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21 year old Laken Snelling seemed to have it all, she was a popular student at the University of Kentucky, and an accomplished cheerleader with a promising future ahead of her . But all of that changed in August 2025 when a 911 call came in to the police reporting the discovery of a deceased newborn hidden inside a closet. This tragic discovery led to a shocking realisation. That his mother was student Laken Snelling who had secretly concealed not just her pregnancy but his birth, & had also taken his life... . Todays case raises some deeply uncomfortable questions about concealed pregnancies & shocking secrets that can lead one to make terrible & fatal choices, causing pain & devastation to so many as a result . It also highlights the tragic consequences that can come when a situation remains hidden from the people who are able to offer help, support or otherwise would have been able to intervene. Laken Snelling chose not to ask for help & instead killed her newborn baby. A crime so unthinkable that she has found herself at the centre of a case that will no doubt shock the community of Lexington, Kentucky for years to come.... This is episode 191: A Fatal Secret – The Case of Laken Snelling. Crime Talk Time Stamp: 7 minutes 06 seconds Court TV / People Magazine / TMZ / Oxygen / LexingtonKY / Knox News / Fox56News / Wowktv News / Yahoo News / UK Athletics / NY Post / Daily Mail / Lex18 News / Marca News / See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

14 year old Elizabeth Shoaf stepped off the school bus on September 6th 2006 to begin the short walk home in Lugoff, South Carolina. Suddenly she is confronted by a predator masquerading as an officer who had been hunting for a young victim just like her  As she is handcuffed & led further and further away from safety deep into the woods she had no idea of the nightmare this man had in store for her. She was held captive, trapped in a small underground bunker that had been dug out by her kidnapper who was already a wanted man named  Vinson Filyaw. For 10 days she was forced to endure daily sexual assaults as she was trapped below the woods with him, chained up, surrounded by weapons & with explosives hanging around her neck. However Filyaw had underestimated this young girl's strong will to survive, & she managed to channel her terror into a steely determination to do whatever she had to in order to get out of this alive . Elizabeth's staggering courage & ability to think on her feet even in the most dire situations allowed Elizabeth to turn the tables on her attacker... Slowly she lured him into a false sense of security by humanising herself to him, making him believe she liked him even , a trick that made him drop his guard & eventually gave her an opportunity to try & save her own life... Todays case is not about another predatory child sex offender, it is about how he was defeated by a brave teenage girl whose overwhelming will to live & dream to be reunited with her family allowed her to keep going even in the darkest of moments .  It is about one girls strength in refusing to give up on life or give in to a dangerous criminal. In doing so she ultimately became not only a real life heroine, but a true inspiration to many other survivors of crime... This is episode 190: Terror Underground- The Kidnapping Of Elizabeth Shoaf  *Crime Talk Time Stamp 6 minutes 20 seconds Sources: ' The Girl In The Bunker'film, Wikipedia, blurred by lines.com / Fox News, Sky News/ alcatrazeast.com/ wwwscleva.com/  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It was December 2010. The city of Bristol was getting ready for Christmas, and 25-year-old Joanna Yeates was living in Clifton with her boyfriend, Greg. On Friday, December 17th, Joanna went out for drinks with colleagues. Later that evening, she left the pub and made her way home. By the following day, Joanna was missing. What happened on that fateful night? And how did a normal Friday night end in the murder of a 25-year-old woman? This is episode 189: The murder of Joanna Yeates part 2 Crime Talk Time Stamp: Sources: BBC / Bristol News / Gloucester Citizen / The Guardian / https://helpfindjo.wordpress.com/ / Channel 4 / Sky News / The Standard / Bristol Post / Documentary by abacus media The Murder of Joanna Yeates See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It was December 17th as 25 year old Joanna Yeates said goodbye to her boyfriend & went out for drinks with colleagues in Clifton, Bristol in England. Later that evening she made her way home but by the following day Joanna had vanished . Her family were terrified and a huge search was launched for Joanna , as the days passed fears for her safe return deepened . When she was eventually found murdered police zoned in on a suspect and the British media hounded the man, assuming he would eventually be charged . However the intense vilification of one individual meant for a while Joanna's real killer, a married man named Vincent Tabak, was able to slip by unnoticed.... As her devastated family were left to try to navigate life without their beloved daughter her story continued to receive huge press coverage in the UK. Ultimately the way the tabloids nearly destroyed an innocent man's life highlighted big issues leading to important changes in the way the media cover cases like Joanna's in the future.... This is episode 187: The murder of Joanna Yeates. **Crime Talk Time Stamp: 8 minutes 05 seconds Sources: BBC / Bristol News / Gloucester Citizen / The Guardian / https://helpfindjo.wordpress.com/ / Channel 4 / Sky News / The Standard / Bristol Post / Documentary by abacus media The Murder of Joanna Yeates See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In 1990 a 3 year old boy Jamie Campbell was happily playing in his grandmother's garden before he was lured away in Drumchapel, Glasgow. The community were devastated when his body was found, revealing he had been subjected to a brutal and violent ordeal by his killer during his final moments. When local boy Richard Keith was soon arrested for Jamie's heinous murder it sent shock waves across the country when details of his background & age were revealed.  His killer was just 11 years old . When he was sentenced for his wicked crime he became Scotlands youngest killer.  The fact that a troubled, dangerous child had been living so close & that his previous behaviour showed he was a ticking time bomb caused even more distress to Jamie's devastated family. This was only deepened when three years later a very similar case occurred in Liverpool. 2 year old James Bulger was also murdered by two 10 year old boys. Jamie Campbells family were left questioning why this equally horrific case received far more press attention than Jamie's murder. When Jamie's killer Richard Keith was released after serving just 8 years it has raised many questions.  Can someone capable of so much cruelty at such a young age ever really be rehabilitated? Is it fair that Keith is able to live freely in the community with his whole life ahead of him whilst he had stolen his innocent victims future from him in such a brutal way ?   This is episode 187  Scotland's Youngest Killer- The Murder Of Jamie Campbell. Crime Talk Time Stamp: 5 mins 04 seconds Sources: The Guardian / The Glasgow Times / LBC / Jeremy Kyle Show / Herald Scotland / The Sun / BBC Scotland / UK dtatabase / See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On a cold January night in 1995, nineteen -year-old Colleen Slemmer left the Job Corps Centre in Knoxville, Tennessee with three of her peers. Like many other young people attending Job Corp, Colleen was there hoping to build a better future for herself. She was young, she was away from home, and had her whole life ahead of her. But that night, the 12th of January 1995, Colleen was lured out of the dorms by three of her peers… Students she knew but whom harboured malicious intent against her and while four students signed out of the campus including Colleen ,only three would sign back in. By the following morning, a quiet corner of Knoxville had become the scene of a horrific murder, a murder that still haunts the area to this day. As investigators began piecing together the events of that night, they uncovered a story involving jealousy, manipulation and a group of young people whose lives would be changed forever. And at the centre of it all was nineteen-year-old victim Colleen Slemmer. So, what happened to Colleen on that January night — and how did a young woman who was simply trying to make a new start, become the victim of such a shocking crime? Today we are going to take a deep dive into a case that shook Konxville, Tenneesse to its core. This is Ep186: The Youngest Woman on Death Row - Christa Pike The Murder of Colleen Slemmer Crime Talk Time Stamp: 8 mins 43 seconds Sources: Knox News / First Coast News / WBIR Channel 10 News / Supremecourt.gov / US Court of Appeals / Investigation Discovery / Chattanoogan.com / wikipedia / Medium / Cornell Law School / Volopedia / See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In 1979 teenage boys & young men suddenly began to disappear from the streets of Adelaide, South Australia. Their disappearances quickly turned sinister as the bodies of 5 innocent victims aged between 14 and 25, were discovered. They had been horrifically tortured over a period of time & murdered. It was clear the murders were not the work of one lone perpetrator, but by an organised group of sexually sadistic paedophiles made up of affluent and professional men. The crimes committed by this deadly ring led to them being known as 'the family'. Australian police believe this terrifying network of predators was made up of at least 12 active members some of whom had respectable jobs & substantial wealth. Their reputations on the surface enabled them to operate successfully & undetected allowing them to kill victims without the worry of being caught. A factor that has made it difficult to bring most of the perpetrators to justice That was until a local popular newsreader’s 15-year-old son Richard Kelvin was abducted and killed. Richard’s death led to only one member of 'the family' being charged for his murder, Bevan Spencer Von Einem. In 2025 Von Einem took the many secrets of who else was involved to his grave. Meaning some suspects are still alive & still walking free amongst us to this day.... it has been over four decades & still the families of the victims still ask for answers, for justice & for the suppression orders protecting the murder suspects to be lifted. We hope with enough pressure from the community & the media that one day they will..... This is episode 185: 'The Family' Murders - A Deadly Network Crime Talk Time Stamp: 8:00 ish If you have any information about any of the murders or abductions please call crime stoppers on 1800 333 000 . There is a £1 million reward Sources: Frozen Lies by Debi Marshall / ABC News Australia / Crime Stoppers Australia / Wikipedia / Murder Index / familymurders.com / unresolved.me / Networked Knowledge / See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Young teenage boys & young men began to disappear from the streets of Adelaide, South Australia in 1979. The disappearances became far more sinister as one by one their bodies began turning up. Five young men, aged between 14 & 25 were found. They had been drugged, tortured & murdered. Police suspected this was the macabre work of an organised group of sexually sadistic paedophiles made up of affluent & professional men. The crimes committed by this deadly ring led to them being known as 'the family'. It's believed this terrifying network of predators was made up of at least 12 active members some of whom had respectable jobs & substantial wealth. Their reputations on the surface enabled them to operate successfully & undetected allowing them to kill young victims without the worry of being caught. A factor that has made it more difficult to bring most of the perpetrators to justice until a local popular newsreader’s 15-year-old son Richard Kelvin was abducted & killed.   Richard’s death led to only one member of 'the family' being charged for his murder, Bevan Spencer Von Einem. In 2025 he took many secrets of who else was involved to his grave. Meaning some suspects are still alive & still walking free amongst us to this day.... Over 40 years later the families of the victims still ask for answers, for justice & for the suppression orders protecting the murder suspects to be lifted .... We hope with enough pressure from the community & the media that one day they will..... This is episode 184: 'The Family' Murders - A Deadly Network **Crime Talk Time Stamp: 10: 30 minutes in** If you have any information on any of the murders or of 'the family' contact Crimestoppers Australia on 1800 333 000. Sources: Frozen Lies by Debi Marshall / ABC News Australia / Crime Stoppers Australia / Wikipedia / Murder Index / familymurders.com / unresolved.me / Networked Knowledge / See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

25 year old Courtney Clenney seemed to lead a glamorous lifestyle, at least that's it appeared to her millions of followers on social media. However all of that would change on April 3rd 2022 when 911 operators in Miami, Florida received a frantic call reporting that someone was injured inside an apartment.   The caller was Clenney, she had fatally stabbed her boyfriend 27 year old Christian Obumseli, & she was arrested for his murder. This case gained widespread media attention when people realised the Only Fans creator had a history of aggression & violence not only during their tumultuous relationship but also throughout her past. As Clenney recently agreed to plead guilty to manslaughter narrowly avoiding what could have been a 30 year prison sentence many believe she got off way too lightly.  Some even questioned if she received a more lenient sentence because hers was a case of a female killing her male partner rather than the other way around. Today's case highlights some important points, & shows just how quickly violence in a toxic relationship can escalate.  And just how quickly these situations can even turn deadly..... This is episode 183: The OnlyFans Killer Courtney Clenney -The Murder of Christian Obumseli Crime Talk Time Stamp: 5 mins 56 seconds Sources: TMZ investigates The Killer Onlyfans Model / CBS News / Court TV / Justice.gov / cbs12 / NBC Miami / Prison Legal News / ABC News See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

30 year old Mica Miller & her husband John Paul who was the local pastor of their church in South Carolina, had separated in 2024.  But sadly for Mica this parting of ways was anything but amicable. Infact she would allegedly be subjected to months of harassment as she was hounded & tormented by her estranged husband. So much so that her family believe she was driven to the point of desperation & after living in fear of the daily threats she took her own life. Videos of John Paul's strange manner whilst announcing her death in church soon leaked out to the media. Along with shocking details of the abuse & threats he subjected Mica to in the lead up to her death. Many in the community were shocked to learn that a pastor of seemingly good faith on the surface had been tracking & threatening Mica to the point where she was terrified he would kill her. John Paul has been charged with cyber stalking & making false statements & his trial is fast approaching.  Whatever the outcome, Mica's case about the tragic death of such a bright young woman continues to shine a light on some very important questions. Questions that like in many abusive relationships, have been lost in a grey area for far too long.  How far can one be pushed & terrorised by a partner until they finally crack under the pressure?  How long can one be tormented by a coercively controlling ex before they feel the only way to escape the fear is to take their own life? And at what point does one become culpable in the death of another through their abusive actions , even if they did not pull the trigger themselves ?  This is episode 182 : Terrorised To Death?  The Tragic Case Of Mica Miller Crime Talk Time Stamp: 9 mins 56 seconds Sources: Komonews / Court TV / Independent.co.uk / WMBF News / WBTW.com / Unilad / BBC News / the Sun / Rayo / Justice.gov / WDBJ7.com / Newsnation.com / Time / People See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Michelle Knotek systematically tortured & murdered two people who lived at her farmhouse in Raymond, Washington between 1994 & 2003. She is also believed to have ordered the murder of her 17 year old nephew Shane who was killed by her husband David during that time. But her shocking crimes don't end there as this evil matriarch known as 'Shelly' is also the suspect in at least one other death, bringing the total of lives lost at her hands to four. From the outside, she looked like the very definition of kindness & compassion however in reality this was far from the case .... Because behind the doors of their home a very different, far more deadly kind of reality existed. At the centre of it all was Shelly whose carefully crafted warm persona could vanish in an instant.  Thus revealing a woman who was manipulative, extremely sadistic & capable of extraordinary cruelty to all around her. The depths of depravity her torture methods went to go beyond even the scenes of a horror film . The people she claimed to love would become trapped in her twisted web & before they had time to escape would be subjected to a nightmare of psychological & extreme physical abuse, systematic prolonged torture, & ultimately, murder...... Her sadistic crimes were only uncovered in 2003 thanks to her brave daughters finally breaking away from their evil mothers control & exposing the four deaths that she & David were responsible for to the world ....... This is episode 181: (2/2) A House of Horrors - The Wicked Crimes of Michelle Knotek Part 2 **Crime Talk Time Stamp: 8 mins 21 seconds Sources: Book - If You Tell by Gregg Olsen / Wicked Attraction Season 3 ep2 / All that's interesting / Wikipedia / New York Post /  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

To the outside world, the Knotek family who lived in a rural farmhouse in Raymond, Washington, appeared to have it all. The charming matriarch Michelle 'Shelly' was always willing to open up their home to those in need & her husband David was also more than happy to oblige. Not only did they welcome in their teenage nephew Shane when his family could not care for him. But also friends & acquaintances facing difficult times could find refuge there too. From the outside, Shelly looked like the very definition of kindness & compassion however in reality this was far from the case .... Because behind the doors of their home a very different, far more deadly kind of reality existed. At the centre of it all was Shelly whose carefully crafted warm persona could vanish in an instant. Thus revealing a woman who was manipulative, extremely sadistic & capable of extraordinary cruelty to all around her. The depths of depravity her torture methods went to go beyond even the scenes of a horror film . The people she claimed to love would become trapped in her twisted web & before they had time to escape would be subjected to a nightmare of psychological & extreme physical abuse, systematic prolonged torture, & ultimately, murder...... Her twisted crimes were only uncovered in 2003 thanks to her brave daughters finally breaking away from their evil mothers control & exposing the four deaths that she & David were responsible for to the world ....... This is episode 180: (1/2) A House of Horrors - The Wicked Crimes of Michelle Knotek  **Crime Talk Time Stamp: 9 minutes 20 seconds Sources: Book - If You Tell by Gregg Olsen / Wicked Attraction Season 3 ep2 / All that's interesting / Wikipedia / New York Post / See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What started as a typical drive in March 2005 for cousins 18 year old Ana Franklin & 27 year old Jennifer Holliday, quickly deteriorated into a terrifying ordeal . As they realise their car is being followed by a mad man in Lufkin, East Texas, their attempts to get away from him fail, leaving Jennifer doing everything she can to escape with her life . Thanks to her astounding bravery & ferocious will to survive she managed to manipulate killer Eric Parnell's erratic behaviour to her own advantage .  Jennifers story highlights that even in the darkest of moments you can sometimes discover your biggest strengths... She is not just a brave woman whose capacity to stay calm when faced with evil allowed her to navigate her way through a nightmarish ordeal.  But she is also an incredibly resilient woman who refused to give up & so she lived to tell her story ... The case you are about to hear shows how Jennifer became an inspiration to many & a voice for all those who have survived the unimaginable .But also a voice for those who didn't get another chance at life Jennifer's story is proof that if sometimes you can draw strength you didn't know you had- even in the most dire of situations .  She somehow did just that ,and lived to share her experience & educate us all on the realities of getting through a real life nightmare ... This is episode 179: The Survival Of Jennifer Holliday & Murder Of Ana Franklin   **Crime Talk Time Stamp: 8 minutes 30 seconds Blurredbylines.com/ I Survived Tv Series / was/ darkdialoguenetwork.com/ Wikipedia/ ktre.com/  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

He rose to fame as the frontman of the band 'Lost Prophets' & at the height of his career Ian Watkins was one of the biggest names in British rock music. By 2006 he had sold millions of albums & built a devoted fanbase. He was literally the image of a successful rock star & some might say he was living the dream. But actually behind the celebrity facade was one of Britain's most depraved child sex offenders. His wicked crimes against children lead to his epic downfall. He received a 28 year prison sentence as he was revealed as one of the most predatory paedofiles in modern British history. . However Watkins would never leave prison alive after he was murdered by 3 inmates in his cell in 2025. Todays case shines a light on how child predators often become prime targets themselves in prison. And the interesting reaction from the public when prolific paedofiles are targeted & killed behind bars. Because Watkins was one of several infamous inmates murdered in the UK prison system in the past two years. This is episode 177: The Rise & Demise of Lost Prophets Frontman Ian Watkins Part 2 **Crime Talk Time Stamp: 13 mins 50 seconds sources: Www.judiciary.uk/  www.bbc.co.uk / Wikipedia/ westyorkshire.police.co.uk/ www.sciencedirect.com/ www.skynews.com/ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

For years Ian Watkins was one of the biggest names in British rock music. As the charismatic frontman of the band 'Lost Prophets' by 2006 he sold millions of albums, topped the charts, toured the world, & built a devoted fanbase. To the public he was the ultimate image of a successful rock star—famous, wealthy, & seemingly living the dream. But behind that carefully crafted image was a secret so horrifying it would shock not only his fans, but the entire music industry. Hidden beneath the celebrity facade was one of Britain's most depraved child sex offenders. A man whose crimes against children & babies would eventually lead to his epic downfall. Exposing one of the most infamous criminal cases & one of the most predatory paedofiles in modern British history.... This is ep177: The Rise & Demise of Lost Prophets Frontman Ian Watkins. **Crime Talk Time Stamp: 9 mins 10 seconds Sources: Guardian / Last.fm / Vice.com / IMDB / www.judiciary.uk/  www.bbc.co.uk / Wikipedia/ westyorkshire.police.co.uk/  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.