Advertise on podcast: Murder in Illinois

This is part two of Len Geiger’s story. The last we heard from Len, he was flying over the handlebars of his mountain bike only three months after receiving a miraculous lung transplant that had saved his life.    We want to hear from you! Share your own medical mystery or tell us about the episode you connected with the most at [email protected]. *  *  *  *  *  * ****** SPOILER ALERT BELOW ******   You can learn more about Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency through the Alpha-1 Foundation at https://alpha1.org/ or alphaid.com where you can request a free Alpha-1 test kit.   If you want to learn more about life saving organ donations you can go to Donate Life America at https://donatelife.net/ or OrganDonor.gov.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Len Geiger was a perfectly healthy, athletic young man with no signs of illness…but when Len enters his late twenties he starts falling ill with chronic chest infections. By age thirty - Len begins to experience breathlessness so debilitating he can barely walk across a parking lot. 10 years after the onset of symptoms, Len is dying from lungs that can no longer function due to a disease often overlooked in testing.    We want to hear from you! Share your own medical mystery or tell us about the episode you connected with the most at [email protected].   *  *  *  *  *  * ****** SPOILER ALERT BELOW ******   You can learn more about Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency through the Alpha-1 Foundation at https://alpha1.org/ or alphaid.com where you can request a free Alpha-1 test kit. If you want to learn more about life saving organ donations you can go to Donate Life America at https://donatelife.net/ or OrganDonor.gov. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brendon Paradis began to lose his vision out of nowhere. Doctors spend decades trying to stop the unexplained hemorrhaging in his retina with no success. Brendon has attempted to come to terms with his fate but when his son Keegan begins to show a more rapidly advancing version of this mystery condition, they reignite the search in a race against the clock to save Keegan’s vision.   We want to hear from you! Share your own medical mystery or tell us about the episode you connected with the most at [email protected].   *  *  *  *  *  * ****** SPOILER ALERT BELOW ******   You can learn more about ROSAH and the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at https://www.niaid.nih.gov/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

All new episodes full of medical mysteries are coming soon. Join host Lauren Bright Pacheco as we explore new stories in which patients become investigators, survivors become advocates, and exceptional doctors become heroes. Tune in for season 5 of Symptomatic, starting on September 22nd.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rockstar Casey McPherson and his family were shocked to the core when his daughter Rose was diagnosed with a rare genetic mutation that has no known treatment. Faced with the possibility of losing his daughter, the front man of the Flying Colours dropped everything to devote his life to trying to find a cure before time runs out. We want to hear from you! Share your own medical mystery or tell us about the episode you connected with the most at [email protected] or drop us a voice note at https://www.speakpipe.com/Symptomatic.    DISCLAIMER: By submitting your voice note using the link provided, you acknowledge that we have permission to potentially include that audio in future content.   *  *  *  *  *  * ****** SPOILER ALERT BELOW ******   You can learn more about AlphaRose at https://www.alpharose.com/, To Cure A Rose Foundation at www.tocurearose.org and TCAR RareLabs at https://www.tcarrarelabs.org/. You can follow Casey @casey.mcpherson on instagram.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For as long as Cienna Ditri can remember, she has had random bouts of “heavy legs”and loss of vision. As she got older - that sensation grew into episodes in which she could not move altogether. Cienna was passing out multiple times a day and frequently losing vision. After a slew of misdiagnoses - she was unsure she would ever understand the cause…until one doctor found the needle in the haystack.   We want to hear from you! Share your own medical mystery or tell us about the episode you connected with the most at [email protected] or drop us a voice note at https://www.speakpipe.com/Symptomatic.    DISCLAIMER: By submitting your voice note using the link provided, you acknowledge that we have permission to potentially include that audio in future content.   *  *  *  *  *  * ****** SPOILER ALERT BELOW ******   You can learn more about Periodic Paralysis at periodicparalysis.orgYou can follow Cienna at @chronicallyperservering on instagram, tiktok, facebook, and youtube. You can find Cienna’s substack “In Rare Form” at chronicallypersevering.substack.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ian Stedman suffered 32 years with full body rashes, debilitating headaches, joint pain and hearing loss without a clear diagnosis. His Mother Barb had gone over 60 years with the same symptoms. After hundreds of doctors visits and decades of frustration - they had resigned to believe there were no answers. That is until Ian’s daughter, Lia was born covered in that all-too-recognizable rash. Ian re-ignited his search for answers in an effort to save his family.  We want to hear from you! Share your own medical mystery or tell us about the episode you connected with the most at [email protected] or drop us a voice note at https://www.speakpipe.com/Symptomatic.    DISCLAIMER: By submitting your voice note using the link provided, you acknowledge that we have permission to potentially include that audio in future content.   *  *  *  *  *  * ****** SPOILER ALERT BELOW ******   You can learn more about the Canadian Autoinflammatory Network at www.autoinflammatory.ca SickKids CA can be found online at www.sickkids.ca See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From the moment Hailey got her period, she could tell that something was different about her. Suffering debilitating menstrual cramps and a flow so heavy she would pass out from blood loss…Hailey spent half of every month fighting to stand up. When she joined the Air Force as a medic, Hailey did not predict how agonizing her symptoms would become… and how harrowing her journey to a diagnosis would be as a woman in a male dominated field.    We want to hear from you! Share your own medical mystery or tell us about the episode you connected with the most at [email protected] or drop us a voice note at https://www.speakpipe.com/Symptomatic.    DISCLAIMER: By submitting your voice note using the link provided, you acknowledge that we have permission to potentially include that audio in future content.   *  *  *  *  *  * ****** SPOILER ALERT BELOW ****** You can find Hailey on tik tok @Hailey_griffith You can follow Dr. Lucky Sekhon @lucky.sekhon and look out for her new book, “The Lucky Egg”, releasing on January 13th, 2026. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nika spent half her life battling a shape-shifting condition that plagued her in various ways for nearly two decades. Fighting chronic pain, fevers, fatigue, and even strokes. In her 30s, after a series of lymphoma scares, Nika thought she was going to die without answers. But, 17 years, 26 doctors and 37 procedures later - Nika was finally able to name her faceless foe.   We want to hear from you! Share your own medical mystery or tell us about the episode you connected with the most at [email protected] or drop us a voice note at https://www.speakpipe.com/Symptomatic.    DISCLAIMER: By submitting your voice note using the link provided, you acknowledge that we have permission to potentially include that audio in future content.   *  *  *  *  *  * ****** SPOILER ALERT BELOW ****** To find out more about IgG4-RD, you can check out IgG4ward! Foundation’s website at https://igg4ward.org/ You can also find Nika Beamon on her website here. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The family of Jade’s father share their remembrances of a life tragically ended and thoughts on the woman they believe took it. Speculation as to what could have motivated the murder takes an unlikely turn, leading to Salem, Massachusetts. Email us with thoughts, suggestions or tips at [email protected].  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Weeks after she was arrested for the murder of her step-daughter, Julia Bevely realized she was expecting her fourth child. Her subsequent treatment during pregnancy, birth and postpartum as a pre-trial detainee remain, next to the murder, the most disturbing aspects of the case. Email us with thoughts, suggestions or tips at [email protected]. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The day of the sentencing, Bob and Lauren retrace the route Julia Bevely claims to have taken the morning of the murder with surprising results. Her increasingly polarizing fate is then decided in a packed Marion courtroom filled with contrasting emotions. Email us with thoughts, suggestions or tips at [email protected]. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bob and Lauren connect in Marion, Illinois for Julia Bevely’s sentencing. Through a jailhouse visit with Bevely- and interviews with her family- a narrative emerges that is at odds with key elements of the prosecution theory in terms of the murder and the woman convicted of having committed it.  Email us with thoughts, suggestions or tips at [email protected].   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Just days after the murder, the Williamson County State’s Attorney announced the death of Jade Beasley- and the arrest of Julia Bevely- in the same press conference. He claimed a thorough investigation had already been conducted, but glaring questions remain to this day.  Email us with thoughts, suggestions or tips at [email protected]. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On December 5th of 2020, a blended family was ripped apart when police responded to a 911 call placed from a rural area in Marion, Illinois. At the scene, they would find an 11-year-old girl, brutally murdered and her hysterical 32-year old stepmother.  Email us with thoughts, suggestions or tips at [email protected]. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.