, found living in Madison, was previously imprisoned in Missouri for a crime eerily similar to Shondra’s case.
From early suspicions to groundbreaking developments, discover the behind-the-scenes strategies, gut instincts, and rel...2025-05-0243 minInvestigation: HomicideEpisode 20: Coming down your row - The Napoleon Edwards CaseThe testimony was salacious and the details read like a movie in the case of former local social media personality William ‘Polo’ Edwards. He was found guilty in 2024 of the first-degree murder of 45-year-old Robert Davis in a love triangle that turned deadly. Polo was well-known to Detective Greg Jones and the men and women of Clinton Police Department, given his incendiary and often paid opinions that were splashed all over social media on a daily basis. Join Therese Apel and Nicole Kral as they talk to Detective Jones about the case that captivated Clinton.
2025-04-251h 00Investigation: HomicideEpisode 19: Into the Darkness—Clinton Detective Amanda Johansson on Crimes Against ChildrenIn Episode 19 of Investigation: Homicide, hosts Nicole Kral and Therese Apel sit down with Clinton Detective Amanda Johansson—an investigator whose caseload includes some of society’s most disturbing crimes: those committed against children.
From her deep involvement in human trafficking cases to her surprising platform as a national beauty queen, Detective Johansson brings a rare mix of grit, compassion, and courage to the front lines of justice. In this chilling and powerful conversation, we explore what it takes to confront child predators, the psychological toll of the work, and why she tells her story.
This...2025-04-181h 01Investigation: HomicideEpisode 18: Small Town Streets, Big City CrimeIn Episode 18 of the Investigation Homicide Podcast, we explore the unexpected rise in crime across small towns in Mississippi. Join hosts Therese Apel and Nicole Kral as they sit down with Police Chief Robert Thomas to discuss the unique challenges of policing a small town grappling with big-city crime. Learn how consistent, community-focused law enforcement is making a difference in this once-sleepy town. Tune in for insights into crime trends, local policing strategies, and the realities of small-town law enforcement.
#InvestigationHomicide #TrueCrime #SmallTownCrime #Policing #CrimePodcast #MississippiCrime #CrystalSprings #LawEnforcement #TrueCrimeCommunity #PodcastEpisode
This episode is produced by...2025-04-0454 minInvestigation: HomicideEpisode 17: The Evil At Home.Domestic violence is a crime trend that never goes away, and even in a world that’s educated on the signs and symptoms, it is still a deadly epidemic that kills families and Law Enforcement alike, as we saw recently in the line of duty death of Hinds County Deputy Martin Shields.
In today’s episode, Therese Apel and Nicole Kral talk with former Byram Police Chief Luke Thompson about how domestic violence affects the family unit, crime statistics, and society, and how technology is turning its wheels to come up with solutions for this deadl...2025-03-211h 01Investigation: HomicideEpisode 16: The Valentine’s Day Murder – Unraveling the Stabbing Death of Cole ManseillA frantic 911 call. A boyfriend stabbed on Valentine’s Day. A woman claiming self-defense. But as detectives in Rankin County dug deeper, the truth behind Cole Manseill’s murder became far more sinister.
Was Ashley Shaw really acting in self-defense, or was there more to the story? Rankin County Sheriff’s Detective Tyler Burnell joins Therese Apel and Nicole Kral on Investigation: Homicide to break down the case, the evidence, and the twists that led to the shocking truth.
Listen now for exclusive insights into this chilling Valentine’s Day crime.
...2025-03-1456 minInvestigation: HomicideEpisode 15: Justice and Sacrifice – The Legacy of Officer Bobby Joe BiggertFifteen years to the day after his first day at the police academy, Bobby Joe Biggert made the ultimate sacrifice—dying while protecting his community, even on his off time. Retired Crime Scene Analyst Charlie Smith knew Biggert personally and was also tasked with investigating the crime scene, an emotionally heavy burden for any officer seeking justice for a fallen friend.
But when Biggert’s killer died in prison, was it truly justice? You decide.
In this gripping episode, investigative journalists Therese Apel and Nicole Kral sit down with Smith to uncover the harrowing details of a...2025-03-071h 02Investigation: HomicideEpisode #14 The Face on the SceneHinds County Sheriff Tyree Jones has been a veteran officer, investigator, public affairs officer during his career in law enforcement. Through years at Jackson Police Department and the Hinds County Sheriff's Department, he's seen some of the metro area's most notorious crimes. Therese Apel and Nicole Kral talk with him about one of the most cold-blooded killers he's tracked: Dexter Lipsey, who gunned down three people and kidnapped a woman over $25. We will also pay tribute to fallen hero Deputy Martin Shields, who died in the line of duty Sunday nighthelping a woman gather her things from the home sh...2025-02-281h 14Investigation: HomicideEpisode 13 - Into Thin Air: The disappearance of Myra LewisMarch 1, 2024, marked a full decade since the disappearance of Myra Lewis. The two-year-old disappeared from her home in Camden, never to be seen again. In spite of several moments where investigators seemed to be on the brink of a breakthrough, Myra's case has never been solved.
Is she still out there? What happened to Myra?
Madison County Sheriff Randy Tucker joins Therese Apel and Nicole Kral in today's episode of Investigation: Homicide to talk about the 11 years he's spent taking it personally.
This episode is produced by Daniel and Ri...2025-02-1450 minInvestigation: HomicideCommunity Policing: Reaching Those You Protect Through Compassion and Resolve — Episode #12In this episode of Investigation: Homicide, we sit down with Lt. Sara Ricks to uncover the most pivotal cases that have shaped her career and left an indelible mark on her life. From the heart-stopping moments of solving high-stakes crimes to the profound personal growth and lessons learned along the way, Lt. Ricks shares it all with honesty and insight.
Tune in as Lt. Ricks takes us into the challenges, triumphs, and unexpected twists that have defined her journey in law enforcement. Discover how these life-altering cases have not only tested her resolve but also deepened her...2025-01-3155 minInvestigation: HomicideEPISODE 11. Senseless Evil: The Kingston Frazier CaseIn the early morning hours of May 18, 2017, a mother stopped at Kroger on I-55 to run inside for a second. When she came out, her car was gone with her sleeping 6-year-old in the back. Kingston Frazier was missing, and the frantic search by all the law enforcement resources in the Metro area was forceful and immediate. The outcome would devastate the heart of Mississippi for years to come.
This episode is produced by Daniel Anderson at Audio Alchemy Productions.
2025-01-171h 08Investigation: HomicideEpisode 10: “Greater Love”Episode 10: “Greater Love”
Retired Copiah County Sheriff and former state trooper Harold Jones was there on the day that his good friend, Franklin County Sheriff James Posey, traded himself for a group of hostages. It was a risk with high stakes, and what happened that day through the attention of President Ronald Reagan, and moreover echoes in the memories of Mississippi lawmen, and probably will forever.
There is a reason the call of a law enforcement officer is to “protect and serve,” and we will discuss that at length today.
This epi...2025-01-0337 minInvestigation: HomicideEpisode #9: Deadly love triangle.In 2006, Ridgeland was rocked and captivated by the story of a pregnant school teacher gunned down in her carport in the dark of night. Avis Banks didn't seem to have any enemies, though some people wondered if the father of her child was ready to step into those dad shoes. As police worked to uncover her killer, they unraveled a saga that has been the subject of national attention ever since.
Retired Ridgeland Police Chief John Neal joins us. He was an investigator at the time, and he'll shine a light on what was going on...2024-12-061h 01Investigation: HomicideInvestigation: Homicide Episode 8: A Prisoner of PoliticsToday Anthony Fox is back with the Investigation:Homicide Team in Part 2 of our discussion of his wrongful conviction for manslaughter in the death of George Robinson. What went wrong in the courtroom? What were the influences on the case? And once he was convicted, what were those 552 days in prison like for a former narcotics officer who was now a convicted felon?
But then we'll discuss the powers that came into play to help overturn the wrongful conviction, and what all this could mean in the pending case against the Hinds County District Attorney.
...2024-11-291h 16Investigation: HomicideInvestigation: Homicide Episode 7: The political lynching of Detective Anthony FoxHe spent 552 days in jail for a crime he didn't commit, in spite of every indication that he was an innocent man. After some hard work by the Mississippi Attorney General's Office, his conviction was finally overturned, and life returned to a new normal for the detective who had now seen firsthand what it's like to be behind bars.
Recently, headlines were made nationwide when the Hinds County District Attorney that prosecuted Anthony Fox was indicted by federal authorities in a bribery scandal, and it's time for Detective Fox to tell his side of the story.
...2024-11-221h 16Investigation: HomicideEpisode 6 | The Search for Alex Easterling |The family of a missing Pickens man, Alex Easterling, is hoping for answers about his disappearance. With a very special guest, Ashley Martin, Alex Easterling's mother, we will delve into the extraordinary measures she has taken to uncover the truth about what happened to her son. Anyone with information on Robert "Alex" Easterling can contact Crime Stoppers at (888) 827-4637
This episode is produced by Daniel Anderson at Audio Alchemy Productions.
2024-11-081h 06
Investigation: HomicideEpisode 5 - Vicksburg’s reign of evil: the Rafael McCloud stoFormer Vicksburg Police Chief Walter Armstrong and journalist Keith Phillips join Therese and Nicole to talk about one of Vicksburg‘s most storied and evil killers, Rafael McCloud, whose victim was found by ghost hunters at a haunted hospital. Learn about McCloud‘s escape and what justice finally came to him.
This episode is produced by Daniel Anderson at Audio Alchemy Productions.
2024-11-011h 19
Investigation: HomicideAnnie Laurie Never Came Home: Episode #4Investigation: Homicide’s Therese Apel and Nicole Kral revisit one of Jackson’s oldest and most notorious crimes—the kidnapping of millionaire socialite Annie Laurie Hearin. For almost 40 years, the question has haunted investigators: Where is Annie Laurie? Longtime Jackson crime scene investigator Charlie Smith joins us to give us a ground-level view of the investigation.
This episode is produced by Daniel Anderson at Audio Alchemy Productions.
2024-10-251h 10Investigation: HomicideEpisode #3: No Death Date on Her Tombstone – The Shondra May Case RevisitedIn February 1986, high school senior Shondra May went missing after leaving work at the McDonald’s in Forest. Three weeks later, her body was found in a creek in Hinds County on what would’ve been her 18th birthday. This case has stumped investigators for almost 4 decades, but now officials say they’re closer than ever to finding her killer. Scott County Sheriff Mike Lee is here to tell us what’s next.
This episode is produced by Daniel Anderson at Audio Alchemy Productions.
2024-10-1844 minInvestigation: HomicideInvestigation: Homicide. Episode #2: The Day Our Hearts Broke
It’s a day Mississippi will never forget. October 1, 1997, a nerdy teenager walked into a high school and changed everyone’s life forever. We talk with Greg Eklund, who was an investigator with the Rankin County Sheriffs Dept at the time. Eklund takes us through the events leading up to that day and what the ripple effect has been over time.
This episode is produced by Daniel Anderson at Audio Alchemy Productions.
2024-10-111h 12
Investigation: HomicideInvestigation: Homicide. Episode #1: Behind the Headlines: The Calculated Crime of Carly Gregg
In the inaugural episode of Investigation Homicide, Therese and Nicole explore the case of an intelligent and manipulative teenager who killed her mother in cold blood through the eyes of Assistant District Attorney Michael Smith, who was tasked with prosecuting her. The Investigation Homicide team examines this sensational case beyond the national headlines.
This episode is produced by Daniel Anderson at Audio Alchemy Productions.
2024-10-041h 15