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Double Homicide: The House on Benchor Road - Part 01 Our Sponsors: * Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.com/OBSCURA * Check out Chime: https://chime.com/OBSCURA * Check out Mood and use my code OBSCURA for a great deal: https://mood.com * Check out Quince: https://quince.com/obscura * Check out Time4Learning: https://www.time4learning.com Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/obscura-a-true-crime-podcast/exclusive-content Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

A two-year-old boy was found dead in his crib in Clinton Township, Michigan, starved to death while his mother streamed on Twitch. Featuring real court audio from the sentencing, Obscura examines the 2023 case of Sierra Pearl Zaitona and Jonathon Matthew Cheek, two parents who let their child waste away in silence. The boy had been in foster care before being returned to his biological parents, Sierra Pearl Zaitona and Jonathon Matthew Cheek, both of Clinton Township. According to court records, the child was healthy and thriving under state care. The decision to reunify the family would prove fatal. What happened after his return would become one of Macomb County's most disturbing neglect cases in recent memory. On Thursday, March 16, 2023, Zaitona discovered her son dead in his crib and called 911. Cheek was not home at the time, instead visiting his own mother's residence. When first responders arrived at the Clinton Township home, they found the toddler beyond saving and living conditions that told a story of prolonged neglect. The Macomb County Medical Examiner conducted an autopsy and determined the cause of death was fatal starvation. A child who had once been healthy had slowly wasted away, unfed and unnoticed, while ordinary life carried on around him. Zaitona had established a presence on Twitch as a livestreamer. While the Macomb County Prosecutor's Office did not draw a direct line between her streaming activity and the neglect, the case drew national attention on social media. The contrast between a screen glowing with followers and a crib growing silent became the defining image of this tragedy. Both parents were arrested and charged with second-degree murder, a life felony, and second-degree child abuse, a ten-year felony. Bond was set at one million dollars cash for each defendant. The case moved through the Macomb County Circuit Court, with District Court Judge Jacob Femminineo Jr. binding both parents over for trial in March 2024. Rather than face trial, both parents entered no contest pleas. On December 18, 2024, Jonathon Matthew Cheek, then 26, was sentenced to 24 to 50 years for second-degree murder and 86 months to 10 years for second-degree child abuse, served concurrently. On April 9, 2025, Sierra Pearl Zaitona, then 29, received the same sentence of 24 to 50 years for murder and 43 months to 10 years for child abuse. She was placed on Michigan's Central Registry for Child Abuse and Neglect. Macomb County Prosecutor Peter Lucido spoke at sentencing. "When parents betray the sacred trust to nurture and protect," he said, "we must ensure that the scales of justice tip in favor of accountability." Neither parent will be eligible for release before 2047. This episode features court audio from the sentencing hearings and examines the child welfare system decisions that preceded this tragedy. Listener discretion advised. Support Obscura: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/obscuracrimepodcast/ Website: https://www.mythsandmalice.com/show/obscura/ Apple Premium: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/channel/black-label/id6443660911 Our Sponsors: * Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.com/OBSCURA * Check out Chime: https://chime.com/OBSCURA * Check out Mood and use my code OBSCURA for a great deal: https://mood.com * Check out Quince: https://quince.com/obscura * Check out Time4Learning: https://www.time4learning.com Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/obscura-a-true-crime-podcast/exclusive-content Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Leslie Preer was murdered in her Chevy Chase, Maryland home on May 2, 2001. For 23 years the case sat cold. This episode features court audio from the August 2025 sentencing and the genetic genealogy breakthrough that finally identified her killer. Leslie Ann Jennings Preer, 48, was a wife, mother, and former University of Florida journalism student. Born in North Kingstown, Rhode Island in 1952 and raised across the country in a large military family, she settled in Chevy Chase in 1982 with her husband Sandy and their daughter Lauren. She volunteered at a local library teaching English to immigrants and newcomers. Friends and family remembered her as gentle, intelligent, and kind. On the morning of May 2, 2001, Leslie did not show up for work. A welfare check at her home on Drummond Avenue revealed she had been beaten and strangled inside the house. There was no forced entry. Blood and skin cells from her attacker were recovered from the dining room, hallway, and near the kitchen. DNA under her fingernails told investigators exactly who did it. The problem was, he was not in any database. Suspicion fell on her husband, Sandy Preer. He was cleared, but the cloud of suspicion followed him for years. Sandy passed away in 2017 before he ever saw justice for his wife. In 2022, Montgomery County investigators Tara Augustin and Alyson Dupouy reopened the file. They uploaded the crime scene DNA to a public genetic genealogy database. The search traced a distant relative in Romania, which narrowed the field until one name surfaced in old case notes. Lauren Preer's high school boyfriend, Eugene Gligor. For five years he had sat at the Preer family dinner table. He had shared their holidays, their game nights, their home on Drummond Avenue. In June 2024, investigators followed Gligor to Washington Dulles International Airport and retrieved a discarded water bottle. The DNA matched. On June 18, 2024, federal marshals arrested Eugene Gligor at his apartment in Washington, D.C. In May 2025 he pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. On August 28, 2025, Montgomery County Circuit Court Judge David Lease sentenced him to 30 years with all but 22 years suspended, followed by five years of supervised probation. Prosecutors Donna Fenton and Jodie Mount handled the case. Gligor remains incarcerated at the Maryland Correctional Training Center. Sandy Preer was posthumously vindicated. This episode features court audio from the 2025 sentencing hearing and archival case reporting. Listener discretion advised. Support Obscura: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/obscuracrimepodcast/ Website: https://www.mythsandmalice.com/show/obscura/ Apple Premium: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/channel/black-label/id6443660911 Our Sponsors: * Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.com/OBSCURA * Check out Chime: https://chime.com/OBSCURA * Check out Mood and use my code OBSCURA for a great deal: https://mood.com * Check out Quince: https://quince.com/obscura * Check out Time4Learning: https://www.time4learning.com Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/obscura-a-true-crime-podcast/exclusive-content Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Black Label: The Station Nightclub Fire Our Sponsors: * Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.com/OBSCURA * Check out Chime: https://chime.com/OBSCURA * Check out Mood and use my code OBSCURA for a great deal: https://mood.com * Check out Quince: https://quince.com/obscura * Check out Time4Learning: https://www.time4learning.com Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/obscura-a-true-crime-podcast/exclusive-content Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Two women strangled in two days by the same man in Jacksonville, Florida -- one killed at a motel on Christmas night, the other a beloved teacher murdered in her own home the next morning. This episode features real interrogation footage and court audio. Leah Kline's life ended on December 25, 2019. She and Zebulon Perkins had been staying at a Westside Jacksonville motel when an argument turned violent. Perkins strangled Kline and disposed of her body in a dumpster behind the building. She was 38 years old. Her remains would not be discovered for days. The following morning, December 26, Perkins drove to the Cedar Hills home of Vivian James, a 49-year-old chemistry teacher at Atlantic Coast High School. James had once been his teacher. According to court records, Perkins went to her looking for guidance -- and when James told him he needed to turn himself in to police, Perkins beat her and strangled her with a cord inside her home. Vivian James had spent years in a classroom shaping the futures of Duval County students. Colleagues and former students described her as someone who gave her time and attention freely, a teacher who saw potential where others saw problems. The fact that a former student came to her door in crisis -- and that her instinct was to counsel him toward accountability -- speaks to who she was. On December 28, a friend stopped by James' home and found her body. The friend called Jacksonville Sheriff's Office and reported James' car missing. Investigators located the vehicle at the same Westside motel where Kline had been killed. Perkins was inside. When officers searched the car, they found Perkins' bag containing sweatpants stained with James' DNA, along with her camera and three laptops. Two of James' televisions and her computer monitor were recovered from the home of Perkins' mother. DNA recovered from beneath James' fingernails matched Perkins. In March 2024, Zebulon Perkins pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree murder. He was sentenced to 70 years in Florida State Prison. The interrogation footage played during court proceedings showed detectives confronting Perkins about the evidence against him -- a man who, according to investigators, showed no emotion when asked about either death. This episode features interrogation recordings and court audio. Listener discretion advised. Support Obscura: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/obscuracrimepodcast/ Website: https://www.mythsandmalice.com/show/obscura/ Apple Premium: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/channel/black-label/id6443660911 Our Sponsors: * Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.com/OBSCURA * Check out Chime: https://chime.com/OBSCURA * Check out Mood and use my code OBSCURA for a great deal: https://mood.com * Check out Quince: https://quince.com/obscura * Check out Time4Learning: https://www.time4learning.com Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/obscura-a-true-crime-podcast/exclusive-content Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Abraham Shakespeare won thirty million dollars in the Florida Lottery. Three years later, he was dead -- shot twice, buried under concrete in Lakeland, Florida. This episode features real court recordings and interrogation audio. Abraham Shakespeare, 43, was a truck driver's assistant from Lakeland, Florida, who lived simply and was known for his generosity. Friends described him as someone who would help anyone, even when he had little to give. On November 15, 2006, Shakespeare won a $30 million Florida Lotto jackpot, choosing a lump-sum payout of approximately $17 million. He purchased a million-dollar home in a gated community, bought cars for friends, paid off mortgages for relatives, and gave cash to nearly anyone who asked. Within two years, the majority of his fortune had been spent or given away. He told relatives he sometimes wished he had never won. In late 2008, Dorice "Dee Dee" Moore approached Shakespeare, claiming she wanted to write a book about how people were taking advantage of him. Moore positioned herself as his financial protector. Within months, she had Shakespeare sign over his home, his remaining properties, and control of his bank accounts to companies she owned. By early April 2009, Moore controlled nearly everything. When Shakespeare began pressing her about where his money had gone, he vanished. His last confirmed sighting was in the first week of April 2009. Moore launched an elaborate deception to cover his absence. She sent text messages from his phone, forged letters in his name, and paid a man to impersonate Shakespeare on a phone call to his own mother. She told police he had planned his own disappearance. When Shakespeare's family reported him missing in November 2009, investigators with the Polk County Sheriff's Office traced the financial records. Every explanation Moore offered contradicted the evidence. A controlled phone call arranged by detectives caught Moore pressuring an attorney to maintain lies about Shakespeare's whereabouts. In January 2010, acting on evidence from an undercover operation, authorities discovered Shakespeare's body buried nine feet deep under a concrete slab at a property on Highway 60 in Plant City, Florida. He had been shot twice in the chest with a .38 caliber revolver. On December 10, 2012, a Hillsborough County jury convicted Dorice Moore of first-degree murder after three and a half hours of deliberation. The judge called her "cold, calculated, and cruel" and sentenced her to life in prison without parole. This episode features court recordings and interrogation audio from the investigation into Abraham Shakespeare's murder. Listener discretion advised. Support Obscura: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/obscuracrimepodcast/ Website: https://www.mythsandmalice.com/show/obscura/ Apple Premium: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/channel/black-label/id6443660911 Our Sponsors: * Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.com/OBSCURA * Check out Chime: https://chime.com/OBSCURA * Check out Mood and use my code OBSCURA for a great deal: https://mood.com * Check out Quince: https://quince.com/obscura * Check out Time4Learning: https://www.time4learning.com Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/obscura-a-true-crime-podcast/exclusive-content Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

For nearly a decade, a predator stalked the quiet marshlands and sugarcane fields of southeastern Louisiana, leaving a trail of bodies in his wake. In this episode, we dive into the chilling case of Ronald Dominique, a man who confessed to the rape and murder of at least 23 men and boys between 1997 and 2006.Despite a victim count that rivals some of history's most notorious killers, Dominique's name is rarely mentioned alongside Bundy or Gacy. We explore the "perfect storm" of factors that allowed him to evade capture for so long—from his strategic targeting of marginalized men on society's fringes to the devastating chaos of Hurricane Katrina that overshadowed the investigation. Our Sponsors: * Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.com/OBSCURA * Check out Chime: https://chime.com/OBSCURA * Check out Mood and use my code OBSCURA for a great deal: https://mood.com * Check out Quince: https://quince.com/obscura * Check out Time4Learning: https://www.time4learning.com Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/obscura-a-true-crime-podcast/exclusive-content Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

For nearly a decade, a predator stalked the quiet marshlands and sugarcane fields of southeastern Louisiana, leaving a trail of bodies in his wake. In this episode, we dive into the chilling case of Ronald Dominique, a man who confessed to the rape and murder of at least 23 men and boys between 1997 and 2006.Despite a victim count that rivals some of history's most notorious killers, Dominique's name is rarely mentioned alongside Bundy or Gacy. We explore the "perfect storm" of factors that allowed him to evade capture for so long—from his strategic targeting of marginalized men on society's fringes to the devastating chaos of Hurricane Katrina that overshadowed the investigation. Our Sponsors: * Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.com/OBSCURA * Check out Chime: https://chime.com/OBSCURA * Check out Mood and use my code OBSCURA for a great deal: https://mood.com * Check out Quince: https://quince.com/obscura * Check out Time4Learning: https://www.time4learning.com Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/obscura-a-true-crime-podcast/exclusive-content Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In Bridgeville, PA, George Sodini executed a chilling attack inside a gym. Featuring real audio. George Alfred Sodini, 48. He was a systems analyst, once invisible and misunderstood, who turned his personal darkness into devastation. On August 4, 2009, in Collier Township, Pennsylvania, Sodini walked into an LA Fitness gym with a duffel bag, setting the stage for chaos. As he turned off the lights in a crowded aerobics class, the room descended into terror as he opened fire. By night's end, three women lay dead, and several others were injured. The investigation revealed a disturbing blog chronicling Sodini's loneliness and rage, providing a glimpse into a troubled mind plotting revenge. The evidence was overwhelming, with cameras capturing the moments leading up to the horror. The case never reached a courtroom closure, as Sodini took his own life at the scene. His actions left a community scarred and searching for answers. This episode features court recordings and 911 calls. Listener discretion advised. Support Obscura:Patreon | Website | Apple Premium Our Sponsors: * Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.com/OBSCURA * Check out Chime: https://chime.com/OBSCURA * Check out Mood and use my code OBSCURA for a great deal: https://mood.com * Check out Quince: https://quince.com/obscura * Check out Time4Learning: https://www.time4learning.com Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/obscura-a-true-crime-podcast/exclusive-content Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Marvin Morales found brutally murdered in his Sacramento, CA home. Real audio of police investigation. Marvin Aris Untalan Morales, young and full of potential, became a tragic figure in Sacramento. Known for his vibrant personality and love for music, his life was cruelly cut short. On December 2, 2010, Morales's life was taken in the most violent of ways. His body was discovered in his home, evidence of a vicious assault. The scene told a tale of unbridled aggression and tragic loss. Detectives pieced together a puzzle involving disgruntled acquaintances and a planned attack. Surveillance cameras, witness testimonies, and forensic evidence led to the breakthrough in identifying the culprits responsible for this heinous deed. The trial concluded with swift justice, a rare comfort to those mourning Morales. The perpetrators faced the full weight of the law, though the community still grieves the void left behind. This episode contains police body cam footage and 911 call recordings. Listener discretion advised. Support Obscura:Patreon | Website | Apple Premium Our Sponsors: * Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.com/OBSCURA * Check out Chime: https://chime.com/OBSCURA * Check out Mood and use my code OBSCURA for a great deal: https://mood.com * Check out Quince: https://quince.com/obscura * Check out Time4Learning: https://www.time4learning.com Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/obscura-a-true-crime-podcast/exclusive-content Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

A fan’s obsession turned fatal — The Stalker Files revealed. Ricardo López was an ordinary name behind an extraordinary obsession. He convinced himself he knew Björk intimately, though they had never met. Ricardo’s fixation consumed his thoughts, spiraling into actions that only his twisted mind understood. Lured by her music and public persona, he embarked on a path that eclipsed his grip on reality. The unraveling began when authorities discovered a chilling video diary, a manifesto of madness. His devotion had crossed a line into dangerous delusion. Ricardo’s story culminated in a shocking event, leaving ripples across the globe and ushering in debates about fan culture and personal space. Featuring footage from Ricardo's own recordings, this episode takes you inside the mind of a delusional admirer. Not suitable for all listeners. Viewer discretion is strongly advised. Access Black Label:Patreon | Apple Premium Our Sponsors: * Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.com/OBSCURA * Check out Chime: https://chime.com/OBSCURA * Check out Mood and use my code OBSCURA for a great deal: https://mood.com * Check out Quince: https://quince.com/obscura * Check out Time4Learning: https://www.time4learning.com Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/obscura-a-true-crime-podcast/exclusive-content Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Brandon Paul Janssen's tragic tale unfolds in Fountain, FL. Featuring real court and investigative audio. Brandon Paul Janssen, once a beacon of innocence, faced the malign neglect of those who should have protected him. At the heart of a rural community's landscape, his story remains a chilling reminder of justice denied. In 2020, the quiet community of Fountain, Florida, witnessed an atrocity that exposed the depths of moral failings. The unrelenting pursuit of punishment for a child sexual battery case unearthed systemic failures. Law enforcement's relentless pursuit, aided by interrogation records and courtroom revelations, underscored the cruel betrayal suffered by Brandon at the hands of trusted individuals. The judicial resolution was bittersweet; convictions gave voice to the silenced, but the pain of loss forever colors Fountain's memory. This episode features interrogation audio and court recordings. Listener discretion advised. Support Obscura:Patreon | Website | Apple Premium Our Sponsors: * Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.com/OBSCURA * Check out Chime: https://chime.com/OBSCURA * Check out Mood and use my code OBSCURA for a great deal: https://mood.com * Check out Quince: https://quince.com/obscura * Check out Time4Learning: https://www.time4learning.com Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/obscura-a-true-crime-podcast/exclusive-content Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

BLACK LABEL CONTENT — Premium subscribers only Heather Strong's murder case unravels into a deeper nightmare, fueled by sordid betrayal. Featured audio includes shocking interrogation clips. This Black Label episode pulls back the curtain on the relentless investigation that seeks justice for Heather. A case stained by manipulation and betrayal. Heather Strong was 26, a devoted mother battling for custody of her children when her life met a brutal end. She was known for her kindness and resilience, shackled by a toxic relationship. The investigation turned her disappearance into a cataclysmic trial, revealing the chilling depths of her fiancé's deception. Audio from the interrogation room captures desperate confessions that pivoted the case into a nationwide spectacle. Access Black Label:Patreon | Apple Premium Our Sponsors: * Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.com/OBSCURA * Check out Chime: https://chime.com/OBSCURA * Check out Mood and use my code OBSCURA for a great deal: https://mood.com * Check out Quince: https://quince.com/obscura * Check out Time4Learning: https://www.time4learning.com Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/obscura-a-true-crime-podcast/exclusive-content Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

BLACK LABEL CONTENT — Premium subscribers only Heather Strong vanished into the shadows of betrayal in Marion County. Exclusive interrogation and crime scene audio. This Black Label account unearths the calculated treachery that led Heather Strong into a deadly trap. Through heartbreaking evidence, it paints a portrait of a woman trapped by circumstances and deceit. Heather was a beacon of hope for her children, engulfed by the turmoil of a failing marriage and a bitter battle for custody. Her life unfolded against the backdrop of manipulation. The episode uncovers intricate details of deceit, culminating in Heather's murder. The harrowing audio brings listeners into the investigators' shoes as they peel back layers of deception. Access Black Label:Patreon | Apple Premium Our Sponsors: * Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.com/OBSCURA * Check out Chime: https://chime.com/OBSCURA * Check out Mood and use my code OBSCURA for a great deal: https://mood.com * Check out Quince: https://quince.com/obscura * Check out Time4Learning: https://www.time4learning.com Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/obscura-a-true-crime-podcast/exclusive-content Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

BLACK LABEL CONTENT — Premium subscribers only A Piedmont officer uncovered horrors when a runaway's plight revealed deep-seated abuse. Highlighted audio exposes systemic failures. Black Label explores a dark saga of abuse and neglect masked by routine appearances. This episode delves deep into the trauma faced by a child on the brink. Tina Ramirez's case exposes shocking neglect and brutality endured by a 14-year-old girl weighing the size of a five-year-old. A situation that violated innocence and reshaped a community. The investigation, driven by disturbing confessions and heart-wrenching audio, uncovers deeply buried secrets, revealing a system at odds with protection. Access Black Label:Patreon | Apple Premium Our Sponsors: * Check out BetterHelp: https://www.betterhelp.com/OBSCURA * Check out Chime: https://chime.com/OBSCURA * Check out Mood and use my code OBSCURA for a great deal: https://mood.com * Check out Quince: https://quince.com/obscura * Check out Time4Learning: https://www.time4learning.com Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/obscura-a-true-crime-podcast/exclusive-content Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy